Rajkumarri Kathani was nervous as she stood with other debutantes while Amma fixed her dress. "Do not worry, Beta; you are one beautiful and talented girl, and I am sure we will find you a suitable match to make our alliance strong with the crown."
"Amma, why would any nobleman choose a foreign princess of a small kingdom when he has the option of noble ladies in the ton?" Her Amma only smiles at her daughter as she confidently reminds her. "Because there are no real noble families left, remember how your Appa told us about the great fire of 1814? Sadly, many noble families perished in that fire along with Queen of that time, as far as everyone knows, only the Duchy of Hastings and the Vicounty of Bridgerton have survived; the rest are newly titled people courtesy of Late Prince Regent George, who granted them as soon as he became King. So these noble people are not that noble at all."
Kathani did feel better about her prospects after this reminder. Soon, doors opened, and their names were announced. 'Princess Kathani Krishnaraja ispresented by esteemed Princess Kavari Krishnaraja."
Kathani and her mother began to walk, and everyone gasped at their colourful gowns and sparkling jewels. Kathani and Kavari smiled at Milan Krishnaraja as they passed by him, who nodded proudly at his daughter and wife. Finally, Kathani focused on greeting old Queen Victoria, who was staring at her with a smile as she curtsied the Queen. To everyone's surprise, the old queen stood up and walked towards her, lifting her face as she smiled brightly at her. "Flawless, my dear! You will be the crown jewel of this season."
As soon as this announcement was made, many eligible men stepped forward for introduction, but Queen dismissed them all as she stared at someone. "Duchess of Hastings, are you not going to introduce your grand son to my crown jewel?"
Kathani noticed how an oldest looking duchess walked towards the Queen with help of her cane, but her eyes were transfixed on Kathani's face as she reached out to touch her face. "Unbelievable." She whispered in disbelief before quickly composing herself as she turned around to face Queen. "My grandson son is still in his last year of Oxford, but if it's alright with Your Majesty, I want my grand nephew to be introduced to Princess Kathani."
In that moment, everyone gasped as Queen looked around the crowd. "Lord Bridgerton is here? I thought he was content with staying at Aubrey Hall like his late father before him." At that moment, footsteps were heard, and the crowd moved aside as the most handsome man arrived with a commanding presence. He bowed to Queen Victoria before staring at Kathani with great intensity in his eyes.
"Lord Bridgerton, it's great to see you for the first time in society. I must say you are as handsome and remarkably similar as your late father." But soon everyone realised that Lord Bridgerton's focus was fixed on Queen's Crown Jewel, who then kindly asked. "Would you like to dance with my jewel?" He smiled and held out his hand. "It will be my honour to have her first dance."
Kathani blushed and stared at her Amma and Appa as both gave her encouraging smiles. "You may, my Lord."
She was led to the dance floor, and a waltz began as she danced with her handsome Viscount. "You are quite a beauty princess, Kathani." Kathani beamed as she twirled in his arms. "You are quite handsome too, my Lord and I must say I find your smile pleasing." He laughed joyfully before suddenly dipping her, and Kathani shivered because she was sure he was inhaling her scent as he whispered against her skin. "Call me Anthony, my Kathani."
With a gasp, she was twirling again, and as they danced the night away, everyone began to talk about the season's best match between Princess and Viscount.
With a gasp, Kathani woke up and found herself alone in a massive bed. Her head is spinning with images of dreams, and like her other strange dreams, this seems more vivid than others. Shaking her head, she tried to get rid of her strange dreams. "That place is messing with my mind."
Once she was freshened up, Kathani stepped outside, and suddenly she was hit by the lovely aroma of food that suddenly took her back to her mom's kitchen. Her stomach growled as she walked towards the kitchen, which was now filled with a delicious scent, and her sight was filled with delicious food. "Oh Anthony!"
He was flipping Dosa on the plate as he smirked at her. "Good morning, Miss Iyer. I thought to make something special for your breakfast." As Kathani approached closer, she could not help but shake her head in wonder. "Are you kidding me?! You prepared the entire breakfast feast for me. How did you know how to make dosa, idli, sambar, and upma, and is that coconut rice?"
"I have made some sweet buttermilk too; I thought after last night's ordeal something from home would cheer you up." Kathani felt her heart melt, and she did not realise she was getting teary until Anthony leaned in to wipe her tears away. "No more tears, Kathani; I simply cannot bear to see you in tears. From now on, please keep smiling." In that moment, Newton suddenly rushed towards her and gave her his huge smile to cheer her up.
"How can I refuse you when you both are being so sweet to me? Come, let's take these dishes to the table because I do not know about you, but I am quite famished." Anthony smiled as they carried dishes towards the table and together began to enjoy their breakfast while occasionally feeding sausages to Newton. "Yum! She moans as she enjoys the taste of this delicious food. 'How can a British man like yourself cook as well as my Amma? I swear this sambar reminds me of my mom's sambar."
"Well, I am glad you enjoyed my creations, and they remind you of your mother's food. The truth is, I have learned to cook many Indian dishes each time I visit there." Kathani was now even more intrigued, but hearing how lovingly he described his visit to India and his love of Indian food and art, she could not help but ask with a dreaded feeling. "Do you have an Indian girlfriend who made you fall in love with everything about India?"
Newton barks for some reason while Anthony stares at her deeply as that pleasing smile creeps on his face. He leaned closer and tilted her face to stare directly into her eyes. "No need to doubt my intentions because there is no girlfriend in my life, Miss Iyer; for your information, I am single nowadays hoping desperately to woo this gorgeous Indian girl I have met. " Kathani blushed in embarrassment as she looked away. "Good to know."
Once their breakfast was finished, Anthony gave her a tour of his house. "I have seven more bedrooms; you have seen the sitting room, and that's the library. If you are into reading, you are welcome to read any book you like." "Thanks, and what's in there?"
Suddenly, she noticed how Anthony tensed up for a second before managing to reply indifferently. "That's my study, and Kathani, I will appreciate it if you stay away from this room. You see, this is my space, and it has many important things that I do not want to get lost or damaged. You are most welcome to this entire house except this place. I hope you understand me."
"I do." Kathani quickly assured him. "Believe it or not, but I have a room in my home as my studio, and no one is allowed in there, not even my parents. So I understand needing that one place for just yourself to use." Anthony seems to sigh in relief as they finish the tour, and he suggests taking Newton outside to the park. "I would love it, although can we stop by my hotel to change my clothes?"
Anthony seems in deep thought as he says, Only if you bring a bag of spare clothes with you because Newton and I are not done with your company yet." As if agreeing with him, Newton woofed and tried to climb up her legs, and Kathani could not help but smile at their adorable faces. "Of course, I will spend more time with you both."
The second she opened her door, Sophia was hugging her tightly. "God, Kathani, I am so glad you are okay; your text last night just freaked me out! Tell me what happened. I am sure something scared the hell out of you for you to be unable to make it back."
"Um, Sophia, I am fine; can you just let me go for a sec?" Sophia finally pulls away, and she notices Kathani is not alone, but a dashing man and adorable Corgi are staring at them. "Is that sexy, Viscount?!" Sophia gaped at this handsome hunk while her friend groaned. "God Soph!"
Anthony was watching them in great amusement as he bowed his head. "Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, and you must be Miss Sophia, Kathani's friend." "I am also her assistant or adviser." Sophia added while Kathani joined in. "Also occasionally, my Amma's spy."
"That's not true, because if it were, I would have told your Amma you did not return to the hotel last night. By the way, call your parents because they were worried for you when you did not call them yesterday." Kathani smacked her forehead and screamed apologetically at Anthony. "Please give me a few minutes; I need to quickly call my parents." "It's alright, how about you and Miss Sophia join us in the park once you are done with your call?"
"That will be great." Kathani says as they watch Anthony and Newton leave. Only once they were gone did Kathani fill in what happened at Mayfair, and while Sophia digested this news, Kathani called her parents and eased their worries away. "I am fine, Amma. I am just tired of this new job, but do not worry, I will be back again in a few months."
Sophia's eyes widen as she waits for the call to end. "Are you nuts?! Why did you lie to them when we are going to refuse this job?" "Because then Amma would demand that I return home, and I do not want to leave Anthony yet."
Sophia's eyes soften as she realises what her friend meant. "You really like this guy, didn't you? You know, I have never seen you like this with any other guy." Kathani sighed as she admitted "Anthony is just different; I know we barely know each other, but I feel I know his soul. There is something between us that I cannot explain in words."
"Then come, let's find out more about your sexy Viscount.
They headed towards the park and instantly saw Anthony playing with Newton as he was trying to catch the Frisbee, only to abandon it once he spotted Kathani. As he jumped into her outstretched arms, Sophia could not help but tease her friend. "It looks like his dog loves you too."
"Of course he loves her; Newton is a great judge of character." As soon as Anthony said this, Kathani looked up because suddenly she felt a strange case of Deja-vu. Shaking her head, she decided to join in their game, and for a while, both Kathani and Anthony took turns throwing Frisbees at Newton while Sophia enjoyed their game.
Once they were tired, Anthony left to get them ice cream, and Kathani and Sophia came to give them a moment. As soon as he returned, Sophia took her ice cream and took Newton to feed ducks. "Is everything alright? I think your friend left because you wanted to talk about something in private."
Kathani took a deep breath as she began. "I want to tell you what happened to me last night and also ask about something." 'Kathani, please do not stress yourself out." Anthony began, but Kathani shook her head as she assured him. "I need this, Anthony." He then stopped interrupting, and Kathani began to explain everything about her job, her trip to Mayfair, and lastly, the dead bodies she witnessed. "Your brother refused to complain! Can you believe that? Anthony, truth be told, I have developed distrust for that place, so please tell me what the real deal is with those people. Including your family, your youngest brother says you hate them, and your youngest sister starts crying. ."
As soon as she said this, she noticed tears in Anthony's eyes, as he looked so devastated. "I could never hate them, but I could not forget what most of those people did to her."
Kathani felt her heart crack as she heard agony in Anthony's voice. "A long time ago, there was this girl who came here to find a better life for her family, her so-called stepmother and sister, whom she loved more than anything more than herself, so much so that she sacrificed everything for them, even her love for the man who loves her back, but realised it too late because he already made a grave mistake and chose the wrong sister."
Kathani suddenly felt her chest constrict as she asked in a trembling voice. "What happened to that girl?" She noticed anger in Anthony's eyes as he spoke. "All her sacrifices were for nothing, because once her ungrateful family found out she dared to love, they all turned against her; they accused her of being a seducer and jealous of her sister; they called her harlot; and the people of Mayfair sided with her stepmother and sister; they accused her and called her names; she could not bear it, so she took her own life. I was there when that innocent life was lost in front of my eyes, and all because of those heartless monsters, so yes, I will never forget nor forgive them."
Kathani reached out to squeeze his hand. "I am so sorry you have to suffer like that. How can I ease your pain?" Anthony grabbed her hand as he desperately begged. "Promise me you will never go to Mayfair again. Promise me you will stay away from that place and its people. Promise me that you will stay with me because I cannot let you go."
Kathani gasped because she was not expecting this request, but Anthony cupped her face and stared at her in desperation as he asked. "Please, Kathani, say you will stay with me."
Call it madness or call it her deepest desire, but in that moment she could only say one thing. "Yes."