A/N:I can't believe I'm saying this, but HELLO!
First things first, I wanted to thank Catherine D because she left me many, many wonderful reviews and I couldn't reply because she logged in as a guest, but I really wanted to know how appreciated her reviews were. I identified with you because, well, obviously I'm a writer, so I know and I feel how important it is to get those comments, those reviews, and that feedback, so thank you so much for your wonderful comments. They truly made my da feel like this chapter will be for you haha (It was also exciting to have a Kanthony reader because I love kanthony so much, but I also know I have a lot of Polin readers since they're obviously the main ship - and i obviously love them to pieces as well- but it's nice to get that feedback from my Kanthony writing as well!)
Well now - I know it's been too long since the last time I updated. I gotta tell you guys, it's not because I wasn't writing, but because there were a series of problems that happened with my writing. Believe it or not, I spent over a month writing the next two chapters (yes, because it's going to be a double update. I'm going to explain in just a few moments how this double update will work). The reasons for it to have taken so long actually were more than one. At first, it was because I realized I had to rearrange the chapter because the way I was writing it wasn't working. I soon realised there had to be two chapters and it had to be two chapters that I had to post together.
And then when I finally figured it out, the worst thing happened—which some of you already know—which was that my wrists started hurting as some sort of tendonitis (on my regular job I also do a lot of typing, so it was a lot of typing for my poor wrists all together). But I figured out a way to write even with the pain, which is, I'm transcribing everything that I say. And if needed, I write on with my right hand, handwritten, and then I transcribe what I'm saying, and this is how part of the two chapters you're about to read were written. Thankfully, I'm way better now, but I'm still with a bit of pain, but if God wills it, I will be alright soon ( But I'm telling you guys all this so you don't worry, I'm finding a way to write even with those technical problems LOL)
Now that the sob story is over, let me explain how these two chapters are going to work because it's not like a regular double update:
— So this is actually still one chapter (although their combined word count should have already been a hint for myself that it was gonna be two chapters) but I had to separate the Kanthony and Polin parts. The reasons for it are many, and it's probably only going to happen this one time (unless I need to do it again, which is not on my near future plans and I'm not thinking of any other chapter where I need to do that for now.)
But basically all you need to know is that specific plots of these two stories are happening at the same time, and initially, those specific parts weren't going to happen in the same chapter. But it ended up happening that way, and so one story arc was kind of getting in the way of the other, emotionally speaking. So I separated them this one time.
-So chapter 13 is Kanthony and chapter 14 is Polin, which are going to happen /sort of on the same timeline but soon already by the titles you're going to see it's not exactly the same.
You are going to see all the characters on both chapters, but obviously way less than normal on their counterpart chapters .
- Now the important part: because I'm sure a lot of people are going to jump straight to chapter 14 ( I'm a writer, I'm not stupid. I know some people are here just for Polin LOL). Just be careful when you do that because part of the story of the movie regarding Leonidas and Nora is going to be talked about in Chapter 13, and it's actually a very important part. So if you're anxious for Polin, just do it wisely haha
In general, Colin and Penelope are going to show up on Chapter 13, a few moments here and there, which are important, just saying.
- This reminds me to point out that the movie's story (within the story) was not altered other than the addition of one scene. I know I mentioned it in the fanfic, but just to be extra clear, they only added one scene and did not change any of the other plotlines.
- Last thing I'm going to say is: because it's been such a long while since the last update, just be sure you remember where we are at the story, where chapter 12 ended, so you don't get confused because I'm jumping straight into action on this one.
And that was all, I talked too much (no one should hand me a transcriber LOL)
In her nearly fifty years of working on set, Agatha always struggled to remember which one was the messiest. However, on that particular day, she discovered a strong contender.
"Finally," Colin sighed, his hands resting on his thighs as he caught his breath. "We were so worried about you, Penelope."
He squeezed his eyes shut, instantly realising his mistake.
Kate's lips twitched slightly, finding his blunder somewhat amusing, while Cressida and Penelope turned around, the blonde sighing impatiently. They all exchanged glances, waiting for the scene to pause, but to their surprise, Anthony didn't call for a cut. Colin looked at the director, Kate glanced down at her feet, and Anthony looked back at them, confused by their behaviour.
"Um..." the second assistant leaned towards the director. "He said the wrong name."
Anthony blinked, shocked that he hadn't noticed. "Cut!" he called out, shifting in his chair as if trying to hide his distraction.
Agatha and Charlotte, seated beside him, raised their eyebrows from behind their sunglasses, while the actors wearily returned to their starting positions. The director cleared his throat and adjusted his own sunglasses on the bridge of his nose.
"Action!" He shouted.
Kate and Colin then marched toward Cressida and Penelope, the warmth of the sun on their backs as they ascended the grassy hill; Penelope led the way, one step ahead of Cressida.
"Nora! Catherine!" Colin yelled, his eyes narrowed against the bright sun as he strained to see them clearly.
"They're alright," Kate said, her hand instinctively resting on her chest in relief.
However, Colin furrowed his eyebrows as Leonidas noticed that the two women continued walking without stopping. "Catherine! Nora!" he called again, his voice a deep echo across the silent hill, finally making Cressida and Penelope stop.
"Finally," Colin sighed, placing his hands on his thighs to catch his breath. "We were so worried about you, Nora."
As they turned, what had appeared from behind to be Catherine and Nora walking together, with Nora just slightly ahead, was revealed to be a gagged Nora, held captive from behind by Catherine.
Colin blinked, straightening his back, while Kate's eyes widened beside him. Her hand instinctively reached for her sword, but in a moment of distraction, the weapon fell to the ground with a clatter.
A sharp grimace contorted Kate's features, and Anthony's quiet "Cut" hung in the air.
Her eyes averted, she spun on her heel and resumed her previous stance, the only sound Colin's quiet approach and Cressida's frustrated, ragged huffs.
"Is that normal?" Edwina whispered, as she leaned towards John and Rae, her gaze flickering anxiously between her sister's strange behaviour and their increasingly perplexed expressions.
Before she could receive an answer, Anthony called out, "Action!" and the two actors began walking up the hill again, calling out to Catherine and Nora once more.
As Catherine turned around this time, holding a gagged Nora, Kate, just as Marjorie would have done, made a move to grab her prop sword.
"Ah—" Cressida raised her hand, then pointed at Kate. "You won't find any use for that here," she declared, her voice sharp and relentless. With a forceful tug, she pulled Penelope close, eliciting a grimace from the latter, and with a swift movement, she drew a knife from her holster, pressing the blade against the redhead's neck. "I believe I'm faster than you, but I'm willing to bet on it if you are," she said with a smirk.
Colin's gaze shifted to Penelope, much like Leonidas' would to Nora. However, he couldn't help but notice that Cressida's hold on her seemed excessively tight.
"What are you doing?" he questioned, glancing between Leonidas' lover and his closest friend. "Catherine..." he trailed off, as if finally comprehending the situation despite his initial shock. "What did they offer you?"
That only caused the blonde to smile wider, scoffing before replying, "Offer me? The real question is what I offered them." she tilted her head, locking eyes with Colin. "Leonidas of the house of Doukides, the third of his name."
With rapidly rising breaths, Colin furrowed his eyebrows as he watched Penelope place a hand to her throat, hoping her actions were merely a performance.
"Let me give you a hint," Cressida continued. "I didn't just happen to stumble upon Dorieus' throne room that day," she recalled the day Catherine met Leonidas. She tugged harder at Penelope's back, a sardonic smile playing on her lips. "I suppose you should have listened to your friend."
Then they waited, and waited, an uncomfortable silence hanging in the air as Kate and Cressida stared at Penelope, who seemed to still be bothered by the hard pressure of the knife against her neck, completely forgetting her lines.
"Cut!" Anthony called out, and Cressida immediately released Penelope, who looked around in confusion.
"It was your line, Pen," Colin whispered, and she widened her eyes in realisation.
Meanwhile, Cressida placed a hand on her forehead, shaking her head as if everyone around her was incompetent. Anthony perched his sunglasses on his head and he ran his hands over his face, taking a deep breath before he lost it. Rae and John, watching from behind, exchanged a confused look – they'd never witnessed such a chaotic filming from their bosses before.
"Alright, let's start from the beginning!" the director declared, knowing they had no choice since even the slightest change in Cressida's grip on Penelope would be noticeable in later edits. And as the actors returned to their original positions for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, he added, "Colin, you're focusing too much on Penelope in this scene. You need to look more at Cressida. We need more shots of that."
The younger Bridgerton offered a silent, slightly awkward thumbs up, a nervous smile playing on their lips before they resumed the scene.
"Let me give you a hint," Cressida began, pressing a knife against Penelope's throat again. "I didn't just stumble upon Dorieus' throne room that day." She tilted her head and widened her eyes almost psychotically. "I guess you should have listened to your friend."
Penelope grunted, squirming in the blonde's hold before she said, "It's her," she croaked out, "The princess of the west."
Colin and Kate furrowed their brows as Leonidas and Marjorie realized their miscalculation. It was Catherine who suggested they seek assistance in the west, a neutral ground where they could gather their forces and find out who was attacking their kingdoms. Catherine, who had run away so Leonidas could pursue her, all so she could send a fake letter to Dorieus pretending his brother was in danger.
Kate opened her mouth to expose Catherine's deception—using an imposter to represent the ruler of the West—but a sudden movement to her right stole her attention. She turned around, only to see Anthony bending down to pick up a sheet of paper that had fallen from his lap. She squeezed her eyes shut, instantly realising her mistake.
Adding to her humiliation, as she turned and glanced apologetically at her bewildered costars, Kate overheard Anthony's assistants whispering about her mishaps the moment he sat up, while her sister stared at her in confusion.
"... Cut," Anthony said, the word sounding too timid for Kate's liking. She grimaced and kept her eyes fixed on the scuffed toes of her boots, avoiding looking at the director.
"What is happening on this set?" Charlotte finally exclaimed, turning to Agatha in indignation as they watched the two duos once again walk away from each other to restart the scene.
Agatha furrowed her eyebrows, silently taking in the situation. The producer, riddled with guilt, considered blaming herself for the unfolding chaos, a direct result of her last-minute decision to reveal the romantic scene to Penelope and Colin hours before filming. But then, as she glanced at Anthony, who was placing his hand over his mouth and tapping his foot on the ground in agitation, she had to admit it wasn't just the Leonidas-Nora aspect of the scene that was falling short.
The four actors soon repeated all of their lines, thankfully without a hitch despite their tired stances, until they arrived at the end of the scene again.
"It's her," Penelope croaked out, as Cressida pressed the blade to her neck again, "The princess of the west."
"You engaged someone to impersonate you," Kate concluded as Marjorie.
"Obviously," Cressida replied, rolling her eyes and tugging at Penelope, who continued to squirm.
Colin glanced at Penelope before forcing himself to look back at the blonde, his face filled with betrayal. "Fine, let's skip this useless talking and get to what you actually want," he said sharply. "Just take me and let her go."
"You?" Catherine raised her eyebrows. "You think I want you? I could have had you whenever I pleased," Cressida said condescendingly, her voice dripping with insinuation. "We were alone, or did you forget?" She smiled mischievously.
Penelope suddenly felt truly suffocated, unable to bear Cressida's realistic tone. The air became uncomfortably hot, and Colin's embarrassed expression only made things worse. The fact that Cressida had been alone with Colin, filming intimate kissing scenes—a subject still too overwhelming to process—did nothing to ease her restlessness.
Cressida's laughter vibrated on her back, a cruel, mocking sound, as the blonde said, "Maybe you were always right in thinking you aren't fit for the throne, you truly are stupid," spitting the word with venomous precision.
"How is she the best one in this?" Charlotte whispered conspiratorially into Agatha's ear, pointing at the four actors. It was a rare occasion for them to witness the blonde stealing the show.
Agatha raised an eyebrow, reluctantly admitting, "Well, she is good at playing villains."
Meanwhile, Kate shook her head as Marjorie reached a conclusion. "She wants Dorieus. She lured him into a trap with that letter about you being in danger."
"Point to the disgraced queen," Cressida smirked. She pulled Penelope closer, preparing to leave. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an ambush to oversee. And don't even think about coming after me. I'll kill her in an instant," she hissed, the glint of the knife catching the light as she mimicked a throat-slitting motion against Penelope's neck. "Consider it my leverage."
"Catherine," Colin pleaded, desperation lacing his voice, "just take me instead, please."
Ignoring him, the blonde walked a few steps further before turning and shouting, "Don't think about following me!" As per the script, she turned around and shoved Penelope forward; however, the redhead, having forgotten this part of the script, fell to her knees with a thud.
Seeing them, Colin's eyes widened, and he started to run, only to be stopped by Kate, who grabbed him from behind. He stared at her, his gaze questioning, as she hissed, "Calm down," the words barely audible through her gritted teeth.
"Calm down?" Colin exclaimed, breaking character and pointing towards the two ahead of them. "That wasn't in the script!"
Kate, her brow furrowed in confusion, finally released Colin, watching him run towards the other two actresses.
He found Penelope dusting her knees as she attempted to get up; she waved away his concern, saying, "I'm fine," without looking at him. He helped her up, grasping her hand, and she thanked him with a quiet, appreciative glance.
As soon as Kate reached them, she exclaimed, "I thought you two had improvised!" Her eyes flickered between Penelope—knees dirty, wig askew—and the weary Cressida, who was holding her forehead.
"Everything alright over here?" Anthony's voice cut through the noise, causing everyone to turn their attention towards him. Rae and John, their faces filled with worry, hurried after him, their eyes fixed on Penelope.
"Um," Penelope mumbled, scratching her forehead, her other hand resting on Colin's, who continued to gaze at her with concern. "Do we need to start over?"
"I can't," Cressida cried, waving her hands around in exasperation, her frustration finally bubbling over. "I'm not re-shooting this scene; work it out amongst yourselves because I—"
"Actually," Anthony interrupted, giving her a pointed look to silence her. "The existing footage will suffice." He then turned his attention to Penelope and instructed, "And you need to go see Doctor Monro."
Rae nodded and rushed to her boss's side. "I'll take her," she offered.
Penelope looked at Anthony indignantly, sensing the familiar Bridgerton tendency to overreact. "I'm fine," she said, lifting her hands slightly, her palms open in a gesture of reassurance as she looked between Anthony and Rae. "I'm completely fine. I just stumbled."
With a firm "Not up to discussion," Anthony's hands went to his hips, and she knew, from years spent in their home, that further negotiation was impossible. She sighed and glanced at Colin, who raised his hands in surrender and shrugged, clearly siding with Anthony.
The director then turned his attention to the rest of the group, only quickly glancing at Kate before averting his eyes immediately. With a final, "That's all for now," and his gaze fixed on the ground, he departed the conversation.
Kate watched him, feeling a nauseous unease in her stomach as he walked away.
"Didi, are you alright?"
Lost in thought, Kate blinked, then refocused on her salad, wondering how she'd got so distracted.
"What do you mean?" She asked as she poked at her lettuce with a fork, avoiding her sister's gaze.
Edwina raised her eyebrows. "Weren't you on the same set as me all morning?"
"All sets have off days," Kate replied instantly, her throat scratchy from the dry salad; she coughed lightly before taking a long drink of water.
"I've never seen one like it in all the time I've been working here," Edwina replied, observing her sister's continued avoidance of eye contact. "And you've been distracted since yesterday. You vanished and never even came back—"
"I'm fine, Edwina," she replied, her voice steady as she finally looked at her sister.
The youngest Sharma sister watched as Kate refocused on her food, understanding that she simply wanted the subject to be dropped, as Kate typically would whenever her emotions or weaknesses were involved. With a sigh, Edwina tapped her fork on her plate, scanning the overcrowded cafeteria for some sort of distraction since it seemed unlikely that Kate would be in the mood to talk anytime soon.
"Oh, hey, Anthony! There's an empty spot here."
Kate snapped her head up, widening her eyes at Edwina, who was happily pointing at the vacant seat next to her.
Anthony, too, appeared caught off guard, freezing in his place and nearly causing the contents of his tray to spill onto the floor. Kate watched as his eyes darted around the crowded cafeteria, a sea of faces and barely any empty tables.
It dawned on the director that he had two options: he could decline Edwina's invitation and spare himself from the most unpleasant lunch of his life, but then he would have to face the later awkwardness of explaining his decision. Alternatively, he could endure a few minutes of discomfort and then make a quick escape. Ultimately, he came to the conclusion that he needed to learn how to enjoy solitary lunches in his trailer and avoid socialising altogether. But, he acknowledged that what happened that day was already done.
He sat beside Edwina, his shoulder rigid, his gaze unwavering on his plate; the clattering cutlery and boisterous conversation around them a stark contrast to the silence between the three.
"So I've been meaning to tell you," Edwina said, always the socially adept person that Kate and Anthony were not. "I understand why you wanted to bring your movie here. I felt inspired for the first time in ages simply looking at the scenery."
As he chewed, Anthony nodded. "Really?" he asked, his hand instinctively covering his mouth before he grabbed his glass of water.
"Of course, it's such a beautiful country," she replied, flashing Anthony a warm smile and giving him her undivided attention. He nodded, and Edwina smoothly steered the conversation in a new direction. "The only downside is being so far away from my amma," she remarked, casting a smile at Kate. "When Kate first came here and spent months away, I thought I would die missing her."
Kate offered a tight-lipped smile, then stared at the wilting leaves on her plate. Once vibrant and colourful, they now appeared mushy and brownish-green.
Edwina, casually picking at her whitebait fritters, remarked, "It must be even worse for you," the scent of fried fish heavy in the air. "I mean, you have the same number of siblings here, but there are way more left in London," she chuckled, a teasing glint in her eyes.
Her words finally pierced through the director's defences, causing him to shake his head and scoff. "Not at all. Honestly, I feel like I'm resting here," he replied.
A chuckle escaped Edwina's lips, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she said, "That's an awful thing to say."
"You only spent one night with my siblings, so you didn't really get to see how intrusive they can be. I suppose you wouldn't understand because your sister—" he paused, realising what he was about to say. Something along the lines of Kate being more civilised than any of his own brothers or sisters.
Mentioned in the conversation, Kate's head shot up, a quick glance towards him betraying her interest, yet he pointedly avoided her gaze.
He swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing, before continuing, "Your family is probably way less meddling than mine in general."
Oblivious to the tension between the two, Edwina laughed. "Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. Although we have to agree that our family is smaller. I can't imagine what it was like for you to grow up with so many people."
The director paused, fork dangling in his hands, as he gazed at his plate. And Kate despised she knew exactly why. The truth was, Anthony hadn't exactly grown up with his siblings as much as he had raised them. They hadn't discussed it extensively, but their peculiar understanding of each other made it a shared experience.
Anthony managed a faint smile and uttered, "It was noisy." Finally, he glanced at Kate, who was already looking at him. She didn't understand why, but she felt a deep need to say something to make it better somehow. However, he quickly averted his eyes, leaving her feeling unsettled.
In all honesty, she shouldn't care. After all, she was the one who tried to keep a distance between them and told him that she couldn't have an affair with the director. But there was something about him that inexplicably made her care, even when it didn't make sense, even when it was unwise.
She opened her mouth to say something, although she didn't even know what it would be, but she was swiftly interrupted when Colin appeared behind Anthony.
The younger Bridgerton tapped his brother on the shoulder and said, "We need to talk."
Anthony turned to him, furrowing his brows, as Colin had never sounded so serious in his life. He nodded, excused himself, and rose from his seat, even though he hadn't finished his lunch. He wasn't hungry anyway.
By Tuesday evening, Agatha was sure something was seriously amiss on the set of Sword and the Heart: Princess of the West. The challenge, however, was pinpointing the exact issue, since the two people she suspected could be involved, Colin and Penelope, were out for the day.
Yet, there she was, watching the same scene being filmed over and over again, take after take.
Anthony's foot tapped restlessly against the floor as he watched Thomas and Kate's dance. His usually immaculate white shirt and black pants were wrinkled, and his hair was tousled from repeatedly running his hands through it. Even his usual perfect posture had slumped. But, despite the actors' precise movements and flawless execution of the choreography, there was something amiss in the shot they were filming. Anthony had tirelessly tried to guide them, giving instructions on their movements and positioning to achieve the ideal angle. However, after about fifteen takes, he was on the brink of losing his sanity.
"Why don't you just go there and show them?" Agatha asked wearily, nodding towards the two actors.
Right, he thought, his gaze lingering on Kate as she quickly looked away, her cheeks flushed. He had definitely thought about that quick and practical alternative, but the issue was… well, it was the same issue that had been there from the start. Being in close proximity to Kate.
Nevertheless, he had to admit that he had run out of options, patience, and time. So, he walked towards the well-dressed duo, who had paused their dance upon his call for a cut. Thomas, in his dark green embroidered tunic and pants, shifted his weight from foot to foot, his gaze cast down at his leather shoes, hands clasped behind his back. Kate, on the other hand, wore a long emerald dress with bell sleeves, decorated with matching gems on the bodice and hemline to complement the stones on her antique gold tiara. She glanced at the stone pillars, the faux marble floor, the open ceilings, and the stars above, then shifted her focus to the extras nearby, seemingly intrigued by them, although Anthony knew her real fascination lay in the fact that they were not him.
"Sorry, man," Thomas began as the director approached, aware they'd ruined the take again.
"It's fine," Anthony said, his attention fixed solely on Thomas, pointedly ignoring Kate, as though the actor were fascinating as well. Taking a deep breath, Anthony mentally prepared himself for what he reluctantly had to do. "Let me show you."
He then gestured with his hand, as if signalling Thomas to give him his hand, causing the actor to snicker, as he always did in these situations. Thomas placed his hand on Anthony's, and Anthony placed his hand on Thomas's shoulder. Then, he took the actor's other hand and placed it around his waist, making Thomas chuckle again, while the director rolled his eyes.
"Okay..." Anthony said, turning around to face the specific camera needed for the shot. "So, Kate will have her back to that camera, and for starters, you two are too centred," he said, taking two steps to the right with Thomas. "This way, when you turn—" he twirled them around "—then you'll be centred in the shot."
Thomas gave a slight nod of his head, silently agreeing that the explanation made sense.
"Second thing, Kate's arm is here," Anthony said, slightly lifting the arm that held Thomas's shoulder to demonstrate his words. "So when you turn, make sure it's not so abrupt that her hand ends up covering your neck in the shot." He twirled them around two times, showing the correct velocity to do it, and then added, "And your hand on her back is also too low. Just lift it a few inches."
Once Thomas understood, they released each other, and Anthony took a deep breath before facing his actual dilemma. With apprehension, Kate watched him, wary of being so close.
The director looked her up and down, searching for a way forward while pointedly avoiding eye contact. He was uncertain whether he should seek permission to touch her in order to illustrate what he needed, if he had ever done so in their previous filming, or if it even made sense. At that point, he couldn't even remember how to formulate words, let alone what the protocol was in those situations.
"It's fine," Kate muttered with a tense jaw, as if she could guess exactly what he was debating in his own head.
He nodded, slowly taking a few more steps until his arm reached her back, his hand finding the warmth of her skin through the fabric of her dress. He didn't have to tell her what to do next; she placed her hand on his shoulder and her other hand in his.
"Now," he said, his voice slightly strained, finally meeting her gaze. A tremor ran through his hand as he resisted the urge to tighten his hold. The warmth of her fingers on his shoulder was overwhelmingly distracting, instantly recalling the feel of her kisses and her fingertips trailing his back.
Clearing his throat, he continued, "The same problem applies." He twirled them as he had done with Thomas, but Kate's hold on his shoulder was too loose, and her hand slid towards his neck. Anthony reached for her hand, his touch firm, and pressed it to his shoulder, demonstrating the proper grip for the scene. "You need to keep your hand steady," was the most insightful guidance he could offer at that moment, which he hoped she would comprehend. However, Kate didn't answer; her eyes were fixed on his hand resting over hers, then gradually lifted to meet his.
"And…" Anthony trailed off. "When you two turn around," he said, his fingers leaving a trail of heat on her back, "your head is turning way before his; you need to follow each other's lead."
Kate, still staring at him, nodded. Anthony released her hand on his shoulder and showed the imaginary line they should maintain with a sweep of his hand from his head to hers as they turned. In that instant, as she succumbed to the natural pull of his eyes, what had initially seemed like a challenging dance now felt effortless for Kate. Their movements synchronised seamlessly, drawing her nearer to him. She leaned in, entranced by the warmth of his touch, and for a fleeting moment, the only sounds that filled the air were the mingling of their breaths and the gentle rustle of their clothes.
He murmured, "There," once he thought she grasped his meaning. For a beat, they stood in the same position, with his arm around her back and her hand on his shoulder.
Seated behind the cameras, Agatha tilted her head at the peculiar interaction, pondering whether she was imagining things or if the director had more chemistry with the main actress than the film's romantic hero. Thomas himself furrowed his eyebrows, puzzled by the exchange, until the pair finally stepped away from each other.
"Um," Anthony mumbled, avoiding Kate's gaze, his cheeks flushed. "Now that it seems you two understood, let's try that again, from the beginning," he muttered, dashing back to his chair, leaving Kate frozen in her spot.
To his right, Agatha's eyes narrowed as she finally sensed an explanation for the strange happenings on set. Anthony, aware of her scrutiny, did what he always did. He ignored her and feigned concentration on the director's monitor. However, he was mistaken to think she would forget about it. In fact, she was poised to begin her questioning when the violent vibration of her phone, deep within her pocket, caused her to pause.
Aware that Anthony was watching her from the corner of his eye, she closed her mouth, and as soon as she pinpointed the source of the continuous notifications, a sigh escaped her lips, and she placed a hand on her forehead. It seemed their set was back to its usual chaotic brand.
"What is it?" Anthony asked, the question a subtle giveaway that he'd been indeed watching her.
She gave him a sharp look before sinking into her chair. "What else?" she asked before holding up her phone for him to see.
Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton spotted at a Wellington bar
Penelope Featherington and Colin Bridgerton, the supporting actors in the recent film adaptation of The Sword and the Heart, were spotted enjoying their afternoon at Dirty Little Picket on Courtenay Place this Tuesday.
The 32 and 35-year-olds have arrived in the country to shoot the latest instalment of the popular franchise, Princess of the West. Directed by Anthony Bridgerton, this film features the return of Bridgerton and Featherington in their beloved roles as Leonidas and Nora. Joining them are the talented Kate Sharma and Thomas Dorsett, as Marjorie and Dorieus.
In a recent update, we shared that production for "The Sword and the Heart Two" had officially begun, following news of a car accident that allegedly took place close to the filming site in the Hamilton area. Now, the two supporting actors have been seen in Wellington, which is roughly 300 miles away from the rumoured location of the original set.
While the exact filming location remains uncertain, it appears that the duo was relishing a day off in New Zealand's third largest city. The Instagram account for Dirty Little Picket hinted at this, posting a photo of the castmates accompanied by the caption: "Massive thanks to Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington for the amazing night!"
Enthusiastic fans wasted no time in taking to the comments section with one person writing "My parents who birthed me" while another said "get married already".
The Sword and the Heart: Princess of the West is set to be released by Danbury Productions next year.
"You'd think the media would have grown tired of them by now," Anthony commented, refocusing his attention on the director's monitor to ensure everything was in order before they resumed filming. In a way, he found a strange comfort in the predictable pandemonium caused by Colin, Penelope, and the media. It made him feel like at least some part of the production hadn't changed.
Agatha scoffed in response. "My dear boy, sometimes it feels like you haven't been in the industry at all. While we're still filming the franchise, that's never going to happen. That is, unless we provide them with something more interesting to chatter about."
Anthony paused, instinctively lifting his gaze to meet Kate. Her gaze, as always, was already fixed on him, and he experienced a rush of warmth within, even though she quickly averted her eyes.
He resented the fact that Kate was right. Giving in to the unexplainable something between them was clearly imprudent. They both had worked hard to build their careers, which could easily suffer if the media chose to portray them negatively.
Yet, despite all that reasoning, Anthony couldn't shake the feeling in his heart — that neglected and unfathomable organ of his — that had Kate not pushed him away that night, he would have happily forgotten all those things. He'd gladly have taken Colin and Penelope's place as the media's favourite scandalous member of the crew.
But, alas, whatever he desired mattered little in the grand scheme of things, especially if Kate didn't want anything to do with him, perhaps even seeing him as someone who typically engaged in affairs with actresses and their sisters on set.
"Anthony?" Agatha called, reminding him for the millionth time that week that he'd been distracted.
Shaking his head, he looked at Kate again, only to find she was avoiding his gaze.
"Then I guess Colin and Penelope will be under scrutiny for a really long time," he said.
Kate had a problem.
Since her mother's death, she had never allowed a personal issue interfere with her obligations. She was persistent in helping her mother, proud in raising Edwina, and excelled in her work. She did all of that while ignoring her anxieties, overcoming self-doubt, dismissing low self-esteem, and pushing past heartbreaks. Not that anyone ever got close enough to her to break her heart.
She was totally in control of her life.
Until Anthony Bridgerton came waltzing in.
"Cut!"
Kate squeezed her eyes shut and flinched. It was Wednesday, and she should have been feeling better by now.
She was suppressing memories of his expression before kissing her, the softness of his lips on hers, and the sound of his heavy breathing near her ear. She ignored her desire to understand him, talk to him, and learn about his life, his past, and his thoughts, however infuriating they might be. She was even forgetting the feeling of his arms around her from the day before, along with the wistful voice in her heart that they could dance together like that one day and allow themselves to feel whatever they wanted, even if it didn't make sense.
So she couldn't understand why she was still so distracted. In fact, it felt like she was becoming even more distracted. The lines she had practiced endlessly just wouldn't come to her. And to make things worse, she couldn't get into Marjorie's mindset.
"Action!" Anthony's voice interrupted her thoughts, and she took a deep breath, preparing for another take.
Thomas approached her, looking like he had just caught his breath.
"Marjorie?" he said, relief evident in his eyes. "I thought... I thought something had happened to you."
"To me?" Marjorie replied. "We thought you were dead."
Blinking in apparent confusion, Thomas moved a step nearer. By then, Dorieus realized Leonidas' letter was a forgery, and he'd almost fallen into a trap, fearing for his loved one's safety in the West. The last thing he expected was to encounter her on his way, already aware of the ambush.
"We?" He asked, as if just realising she was alone. "Where is Leonidas?"
Following the script's instructions, Kate paused, but despite her best efforts, she found herself completely unable to remember her lines.
Anthony waited a few minutes, then, seeing she wasn't going to deliver her line or ad-lib, shouted, "Cut!"
Watching her sister repeatedly miss line after line, Edwina furrowed her eyebrows. Kate had assured her on Monday that every set had its off days, but the younger Sharma couldn't help but notice that the situation wasn't improving; in fact, it seemed to be getting worse. The problem, as it turned out, appeared to be her sister's fault, something completely unprecedented in Edwina's life.
Meanwhile, Anthony ran a hand over his forehead, taking a deep breath. If this were a usual workday for him, he would surely speak with Kate, address her trouble remembering her lines, and remind her of the scene's overall narrative. However, that day was anything but ordinary, and if he were honest, his only goal was to avoid Kate.
"He went looking for you," the director reminded Kate of her line before signalling for the camera and sound to start rolling again. "Action!" he called out.
"We?" Thomas inquired once more. "Where is Leonidas?"
Kate's eyes scanned his face, worry evident in her expression. "He went looking for you," she replied.
Thomas furrowed his brow, running a hand through his hair as he paced in circles. "Why would he do that? If you both thought I was dead—"
"He's your brother," Kate interjected. "There was no stopping him. And, in all honestly..." she trailed off. "I would have gone too if it weren't just the two of us. Someone had to stay behind in case you came back."
As if absorbing her words, Thomas let his arms hang loosely at his sides. "Why were you two alone? Where's Nora? Catherine? Eliezer? Lawrence?"
Kate shook her head before he listed all the supposed allies of Marjorie and Dorieus in the West. "It was a lie, all of it."
Thomas looked at her expectantly, the silence hanging heavy between them as he waited for the rest of her line, only to notice her blank expression.
"What do you mean? Is that why you're here? We can't go back to the West?" He said as he improvised for her.
Kate nodded, taking in his new line before getting ready to respond. But before she could speak, it was once again Thomas's turn to talk. He started to say something, but stopped when he noticed that Kate was already speaking. She paused, expecting him to continue, and they both stood there awkwardly, staring at each other.
"Cut," Anthony rasped, his voice strained, as Agatha slumped in the chair beside him.
Kate glanced at the director, unsure of the message she wanted to convey through her expression—whether she felt more sorry or ashamed. But he wasn't even glancing her way, even though she was messing up shot after shot. In fact, the piece of paper on his clipboard looked like the most interesting thing in the world as he mumbled, "Roll cameras… Roll sound..."
Agatha, along with the rest of the crew, looked on in confusion at his indifferent demeanour, silently sharing the same sense of bewilderment.
"Action," Anthony said.
It wasn't until Kate was once again in character, her eyes fixed on Thomas, that the director finally looked at her.
With a hand to his temple, Thomas stared off to the side, his voice tight as he muttered, "Why were you two alone? Where are the others? Where's Nora? Catherine? Eliezer? Lawrence?"
Kate shook her head. "It was a lie. All of it. Dorieus…" she paused, her voice barely a whisper, and he looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, his expression a mixture of concern and confusion, "We can't go back to the West."
He clenched his jaw, his knuckles turning white, and looked away. "I suppose we ought to worry about that later. We need to find my brother first."
Kate swallowed hard, forcing herself to remember the next line but still finding her memory hazy. "And then?" she asked.
Thomas opened his mouth, trying to figure out how to go around the line that she had missed. But before he could even try, Anthony interjected.
"Cut!" he called out, halting any attempts to salvage the scene.
Agatha looked at the director, who had his eyes on the two actors in front of him. "Anthony," she said, her voice firm and low, "You need to talk to her."
Edwina, observing from the sidelines, noticed the producer's warning; a surge of anxiety gripped her as she looked at her frustrated sister, who was massaging her temples.
"That's not necessary," he declared, his eyes finally meeting Kate's.
Agatha knitted her brows, taken aback by the director's response. It was obvious that there was something happening with the actress and that she was entirely distracted. The producer appreciated Kate just like everyone else did, but it was clear that a conversation with her was needed. Anthony had never hesitated to address such issues with actors in the past, leaving Agatha puzzled by his reluctance now.
"Not necessary?" Agatha questioned in disbelief.
"No," Anthony replied, his gaze lingering on Kate a moment too long before deciding, "Let's reschedule this scene." As the rest of the crew stared, he rose and began to gather his belongings.
"Anthony," Agatha called out, finding his choice quite perplexing.
The director, however, acted as if he hadn't heard her and, seeing that no one was budging, he reiterated, "I said: let's reschedule the scene." And then, at long last, everyone moved.
Kate blinked, her eyes wide with surprise at his unexpected decision. But, continuing the pattern of behaviour he had adopted since the beginning of the week, he once again ignored her, pointedly refusing to meet her gaze and walking away without a word.
As the actress watched him leave, Edwina approached her, navigating through the crowd of crew and cast members whose voices filled the air.
"Kate, what is going on?" she asked anxiously, her gaze searching her sister's eyes, which offered only the now-familiar vacant stare she'd seen so often during the shoot.
The eldest Sharma, with a distant look in her eyes, gently placed her hand on Edwina's shoulder and said, "We'll talk later, bon," before walking away, leaving Edwina puzzled about her sister's actions.
Kate soon caught up with him, despite his usual brisk pace, a few feet away from the parked golf carts meant to take them back to the trailer area.
"Anthony!" she called out.
He stopped, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu. Standing still, his knuckles clenched against his sides, he stubbornly refused to turn around.
Undeterred, she approached him. "You can't be serious," she said, standing directly in front of him.
But he crossed his arms and looked towards the horizon on his right, squinting in the bright sunlight.
"If you have something to say to me, or want to scold me, or even yell at me," she moved closer, her frustration building up, "then just do it."
"I'm not going to yell at you," he said, still refusing to look at her.
She placed her hand on her hips, contemplating how she didn't even know it was possible for him to irritate her more than he had already done in his lifetime.
"I've messed up every take, disrupted the shooting schedule, wasted everyone's time," she admitted, torn between wanting to scold him or herself. "Is this how it's going to be now? If you need to reprimand me, then go ahead. You never held back before, so why now? If it were another actor—"
"Kate," he interjected, and in that moment, she noticed it — the warm glow in his eyes, a familiar sight that always made her heart skip a beat. "Let's not pretend this isn't also my fault."
The actress paused, unsure how to respond, but still feeling the urge to try to mend the unfixable.
"I'm sorry I kissed you," Anthony said, looking down at his feet. "If I could go back and change it, I would, but it is what it is now."
He went on, and she was left watching, a rising tide of nausea and dread churning in her stomach.
Edwina took pride in being more socially skilled than most. In fact, she liked to believe that because she enjoyed observing social interaction, she was also adept at putting it into words and scenes for her novels.
But she had to reluctantly admit that the events unfolding on the set that week were entirely beyond her comprehension. What was worse was her feeling of not understanding her sister, someone who had always seemed so predictable to her.
"You know, I never felt the need to intervene, but I cannot sit idly by."
Edwina stopped in her tracks upon hearing Agatha's voice. The girl was heading for the cafeteria late at night to get some water for her and Kate, and the last thing she expected was to find people there.
"It's a bad week, Agatha, nothing out of the ordinary," Anthony's voice replied, and Edwina peeked from behind the canvas of the makeshift cafeteria tent.
"Nothing out of the ordinary? Anthony, I've witnessed the filming of many of your movies, and none of them ever came close to this. Not a single scene this week has gone off without a hitch. Kate's mind is miles away, and I know you've noticed that too."
Edwina gasped, and her eyes widened, her hand flying to her mouth to muffle the sound of her ragged breathing.
"Every actor has their bad days," Anthony defended. "Colin and Penelope aren't faring much better."
A loud exhale escaped Agatha's lips before she said, "No, they are not. I realise I'm at fault for that, but honestly, Kate isn't doing well at all. You need to talk to her, and if you continue to refuse, I will."
"There's no need for that," Anthony replied. "I'll have a word with her. You don't have to worry."
That wasn't good, that wasn't good at all. Forgetting all about the water, Edwina turned from the cafeteria, and rushed toward Kate's trailer.
"Kate!" she called as soon as she walked inside, not even sure what she wanted to tell her.
Her sister stepped out of the bathroom, the scent of her floral shampoo lingering in the air. She was wrapped in a fluffy lilac robe, with her wavy hair clinging to her shoulders.
"I'm here," she said, combing her hair and noticing Edwina's empty hands. "I thought you were getting water?"
"I…" She hesitated as she watched Kate head back to the bathroom for some leave-in conditioner. "I'm not thirsty anymore."
Kate's "uh-huh" rumbled low in her chest, a quiet sound swallowed by the rhythmic scrape of the comb through her thick hair. "Why don't you stay over tonight?" Kate suggested, often feeling lonely in her private trailer and guilty that Edwina had to share hers with several crew members.
A distracted "Okay" escaped Edwina's lips as she discreetly used the bathroom mirror to watch Kate, the younger sister struggling to find the words to explain what she'd heard.
But then, a sharp crash echoed through the room as several bottles and jars tumbled from the vanity top, the sound causing Kate to grimace and mutter a string of curses under her breath.
"Everything all right?" Edwina asked.
"Yes, just..." she replied, her voice trailing off as she bent down to collect the fallen items. She straightened her back, carefully placing the colourful hair product bottles back on the marble countertop, before saying, "I knocked a few things over accidentally." She then gazed at one of the products she'd knocked over and let out a sigh, "and apparently I've just put shampoo in my hair instead of leave-in," she said wearily, covering her face with her hand.
Edwina's eyebrows shot up as Kate, abandoning her hair, shook her head and headed for the kitchen.
The youngest Sharma watched her sister in confusion; Kate sighed, setting a silver kettle on the trailer stove, her hand jerking back with a hiss as the flame licked at her fingers.
"Alright, what's going on with you?" Edwina asked, her patience finally exhausted.
The actress hesitated before turning slightly towards Edwina, asking, "What do you mean?" before returning her attention to the kettle.
This was sufficient confirmation for Edwina, because whenever her big sister refused to look at her, it always meant something was wrong with her, no matter how hard she tried to deny it.
"You've been acting strange all week. You are distracted and making mistakes that I have never seen from you before. There is clearly something wrong," she said.
The other woman simply placed a hand on her forehead and sighed. "I've been feeling under the weather these past few days. That's all."
Edwina scoffed, shaking her head as she looked at her sister incredulously. She couldn't believe Kate was still using the same excuses. "Oh, so that's what's been going on?" she asked. "Because I think Agatha agrees with me. I saw her talking to Anthony about it in the cafeteria just five minutes ago."
"What?" Kate exclaimed, turning to her sister in surprise. "Edwina, what were they talking about?"
Satisfied, the youngest sister placed her hand on her hip and said, "I didn't catch the entire conversation, but she was telling Anthony off for not talking to you since your head doesn't seem to be in the filming."
Kate's eyes widened slightly, and she ran a hand through her shampoo-filled hair, leaning on the stove for support before quickly stepping away to avoid burning her clothes. That was fantastically bad. In all the years they had worked together, Kate had never seen Agatha scold Anthony.
"It's just disrespectful, you know?" Edwina's voice broke her train of thought. As Kate looked at her, she could see the tension on her lips and the hurt in her eyes. "Every time I have a problem, you're the first person I turn to. And when you ask me if something's wrong, I always tell you. But whenever the roles are reversed, you shut me out. I mean, here I am"—she gestured around with raised arms—"on the other side of the world, because you offered me this job, your help, but it's like you don't think I can do the same for you."
"I do not think—"
"I know you've taken care of me all my life, Kate," Edwina interrupted, pointing to her chest. "But I'm an adult woman now. I may be younger, but I can help you just as much as you help me. I wish you could see that," she finished, dropping her hands in exhaustion.
Kate stared, finally understanding the hurt she'd unknowingly caused her sister. The actress could not deny it; she truly believed that her problems were her responsibility to solve and deal with, which is why she rarely got into trouble. She didn't have the luxury to act irresponsibly and burden others with cleaning up after her.
But as Edwina plopped down at the diner table seat, offence written on her face, Kate realised she might have no control over anything.
As Kate ran her hands across her face, she took a deep breath before leaning against the countertop behind her and said, "Something happened on Sunday."
"I knew it!" Edwina exclaimed, leaping from her seat, her eyes shining with excitement as she pointed at Kate, a stark contrast to her previous sombre demeanour.
Kate gave her a pointed look, reminding her of the seriousness of the matter.
"Right," Edwina said, pausing before settling back into her seat, readjusting her posture and adopting a more serious expression. "But what was it? Are you alright? Do we really need to—"
To stop her, Kate put up her hand. "No, it wasn't like that. It was something..." Kate hesitated, struggling to articulate her thoughts vaguely yet elegantly. Her mind, however, lately offered her nothing, so she simply exhaled loudly before finishing with: "Something I liked."
Edwina's eyebrows shot up, dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events.
With a pained grimace, Kate began to walk in circles, her hand repeatedly running through her hair.
"Okay..." Edwina paused, gazing at her distraught sister with a confused expression. "And that's a problem because?"
"Because," Kate said, taking a moment to gather her thoughts before attempting to clarify. "Because..." She tightly closed her eyes. "Because I can't have it."
Edwina wrinkled her forehead, never before experiencing such confusion from her sister's words. "Kate, why—"
"Because I just can't have some things in life," Kate replied, anticipating Edwina's question. She started pacing again. "I'm not really the type of person who can just do whatever I want whenever I want. I have responsibilities, a life I've built, my reputation, my career, and people to care for."
"If I'm who you need to look after," Edwina interrupted, tapping her chest for emphasis, "then it's entirely unnecessary."
Kate sighed. "Bon…"
"No, Kate, I've already told you I can look after myself. I can help you look after amma," she said. "I don't know what it is, but it's clearly very important to you and the thought that I could be the reason you don't get it is something I could never forgive myself for."
The older sister pursed her lips, acknowledging her sister's perspective while also reflecting on how Edwina might not fully grasp the responsibility of caring for the family for so long.
Anthony would understand, her mind suggested unhelpfully, and Kate ran a hand over her face, feeling exhaustion creeping in.
"Didi, you need to live," Edwina urged. "Do you really think you're the only one who worries? Don't you realise how concerned amma is to see you overworking yourself like this? How much I'm concerned? We don't want or need your money. We need you, just you, healthy, happy."
"It's not that simple," Kate replied, shaking her head.
"Of course it is. We didn't say much because we both thought this was what made you happy—"
"Acting does make me happy," Kate interrupted. If she were honest, she had already been irresponsible enough pursuing such an unstable career. But deep down, she did want at least one thing for herself.
"—But if you're now telling me there's something else, something that truly matters to you, then just go for it," Edwina insisted, brushing off her sister's interruption.
Kate pressed her lips together and shook her head. "It's just not that easy."
"Why not?" Edwina inquired. "I've never seen you like this before."
Her sister remained silent and continued shaking her head.
"And you say it's going to be a problem for your work, but it already is," Edwina pointed out, motioning towards the window as if referencing the conversation she had overheard.
Kate scoffed. She didn't need to be reminded. "No, this..." She glanced down at her fingers as she fidgeted with them. "This is worse."
"How could it possibly be worse?" Edwina questioned.
The older Sharma simply gazed at her, and Edwina raised an eyebrow as if waiting for an explanation. But then the kettle whistled, giving Kate the perfect excuse to turn away and avoid her sister's scrutiny.
"Kate," Edwina called out as Kate turned off the stove.
The kettle sat still and hot, and Kate stared at it, the silence of the trailer pressing in on her, before she took a deep breath. "You have to promise me you won't get angry when I tell you."
Edwina frowned. "Why would I—"
The older sister spun around and pointed at her. "Promise me."
"Okay." Edwina raised her hands in surrender. "I promise."
Leaning back against the black countertop, Kate inhaled deeply, her fingers tapping nervously against the cold surface. "It's a big…" she hesitated before letting out a long sigh, "problem for an actress's reputation to be romantically involved with her movie's director."
A frown creased Edwina's face as she stared at Kate, mentally translating her sister's words. And then her eyes widened, and she gasped, jumping to her feet. "Oh!" she exclaimed, pointing at Kate, "You and Anthony!"
"Edwina," Kate said, her eyes wide, reminding the other woman to lower her voice.
"That makes so much sense," Edwina continued, too shocked to heed her sister's warning. Placing a hand on her head, she said, "Everything makes sense now."
"No, it doesn't," Kate replied, a scoff barely contained on her lips. "This is, in fact, the most senseless thing that has ever happened in my life. I don't understand it myself," she confessed in frustration. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I just hated him all the time and then I..." She trailed off, noticing Edwina smiling at her. "Why don't you hate me? I had the impression you were interested in him."
"Hate you?" Edwina twisted her face in confusion, a smile still on her lips. "I'm happy for you. He's one of the hottest men alive."
"Edwina," Kate hid her face behind her hands, a nervous laugh bubbling up from her throat.
The youngest Sharma, however, got more and more excited the more she talked with Kate about it. She had never seen her older sister act like a nervous teenager before.
She narrowed her eyes at Kate, a mischievous tone colouring her voice. "What did you two do on Sunday?"
"Nothing!" Kate shrieked, her voice high-pitched and strained as she threw her hands up, the gesture only causing Edwina to giggle. Oh, Kate was blushing. Edwina didn't even know she was capable of doing that.
"We just..." Kate trailed off and Edwina nodded before her older sister averted her eyes and mumbled. "We kissed, that's it."
"You what!" Edwina said, the sound of her laughter echoing in the air, while Kate glared at her, her cheeks flushed crimson. "Come on, didi. Just bear with me. We never had these moments when we were young."
"But I'm not a teenager, Edwina. That is the problem," Kate replied. "We are both adults and this is a serious issue."
Edwina pursed her lips. "Alright, let me assess the situation then."
The other woman furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as Edwina raised hers, saying, "While you might be the expert in nearly everything, I'm the expert in social relations here. So, for once, let me help you."
Kate's lips twitched upwards at her sister's antics; a soft sigh of resignation escaped her.
"Who kissed who?" Edwina asked. Kate's eyes widened in surprise at her audacious question, and before she could protest, Edwina raised a hand to silence her. "Just trust me and answer."
Kate glared at her for a moment before quietly saying, "He kissed me."
The youngest Sharma beamed, "So he likes you." Kate gave her a stern look, prompting her sister to straighten her back and adopt a more formal demeanour. "I'm sorry, so he has a romantic interest in you," she said, sounding more adult-like, making Kate roll her eyes at the insanity of the situation.
"And you said you liked it." Edwina continued staring at Kate, waiting for confirmation.
Kate, whose face was so hot it could have cooked an egg, glared. "Yes," she said.
"But do you li— have a romantic interest in him?" Edwina asked.
The other woman clamped her lips shut, the discomfort so intense she'd rather die than continue talking.
"I mean, you obviously do, to some degree," Edwina continued. "I guess what's important is in what degree."
"I don't know," Kate answered. "Honestly, I did my best to avoid thinking about it since I noticed it was happening."
A thoughtful expression settled on Edwina's face as she pressed her lips together. "Is he an idiot?" she asked.
Kate, feeling whiplash from the abrupt subject change, wrinkled her forehead. "No, he's stubborn, clueless, and overall insufferable, but he's not an idiot."
"Oh, you really like him," her sister stated, nodding as if she had reached an absolute truth. Kate stared at her, a bit baffled, as Edwina said, "Every single one of the men you brought home you called an idiot. Every single one." She shrugged before adding, "and you didn't seem to love any of them, so…"
Anxiety washed over Kate; she rubbed her temples, shut her eyes, and pondered why such an absurd line of thinking was troubling her so much.
"How is any of this important?" she asked. "It's not like I'm going to do anything about it."
"It matters because you should do something about it," Edwina replied with utter conviction.
Kate let her hand fall, gazing at her sister with a look that suggested she thought her sister was out of her mind "Bon—"
"No, listen to me," Edwina interrupted, her expression unusually serious, a side of her that Kate rarely saw. "I know you may still see me as this naïve little girl who knows little about life, but I've lived long enough to understand how rare it is to truly care for someone and have those feelings reciprocated. Haven't you realised the same by now?"
Kate had. After 40 years of feeling utterly lonely and hopeless in relationships, it was only natural for Kate to come to that conclusion. A grimace twisted her face as an odd, unsettling emotion washed over her; she stared down at her hands, noticing the tremor in her fingers. "I don't even understand how I feel about him, let alone..."
"Well, shouldn't you try to find out?" Edwina inquired, prompting Kate to glance back at her. Kate's brown eyes were slightly moist, providing the youngest girl with all the information she needed. "You deserve to have a life, one that's got nothing to do with work." She then lifted her hand, as though she was expecting some sort of objection. "I'm not suggesting you ignore work or neglect your responsibilities. What I mean is that your life is more than just your duties." Kate, biting her lip and shaking her head stubbornly, listened as Edwina continued, "How many actresses have dated or married directors? It is not that unusual. Do you want me to Google it? Because I will."
"It's just not the same," Kate replied, as a tear rolled down her face, catching her off guard. "I can't possibly risk causing a scandal over a feeling I don't even understand."
Taking a deep breath, Edwina grasped her sister's face, compelling her to look at her and listen: "Kate, you two are on the opposite side of the globe. Unless you go wandering around Britomart or K-Road, there's no need to worry about the press." She then let her sister go and continued, "You don't have to be the be-all and end-all about everything, especially when it comes to relationships. You can just allow yourself work things out, you know."
As Edwina spoke, Kate listened carefully, a dawning realisation washing over her that the catastrophic vision she had previously held in her mind might not, in fact, be an accurate reflection of reality. "But..." she hesitated, trying to comprehend Edwina's carefree perspective. "People on set might gossip or leak information to the media."
"Then don't tell anyone," Edwina shrugged, as if it was the simplest thing in the world. "If you want privacy, keep it private. Give yourselves time to figure things out. Wouldn't it be better than being distracted in every scene?" she suggested.
All Kate managed was a stare at her. Because why did her words suddenly start to make so much sense?
"If we fight, it could be a problem," Kate pointed out.
"Was it ever before?" Edwina replied promptly.
Kate furrowed her brows, her younger sister saw the slight shift in her expression, a sign of giving in, and pressed on, "I've seen him defend you all day. If what you've said is true, and I'm guessing he made a pass at you and you turned him down, and then all he did was stand up for you and give you the space you needed, then it sounds like he's a decent man, didi."
Letting out a breath, Kate ran a hand through her hair, feeling completely defeated in the argument. "When did you become so wise?" she asked.
A triumphant smile spread across Edwina's face; her work was complete. "I was raised by the smartest women I know," she said.
A low chuckle escaped Kate's lips as she stopped pacing, tugging at her hair in frustration. "I really have no idea what he's actually feeling. It could have just been a spur-of-the-moment thing for him, nothing more."
Edwina then crossed her arms. "Didn't you say you two are grown adults?" she asked, and Kate felt a twinge of annoyance as she realised her words were being turned back on her, already anticipating what was coming next.
"Talk to him and find out."
It was late at night, and Anthony still couldn't sleep. He took a sip of his lukewarm coffee, hand on hip, letting out a sigh as his restless mind raced on, as it had been lately.
A few fat raindrops began to splatter against his small trailer window, each one a tiny explosion of sound that offend him. The rain made him think of her, though he hardly needed reminding; she was always on his mind.
He let out a heavy breath, scratching his head, before taking another sip, only to be interrupted by a light knock at the door. Checking the clock again, Anthony wondered if he'd imagined the white neon lights showing 1 AM. Sadly, he was right, and he couldn't think of anyone who'd want to have a chat with him at that time of night. Well, apart from one, and he really wasn't up for another talk with Agatha.
"Come in," he said, turning to face the door but not moving from his spot.
And then, a beautiful set of brown, wet hair appeared by the open door. Ignoring the frantic rhythm of his heart against his ribs, Anthony placed a hand on his forehead and let out a long, weary sigh.
"If you've come back to tell me to yell at you again or to accuse me of charming actresses on set or their sisters, I'm really not in the mood," he said.
Kate paused at the door, observing his exhausted expression and feeling guilty rather than exasperated for once. "No, that's not why I'm here," she replied.
A thought crossed his mind, then a grimace formed on his face as he asked, "Did Agatha talk to you?"
She hesitated again. "What? No," she replied as she walked toward him.
Leaning on the nearby beige countertop, he inhaled deeply. "Look, you don't have to..."
"Will you just shut up and let me talk?" Kate finally exploded, the words a harsh counterpoint to the nervous flutter in her chest.
Anthony's eyebrows shot up in surprise at her outburst; he begrudgingly stayed quiet, crossing his arms defensively, and turned to her, forcing a calm facade despite his inner turmoil.
However, now that she had his undivided attention, Kate felt anxious once again, unsure of where to start. She nervously ran her fingers through her now twice-washed hair, the fragrance of lilies shampoo lingering in the air around her.
"I'm sorry about what I said on Sunday," she said and he immediately wrinkled his forehead, resting his hip on the kitchen counter as he listened intently. "You caught me completely off guard, and I reacted with the first feeling that surfaced," she continued.
Anthony pressed his lips together and nodded, "Which was animosity towards me, I'm guessing."
"No," she replied, meeting his gaze, "which was fear," she said, which was only half a lie, since the initial emotion had really been an inexplicable jumble of wanting to kiss him back and longing for his touch.
Surprised by her honesty, Anthony furrowed his brows before nodding again.
Pausing, Kate contemplated her next words. The gentle sound of rain filled the room, and she closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath.
"I don't know what this is," she said, reminding herself to be an adult and to be honest. "I don't understand it," she said, her hand drumming a restless rhythm on the cool, smooth countertop, "but I honestly need to if I want any hope of concentrating on my job ever again."
As the meaning of the conversation finally dawned on Anthony, a wave of apprehension mixed with relief washed over him. His pulse pounded in his ears, as he poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue, nervously observing Kate in her purple bathrobe and wet hair, her distressed demeanour palpable.
"Well… I suppose the most important question is: did you hate it?" he asked.
Kate froze, her hand mid-air, feeling her cheeks flush. She was pretty sure she had kissed him back with a lot of enthusiasm.
"You already know the answer to that," she replied, her voice tight and brittle as she avoided his gaze, adding, "I don't see how that's the most important question."
"Well, it's the most important question to me," he replied.
Kate then watched him readjust his crossed arms, his face tense. It was clear he was completely serious, and an odd sensation fluttered in her stomach. Whether it was guilt from her reaction after the kiss, excitement over its significance to him, or both, she preferred not to overanalyze.
She looked back at her hand on the counter, swallowing hard before admitting, "No. I didn't hate it," she said, her gaze flickering to his eyes, then quickly darting away, as if she was staring into the sun.
Anthony cleared his throat and nodded calmly, despite feeling a strange and completely unprecedented urge to jump with excitement. He was suddenly convinced that perhaps he should have pursued acting after all.
However, Kate then turned her head towards him, as if suddenly realising a problem she wasn't even aware of, and asked, "Why? Did you?"
"No," Anthony quickly replied, his eyes widening comically. He then regained his composure, saying, "I'm the one who kissed you in the first place."
Heat rose in her cheeks as she said, "Yes, but that doesn't mean anything," the defensiveness clear in her tone, causing Anthony to stare at her with a curious tilt of his head. "Who knows why you did it? Maybe I was annoying you—"
"You think I kissed you because you were annoying me," Anthony replied, a slight smile forming despite his growing sweaty palms.
Kate blinked. "Maybe, I mean—," she stammered.
"So, if I annoy you enough in this conversation, you might end up kissing me," he said, raising his eyebrows.
She opened and closed her mouth, "I don't know, what I mean is—"
"Noted," he muttered under his breath, earning a sharp glare from her.
"What I mean is," she continued pointedly, "maybe you just thought I looked attractive that day. Maybe that's what you do, you just kiss people without meaning anything. How will I know?" she finished, shrugging sharply and out of breath.
He stared, uncertain whether his nausea was caused by nervousness or irritation.
"I kissed you because I wanted to kiss you," he explained. Kate nodded, her cheeks turning a dark pink shade. Unable to resist, he elaborated, "you, specifically."
Kate nodded once more, redirecting her focus to the counter. Her nails were on the verge of breaking as she anxiously scratched it, and she bit her bottom lip hard, afraid it would have a mind of its own and kiss him if she didn't stop it.
Seeing her remain silent, he asked, "Does that sate your doubts?"
Kate wrinkled her forehead. "No," she replied, surprising him. "Why?" Her fingernails scraped against the granite as she nervously gathered the courage to ask the question that had been plaguing her. "Did you want to kiss me, that is."
Anthony raised an eyebrow, feeling like a deer caught in headlights, even though he'd anticipated this turn in the conversation.
"Why?" he repeated, though it was a fitting question for the situation. Kate gazed at him as he tensed up, absentmindedly scratching his left biceps. "I...," he faltered, feeling inarticulate, "I don't know."
"You don't know," Kate echoed, abandoning her nervousness to give him a pointed look, "you wanted to kiss me, and you don't know why?"
He ran his hands through his hair, creating a dishevelled mess. "I..." he trailed off, struggling to formulate coherent phrases or even understand himself. Glancing at her, he instinctively accused, "I thought you said you didn't understand this either."
"Yes, but I'm not the one who kissed you," she pointed at herself before jabbing a finger at him. "You kissed me."
Exasperated, he threw his hands up. "And you kissed me back, so..."
She widened her eyes. "Oh, so you do go around kissing people for no reason." She gestured wildly, her voice raising, "So excuse me if—"
"Clearly, I'm attracted to you," Anthony shouted, his face turning red. As Kate stopped yelling, they locked eyes, both panting.
The director, overcome with exasperation, continued, "I don't know why you needed to say it when it's been obvious for quite some time that you're driving me insane. Truly, it's uncanny. It's like you were handed a user's manual since birth."
"Anthony—"
"And I don't have answers for you," he continued, ignoring her interruption, shaking his head as he looked at her. "Truly. If I could explain to myself what on earth this is," he pointed between the two of them, "I would gladly share the information with you. But alas, I'm completely in the dark. The only thing I do know is that I haven't been able to think straight for months." He placed his hands on his hips, taking a step towards her. "You think you are the one having trouble focusing? For the first time in my life, I'm not giving 100% to my job. Not because I don't want to, but simply because I can't," he said while gesturing towards himself placing both hands on his chest, frustration dripping from his tone. "I can't stop noticing when you're in a room. What you're doing. What you're wearing, or what you're saying. And it doesn't matter if I try to stay away, because when you're not in the room, I can't stop thinking about you either." He shrugged sharply before shaking his head. "It's insufferable. It's some sort of highly intricate torture. And you ask me why I wanted to kiss you? Kate, I always want to kiss you. It's just my natural—"
Then, Kate pushed him against the counter, her lips meeting his in a heated kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as her fingers wove through his already tousled hair. He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her close, and the conversation was instantly forgotten. Kate had to admit, it felt like a release. She was just so exhausted of fighting it, she couldn't find it in herself to continue anymore.
As they both leaned slightly away, breathless and still embraced, Anthony's gaze lingered on her lips. "So, does this fall under the 'I annoyed you enough' category?" He asked.
She despised him, truly loathed him.
Biting her bottom lip, she gazed at his mouth. "Not exactly," she breathed.
"Alright," he muttered, taking it as a sufficient answer before pressing his mouth against hers again.
He tasted like coffee, which irritated her because she loved coffee and had kissed him enough times to have that information filed in her senses. And his skin was always warm, his hands leaving a hot trail on her back and waist as their lips met. The ever-present smell of his woodsy cologne surrounded her, making her realise she was ready to lose all reason.
"Wait," she said, and their mouths separated with a small, audible pop, her hand lingering in his hair. Her lips, swollen and a deep pink, added, "No one can know about this."
With his eyes still glazed over, his mouth hovering over hers, he murmured, "I surmised as much," before kissing her again.
A/N: PHEWWWWWWWWWWW
Now, for those of you who are anxious, just click on next chapter and get the Polin side of the story. I'll see you there!
For those of you that aren't /that/ anxious and want to know my thought process on why I chose to do what I did with the Kanthony poltline, here it is:
- As I told a few people here and there in the comments I made a choice to give Kanthony less drama/angst than Polin (This is not to say that their drama is over with this chapter, far from that, trust me. After all I'm still me LOL) But in general, I chose less drama for them because they are the secondary couple. We have enough drama and angst as it is with Colin and Penelope, so we just need that sort of relief with our secondary couple ( this is not to say that I've never done the other way around, with them having drama and Polin being the relief, but just explaining the thought process here).
- The Edwina plotline.
I figured that in a modern AU setting, the plot that happened in season 2 wasn't going to happen that way because Anthony didn't have the pressure to get married (kind of the other way around, as the modern world works sometimes). He was never truly attracted to her in the original story - She was attracted to him. And she fell in love quickly, I believe, because he gave her that type of attention. But in this story, that's not what happened because he was never attracted to her. Though he was, of course, nice to her, he wasn't interested in having that relationship with her.
So, in my thought process, this sort of plot made sense because the moment Edwina noticed Kate was in love with Anthony, she (Edwina) wasn't /in love/ with Anthony, and they didn't have a relationship, so she would support her sister rather than be mad because there was no relationship to be mad about.
Other than that, we just have to wait for what happens next ! Again, I talk too much, I'm sorry (me and the transcribers LOL)
And don't forget to check my Kanthony playlist for this fic on my profile!