Anthony walked with Kate as Violet showed her guests their chambers. "We have put you all in our family wing. Lady Danbury is obviously staying next to Daphne's and Simon's chambers, and I have given you three Lavender rooms. I hope you three do not mind sharing as it is one of the biggest rooms in this house."

"It will be no problem, my lady." Kate quickly assured her. "With so many guests arriving in a few days, it seems logical for us to share a room, and I think Newton is already loving this room."

Anthony rolled his eyes as Newton rushed inside and happily sat on the chair before curling up for sleep.

As Violet let Sophie and Penelope inside, Anthony held Kate back as he whispered in her ear. "My room is in a far corner away from others; I hope you remember that."

Kate tried to appear confused as she asked innocently. "My Lord? Why do I need to know the location of your room?"

Anthony, however, sees right through her teasing as he squeezes her waist. "So you could make up to your lover, who had been yearning for you for days."

Kate gasped and almost leaned forward to touch his lips when a sharp note of cane broke them apart. Lady Danbury was glowering at them from the hallways as she seemed to be returning from her chambers.

Walking closer, Agatha used her cane to pull these idiotic lovers apart. "You both will remember to behave yourself in the presence of company! Understood?!"

"Yes, lady Danbury." They moped together, and Agatha shook her head. "God! Give me the strength I need."

It turns out she needs more strength than is necessary, as she tries to assure Violet while they walk behind Viscount and his three suitors. "Lady Danbury?! Please tell me what is going on?! I thought Anthony was interested in Miss Sharma, and you even claim that our plans are showing fruitful results, but now this?! It boggles my mind how he went from one suitor to three in one night."

Agatha huffed because when she inquired about the same to Miss Sharma, all she said was that this was happening for the greater good. "I cannot exactly tell what happened, but I think Miss Sharma convinced Viscount to court Miss Bennett and Miss Featherington after her spat with Miss Cowper."

"Miss Cowper! I never liked that girl one bit." Violet claimed she thought about how she tried to hurt Daphne last season.

"That being said, one good thing that came out of this is that Miss Sharma is also courting Lord Bridgerton. Now, Violet, I know we have to chaperone them, but let's make sure we give them a chance to be together that means tell your servant to turn blind and deaf if they ever come across something related to these two.." At Lady Danbury's advice, Violet finally tried to confirm her suspicions. "Together? You say as if my son and Miss Sharma are already more familiar with each other?"

Agatha pursed her lips as she laid it all out. "You were once young and in love, which resulted in eight children. I am sure you can figure out how familiar they are."

Violet gasped as she watched Anthony laugh while holding Kate closer by his side as Miss Bennett and Penelope walked ahead of them. "Oh! Oh! Lady Danbury, are you sure we are not going to need a special licence?"

At that, Agatha laughed mysteriously, as she says. "Not for reasons you are thinking about, but yes, there will be a special licence needed when we get to that happy time."

While Lady Danbury and Violet were discussing about special licence. Anthony noticed how his mother and Lady Danbury stopped walking and settled on a nearby bench. Taking advantage of their distractions, Anthony quickly turned to his companion. "Ladies, Kate and I are heading towards the maze. Can you both stay nearby for a lookout?"

Sophie and Penelope, who now know everything, smirk at Viscount, as she says. "I don't know; what do we say if anyone asks about you?"

Anthony looked desperately around. "No one is coming this way, ladies, and if anyone did come around, I am sure you smart ladies can handle them."

"We feel truly honoured by your trust in our abilities to distract someone, I think you are placing all your hopes in us." Sophie teased, and Kate giggled before looping her arms around Anthony's arms. "Come, darling, I am sure our trusted companion will have our backs."

With that, Anthony and Kate left to disappear in a maze, leaving Sophie and Penelope to guard their secret.

Kate was laughing as she and Anthony ran fast, like naughty children, to hide deeper in the garden maze. Only when they were sure they were far away did Anthony bring Kate back until she was standing next to the statue.

Their breaths were heaving as their eyes roamed hungrily over each other. Finally, that hunger grew as Kate and Anthony leapt towards each other for a devouring kiss. "Kathani! My beautiful goddess! You have no idea how much I missed you."

"I know! I know!" She moans between each kiss as her lover trails his lips on her neck and top of her breast as his hand reaches out to squeeze her bosom. "I know because I desperately missed you too."

"Never, we are staying apart!" Anthony said it passionately, and Kate gasped as he held her tightly in his arms. "I swear I will tie you in my bed and have you over and over again until you agree to stay by my side."

Kate felt a rush of emotions swirling through her heart, but before she could say anything, she heard loud footsteps and voices nearby as they sprang apart.

Kate looked around and panicked, as she said. "No one can see us alone together."

Anthony sighed as he spoke. "Go, I will see who breached our defences." Kate gave him a grateful smile, but before leaving, she turned back to kiss him in gratitude, as she had promised. "I like that tying up idea; maybe tonight I could tie you instead."

Anthony groans as Kate smirks and runs away, and as much as Anthony was hoping to chase his love, he decided to go and search for those who dared to disturb him.

He did not have to look far as Benedict, Eloise, and Colin arrived with guilty-looking Sophie and Penelope, who nervously laughed at sight of them. "There he is! We were telling them how we decided to play hide and seek, and I found Sophie, and then we were searching for you too."

"Anthony playing children's games, I doubt it." Colin said it with suspicion in his eyes, but Sophie laughed as she assured him. 'You are right; Lord Bridgerton did not want to play at first, but after we insisted, he could not refuse us at all."

"You are such a kind-hearted gentleman, brother." Benedict smirked as Anthony glared at them. "What are you three doing, disturbing my special hour with my ladies?"

At that, Colin scowled while Eloise replied. The lunch is ready, and Mother and Lady Danbury sent us to fetch you all."

"Come, Penelope, we will help you find Miss Sharma so you can end this game." Colin held out his arm, and Penelope blushed as she took it as they, along with Eloise, left.

Only when they were gone did Benedict turn to tease his brother. "You are getting sloppy, brother; it's good thing your guards were good enough to warn you by making a loud noise."

At that, Sophie gasped as she stared from one brother to another. "You know!?" Benedict gave her a charming smile, as he said. I am these lovers guard longer than you know."

Sophie smiled as she turned to Anthony. "It's remarkable how many people are keeping your secret." Anthony smiled back as he stared at the place where Kate disappeared too. "Its because Kate is a remarkable woman who makes every trouble I take worth while."

Later, as they set out for lunch together and Anthony and Kate's eyes met, he knew one thing for sure: he would face any trouble for his remarkable woman.

As soon as lunch finished, Daphne announced they were having a game of Pall Mall. "Sweetheart, is it really a good idea? Our guest must be tired after their long journey." Simon points out hoping to be spared from this madness that awoke in this family.

"Nonsense! It will be good exercise after they were cooped up in that carriage for so long. That and this fresh air will do them some good."

"His Grace is absolutely right; I myself am looking forward to playing this famous game Miss Eloise was telling me about." Kate says this while smirking at Anthony, who was shaking his head. "You just want to defeat me, Miss Sharma." Kate neither agrees nor denies it, and it was enough to confirm his suspicion.

"Um, what is Pall Mall?" Sophie inquired, and Benedict quickly jumped as he offered his assistance. "Come, let me tell you all about it." But before he could move, Daphne stopped him, as she reminded her brothers. "There is no need; as last year's champion, I will be the one setting the battle field and explaining to our guests the rules of this game."

They all protested, but with one glare, Daphne led her sisters and guests outside. Kate, Sophie, and Penelope observed as the Bridgerton sisters set the pitch. "All right, Benedict is good, but he is so focused on his games to see others attacking his ball. Francesca is not vicious, but she is the best shot. Eloise only cares about beating her brothers, and as for me, I am a total enigma and will not reveal anything about my game. That leaves our two dangerous players.

"You mean Colin is one of them?" Penelope inquires, and Daphne gives the girl a look before she smiles. "You are correct in your assessment, Penelope. Colin is cunning, so beware; he will attack your ball when you were not expecting it at all, and that leaves our other dangerous player."

"Let me guess, he is the most cutthroat player who will do anything to win and complains most if he loses." Kate guessed right on the spot, leaving Daphne completely surprised. "Exactly!" She then quickly recovered herself as she assured her brothers suitors. "Do not worry, ladies; my brother is a gentleman and a fair sportsman, but not when it comes to this game. Here you have to watch your own back."

Sophie felt a little scared as she realised why Duke opted out to take care of Auggie, Gregory, and Hyacinth. "This game seems intense; you mean instead of playing, you all sabotage each other's chances?"

"That's the essence of it." Daphne agreed as Kate explained it to her friend. "A wise player plays a game, but a cunning player plays with his opponent's mind."

"Well said, Miss Sharma! I think we will have a great game this year; just make sure to keep Anthony from leading; otherwise, he will be insufferable if he wins."

At that, Kate smirked as she assured the Duchess. "Do not worry, just leave your brother to me."

Earlier, when in privacy, Simon inquired why she was doing this. The only reply Daphne gave her husband was to figure out which of the three ladies had won her brother's heart. As it turned out, all three ladies managed to achieve this, but not like she imagined.

During the entire game, Benedict dropped focus on his game and even on the rules, as he often seemed to be advising Miss Bennett or correcting her posture. A few times, Daphne was swear she noticed how he sabotage others balls who tried to harm Miss Bennett's balls, and the girl looked so grateful for his help.

While Benedict was impressing his girl, another type of game was happening on the ground. Colin was trying his best to keep Penelope away by ruthlessly attacking Anthony's ball, not that he noticed as his eyes were only on Miss Sharma, who was playing extremely well by using Anthony's black Mallet, which he named Mallet of Death.

"Woo hoo!" Kate jumped with joy as she raised her Mallet of Death in triumph. "Did you see that, my Lord?"

"Of course you are winning. After all, you are using my lucky mallet." Anthony says this in annoyance.

"Aww, do you want it back? I heard some men cannot perform well without their tools." She gasped in mock horror at the realisation. 'Oh my! Please tell me your performance is affected because of a lack of proper tools."

At that moment, three things happened. As those who understood the innuendo behind Miss Sharma's words found themselves laughing, Anthony glared as if he were deciding what to do with Miss Sharma. Their Mama tea cup dropped as Lady Danbury's voice reached their ears. "Behave, Miss Sharma, and you boy, stop laughing like that!"

Sure enough, when Daphne turned around, she could see her husband laughing like a maniac at his friend's expense.

"That's it! You are going to lose!" Anthony threatened Miss Sharma, and Daphne saw that craze competitive look as he smacked his Mallet hard, but it hit Miss Sharma's ball as it rolled into the woods."

Kate's earlier smirk was wiped off as she turned angrily towards him. "You did this on purpose! You! You! If I cannot win, then I will take you with me!"

They all watched with stunned expressions as Kate used her own mallet to hit Anthony's ball. "Oi! You cheat! It was not even your turn!"

"Anthony Bridgerton!" Violet yells angrily at her son for this ungentlemanly behaviour, but it seems Miss Sharma has left her own manners behind as she raised her Mallet. "You dared to call me cheat!? You were the one who started it!"

"And you ended it just fine, You Menace!"

They were both standing toe to toe, breathing angrily, and Daphne felt truly scared but also felt this spark between them that seemed too heated and intense.

Suddenly, a cane-stomping sound broke that moment as Lady Danbury used it to create distance between them. "All right, since you both lost your ball and your manners, I declared you out of this game! Now return to your rooms, and I hope by the time we call you for dinner, you both have your wits and manners with you."

"But the game is not over!" Anthony protested, while Kate did the same. "I can search my ball!" But it seems Lady Danbury has finally lost her patience as she yells. "Silence! Now leave both of you."

Anthony and Kate glared at each other as Kate threatened him. "This isn't over, Bridgerton!"

With that, she turned around and stormed away, and for the first time, Daphne noticed anger disappear as fear took place on her brother's face, who let out a groan as he rubbed his face. "God! What had I done!?"