News

After a few months of marital bliss, and barely being able to keep her hands off her husband whenever they had a spare moment, Kate decided she was finally strong enough to go a little while without needing Anthony's presence. Violet was going with Eloise and Francesca up to Scotland, to visit some relatives. Kate had never been further north than Nottingham, but she had heard about the beauty of the Scottish lochs and mountains and was eager to see them.

Violet had told Kate of the plans over family breakfast one morning at Bridgerton House, and Kate could not deny being intrigued. It was a three day carriage ride, and the Bridgertons would then spend a fortnight near Edinburgh before returning.

"Of course it is an open invitation, and I know the family would love nothing more than if you came along, they thought a great deal of you at the wedding," Violet informed Kate whilst sipping her tea. "And I know the other girls would be happy to have your company too. Of course I doubt Anthony will have time, but even if he can't come, I do think you should consider it. Scot;and is simply splendid this time of year."

Kate did consider it all day, weighing up the desire to visit her husband's family and see a new part of the world, against the idea of being away from her husband for three weeks. Tentatively, she brought up the subject after supper that night.

The couple were enjoying a rare night alone. They had eaten and were now relaxing in the sitting room, Anthony reading some court papers with a brandy in hand, Kate lazing on the sofa with her feet on his lap and a book, long forgotten, splayed across her chest.

"Anthony?" Kate started, nibbling the end of her thumb anxiously.

Anthony noticed the worry in his wife's voice, and immediately turned his attention to her. "Yes, my love?"

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he replied, nervous to hear her response.

"Your mother and sisters are going up to Scotland, to visit your cousins. Violet told me this morning that I would be most welcome to join them. I've never seen Scotland, and I've heard it's very beautiful there and, well, I would like to go. I'm just not sure because it would mean being away from you for so long."

Anthony took a few seconds to consider. "I think you should go," he stated, rubbing her feet comfortingly.

"You do?"

"Yes," he leaned over to kiss her quickly. "It will be a torturous time for me, but I know how much you long to see Scotland, and I'm sure you would have an amazing time. I would hate to be the one to stop you from enjoying that."

"You won't forget me if I leave you alone in London for so long without a wife's careful supervision?" Kate teased, moving to climb into his lap and wrap her arms around his neck.

"Well I have plenty of work to keep me busy," he said softly, beginning to place slow kisses on the side of her neck. "And I suppose you will just have to prove to me in the days before you leave just how truly unforgettable you are."

"That I can do, my Lord", Kate whispered, meeting his lips in a searing kiss.

—-

And so the details were settled, and a couple of weeks later, Kate found herself bidding a glassy-eyed Anthony goodbye, promising to write every day and reminding him that three weeks was not that long, and soon she would be home again. The way she referred to their home had Anthony wanting to scoop her up and lock her inside their house forever, but he reminded himself how excited she was to see Scotland and wished her a good journey, and told her to pass on his greeting to his family.

After thoroughly inspecting the carriage and horses to check everything was in order, and reminding the groom to drive carefully (Kate rolled her eyes), the Bridgerton women were off.

The journey was long and tiring, but before she knew it, Kate was staring out the window at the rolling green fields of Scotland. The carriage pulled up the long driveway of Downton Abbey, and happy greetings and enquiries were made on both sides, before the visiting party was ushered in and shown to their rooms. Kate was dressing for dinner when there was a knock at the door and Anna, her lady's maid, went to answer it.

"A letter for you, my Lady," she stated, smiling as she handed it over.

Kate giggled as she noticed her husband's unmissable penmanship on the envelope. "Thank you, Anna, I can manage from here."

Anna bobbed a curtsy and left the room as Kate eagerly ripped open the letter and began to read.

My dearest Kate,

You have been gone all of ten minutes and I already feel the urge to chase after the carriage and ask you to return. I hope if I send this letter straightaway it will reach you as - or not long after - you arrive. Which means I can ask how your journey was - were the inns you stopped at suitable? Did Eloise drive you mad with her chattering? I hope you find my family in good health, and the Abbey to be welcoming. I spent many a pleasant summer there in my childhood, and I hope you enjoy the same hospitality.

What is the weather like there? Make sure you write back to tell me all your plans and what you get up to. No detail is too small - feel free to tell me what you dreamt of, or what flavour jam you have on your toast for breakfast. Any insight into how you are will be a comfort to me, as I sit alone, eagerly awaiting your return.

In the meantime, make sure you enjoy all that my family and Scotland has to offer. I miss you, and I love you.

Yours, Anthony

Kate smiled and held the letter to her chest. She couldn't deny she was already beginning to feel the pangs of longing for her husband. Without wasting any time, she found a quill and parchment that had been left in her room, and set about writing a reply.

—-

For the time where Kate was away, Anthony had become used to their written correspondence. He still hated waking up alone in the morning and eating by himself, but he had, as promised, tried to stay busy with work and visiting his club, and when he returned home each evening, Carlson would hand him the letter which had arrived from Scotland containing news of Kate's activities.

It sounded like she was enjoying herself - they were going on long walks and horse rides in the Scottish countryside, had tried some traditional dishes, and had met many friendly members of the local community. Anthony would always read the letters eagerly over his supper, before retreating to his office to write a suitable reply. He would make sure to comment or inquire on every piece of information she had provided, before detailing his own day's events for her. The final paragraph would always consist of a reminder of how he loved her and missed her, and the letter would be stamped with his official Bridgerton seal, a show of power he knew would make Kate roll her eyes.

This had become his routine for the past 9 or so days, and so when he bounded up the steps to Bridgerton House late one afternoon, and Carlson took his hat and coat and offered nothing in return, Anthony was thrown off guard.

"Unfortunately no letter arrived from Scotland today, my Lord," Carlson informed him, seeing the look upon the viscount's face. "Perhaps there was a delay with the postal system. I'm sure one will arrive with the morning post."

Anthony nodded, trying to ignore the hollow feeling in his chest. When he appeared at breakfast the next morning and there was still no letter, he became sad. After three days and no letter, he was downright a mess.

His head was racing with ideas of something having happened to her, which he knew couldn't be the case, and someone else would have written to inform him, surely? And he couldn't imagine what he could have said in his last letter that would make her not want to write to him. He decided if still nothing had shown up by this afternoon, he would write again and ask why he hadn't received anything in so long.

He was at his club at lunchtime, reading the paper and trying not to focus too much on the lack of correspondence from his wife, when Benedict appeared and sat himself down next to his elder brother.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Benedict commented, lounging back in the chair.

"Seeing me at my usual club, what could be more surprising?" Anthony asked sarcastically.

"I meant because Kate is back," Anthony looked at him in surprise. "I thought you two would be having a happy reunion, although based on the look on your face, I'm guessing this is news to you."

"What do you mean Kate is back?"

"I just ran into mother as I was walking past the house. She said they got back a couple of hours ago. They cut the trip short as Kate wasn't feeling well apparently."

Anthony threw the newspaper down, and without even a goodbye, dashed from the club and headed home.

—-

Anthony bundled through the door of his home, nearly running into one of the footmen on duty. "Where is the Viscountess?" he asked, slightly out of breath.

The footman, looking slightly nervous at having to speak directly to the Viscount, answered quietly, "Up in her chambers I believe, my Lord - with the doctor."

Cutting the trip short and summoning a doctor? What the hell was the matter with her? He took the stairs two at a time, seeing Anna standing guard loyally outside the door.

"Anna, what's happened?" he demanded, trying to move past her to get into the room.

"Please, my Lord, let me check if the Viscountess is decent."

Before he could make a quip about how he had probably seen his wife in far more vulnerable states than anyone else ever would, Anna had disappeared into the room and softly but firmly shut him out.

He paced for about thirty seconds before the maid reappeared, followed by Doctor Clarkson. "Lord Bridgerton," he bowed.

"Doctor, what's wrong?" he asked. "Is it serious?"

"I think it best if you speak directly to the viscountess," and he left swiftly.

Anthony entered the room expecting the worst, so was pleasantly surprised to see Kate sat up in bed, looking tired and maybe slightly paler than usual, but certainly not on the brink of death.

She smiled at him, raising her hand to gesture to him to come closer from where he was hovering in the doorway. She smirked - "I was wondering how long it would take you to turn up here."

"I came as soon as Benedict told me you were back. What's going on? I haven't had word from you in days. Why are you back early?" He came to sit on the edge of the bed, raising her hand to press a loving kiss to the back of it.

"Did you not get my letter telling you we were heading back to London?" she asked, puzzled.

"No, I've been out of my mind with worry,"

"I'm sorry," Kate frowned, caressing his cheek. "I did write, the letter must have got lost."

"Well why are you back? Not that I'm not thrilled to see you of course. Are you ok?"

"I suppose. I have news," she smiled gently, and Anthony stayed silent, urging her with his eyes to continue. "I didn't feel well a couple of days after we arrived in Scotland. I woke up and felt horrendous, but it would only last a couple of hours in the morning, and then I would be ok again. I thought it might just be some after effects of the long journey."

"You didn't mention this in your letters," Anthony muttered angrily, worry thinly veiled behind annoyance.

"I know, I didn't want to worry you," Kate squeezed his hand. "Anyway, it continued for days, and I started to worry it was something else. I spoke to your mother who suspected what the doctor has just confirmed - I'm pregnant."

Anthony stopped breathing for a second. Of course it had crossed his mind that he and Kate were very active when it came to that sort of thing, and it had now been a few months since they were married, and this shouldn't be all that much of a surprise. But when she said the words, he thought his heart might explode with joy. He could already picture it in his mind - Kate glowing and swollen with his child, holding a tiny baby girl in his arms, swearing to fight off any man who dared come close, teaching a young boy who looked startlingly like him but with his mother's eyes how to ride a horse.

"Oh Kate," he whispered, catching her lips in a passionate kiss. "I think you've just made me the happiest man alive."

Kate's eyes were misted as she beamed back at him. "I hoped that might be your reaction. You're going to be the most incredible father."

"Do you think so?" Anthony's anxieties about never matching up to the man his father was creeped back in.

"If you care about this child half as much as you care about me, they will be the luckiest child in the world."

Anthony smiled. "Neither they nor you will want for anything, I promise. How are you feeling now anyway? What did the doctor say? Is there anything I should get for you?"

Kate smiled and settled back into the pillows, knowing she was in for nine months of being mothered by her own husband. And she couldn't be happier.