A/N: What is even life? Mine is under a rock it seems. Anyway, enjoy reading this chapter with more tidbits than 'Off to the Races'.
CHAPTER - 18 - INTRUDER
The Sharma sisters were at the Royal Ascot led by Lady Danbury. As promised, Lord Lumley had arrived to escort Edwina to the races. While Kate had felt that they could arrive at Quarter to one, Lady Danbury insisted that her sponsees be seen, and insisted on being in the field at midday.
"Thankyou Lord Lumley, for placing a small bet on my behalf", said Kate.
"Oh it is alright", he replied. "I place some for my mother every year. She is an enthusiast, you see". He turned to Edwina and continued, "It is a marvel that you love literature as much as I do. Tell me, do you enjoy Byron?"
"I have read some, my Lord. Though I believe myself a novice when it comes to poetry," she responded.
"How fortunate then, Edwina, to have found such a well-versed teacher in Lord Lumley", said Kate.
"Many find poetry to be a flat medium—words silently read from a page. But I believe it is meant to be read aloud like music," he reached into his pocket. Here, I carry a small pocket copy of my favorites wherever I go," he showed Edwina.
However, Lady Danbury soon stopped on her way, for a gentleman approached her with greetings. "Lady Danbury, Good Afternoon".
"Ah. Mister Dorset", she chimed in. Someone she already knew then. "How have you been?"
"I'm faring well, thank you for asking", he smiled. "Although I must admit, I came hoping that you could facilitate a proper introduction."
Lady Danbury did not delay any longer. "Of course. Mr. Thomas Dorset, allow me to introduce Miss Sharma, and Miss Edwina Sharma", she said coolly as they curtsied. "This is Mr. Thomas Dorset."
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss Sharma and Miss Edwina."
Another gentleman hoping to get acquainted with Edwina, thought Kate.
"Might I escort you to the stands?" the gentleman asked looking towards the sisters, and then swiftly turning to Lady Danbury. "The race is about to begin."
But before Lady Danbury could say anything, Kate spoke up. "I'm afraid my sister already has an escort for today, Mr. Dorset", she dissuaded gently.
"That is very well", he said, " Though I was hoping to speak with you." While Kate's eyes widened slightly at the shock, Mr. Dorset seemed to look at her head on. This was an unexpected turn of events.
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Kate's surprise had only diminished a little when Lady Danbury spoke up. The dragon was quick to take a chance that presented itself so well.
"Of course, Mr. Dorset. Miss Sharma is glad to be escorted by you. I shall leave you two to get acquainted."
And Kate was taken by surprise again. Despite the fact that Kate made her point quite clear that she was not looking for a husband, Lady Danbury seemed to have other ideas. Kate looked towards Edwina with uncertainty, not that she could have done anything at this point. Her sister, however, simply smiled at her and followed Lady Danbury's lead.
"Oh, that would be wonderful, Didi; the four of us can enjoy the race together."
Kate gave a tight-lipped smile as she agreed with her sister. As she took Mr. Dorset's hand so that he could lead her at the ascot, she however decided to keep up her reserved demeanor.
"How are you finding the season, Miss Sharma?" spoke the tall gentleman.
Kate chuckled in response. "It is a season, Mister Dorset. And I am not -"
"London is a far cry from Bombay this time of the year, I suppose", he added.
Kate was taken aback at those words. Not only was this man speaking to her about the weather, rather than the London matchmaking season, but presented how it contrasted with Bombay. Kate wondered if he was a traveler, with what he knew about her home.
"It is where you traveled from, I assume? Or was it the port of Calcutta?"
"Yes, Bombay," she smiled warily. "You know we traveled from India?"
"Of course. Nothing ever says hidden within the ton. You are 'Lady Danbury's esteemed guests who traveled to London recently from India'," he quoted.
"Oh well, everyone does know, I suppose," she said in response. "Have you been there?"
"I have been studying medicine there for some time," he replied. "I find India quite fascinating. It is a wondrous place. You must miss it dearly", he posed as he looked towards her for an answer.
"Oh, every minute of everyday", she accepted with a faint smile. "But most especially at tea time", she laughed.
"Should we find our seats, Dorset?" asked Lumley, as he halted in front of the stands.
"We seem to have some more time before the first race starts," Mr. Dorset said nudging him. Lord Lumley accepted that and continued walking, but Kate did not Miss Edwina's mischievous smirk.
And, of course, there was a reason for that. This might actually be the first time she was spoken to by someone who was not vying for Edwina's hand. And Edwina wanted nothing more than for Kate to find someone suitable as well.
Or was it too soon to think that, Kate wondered.
However, she could not help but wonder about Mister Dorset's studies in India. "You travel widely then? Or only India?" she asked.
"I did travel widely ever since I found medicine to be particularly fascinating", he told.
Edwina, however, chimed in excitedly. "The helping of others is a noble interest, indeed. Mr. Dorset is like you in that regard, sister", she chirped in amusement.
Rather unabashed, for Edwina, eyed Kate. "Edwina, have you spoken to Lord Lumley of his interests at all?" Kate fared, knowing fully well that Lord Lumley has been conversing about his only interest, poetry, since the moment he danced with Edwina the first time. Edwina feigned a smile and continued her conversation with Lord Lumley.
"Anyway, I visited Europe first after University, thereafter looking for more varying methods to treat and cure ailments. That is how I ended up in India," he explained.
Kate's interest was piqued at this point, so she pressed on. "And how do you find India, Mr. Dorset?"
"It is a wonderful land full of contrasts" he said enthusiastically. "The culture, the people, even the air is different. I have grown quite fond of it."
A hint of a smile touched Kate's lips. "India has a way of leaving an indelible mark on one's heart."
Mr. Dorset agreed, his eyes lighting up. "I have been extremely fortunate to travel between India and London over the past few years. My studies in medicine have taken me to various parts of the country."
"What aspect of medicine do you study?" Kate inquired, genuinely curious.
"Surgery, primarily," he replied. "Although I have had the opportunity to learn from quite a few remarkable physicians in India. Their knowledge is quite advanced and they extend it directly into apothecaries."
Kate nodded, impressed despite herself. "That is true. India has much to offer in terms of wisdom and ancient practices. Many of the common ingredients used to prepare medicines are household essentials so that no one has to heavily rely on physicians."
"Yes. I have noticed that. I have been to many cities, large and small. Yet, even though each city presents its own unique challenges, the approaches are quite similar."
"Where have you been within India?" Kate asked.
"Oh well, majorly Calcutta, Bombay, and Delhi. Among others, mostly Benaras and Madras," Mr. Dorset replied.
"Bombay is- has been our home for many years," Kate said.
Mr. Dorset smiled. "I can see why you would miss it. Though London has its own allure, I admit that once you live in India, it stays with you."
"That is true." Kate accepted whole-heartedly. "There is a spirit to India that is hard to define, but once experienced, it becomes a part of you."
"Of course. I never thought I was someone who would be enraptured by different cultures. Yet the festivals in India are unlike any other," Mr. Dorset remarked.
Kate's eyes gleamed with utter joy although she maintained her composure. "You took the opportunity to celebrate Indian festivals, Mr. Dorset?"
"I witnessed Diwali in Calcutta last year," he breathed as he took a seat and looked into the distance. His expression was pensive, as if recalling a distant yet cherished memory. "The lights, the drums, the fireworks, the sheer joy of the people—it was a sight to behold."
Kate's smile echoed into a soft sigh as she joined him. "Diwali is one of the most beautiful festivals. Entire cities come alive with light and color. It must have been a memorable experience for you."
"It was indeed," Mr. Dorset agreed. "The sense of community and celebration is truly remarkable. And the food—"
Kate laughed softly. "Ah, yes, the food. There is nothing quite like Indian cuisine, I must boast."
"And I shall agree," he let out a quiet chuckle. "It was quite hard to choose a favorite among them."
"You have a favorite dish?" Kate exclaimed with a thrilled laugh.
"I was particularly fond of the sweet dish known as jalebi," he admitted, smiling. "The delicacy was unlike anything I have tasted before."
Kate nodded appreciatively. "Jalebi has a way of winning over anyone's heart."
"Well, I am already weak in the knees when it comes to sweets. I suppose I could not hold back from giving my heart away," he joined. "What is your favorite?"
"Chai." Kate immediately answered and then flushed. She rarely ever lost her poise. But when it came to her home country, she supposed it was bound to happen.
"Ah. How I miss it during cold mornings in England."
Kate gave him a wholehearted smile. "It is delightful to hear that you embraced our traditions so wholeheartedly, Mr. Dorset."
"I believe that experiencing and understanding different cultures makes one a better person, thereby a better physician. There is much to learn from each other." And Kate simply agreed.
Soon, as the first race was announced, they followed Edwina and Lord Lumley to the stands to take a seat. As Kate's eyes sparkled with excitement, Mr. Dorset made a simple observation.
"You seem to enjoy the races, Miss Sharma," he said. "You hide passionate spirit beneath your composed exterior."
"I do enjoy the races," Kate admitted to the former with a chuckle. She was going to ignore the latter observation. "There is a thrill, an unpredictability that is quite captivating."
Mr. Dorset laughed. "Indeed. It mirrors life in many ways, does it not?" he continued without noticing the redirected the conversation.
"Perhaps," Kate conceded as her gaze fixed on the track again, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Life is certainly unpredictable... and full of surprises," she poised.
"Like making a new acquaintance at the racecourse?" Mr. Dorset questioned with a smile.
Kate's eyes met his, and for a moment, the distance between them seemed to lessen. Perhaps she would not be so alone after all, now that she had made a friend in him "Yes," she agreed softly, because it was definitely a surprise to meet someone with whom she could so easily converse with about her homeland.
"Thank you for speaking with me about my homeland Mr. Dorset," Kate said gently. "I miss it terribly, and I did not think I would find someone who might share the same feeling."
"You do not need to thank me for that, Miss Sharma, I was happy to. To be honest, I have found our conversation enlightening in many ways," he said with a smile. Such a genuine spirit, Kate found herself thinking.
And Kate found herself agreeing with the man who truly proved to be a gentleman. However, their conversation was quickly interrupted as Lord Lumley and Edwina rejoined them offering greetings.
"Of course, Join us, Lord Bridgerton", Lord Lumley invited on, and Kate snapped her head in that direction.
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Viscount Bridgerton. Shameless, and unabashed.
Even after the extreme effort Kate had put into keeping Edwina away from him, he somehow kept fighting it.
"Miss Sharma." he greeted with a smug grin, as Kate speechlessly looked at him helping Edwina into the stands.
"How delightful to see you, My Lord." Kate finally spoke.
Edwina immediately chimed in to offer an introduction, trying to diffuse the situation. "This is Mr. Thomas Dorset, My Lord, he is escorting escorting my sister at the races today", she said, excited.
Lord Bridgerton gave a curt nod and looked towards Kate again. If smiles could speak, his was definitely screaming how he had an upper hand over her. Kate could only look at him with surprise, trying to understand how he had managed to turn Edwina's attention from conversing with Lord Lumley towards himself. But simply looking at Lord Lumley, who easily took on speaking to Lord Cumberland about the race, was explanation enough.
"Miss Edwina, I was hoping to call on you this morning - " he began superfluously apologetic. But Kate realized what he wanted to do, and she would not let him spin the tale around.
" - My sister received your flowers, Lord Bri-"
"- But I had promised my family to join them for breakfast", he spoke over her. "We have a tradition, if you can call it that", he gave Edwina his most charming smile. "My apologies for not finding you sooner.
"How wonderful, My Lord," Edwina smiled in response. "No apologies necessary."
"They are just over there, in fact," he mused pointing somewhere to his left. "I would like to introduce you to them after the races if you would like."
Blood boiled in Kate's veins. He was trying to rope her in by showcasing a loving united family, and great promises for the future. Surely Edwina would see through it. She would make sure Edwina sees his lies.
However, Edwina replied in an excited tone. "Of course, My Lord. I shall be delighted to make their acquaintance," even though Kate remained unimpressed with his antics.
"One can tell a great deal about a man from his family, don't you think, Didi?" she asked, forcing Kate to join the conversation.
So Kate took the offer. "Yes, there are many excellent affectionate families of the ton, are there not, Lord Lumley?" she chimed to drag him back into the conversation he belonged. Surely he would take the cue and tell about his own family and draw Edwina back towards him.
"Though none quite as inviting as the Bridgertons, Miss Sharma", Lord Lumley said with a smile.
Kate suddenly began questioning his sanity. There was a certain competition, between men, was there not, in terms of marrying Edwina? Then why would Lord Lumley say such a moronic thing, and hand over the reins to Lord Bridgerton out of everyone.
"My mother has been wanting to come and enjoy another tea at Bridgerton house for some time", he said to the Viscount.
"Well, we must gratify her wish then, Lumley", Lord Bridgerton entertained. Kate rolled her eyes at that. "Speaking of refreshments, I could not help but notice the ladies are without."
Kate spun her head around quickly. This man had not only the audacity, but also believed he was so clever. "We are perfectly content, thank you -" she began, but unbelievably, he interrupted again.
"It is an unseasonably hot day," he said to no one in particular, but Kate knew it was directed at Lumley, "and any gentleman would make sure -"
"Miss Edwina, allow me to fetch a lemonade for you", Lord Lumley said. Of course he would take this cue, Kate laughed to herself in disbelief.
However, even Edwina took the offer, with a glint in her eye. "Oh. That would be most agreeable. Thank you My Lord." If she was not impressed with Lord Bridgerton's false claims, or smug face, she was impressed with his clever tactic to lead Lumley out of the way.
As Lord Lumley left for the lemonade stand, Anthony Bridgerton stepped in to sit with them, to the discomfort of those seated in front of them. Shrewdly, he replaced Lord Lumley's spot, and sat between Edwina and Kate.
"A splendid day for a race, is it not?" he mused to Edwina, who laughed out a response. There was nothing Kate could do to knock that grin off Lord Bridgerton's face.
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A/N: Only my workload is of note. If someone could Venmo me something... Peace, or poison perhaps... that would be great. Thanks.
Also, I hope you noticed the changes I made to this chapter (to cover up the loopholes like - if Anthony had set Dorset to distract Kate, why did he not talk to Edwina sooner, why did he only enter when they had already entered the stands when Kate could focus on him?) anyway, fixed those.
Let me know if you liked the chapter? Pretty please?