Chapter Text
It was two days after Kate had woken up, when they received an invitation from Lady Bridgerton to spend the next afternoon in the park, to partake in a picnic and enjoy the boats on the lake.
Edwina had wanted to categorically deny the request, Kate was only just steady on her own legs again and a selfish part of her didn’t want to face the Viscount so soon.
He had not come by since his visit the day Kate had woken up, and even though she had days to put her thoughts in order, the reason for his behavior still remained entirely unclear to her.
There were moments where she thought that this was how a gentleman would react to any young woman, he would come across injured, that there was a sense of responsibility a gentleman would take on because of it.
In other moments she hoped that this was how a man in love would act, if a family member of the woman he was courting got hurt. Though this was the idea that she could bring herself the hardest to believe. If the Viscount held tender feelings for her, surely, he would’ve asked how she was doing – at least once?
In yet other moments, those she tried to deny to herself, her mind was certain the Viscount acted out of love, just not out of love for Edwina. These were the thoughts she tried to forget, Lord Bridgerton was still officially courting her, and he was a nice man, the picture of a fine gentleman. That was not a picture she could bring together with a man who would court one sister and lust after the other. She kept reminding herself that by all accounts Kate and the Viscounts had barely even buried the hatchet they had been gleefully swinging at each other all throughout their acquaintance.
Their mother had accepted the Bridgerton invitation after Kate had voiced her desire to get out of the house and her hope to enjoy the sun. Edwina’s suggestion that they should stay home, had fallen on deaf ears.
It was a nice, sunny day and many members of the Ton were already gathered in the park when the Sharma women arrived at the lake with Lady Danbury. Footmen had set up little canopies, there were several boats to take for a turn around the lake and the food looked delicious.
All that and yet Edwina was still not excited for the day.
From afar she spotted the arrival of the entire Bridgerton family, and dread pooled in her stomach. She had not come to a solution to her struggles yet, and it seemed like her time to decide was running out.
This was the first time her and the Viscount would be in each other’s company since the accident, since he had invited her to his family seat with the obvious intentions to bring their courtship to a happy end. And Edwina had no idea what she wanted from their courtship going forward.
A part of her wanted to continue courting him. It would be her success, after all. She had been named the Diamond of the Season and the expectations had been for her to make a most advantageous match. Her courtship with the Viscount, the most eligible bachelor of the season, had been the fulfillment of that promise. It had even seemed like the answer to her personal desires for a marriage that could bring her a good life and happiness.
But then there was another part of – her heart, if she was being honest – that hoped for Lord Bridgerton to end their courtship. She could deal with not being loved, knowing that she had to marry for the wellbeing of her family, she had found her peace with the idea of a content marriage with respect and friendship rather than love. What she could not deal with was a life where her sister would be the third person in Edwina’s marriage. She loved Kate, she really did, but she couldn’t love her so well that she could live a content or even happy life, if her husband desired her sister in the way, one should desire a wife.
The Bridgertons had joined them without delay, inquiring after the health and recovery of both sisters before they all naturally separated into smaller groups.
Edwina had been engaged in a delightful conversation with Lady Bridgerton when the woman’s eldest son joined them.
“Miss Edwina, may I have a word? Maybe we could go take a stroll around the lake?”
She nodded and he offered her his arm, which she accepted, and they set off for their walk.
It took them about half of the way, to conclude their polite small talk, at which point they were finally not surrounded by eagerly listening peers anymore.
“I am not entirely sure, how to approach this, but I guess I should begin by saying, that you are a wonderful woman,” Lord Bridgerton started … and Edwina’s stomach dropped. She was entirely convinced that he was about to propose and that had brought her the clarity she had been missing for the past few days – she did not want him to propose.
Oh God, Edwina didn’t want the Viscount to propose! Not even because of whatever feelings she suspected him to harbor for her sister, but rather because she realized that she, if given the chance, would much rather marry a man she loved. And she didn’t love him.
When she was a little girl, Kate had taught her a trick as Edwina had never been able to decide on anything. She had given her a coin, assigned the two possible choices to a side of the coin each, threw it in the air and the choice would fall on the option which would face upwards. Her reasoning was that Edwina, not matter how much she went circles in her mind, had already made her decision in her heart – a decision she would know the moment the coin twisted and turned in the air, that would have Edwina wishing for one side over the other, to land facing upwards. This, the Viscount moments away from declaring himself, felt like the moment before the coin finally hit the ground – and yes, her heart was already made up.
For a painful long moment, she saw her future before her, married to a man of good standing, living in content harmony but entirely without the love she had dreamed about as a child. Not matter how much she had believed that this was a future she could find happiness in, being confronted with it becoming her reality, Edwina found that she had been entirely too fast making that assumption. She could not marry without love, the kind of love her parents had shared and she had grown up idolizing. The kind of love that could scandalize the entire Ton but would also bring blissful years of partnership.
She wondered if he could see the panic in her eyes, as she thought about stopping him, before he said something he could not take back. Before she might still say yes, because no matter what her heart wanted, she knew in her head that if Lord Bridgerton offered for her, she could hardly decline. Not when it would bring financial security for her family, repair the scandal her mother had caused when she had married Edwina’s father, and would please the Queen herself.
“You’ll make a wonderful wife,” he continued, and she had to force a polite smile. Damn.
“A gentleman really couldn’t ask for a better woman.” No. No. No. No.
“And I’m genuinely sorry to say that I cannot ask you to be my wife.” No. No. N- wait what?
“I know this courtship has raised expectations, but I’ve come to realize that if I were to ask for your hand, I would destine the both of us to a terribly unhappy life indeed,” he looked truly remorseful.
She was too shocked, too happy to give him a proper response as it took Edwina every last bit of her composure not to laugh in relief.
Lord Bridgerton must have interpreted her silence as something else entirely, “I am truly sorry, Miss Edwina, that I dragged this courtship out for so long, I meant no harm though that might not do any good to the harm I have caused. I do hope that one day you can understand and forgive me.”
Her composure was, at last, at its end. She let out that laugh, full of relief, full of hope. “While I am glad to hear, that you had no ill intentions, let me assure you, Lord Bridgerton, I am glad you came to this conclusion,” the genuine surprised expression on his face caused another laugh. “Because it seems like we’ve came to quite similar realizations.”
“Oh …”
“Oh, indeed, I was surprised myself. Please don’t think that I was not flattered by your courtship, truly you honored me, but I’ve come to realize that I would like the chance to marry for love.” Was it a realization she had come to not moments prior? Yes, but it was the truth, nonetheless.
“I hope you’ll find your love match, Miss Edwina,” their eyes met, his overflowing with sincerity. “Your sister’s greatest objection to this courtship has always been my inability to provide that for you. I’m certain she will do everything possible to see your wishes become reality.”
For someone who could barely keep to polite behavior around Kate, the Viscount knew her surprisingly well, Edwina noted.
As they came closer to having completed the turn about the lake and the picnicking crowd got clearer both their eyes were drawn to their families. Edwina noted how well her party fit in with the Bridgerton clan. Lady Danbury was caught up in a rather spirited discussion with Eloise and Colin Bridgerton as well as one of the Featherington girls. Her mother was happily holding the Duchess of Hastings’ child, while chatting with her and Lady Bridgerton. It struck Edwina that she hadn’t seen her mother this genuinely happy in a long while. Newton had been claimed for a cuddle by the youngest two Bridgerton girls, Hyacinth and Francesca.
It was Kate though who caught Edwina’s eyes. She sat in the shade of the canopy with her sketchbook opened in her lap. Little Gregory was pressed to her side, eagerly following the drawing along. Next to them sat Benedict Bridgerton, his own drawing utensils at the ready, and even from afar it was obvious that him and Kate were engaged in a high-spirited conversation, judging by the laughs they shared.
“It’s only sad that our families won’t join,” Edwina mused out aloud.
Lord Bridgerton sighed: “I’m afraid the news will not be very well received with Hyacinth and Gregory. Once I tell them they won’t be around Newton regularly, they probably won’t speak to me for weeks.”
“I’m sure Kate would be happy if they came over to visit Newton and if she is not feeling up to it, I could take them on a walk with him.” Kate didn’t want to admit it, but Edwina had noticed how she was still quick to tire out on their walks with the little dog, the accident and coma still had an effect on her health.
In the distance Kate threw something at Benedict’s face, it might have been a grape or a berry. Instead of reacting in anger he caught whatever it was in his mouth, much to the delight of his youngest brother and Edwina’s sister.
“Maybe our families might still be joined by marriage.”
Lord Bridgerton looked at her queerly, obviously not seeing where she was going with her line of thought.
“Your brother and my sister, of course!”
Lord Bridgerton asked confused: “Kate and … Ben?”
“By all accounts she and Benedict got along very well during our stay at Aubrey Hall,” Edwina started out explaining and the Viscounts eyes immediately snapped towards the pair, surprise apparent. “She told me how much she enjoyed painting with him. Our mother said that she hadn’t seen Kate having that much fun in years … and I’ve heard that it was him who suggested that Kate should be allowed to join the hunt. She would never admit it, but my sister had expected to be barred from these activities here, I just know how much it must’ve meant to her that your brother stood up for her!”
The pair had reached the canopies and was making their way through the gathered Ton back to their own group. Before they had reached them Edwina could already hear Kates unrestrained laughter.
Lord Bridgerton turned to Edwina, gave her a polite bow, and said: “If you could excuse me, Miss Edwina, I have some urgent business I need to consult my brother on.”
There was something in his eyes that she couldn’t quite recognize. She barley could give him a polite nod and a curtsy before the Viscount strode towards his brother.
She could hear him admonishing Gregory, who was draped over her sister’s shoulder, looking like he would crawl into Kates lap if it wasn’t already occupied with her drawing utensils: “Gregory, why don’t you bother someone else for a while? Maybe play with your sisters?” Before he turned to his other brother: “Benedict, a word,” the Viscount didn’t give him any chance to respond and nearly dragged his brother away by his arm.
Edwina got drawn into a conversation with Lady Violet and her mother, even though she had planned to talk to Kate. She desperately wanted to tell someone that the courtship with the Viscount was over, she needed the reassurance that she had made the right choice by letting the man go. And who better to tell her this, if not Kate, who hadn’t liked him to begin with?
From the corner of her eye, she saw Mr. Dorset joining Kate and Gregory, who hadn’t listened to his brother and had stayed by Kate’s side. The three of them took off not long after, settling into one of the rowing boats.
Edwina was engaged in a pleasant discussion about which balls should be attended in the upcoming week – Lady Trowbridge and Lady Cowper had scheduled theirs for the same evening and the Ton had to decide whose invitation to follow and whose to snub – when the Viscount and his brother returned.
“Mother, look who we found,” Benedict said, shoving a young man into their circle. He had a shy smile on his lips, his skin was brown, and the black hair had soft curls – he was simply gorgeous. And his eyes, his eyes were kind too.
Edwina nearly missed Lady Violet’s excited answer: “Little Matty? No, it cannot be! It seems like it was only yesterday that I had to drag the three of you out of the flowerbeds at Aubrey Hall, and look at you now?”
All she got for an answer was a shy smile and there really was not much time for it, as Benedict took the responsibility to perform proper introductions.
“Matthew, let me introduce you to Lady Mary and her younger daughter, Miss Edwina. Lady Mary, Miss Edwina, this is Mr. Bagwell, his father’s estate is near Aubrey Hall.”
They exchanged curtsies but before Edwina got the chance to ask Mr. Bagwell any question, Lord Bridgerton butted in: “Miss Edwina, might I inquire after your sister? I cannot help and notice her absence, was she feeling unwell?”
“Oh no, Sir, I saw that Mister Dorset took her and your brother on a boat ride,” she crooked her neck and after a short moment of searching Edwina pointed out the boat in question. “See, they are over there!”
They were in the middle of the lake, but Edwina could still make out the smile on Kate’s face, one arm trailing over the side of the boat, fingers softly gliding through the water. Her other hand protectively holding onto the Viscount’s brother’s shirt as he was leaning over the side of the boat, peering into the lake, probably trying to spot some fishes.
“This imbecile!”
Slightly shocked by his crass words, Edwina’s head flung back to the Viscount. There, in his eyes, it was again, that burning something she had spotted earlier but hadn’t quite been able to identify.
“My Lord?”
“Dorset. He can’t even tie up a boat properly, even at university he was always too distracted, he really shouldn’t have taken Miss Sharma out on the lake.”
“He looks quite concentrated now. And Kate really seems to enjoy herself?”
She had to admit that Mister Dorset did look slightly distracted by Kate laughing, but he kept up his measured rowing strokes as the boat slowly made its way back to the shore.
“She is still recovering from a head injury, God forbid, he made the boat tip over and she were to fall into the water, who knows what would happen then!”
Never mind, that the only person who looked like they would cause the boat tipping over was the Viscounts own brother, something fell in place for Edwina with each of Lord Bridgerton’s upset words.
The man was jealous.
Of Mister Dorset.
For making Kate laugh.
With the realization that he was truly interested in her sister and not just lusting over her, a lot of things started to make much more sense to Edwina: Why he kept seeking out Kate to start ridiculous arguments. Why he had looked shaken to his core when he had bought her injured sister home. Why he involved himself so much in her care. Why he came running the moment he got word that Kate had woken up. Why he got agitated by the idea of her and his brother marrying.
The only thing that was not clear to Edwina was if Anthony Bridgerton was aware of his feelings, because if he had been during the active days of their courtship, she did not want him around Kate. Her sister deserved a better man than one who would only desire but not seriously court and pursue her!
Thankfully, Benedict cut into their conversation to regal the group about his and Mr. Bagwell’s shared time at university. As it turned out Mr. Bagwell had seemingly enjoyed the pursuit of knowledge so much that he had made it his profession. During his shy yet confident explanations of his work, she realized that this might be the first man she had met all season, who could tell the difference between Machiavelli and Montesquieu. Edwina was instantly charmed.
Their conversation had flown quite naturally, and Edwina couldn’t quite tell how long the group had been in conversation with Mr. Bagwell. It was only after a loud splash, shocked gasps, and halted laughter that she realized that Lord Bridgerton had quietly stolen away from their group.
She found him in the middle of the commotion. Or to describe it more precisely: she spotted him, soaked through, chest-deep in the lake, Mr. Dorset not far behind.
Gregory and Kate stood on the landing stage. The boys excited: “I didn’t know we could swim too. Anthony, can I jump in too?” was heard all the way to their group. Kate gently held him back as he tried to rid himself of his jacket and whatever she said – much quieter than the boy – could not be heard, but it must’ve convinced him not to join his brother in his impromptu adventure in the lake.
Besides Edwina, Lady Violet tried her best not to seem too put out by her son’s spontaneous dip in the lake, but she didn’t quite succeed. She did try to placate Edwina though, for all Lady Violet knew her son was still courting her.
“I must assure you, Miss Edwina, that he usually does not behave like this.”
“Yes, his behavior usually is much worse.”
“Benedict!”
*
They had wrapped their picnic up not much after the Viscounts unfortunate dip in the lake.
In the carriage, on their way home, Edwina shared the news of the end of her courtship with her sister, mother, and Lady Danbury. The latter murmured something too quiet to hear, looking decidedly displeased, while her mother tried to comfort her.
Kate squeezed her hand, compassionate resolve in her eyes: “We will find you a good man, I promise you.” Edwina could only give her a smile in return. How was she to explain that this was genuinely for the best? Especially now that she had seen Lord Bridgerton’s interest in Kate? How could she not believe there were better men for her out there, when meeting Mr. Bagwell proved that men could be more than just pleasantly charming, that they could be interesting?
The sisters found themselves alone in Edwina’s room not long after. It was still a little too early to prepare for their planned excursion to the theater that night, but Kate and Edwina had much to talk about.
Kate, who must’ve memorized the list of eligible men she had gathered at the start of the season, went through the men Edwina could set her sight on, when Edwina interrupted her, as she realized what all these men had in common.
“What if I were interested in a man without a title?”
The question stopped her sister right in her tracks. She looked unsure what to say and if Edwina was not entirely mistaken there was something akin to guilt in Kate’s eyes.
“Are you interested in an untitled man?”
She pondered for a second, if she should tell Kate the question was just for interests’ sake but decided against it. The truth would be better, surely: “You were distracted by Mr. Dorset, but we were introduced to a Mr. Bagwell today, he is a second son and a scholar. I won’t pretend one conversation in a group setting inspired deep feelings, but I am … interested. I would like to get to know him, he was so different from all the other men that we’ve met this season. He intrigues me, Kate.”
With every word she said her sister’s eyes grew softer.
“I feel I ought to confess something to you, Edwina,” Kate said, “When we decided to travel to England, to find you a husband… I reached out to the Sheffields. We came to an agreement that they would provide you with a dowry and take care of Mamma, if the man you wedded was of British nobility.”
Her first reaction was anger. At Kate for managing her life behind her back and keeping her in the dark over her own prospects. At the Sheffields as they apparently hadn’t gotten over their daughter’s marriage, even nearly two decades later, and now wanted to push their granddaughter to make a better match in their eyes.
The second reaction was resignation. She had known that her marriage should improve her family’s prospects, grant the Sharmas the financial security they had been lacking since the death of Edwina’s father.
Her third reaction was realization. Realization that one person was missing from her sister’s plan: Kate herself. Kate, who’s only living blood relation was Edwina, who would never deliberately tarnish Edwina’s relationship with her grandparents. Kate, who would do her best to find Edwina the best husband among the titled bachelors but would never want her to feel pressured to save the family.
She must’ve taken too long to answer as Kate spoke up again: “I swear to you, Didi, if you want to marry this Mr. Bagwell … or a penniless country clerk, we will find a way. I will do my damndest to make that possible!”
She took only seconds this time to fall into Kate’s arms. Pressed into a tight hug she whispered into her sister’s ear: “You need to tell me these things, you cannot carry the burden of this family all on your own!”
“It is just … I didn’t want you to feel obligated to accept the first man so charmed by you, that he is proposing,” her voice sounding suspiciously like she was biting back tears.
“Have some faith in me, Kate, I wouldn’t have accepted the first man,” she answered, “I’m sure I would’ve only carved by proposal number three, five, if the men had been particularly boorish.”
The sisters giggled in each other’s arms and there was only one thought on Edwina’s mind, yes, they would be alright.
*
They watched the play from Lady Danbury’s box that night and all four ladies were enjoying themselves by the time the break started.
Edwina had been caught up in a conversation with Eloise Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington but had to excuse herself to the ladies’ room to freshen up before the play would start again.
On her way back, hoping to continue her lovely talk with the two girls, she spotted Kate talking to the Viscount Bridgerton, his sister and brother-in-law stood nearby but decidedly were not part of the conversation.
After her realization that he had interest in Kate, seeing them together was no surprise to Edwina, he had after all, already sought out Kate once this day. What came unexpected was her sister’s wide smile and how animated she partook in the conversation.
Deciding not to spy on the pair, Edwina kept on walking.
It would take some time to reconcile Kate and the Viscount enjoying each other’s company with her set image of these two constantly arguing, Edwina thought with a grin, when a memory stopped her dead in her tracks. It was Kate promising that she would ensure that Edwina could marry whomever she wanted.
Up until that moment, Edwina had thought that only she had figured out the Viscount’s feelings, but what if Kate had too? What if Kate had seen his affection and – feeling obliged to give Edwina whatever match she wanted – was entertaining his suit?
The Sharma sisters may be different in many ways, in one they would always be alike: their willingness to do anything for each other. And Edwina was not going to let Kate marry a man she vocally despised, just to ensure the security of their family or Edwinas happiness. No, she would keep the Viscount away from her sister and find her a suitor she actually liked!
*
The Viscounts utterly ridiculous behavior, first exhibited during the picnic, continued the next evening at the Trowbridge ball.
It seemed like most of the Ton had chosen to follow Lady Trowbridge’s invitation over that of the Cowpers, proven by how packed her ballroom was. Yet, the Viscount was able to spot Kate among all the others the moment his party stepped into the room, his eyes seeking her out without hesitation, following an invisible pull. Without a second thought he had left his mother and brother behind to make a beeline for their group. Steady determination as he was pushing people out of his way, his eyes only fixated on Kate.
Keeping true to her resolution of the prior evening, Edwina convinced a gentleman, standing nearby, to take Kate to the dancefloor for the next set. Her sister gave her a questioning look as she was led to the other pairs assembling on the dancefloor but at least she was preoccupied by the time the Viscount had managed to reach Edwina and Lady Danbury. His frustrated expression nearly made it worth it, until he loudly started proclaiming the less than stellar qualities of Kate’s dancing partner.
This game – Edwina getting men to dance with Kate before Lord Bridgerton had the chance to ask – continued for the rest of the evening, not that the Viscount was aware they were playing. The man’s competitive nature seemed to be triggered nonetheless as he didn’t just complain to Lady Danbury about the men Kate was dancing with, or stalk Kate through the room when Edwina steered her to a new partner, but he eventually would end up winning this round. Edwina meanwhile got fairly well acquainted with his burning, jealous stare, he kept shooting the men in Kate’s vicinity.
When it was time to assemble for the supper set Kate was led to the dancefloor by Lord Fife, causing Lord Bridgerton to loudly grumble and stalk towards the pair with a glass of lemonade he plucked off a passing-by servant’s tray.
There was no way she would be able to prove it, as the Viscount played his act surprisingly well, but Edwina was sure that he purposely tripped, causing him to empty his glass into Lord Fife’s nape and all the way down his coat. Pushing his glass into the drenched man’s hand and making his excuses for this unfortunate mishap, the Viscount made a show of caringly ushering Lord Fife off the floor, all while taking his spot as Kate’s dancing partner. The gal of this man!
The only thing that managed to distract Edwina from the triumphant smirk on the Viscounts lips was the appearance of Mr. Bagwell, who came to ask Edwina for a dance. She resolved herself to try harder at keeping Kate unbothered by Lord Bridgerton, before allowing herself to be swept away by Mr. Bagwell’s wide smile and interesting conversation.
*
They had dissolved their courtship six days ago, and between Lady Whistledown’s gossip sheet and overexcited matchmaking mammas the news had spread throughout London like a bushfire.
The fact that even the last member of the Ton had heard that Miss Edwina Sharma was back on the marriage mart was apparent in how she had spent her past two mornings.
Lady Danbury’s drawing room was once again filled with eager suitors, vying for Edwina’s hand, leaving behind ridiculous flower arrangements and utter boredom. She was not feeling positive about the crop of men that were presenting themselves, and a part of her was disappointed with every man that walked through the door and turned out not to be Mr. Bagwell.
That evening the Sharmas and Lady Danbury were attending a ball at Bridgerton House. Lady Violet had organized it to invite all the young debutantes, so Lord Bridgerton would have another chance to find a wife for himself, now that he was no longer courting the youngest Miss Sharma.
They had arrived punctual and when they made their way through the crowd, Edwina tried not to be too obvious in searching out a certain dark-haired scholar in the crowd, but she couldn’t really help herself.
Kate looked truly beautiful in her purple dress, though nervous in a way Edwina hadn’t seen in her sister before. Determined to ease her sister’s nerves, Edwina resolved herself to keep the Viscount away from Kate that evening – there was no need for that man to keep bothering her with more of his ridiculous jealous behavior. His interest in Kate would’ve been worth a consideration, if she hadn’t been so steadfast and clear with her dislike for him.
As it stood, Edwina was not going to let Lord Bridgerton be any more forward with his attraction, lest he wear Kate down and make her feel obligated to accept him for the sake of Edwina and their mother.
The sisters mingled with the crowd and got separated when Edwina got asked for a dance. She couldn’t really say no but Edwina left feeling fine, as the Viscount was busy greeting guests with his mother, so he wouldn’t bother Kate during the next set at least.
Once the dance had finished, Edwina sought out her sister in the crowd. She spotted her not too far away, standing alone by the side of the dance floor. What caught Edwina’s eye however was the look in Kate’s eyes. She had gotten used to see the burning jealousy in the Viscount’s eyes in the past week, but there her sister was, sporting the same biting, hurt look.
Following her sister’s line of sight, Edwina found Lord Bridgerton, surrounded by a swarm of debutants, vying to gain the interest of the once more available Viscount.
So far, she had worked under the assumption, that the attraction between him and her sister was a one-way-street – how could she not, after hearing so much from her sister how unsuitable Anthony Bridgerton was – but it seemed as if her sister, too, held him in a much higher regard, than Edwina had thought possible just a couple of days previously.
Both Sharma sisters’ eyes followed the Viscount as he led one of the debutants to the dancefloor. Edwina couldn’t help but notice that he looked the same way he had when the two of them had previously danced: polite but not genuinely happy. The opposite of the way he had looked when dancing with Kate.
Her sister seemingly could not tell the difference, as her eyes still shone with jealousy, keeping a close look on his movements. It reminded Edwina strongly of the way the Viscount behaved at the Trowbridge ball. At least Kate could be trusted not to throw her drink over the debutant. Right?
That was when Mr. Bagwell found her, stopping her from going over to her sister. While he was a hinderance at that particular moment, Edwina couldn’t imagine a more lovely hinderance.
With a little shame she would later admit that she got distracted by Mr. Bagwell’s charming smile and the intriguing conversation about a book he was currently reading, which was how she missed the end of the dance. During her moment of distraction Kate had somehow slipped away from her line of sight and from the room altogether.
She made polite excuse to Mr. Bagwell and started looking for her sister, she shouldn’t be alone right now and be left to her own thoughts. Kate sometimes had the tendency to assume the worst in other people’s behaviors and Edwina felt like she should make sure her sister was not spiraling over one unenthusiastic dance.
Edwina probably would’ve felt better, if it had taken her longer to find her wayward sister, especially considering the state she found Kate in.
After checking the retiring room, Edwina had turned to search the garden of Bridgerton House, knowing her sister’s love for fresh air and nature. If she had been unsuccessful in the garden the next stop would’ve been the library, but Edwina didn’t need to go there as she – unsurprisingly – found her sister in the gazebo.
The surprising, and slightly shocking, part was how she found her: attached to Lord Bridgerton with all she had. Kate’s hands buried in his hair, her lips on his, and her entire body pressed against him, while he was holding onto her, closely, like a man drowning.
Shock kept her frozen on the spot, gawking at the pair of them.
Kate might entertain suitors she would deem as untrustworthy rakes for the good of their family, sure, she would probably even marry such a man, if it meant securing a good future for the Sharma women. She might even exhibit jealous behavior when a man, who tried his best to court her, was occupied with other debutants. What Kate would not do, however, was kiss a man she was not betrothed to with such passion at a place where – evidently – anyone could stumble over them and cause scandal for them all, if she had no true regard for him.
That could mean only one thing: Kate was not just taken over by jealousy, she was not entertaining a man for duty’s sake – she had actual feelings for the Viscount!
When his hands found their way to Kate’s hips, bunching up the purple fabric of her dress, Edwina could finally tear her eyes away from the pair. Quickly turning around in the hope to unsee Lord Bridgerton’s wandering hands on Kate’s body.
Trying to be as quiet as possible, Edwina stole back to the door leading back into Bridgerton House, on the lookout to see if anyone else had been witness to the kiss. She would never tell, but it wouldn’t do if any loudmouth member of the Ton spread rumors about the Viscount and Kate, no matter how truthful they would be.
Edwina still was not convinced that Anthony Bridgerton deserved her sister, but if Kate wanted to be with him, who was Edwina to stand in her way?