Anthony was pacing his room, part in anger and part in worry. 'Why does she mock him so much that he completely loses his temper?' Then again, he acted even worse by throwing her ball away, and in turn, she retaliated.

He tried to apologise, but Kate seemed so crossed with him that she did not answer her door, and during dinner she arrived late, but instead of sitting next to him like it was arranged, she made Hyacinth trade places with her so she could sit with Gregory instead.

"Allow me, Miss Sharma." Gregory held her chair out for her, and to Anthony's annoyance, Kate seemed completely charmed by his youngest brother as she complimented him. 'Such a gentleman you are, Mr. Bridgerton, even better than some men who claimed to be gentlemen but are not."

Anthony huffed as his siblings tried to keep their faces straight as Lady Danbury warned her. 'Miss Sharma!"

"What? I am just stating the truth about my experience with a gentleman."

For the rest of the dinner, Anthony tried to concentrate on his food, but all he could concentrate on was how Kate was laughing and conversing with everyone but him. As dessert was served, Kate quickly finished her helping before she stood up. "Thank you, Lady Bridgerton, for this delicious dinner, but if it's alright, I want to retire earlier."

"It's alright, Miss Sharma." His mother assured her as Kate bid everyone goodnight.

So now, after one hour, he found himself pacing in his room as he cursed himself for bungling things up with Kate.

Sighing, he undressed and extinguished all candles before slipping inside his bed. He was hoping more than ever that this day would end and that tomorrow he could beg his goddess to forgive him.

It was some time later when Anthony woke up, as he felt someone presence nearby. Opening his eyes, he saw none other than his goddess completely bared perched on the bed with a sketchbook in her hand, and it seemed she was drawing him all this time. Smiling, he tried to lift himself when he finally realised something. "What?"

"I told you I would tie you tonight. Didn't I?" Kate reminded him as she flipped her book shut and traced his face with her finger: "Although when I said it, I never thought of fighting with you afterwards."

Anthony gulped as his member hardened beneath the sheets. It's been a while, but this is something he only glimpsed in Kate before, but tonight feels different than those nights as she used her nails with added pressure on his skin as she trailed it down and down. Anthony tested his ties, and it seemed Kate had not bound him that tightly, leaving it up to him to remain bound to her or set himself free.

Anthony's eyes met with his lover, who were staring at him questioningly, and finally Anthony agreed to begin the game. They only witnessed it a it a few times in those parties but never played it seriously until tonight, and something tells him that Kate needs this more than him, as she asks while tracing his lips. "Tell me the word."

Anthony thought hard until he could not believe it until he said it. "Newton." Kate freezes for a few seconds before a burst of laughter spills from her mouth. 'You are never going to use it!"

"That's the whole point." Anthony reminded her and watched how her eyes darkened at his admission. "My sweet, dutiful Lord, are you ready to submit your control to me?" His voice cracked as Kate's hands traced his hip lines. "Yes, I submit! I submit myself to your mercy."

As soon as he said that, Kate leaned forward to kiss him passionately while his hand grabbed his member, giving it a firm squeeze. "You are mine! Mine to kiss, mine to fuck, mine to pleasure! Understand!"

"Yes! Yes Goddess! I am yours!" Anthony moans as she begins stroking his member fast while kissing and biting wherever she wants. She leaned down to kiss his chest before licking his pecs, as he sometimes does with her breast.

Kate's lips were stimulating his body while his member throbbed more under her hand. Finally, his body arched, ready to spill in those soft hands, when suddenly she took her hand away. "What?!" He gasped as he helplessly watched his throbbing member, and the worst part was that he could not use his hand to relieve his ache.

He helplessly stared at his bound hand before turning to his lover, who seemed to pick up her sketch book as she began to draw him again. "Now, this seems perfect."

"Kate. Please!" Anthony wines as Kate gives him a sharp look. "What did you call me?" Anthony's eyes widened as he quickly shook his head. "Goddess! I mean, please, my goddess, relive me from this torment."

Kate tutted in disappointment as she resumed her sketch. "You disappoint me, my sweet dutiful lord. I thought you were gentlemen, but you crossed me today, and even now all you can think about is your relief. Have you even asked what I want?"

"Then tell me what you want. command me! I am yours to do as you please." Anthony assured her earnestly, and Kate leans in to kiss him sensually before releasing him from his bonds. "Here you go. I am giving you a chance to humble yourself in front of your goddess; if you truly prove yourself as my true devout, only then will I consider reliving your pain."

Anthony watched his goddess as she spread out naked on his bed, and to keep this sight forever, Anthony quickly moved to prove he was worthy of her.

He reverently kissed his goddess before trailing his lips down to taste her neck and to suckle on her breast, as they seemed made for only his attention. He trailed his tongue down and gently kissed her womb, hoping one day to fill it with his seeds and make beautiful babies who would look like his goddess.

Anthony was so lost in those fantasies that he did not realise the sharp tug on his hair as Kate lifted his head. "As fascinating as my belly seems to you, I need your attention elsewhere."

"As you wish." Anthony said so obediently, and with one kiss, he trailed his lips to his goddess alter. Anthony wrapped his arms around her thighs as he kissed them sensually before leaning to kiss his love's sweetness.

Kate moans and gasps as Anthony sucks and licks hard. "Oh! Uh!" She trashed and shook in pleasure as he took his goddess to great heights.

"Ah! Ah! Anthony!" Kate moans before covering her mouth because she remembers where they are, but Anthony moves his hand away. "Do not worry; my room is far away from others to hear anything."

It was then that Kate's moans of passion echoed around the room as she finally fell apart, great pleasure coursing through her body. Anthony licked her essence clean as he proudly lifted his face to see his love's blissful face. "Have I pleased you?"

"Immensely." She moans before beckoning him towards her, and Anthony all but crawls towards his love, yearning for any affection. 'My sweet Lord, you really pleased me so much, and now it's my turn to relive you."

She traced his lips before bringing his face up for a sweet kiss as she trapped him by wrapping her long legs around him. "Go on, my Lord; you are allowed to have anything you want."

Anthony growled before kissing Kate passionately as he slipped inside her, awaiting heat. 'Fùck! I missed you so much!" He vigorously moves his hips with all the days worth of pent-up yearning he felt for this woman.

Kate moans and scratches his back, clutching him closer as Anthony moves deeper inside his heart. The bed was creaking in protest, but they did not care as they moved wildly within each other.

"Kate! My Goddess! My beautiful girl! I want you so much! I ..."

He was about to confess in a moment of passion, but Kate's loud moans drowned out his voice as she shattered beneath him, and then, after a few more hard snaps, Anthony pulled out to spray his seed on her skin."

Anthony was shivering as he collapsed on top of Kate. He never experienced such lovemaking in his life because no matter how many times he kissed any woman, they could never feel like his love.

Kate cooed and soothed his hair as she moved, even though he protested to pick up a plate of cake and a glass of milk. "Here she opened up." She gently coaxed him to obey, and Anthony did not realise how hungry he felt. "I notice you did not eat properly at dinner."

"That's because you were angry with me." He wines like a child before he gets a grip on his emotions. "God! I was terrible today! Can you forgive me?"

Kate smirked as she traced his lips to wipe away crumbs. "I just did, but remember, next time you try to throw my ball away, I will not be as generous with my forgiveness."

But Anthony could only imagine their next match, hopefully as husband and wife, and he has to agree. "As you wish, My Lady."

Next morning, Anthony woke up with a huge smile on his face as he turned, hoping to make sweet love to his lover, but instead of the warm body of his lover, his hand found landing on empty sheets and a lone folded piece of paper underneath his hand.

Frowning Anthony looked around in his empty chambers before picking up the paper that had something written on it. "Sorry about leaving you alone, but to make up for my absence, I am leaving you with a gift." Anthony unfolded the paper, and his eyes widened in surprise because there was a sketch of him but not the one she drew in front of him; instead, this was Kate drawing herself completely nude as she leans towards his sleeping form. The sheets were off his body because Kate was draped over him in a lover's embrace.

Anthony sighed as his head fell back. He turned his head to see the mirror and found a besotted man smiling back at him. "You have lost it, Bridgerton." He tells his reflection, but his smile grows wider as he kisses the sketch and holds it closer to his heart. "You have lost your heart to Kathani Sharma; now go steal her."

With that determination, Anthony dressed in his best riding attire as he strolled towards breakfast. He beamed when he noticed Kate was sitting in a chair next to him.

"Good morning, Bridgerton's!" Good morning, ladies." He greeted his family and guests before taking Kate's hand to kiss on it, and Kate blushed as he settled in his chair before he leaned forward to whisper in her ears. "I love your gift."

"You seem to be in better spirits, brother; has Miss Sharma forgiven you?" Daphne inquires as every eye turns to them. "Um, yes, I apologised after dinner, and she was gracious enough to forgive me."

Colin, however, frowned as he inquired. "When did you apologise? I thought Miss Sharma retired earlier."

Anthony and Kate both looked nervous until Sophie suddenly started speaking. "Viscount found us last night in the library while we were searching for books to read before sleeping."

But this seems to make everyone more suspicious, as Eloise inquires. "Since when did you venture to the library?" I never knew you read anything other than those ledgers." Anthony felt offended as he snapped. "I read plenty for your information!"

"Like what?" Gregory inquires.

"Actually, Viscount was escorting me towards the library as I lost my way to it." Penelope came up to Anthony's defence, and Colin was stunned and a little hurt. 'You asked him? Why would you ask for his help? You could call me?"

Penelope lowered her gaze, and Colin started becoming nervous as a strange kind of fear crept into his heart. Simon, however, was glad for his friend, as he says. "Well, it does not matter how it happened, but what matters most is that this feud is finally over and now we can all enjoy our week."

"Well said!" Lady Danbury beamed as an idea formed in her mind. "On that great note, how about you children go out for riding and picnicking? Daphne and Simon will chaperone my wards and Miss Featherington, while Violet and I will stay here and start preparing for the upcoming ball."

"Capital idea, Lady Danbury." Anthony said as he instructed everyone. "Hurry up and finish your breakfast, and get ready for our picnic."

Violet was shocked because, as far as she knew, Daphne and her had already planned everything last night with Lady Danbury. She waited until they watched them leave before she turned to her friend, who sighed in relief as she confessed. "I need to gather my strength to deal with those two, and you need to do the same if we want to see them engage this week."

Violet smiled and called Mrs. Wilson as she instructed her. "Lady Danbury and I are sitting in the sun room. Tell everyone not to disturb us unless it is necessary, and also send our best bottle of sherry, will you?" With that, both friends left to enjoy their day off.

Meanwhile, as others travelled by carriage, Anthony, Kate, Daphne, and Simon decided to ride on their horses, which soon turned into competition between Anthony and Kate. 'Last one to waterfall is a loser!" Kate screamed, and Anthony laughed as he speeded up. "In your dreams!"

"Oh No!" Daphne looked worriedly as they galloped away like wind, while Simon groaned as he stared at his wife. "Let's hope they will not fight again."

By the time they all arrived at their destination, Kate was whooping with joy. "I won! Despite you cheating again, I still won!"

"How on earth could I cheat this time!?" Anthony inquires, and Kate scrunches her nose as she reminds him. "You knew these lands, and you used a short route to beat me, but still I won."

"You!" Anthony was about to say something rude when Simon yelled at them. "Both of you, go to opposite sides!"

"But he! But she!" They both began to say, but Simon will not let this picnic turn into another fighting match. "I outrank you both, so you will listen to me! Now, Miss Sharma, you will go with Daphne, and you, Bridgerton, come with me!"

Anthony huffed as Kate left. "I cannot believe you pulled the rank card." Simon sighed as he rubbed his face. "I cannot believe Lady Danbury did this to me! I swear, as soon as we return, I will be having many words with my godmother."

While Simon was doing his chaperone duty, no one noticed as Colin approached Penelope, who was sitting all alone by the tree, while others went to see the waterfall up close. She looked so different and so beautiful in her green dress, and Colin, who likes her in any colour, thought today she looked even more beautiful.

Penelope was so engrossed in her book that her eyes were startled when she found Colin in front of her. "Colin, I did not notice you."

"I never thought you would say this to me." Colin says this with sadness in his voice, and Penelope feels her heart clench. "I did not mean that."

But it seems Colin's mind was somewhere else, as he suddenly asked. "Why did you agree to him? To his courtship! I always thought you looked up to him as an older brother, but these past few weeks, something changed. If that is true, then was I wrong all along?"

Penelope sighed as she closed her book. 'I don't know what to tell you, but no, this Lord Bridgerton courtship opens so many possibilities for me that were never there the previous season. My mama is thrilled with this courtship, but she advises me to please other suitors when they arrive this week, so tell me, Colin, what am I supposed to do? I refused everyone and will stay spinster for the rest of my life."

Colin stammered as he realised how troubled Penelope seemed. "You are still young, Penelope, and you deserve the best."

But Penelope shook her head as she stood up. "Waiting for the best is not a luxury I can afford; it is now or never for me, and as my friend, I hope you understand my need to get married as much as I understand your need to travel around the world." With that, Penelope left, leaving Colin to ponder things.

On the other side, Sophie was sitting with Francesca, unaware that Benedict was painting a waterfall, but specifically her. Benedict frowns as he realises her dress looks different, as she was wearing a simple yellow dress. He waited until Francesca was gone to help girls fetch berries as he sat in her vacant place. "Your dress seems loose on your form."

Sophie raised her eyes before looking down at her dress. "How can you say that?" Benedict smirks as he sits closer. "Call it the eye of an artist, but I can say this dress is not yours."

Sophie laughs as she shows him ribbons to support her dress. "I traded my dress with Penelope; her mama choice is quite citric, and I saw her admiring my green dress, so we traded, although I had to alter both dresses, and you will not believe how many flowers and butterflies I took off this dress to make it decent."

Benedict looked impressed. "You did a great job; how did you learn such a craft?" Sophie blushed as she told him about Penwood Village, where her mama and papa found jobs as seamstresses. "I really love making clothes; in fact, my papa wanted to open his own shop, but he got sick, and we lost all our money, and then I."

Benedict felt sad as he offered his handkerchief. Sophie took it with a grateful smile as she wiped her beautiful eyes. "Well, no need to be sad anymore; sooner or later, you will find a worthy suitor, and he will shower you with many dresses, and everyone in ton will envy you."

Sophie, however, sighed as she confessed. "After seeing the real face of this ton, all I want is to escape from it." Her voice was so wistful that Benedict could not help, as he confessed too. "I feel the same as you, Miss Bennett." In that moment, it seemed Benedict had found someone who truly understood him.

Anthony, on the other hand, was completely oblivious to his brother's revelations, as he could only focus on his own.

He smiled as he used Hyacinth to distract everyone as he walked towards Kate, who was collecting berries in her basket while eating them every once in a while. It was truly mesmerising to see how she ate a berry and licked the remaining juice.

"You are doing this on purpose." Anthony whispered as he clutched her closer under the shade of a tree. "Anthony! Behave! If someone finds us, then we will be in trouble."

Anthony sighed as he leaned in closer to inhale her scent. "With you, I crave trouble."

Kate laughed and kissed him before quickly pushing him away. "Seriously Anthony! Go before someone! Anthony! Anthony!" Kate could not understand how his playful eyes suddenly became tense as his grip on her wrist tightened. "Kate!" He seems to be struggling with something as he tries to pull her closer. "Come, here, there, there is..."

Kate could not understand why he was gasping but soon realised it was a bee buzzing noise, and the bee itself came into line with her vision. "Oh, it's just a bee; there is no need to...Ouch!" She was stung, and as she touched her chest, a scream startled her. 'No! No! Kate! You cannot!"

Anthony was crying, holding her frantically as he yelled for help. "Benedict! Colin! Simon! Help!" He was shivering in tears as he begged. "Breath Kate! Please do not die."

Kate was frozen in shock as everyone rushed towards them, and Anthony started begging and screaming. "Please help! Please save her!"

Kate lurched forward and put Anthony's hand on her chest. "Look, I am fine! I was stung many times! Come breathe!"

Anthony was shaking as Kate tried to calm him down, while everyone looked worried until they gasped, as Kate says. "It was just a bee."

"Oh god!" Daphne cried, and Kate frowned in confusion as Anthony swayed and clutched her closer. "Do not die." With that, he collapsed, and Kate was the only one to stop his fall as he fell unconscious in her arms.