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Viscountess Kathani Bridgerton’s heart warmed at the whispered confession of the heart from her sister. They had come so far. The bond the Sharma sisters thought they shared before that first, fateful season, now truly strong, unbreakable, and balanced. The conversation the day after Kate and Anthony’s engagement had been painful, emotionally taxing, full of tears, and, by the end, filled with understanding of the anxiety and crushing duty of the older sister and the unspoken pressure of the younger to be perfect and not disappoint her family.
Edwina could now admit to herself (and had to Kate during that conversation and later to Anthony when he requested a moment to speak with her privately) that she shared responsibility in the misunderstanding. She allowed herself to fancy herself in love with the Viscount because it was easier to face the pressure and challenges of the marriage mart, not to mention being the season’s Diamond, if her story seemed to be unfolding like the tales of true love Kate had once read to her. She had stubbornly refused to listen to Kate’s consistent objections to the match for she had been blinded by the glitz and glamor of the season and the attentions of the season’s greatest catch.
Kate and Edwina both knew Anthony was not blameless for pursuing Edwina for misguided reasons; however, with Edwina’s kind heart, how could she not understand and find sympathy for a man plagued by such familial duty and fear of causing someone he loved pain (not to mention himself) that he had built up those walls around his heart and acted as he thought he must for his family? Just as her sister had done. Just as Edwina had felt the pressure to marry well for her family. With Edwina’s second season well underway, Kate was so thankful that the two people she loved most in this world had been able to work through what happened and establish a strong familial relationship.
“Sometimes I feel I’ve forgotten how to breathe when he looks at me,” came the soft admission from Edwina as she stirred her tea in slow circles, looking down at her cup. Her eyes tracking the lazy circles of the contents.
“Why does this make you seem sad, bon? Is this not what you wanted? Falling in love?” Kate queried as she reached over, set Edwina’s cup on the table, and turned back to squeeze her sister’s hands in a comforting and encouraging gesture.
A beloved voice came from the doorway, “Who wants to fall in love?”
“Anthony!” Kate exclaimed as a smile brightened her face, “What are you doing home to early?”
“Can I not come home early when members of Parliament are being taxing, and I would much rather spend my time with my lovely wife?” he asked with a grin as stepped into the room.
“Well, I suppose you can,” Kate responded as Anthony bent down to kiss Edwina on the cheek. “As long as you try not to vex me while you here,” she quipped while trying to contain her smile and give him a stern look. That did not last long.
“Ah darling, I would not dream of vexing you,” he grinned as he cupped Kate’s cheek and bent down to bestow a soft kiss on her lips, both laughing softly when he pulled away.
As he stepped around the table to settle himself on the couch across from the sisters and make himself a cup of tea, Kate turned her attention back to Edwina and picked up the hands she had dropped when her husband had entered the room. A small squeeze had Edwina looking up at her sister. Kate waited patiently and then Edwina sighed and nodded. Kate gave her sister’s hands another encouraging squeeze.
“Despite all actions declaring his feelings, with the exception of those three words, he has not proposed. I worry it is because he is a second son and does not believe he will be able to provide for me in the manner he must think I am used to now as the sister of a viscountess,” Edwina took a deep breath before continuing. “But that does not matter to me! I love him just as he is. Anthony, I do not think you have had an opportunity to meet him since he started calling on me, but you have seen him. It is he who I was with yesterday riding in the park when we saw you, Kate, and Newton out for a walk.”
“Ah yes! Mr. Bagwell. I meant to ask your sister about him yesterday, but of course her dog,” he ignored Kate’s exclamation of “our dog” and continued, “decided he needed to chase a bird and it slipped my mind while trying to control him. I have seen Mr. Bagwell recently at my club, and he seems a fine, studious sort of fellow,” mused Anthony. “Well not to worry. Next time I see him at the club, I shall find a way to mention in his hearing that Miss Edwina has a dowry, which will see her comfortable for life. I can tell he is not a fortune hunter based on the way he was looking at you as your carriage passed us by, which is the same way I know I look at my beloved wife when I am blessed to be in her presence.”
Kate and Edwina both started at him as he finished his cup of tea. “But my love,” Kate began softly, “Edwina does not have a dowry.”
Anthony waved that comment away as he set his empty cup on the table between them. “Of course she does. It was finalized our first week back in town for the season.”
Six weeks ago. Kate’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Her wonderful husband had set up a dowry for her sister six weeks ago.
“Edwina, you are a part of this family, so I will do everything in my power to see you happily and comfortably settled,” Anthony stated with conviction.
Of course, he would do such a thing and not tell her, the dear, vexing man. He would not have thought he needed to tell Kate something so obvious to him. Edwina was now his sister, so he would provide for her, too. Next thing Kate knew, she was across the table, the tea service crashing to the floor, and in Anthony’s lap, peppering him with kisses. His lips. His nose. His forehead. Everywhere was kissable on his perfect face. “I love you” was whispered after each kiss. Not concerned with the mess on the floor, Anthony just wrapped his arms around his wife, whispered how much he loved her too, and kissed her with so much love they both forgot they were not alone.
Edwina decided she would thank her brother-in-law later and quietly slipped out of the drawing room. After closing the door, she collected her things and the maid who had escorted her and told a nearby maid to leave the drawing room undisturbed. I will have that soon, and I cannot wait. With a slight skip in her step and a smile that seemed like it would never be wiped from her face, Edwina ventured back to Lady Danbury’s house, excited for what her future held.