Chapter Text
June 1801
The Bridgerton carriage was passing briskly through England. But it wasn't fast enough, not for Anthony who was staring at the green fields, longing for his home.
Across from him, his brother Benedict leaned his head on the window, his eyes glazing over the landscape. Anthony wondered how he could look ready to fall asleep, while he felt like he'd rather ride one of the carriage's horses home, than sit for another minute.
Their ride home had been so much fun the previous year. Their father had surprised them, arriving at Eton to accompany his sons home. They had spent the whole ride sharing stories and laughing.
Things were different this time. A new Bridgerton was soon to join the family, so their father was to remain at their mother's side. It was their seventh child. At this point Anthony wasn't even surprised, he just hoped they didn't plan to use every letter in the alphabet, since they were all named alphabetically.
Anthony had missed his family and their chaotic life at the countryside. But most of all he missed his father. He had acquainted many boys at Eton, having a close friendship with Simon Basset and God knows he didn't get the chance to miss Benedict since he would trail along with them more times than necessary.
Yet, with every passing year he discovered more about life and he was certain no one would understand him better than his father, no one would give better advice.
All thoughts left his mind the moment he spotted a glimpse of their home in the distance. Aubrey Hall, the ancestral home of the Bridgertons, it had a majestic aspect. It was like a kingdom ruling over the surrounding lands.
As the carriage finally stopped, they stepped out and Anthony took a deep breath, testing the fresh air.
Benedict came next to him and Anthony glared at him annoyed. He had yet to come to terms with what had happened. He didn't even know the particular moment it did. If it hadn't been for Simon pointing it out and his other friends agreeing...
The point was Benedict was now almost an inch taller than him. It was not fair. If it had taken Anthony 16 years to get to this height, how could Benedict do it in 14? Not fair at all.
Anthony glanced at his brother again, but this time Benedict wasn't taller, instead he was bent down, taking something off the ground.
"What did you find?" asked Anthony.
Benedict rose back to his feet, holding a small stone in his hand. Anthony frowned. There was nothing special about it.
"Look," said Benedict holding it out in the sky, watching it only with one eye open in the sunlight. "There is something about its color."
Anthony stepped closer to take a better look, but his attention was distracted by the butler who arrived in front of them and cleared his throat.
"Mister Anthony, master Benedict, I'm afraid I must inform you that due to your mother's condition, you must postpone coming inside. It has been required by your father that you join your siblings at the nearest water pond.
"Oh," replied Anthony, surprised and a little disappointed by the news. He nodded nevertheless.
He remembered the day Francesca had been born, sometime three years ago. His mother hadn't looked well, she had been in pain, but his father had told him everything would be alright and that it would be better to take his siblings a little further outside so they wouldn't worry.
"Is she alright? Shouldn't we be here to help?" asked Benedict concerned.
"I assure you everything is alright. You needn't worry." replied the butler.
Anthony put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Come on, Ben, Father knows best, we shall find our siblings."
Reluctant, Benedict let himself be guided by his brother, occasionally glancing back at the house, its big yard now empty as the footman left with the carriage. It seemed wrong for the land to be so still, not animated at all.
"Do you still have that stone? It can be a great gift for our new brother." spoke Anthony trying to distract him.
Benedict aimlessly shoved his hand in his pants' pocket where he put the stone, his lips twitching into a small smile.
"How do you know it's going to be a boy?"
"It has to be, we sure have more than enough sisters."
"Not according to them."
As if their mention had invoked them or simply because they were now close enough to see the water pond at the base of the field, the air filled with laughter, shrieks and what seemed to be an exasperated maid.
Climbing down towards them, Anthony put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. All heads snapped up. For a second, besides the echo of the sound, it was quiet. And then it was like being attacked by an army of chestnut-hair children. They all came running at them and seconds later, Anthony and Benedict had their hands full of the little beasts.
After the smaller Bridgertons released them from the embrace, Anthony took a moment to look at them. They had all grown a bit since the last time he had seen them. Hell, Colin was now shoulder-high, what was next, he was going to outgrow him too?
Benedict seemed to notice something else about Colin, asking "Whatever happened to your face?"
Anthony moved his gaze on Colin's face where besides some dirt, there was a bruise on his left cheek.
"I fought with a bear!" exclaimed Colin.
"Lie!" yelled Eloise giggling, "Daphne punched him!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
Daphne didn't participate in the argument, instead she looked like the image of innocence, clutching her doll at her chest while looking up with big brown eyes. Smart, but Anthony had no doubt she did in fact punched him.
"Good job, Daff!" said Benedict raising a hand to high-five her. As their hands clapped, Colin didn't hesitate to grab Daphne's doll and run away with it.
With an indignant shriek, Daphne raced after him.
Anthony and Benedict shared an amused look, relieving moments where they had been nothing different.
Anthony didn't get the chance to daydream, as he felt a small hand clutching at his shirt. He looked down at his smallest sister, Francesca. "What can I do for you?" he asked frivolously.
She raised both of her arms, "Up!"
"Your wish is my command." He said, making her giggle and picked her up. A hand of hers came around his neck, while the other pointed to the water pond.
He walked them until they reached the edge of the water. "Throw me in water!"
"Well, that is an interesting request." answered Anthony perplexed.
"Like papa!" she added and Anthony knew exactly what she meant, his head filling with memories. But, although their father had thrown them in the water numerous times, he had done so in lakes or deeper ponds. This one, on the other hand, was one of the smallest in the area, its depth barely reaching three feet in the middle. Meaning, she could easily get hurt if he threw her in.
He wondered how to explain that to a four-year-old, until he looked into her eager eyes and realized he didn't have to.
Anthony gasped dramatically "We cannot do that!"
"Why?"
"It will infuriate the dragon." he whispered, his face maintaining all seriousness it could muster, pointing at a big cloud in the sky.
Francesca followed his gaze and laughed "Silly, is a cloud."
"Or is it?" he asked, then swiftly moved her from his arms, to his shoulders, keeping his arms up to stabilize her. "Touch it and tell me."
Hence, Anthony was now running and roaring like a monster, as Francesca was laughing hysterically.
When his back reached its limit, he put her back on the ground, both trying to catch their breath.
A couple of feet away from them, Anthony spotted Benedict laid down on the grass, one hand under his head, as the other was pointing to the sky, while Eloise whose head rested on his stomach, was following his direction.
"-Then the rabbit left the palace with the treasure-" Eloise's voice filled the air, as he arrived next to them and sat down, but Anthony couldn't pay attention.He needed a quiet moment.
Of course, his wish was not fulfilled. Daphne and Colin were marching from the trees towards them. Daphne was happily holding her doll and a branch while Colin was carrying enough branches for a fire.
Eloise jumped to her feet excited.
Benedict rolled on his stomach, his head leaning on his hands. "Are we making a fire? I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." he said, almost whining like a child.
"No." answered Colin. "We'll play knights, these are our swords."
"How exciting." muttered Anthony, but he didn't back down, not when his little brother was so enthusiastic.
Colin handed them the branches, but Benedict didn't bother to get up yet.
When Eloise, who didn't receive a branch, tried to snatch one herself, Colin pushed her "You cannot play with us, you're a girl!"
Daphne sat next to Benedict and told him loud enough to be heard by everyone "He's just afraid of losing to a girl."
"Am not!" protested Colin.
Anthony tried to pacify the situation. "Surely we can all play together. We can be the knights and the girls will be the damsels in distress."
Eloise sat on Benedict's back with her arms crossed over her chest and a pout expression on her face. "I am a knight!"
"Alright, everyone is whatever they want to be." decided Anthony and Colin sticked his tongue out at him, but didn't protest. Being the oldest sibling sure had its advantages.
"Who we rescue?" questioned Francesca who apparently had been listening too.
"You may rescue me." came Benedict's voice and Anthony snorted, seeing both Eloise and Daphne had found comfortable seats on his back.
Francesca strode to Benedict, but she might've lost her purpose somewhere along the way, as she was now on top of him too.
"You're doomed." stated Anthony.
Benedict held out a hand and whispered as if it were his last breath "Help me, brother."
Anthony mused, but decided to help him before Colin joined too.
A couple of minutes of fighting, tickling and laughing later, all Bridgertons were panting, but each was holding a branch, prepared for the real fight.
Anthony couldn't tell how much time had passed, nor could he deny the fun he had. Otherwise, he would have noticed his father arriving close to them and watching them with such a fond smile, that one would think there was no other place in the world he'd rather be. And indeed, there wasn't, not for Edmund Bridgerton.
The second Anthony did notice him though, he didn't hesitate to run towards him, perhaps in a childish manner, like he would have done before joining Eton. But it didn't matter. As his father's arms came around him in a forceful and warm embrace, there was no negative thought in his mind. Nothing could affect him then.
Soon all Bridgertons were around Edmund and after he hugged Benedict too, he spoke proudly "Come meet your new brother, Gregory."
Delighted gasps escaped the children's mouths as Anthony looked at Benedict with a "I told you" kind of look while Benedict responded with a mocking face.
They followed their father inside where the oldest Bridgerton siblings were yet again greeted with warm hugs, this time by their mother.
"Oh, boys, look at how much you have grown." Violet said, one hand stroking Anthony's hair as the other was pinching Benedict's cheek.
After their mother was done with them, all Bridgertons were surrounding the baby crib where Gregory laid, his eyes wide open glancing around the room.
They sat in silence.
Edmund had an arm around Violet, supporting her, as her head rested on his shoulder. Her tiredness could almost be masked by her smile, a smile saying it was all worth it.
Besides them, the others didn't look at Gregory like he was a miracle or the most beautiful gift from God.
Judging by Daphne's expression she saw him as a potential doll. Benedict and Colin lost their interest in mere seconds, while Eloise moved around them, as if she was waiting for something more interesting to happen.
But Francesca was the most perplexed one, being the only one not to see a baby before. Anthony couldn't help but think it was just yesterday she was a small baby herself.
Colin broke the silence, whispering to Daphne, "He's ugly."
"Not as ugly as you." she responded.
"You cannot know how I looked as a baby."
"I didn't mean when you were a baby."
"But I can confirm he was ugly then too." jumped Benedict in.
"Children!" admonished Violet wearily, silencing them.
Finally overwhelmed by all the attention he got, Gregory started crying and one by one the Bridgerton siblings left the nursery and headed to the dining room.
Soon their parents joined them for dinner.
In that moment Anthony could swear it was one of the best dinners he had. Maybe because he was starving or maybe because it was the first time in a long while they were all together.
And years later, too little years later, Anthony knew without doubt it had been one of the best, just like every moment they spent together and they never would again.