A/N: I lied. I brought 3 chapters.
Although, careful here on. I shuffled the pre-exisiting scenes and dialogues as I made new ones out of them.

CHAPTER - 8 - THE SISTER

Anthony Bridgerton was now finally free. For one dance. What he had wanted to use as a respite from young ladies who were no good for the Bridgerton name, he was using it to relieve himself of the pain Miss Quinn had inflicted upon his feet. 'Much prefer a quadrille myself, at least that would have kept my feet away', thought Anthony as he sighed into his thoughts and planned what to do ahead. But Violet Bridgerton had caught up to him. If his mother could, she would have him dance all 8 dances with a different Miss of her liking. And now that she found him alone, there was no way to escape this fate now.

"Anthony, there you are dearest", she smiled urgently. And she was standing next to Lady Danbury and another woman he did not recognize. Anthony resigned his fate at this moment. Another matchmaking mama who would pester him with her daughter's dance card, when he thought he would get to breathe a little.

"Lord Bridgerton", greeted Lady Danbury as she thumped her cane. "I must say, you look dashing this evening."

"Thank you, Lady Danbury. Although, I could never beat you at being the best dressed person any evening", he indulged her.

"Oh, how you indulge me. Though what is it that I hear, that you are looking for a Viscountess this very season?"

Anthony was taken aback. Of course, his mother. But as he looked at her, Violet's vacant expression gave away the fact that she was not the one to present this information to Lady Danbury. Though Whistledown was only speculating that his charades of interviewing women can be viewed as if he had intentions to marry, it was barely suggesting that he would marry this very season, however true it may be. So Anthony was left to wonder, as to how the dragon found out this truth he kept to his core.

"All in good time Lady Danbury. If the right Young Lady comes along, then why not", he replied modestly. However impossible finding the right woman seemed at this point.

"Hm. Well, allow me to present, my dear friend, Lady Mary Sharma", said Lady Danbury and the woman curtsied to Anthony. "Lady Mary, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton".

Anthony bowed in response. "Lady Mary and her daughters are my guests for the season. They have traveled all the way from India for the season."

"All the way from India? Ah. Do you find everything to your liking here Lady Mary?" he enquired politely.

"Thank you for asking My Lord. Yes, we are very comfortable here."

"Is this your first time here in the Society?"

The woman looked a little uncomfortable at the question, yet she answered politely. "It is for my children, My Lord. We all moved to India when my eldest was very young, and have only been back now."

"Well, I wish you the best for the London Season, Lady Mary", he nodded. This was a pleasant conversation. Lady Mary Sharma did not try to persuade him to court her anyone. Maybe he could walk away and continue his quest for a Viscountess according to his requirements.

"Ah. There she is," began Lady Danbury with a smirk. Anthony could see his chances of walking away disappearing within the blink of an eye. This was Lady Danbury's plan, not his mothers. Well, he shall have to forgo his dance with Eloise now, it seemed.

He turned to look at the woman with whom Lady Danbury wanted to arrange his meeting with. A young miss in pink dress walked towards the group with a pleasant smile on her face. There was no rush on her face upon being in the presence of a Viscount. Perhaps something she was told to do, Anthony wondered .

"May I present, my youngest, Miss Edwina Sharma, My Lord", Lady Mary began. "Edwina, this is the Viscount, Lord Anthony Bridgerton."

Miss Edwina curtsied politely. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance, My Lord", she smiled.

"How are you finding everything here, Miss Edwina? Lady Mary tells me it is your first time here in London", Anthony asked as he tried to mediate polite conversation.

"Our stay has been very comfortable, my Lord. We are very grateful to Lady Danbury for her guidance."

"And how are you finding the… weather? It must not be this cold in India", Anthony added worriedly. Was weather the only suitable topic he could find apart from the questions he asked in his interviews?

However, Edwina was amused. "The weather is treating us fine, My Lord. I am certain that as seasons change, we will become accustomed accordingly."

Maybe it could do him some good to ask the Miss for a dance. She seemed polite and bore genteel manners. He could interview her during the dance.

"Miss Edwina, would you honor me with a dance?" he asked. She might have a dance or two vacant.

The young Miss looked around, then looked over at Lady Danbury. "Miss Edwina's dance card is vacant for the upcoming set, My Lord", suggested Lady Danbury, and the young Miss nodded. I would be delighted to join you, My Lord" she said.

Anthony led her to the floor, still in the line of sight of her matriarchs, but far enough so that they could not eavesdrop. She was a smooth dancer, flawless, even. Every step to the point, never missing. Needless to say, he was amused.

"Do you play any musical instruments, by chance, Miss Edwina?" he asked. The questions had to begin somewhere, and what better than asking about her interests as he was trying to know about her.

"Besides the Pianoforte, I also play Sitar and Harmonium, two musical instruments exclusive to India."

"Exceptional. Do you perhaps speak any foreign languages?"

"Many, in fact. But most of my Education was taken up by rather serious pursuits. Classical Literature, Philosophy, and Arithmetic. I do love to read."

Anthony could not help but smile. She was an accomplished dancer, skilled at multiple musical instruments, and did, in fact, read. Could it be that the young miss standing in front of him fulfilled all his requirements for being a viscountess?

"Forgive my directness, but do you have any thoughts about children?"

"Other than the fact that I desire them so? However many I have, My Lord, I shall feel most fortunate", she said gently.

"How very sensible", Anthony said, taken aback. "What would you do if one of them overspends?" he raised.

"I should hope I taught them well, My Lord. But together with my husband, we shall chart the best course."

If Anthony was just amused until now, he was amazed at this point. 'Brilliant', he thought. This was exactly what he wanted to hear in the many interviews he conducted. And he was elated to find the right person to fulfill the role as his Viscountess.

"You do not seem discomposed by my line of questioning", he said. A part of him was curious to know how she was so collected.

"Why ever would I be? Any person who knows what they want is in fact admirable", she smiled.

That moment right there, all Anthony wanted to do was to meet the man who raised such an impressionable daughter. Miss Edwina was everything he looked for in a Viscountess. Smart, talented, and fully capable of handling the duties that came with being a Viscountess. It may be time to stop looking elsewhere. This may be where he could stop looking. Miss Edwina Sharma could be the perfect Viscountess Bridgerton.

Well, there was no use in making the delay now. He ought to seek her father's permission. So Anthony took it upon himself to ask the final question.

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A/N: Up next. The rest of the conversation between Kate and Benedict. The countdown begins for 15 days. Don't worry; it is already written.