Work Text:
"Anthony, over here." The tall blonde woman winks and waves at him, her intentions loud and clear.
Anthony sees no way out with several, important people, standing next to him, so he smiles politely at them before he walks over to the woman. "Can I help you?" He asks, pretending to be oblivious to it all.
"Oh, Anthony," He feels her soft touch on her arm. "You know damn well why I called you." She brings her lips to his ear, "You promised me a good time, remember?" Her pressure on his arm tightens. "Last year was pretty great and I'm all in for a redo." She lowers her voice. "All I think about for the past couple of days is your tongue between my thighs and you making me scream again."
Panic starts to rise in Anthony's chest. Not because he's tempted by the proposal but because this was the fifth woman who came to him, all with similar suggestions. It shows perfectly how his life changed this last month. Last year he would have left with at least one of the girls, and made arrangements with the others.
But now he has Kate, she is the only one he wants to take home, the only girl who's seductive words would make an impression on him. He is smitten, lost for her, and he couldn't be happier about it. He knows it for a while now, but he loves her. Tonight is the night he would tell her, in his childhood bedroom, when they are alone. The symbolism about it doesn't get lost on him. Until his father died, this was the place that stocked his happiest memories, and after his passing he tried to avoid coming over. With Kate by his side the darkness of this house seemed to have disappeared, so much that Aubrey Hall was the perfect place to tell her he loves her. His past, present and future are represented in the stones of the building, in the garden, in the stables and in the living room. Some good, some bad, some sad; but Anthony wants to show it all to her.
Anthony needs to find a way to get rid of the woman, quick and most of all without unwanted attention from other guests.
Tonight the firm hosts a fundraiser for their pro-bono work, it is by far the most important night of the year, it has always been since his father started it a long time ago. It took place in Aubrey Hall, all their clients were present, smoothly seduced by Violet's excellent hosting skills to make a big donation, so a scene is the last thing he needs.
He sees on his watch it's almost 10 o'clock so Kate could be arriving at any moment, she had to work and he was counting the minutes until she was by his side. The thought of his arms around her waist makes him smile, every moment in her present without touching seems like a wasteful one.
"Ah, you remember." The woman's(he wants to say Miley?) face lights up at the sight of his smile. "Can you leave or do we have to wait?"
"I'm sorry." Anthony removes her hand from his arm, he vaguely starts to get his memory back, the woman standing before him is really, fucking wealthy and gave the biggest donation last year. "I have to excuse myself, my girlfriend is coming and I don't think she will accept me kissing another woman tonight." He winks politely.
"But you've promised." She pouts. "I've been looking forward to it."
"I don't know what to say." Anthony shrugs and puts his hands in the air. "I can't help you tonight, but I'll admit, our night was remarkable." He winks again, and at the same time he hopes his expression is a little sad.
It works, Miley seems satisfied by his words.
Anthony feels torn between relief and guilt. It was a big fat lie and somehow it feels like he's betraying Kate. He hates how he was , he almost doesn't recognize this man anymore.
"It was." Miley sighs. "I am curious though, who tamed the famous rake that was Anthony Bridgerton?" She takes a few steps back, creating a respectable distance between them.
"She's pretty great." This time Anthony doesn't have to fake a smile. "She'll be here any minute now."
"I believe you instantly. Any girl who makes you smile like that is worth it." Her attention drifts back to the other guest, "I see my brother over there, I have to go." And she's gone.
"Fuck my life." Anthony says to himself.
"You can say that." Colin suddenly stands beside him and puts a hand on his shoulder. "You're pretty busy tonight, chasing away all the sad widows and young longing girls, aren't you?" The amusement was clearly present in his voice.
"Shut up!" Anthony snaps. "Don't you have to annoy someone else?" He rolls his eyes. "Your girlfriend perhaps?"
"No, you're an easy target and I'm bored."
"Please, you know how important tonight is, don't push me." He looks sternly at his younger brother.
"Then I hate to be the bearer of bad news…" Colin stops talking and hesitates.
"What?" The look on Colin's face tells him it's serious and Anthony feels his pulse race rapidly.
"Well.. I just saw Kate, she ran out actually.."
"Fuck." Anthony looked around the room, she did not really think he was flirting and enjoying the attention, did she? "When? Where did she go?"
"A while ago.." Colin says with compassion. "I think she went outside."
"Thank you." He sets his glass on a table and with quick steps he walks to the edge of the room.
"Anthony, there you are!" Halfway through his mother grabs his arm and pulls him next to her. "Why the rush?" She smiles and locks her arm with his. "It is a party, we have to enjoy ourselves, you can't work all the time honey." The people around her laugh.
Anthony knows he's trapped when he sees who the men are, they are some of their most important clients so he can't leave. "Mister Berbrooke, Mister Cowper." He acknowledges them with a polite shake of his head. "I hope you're having a nice night." His hope was true for the second one, Berbrooke could rot in hell and he wouldn't cry a single tear.
"We are! Your mother once again outdid herself." Cowper clings his glass with the one Violet holds. "I was just saying how excellent you've helped me the other week, and that my check would show my gratitude."
"Thank you so much." Anthony forces to stay put, and to keep his head together. "We'll greatly appreciate it."
"Anthony!" A voice interrupts them. "I need your help."
It is Benedict, in his eyes Anthony reads he's here to help him. Anthony feels so relieved he can kiss his brother.
"With what sweetheart?" Violet sees it through and holds Anthony in place with a strong grip on his arm.
"I think someone who wants to donate generously needs a bit more encouragement." Benedict smirks. "And who better to do the job than our beloved Anthony with his pretty face."
"He's quite persuasive." Berbrooke says a little jealousy. "If it wasn't for him my ex wasn't half as wealthy as she is right now."
"If it wasn't for you she wouldn't have syphilis." Anthony can't stand it anymore, he hated the man, it came to a peak when he hit on Daphne last year and only because his mother was a lifelong family friend was he there.
"Anthony! Please go." Hisses his mother, she knows it is best when Anthony leaves before it gets out of hand, she can ease this down but only when her son removes himself from the group quickly.
"Thank you, thank you!" Anthony says to his brother. "I have to go."
"What did you do?!" Benedict stops him. "When I saw Kate earlier this evening she was looking forward to surprising you but an hour later she looked like she wanted to cry.. you can't mess this up Ant.."
"Earlier?" Anthony's heart sinks into his stomach, did she watch him all evening? That can't be good..
"Yes, she came with Eloise and Fransesca, all ready and excited."
"No, no!" Anthony covers his eyes with his hand. "Fuck! She must have seen me with other women…"
"You didn't!!" Benedict looks like he wants to punch him. "You're not that stupid!" Instead of a punch he slaps him on the back of his head.
"God no, I would never!" Anthony reacts quickly, he understands perfectly what Benedict implies. "But it might have looked that way…" He feels sick. "Why didn't you warn me she was here!?"
"At first I didn't want to ruin the surprise, but when I talked to her and she told me she did not want to interrupt you.. that's when I sent out Colin to find you."
"He probably got distracted by the buffet…" Anthony feels unhinged, he hopes Kate's still here, he needs to talk to her and set this straight. "I swear I missed her all evening, I felt like a dick every time I had to pretend that I liked talking to them."
"Don't tell me, tell her." Benedict points to the gardens, "I think she went outside."
"Kate?!" Anthony walked on the grass, he looked everywhere and she was nowhere to be found. "Please answer me if you can hear me."
It is dark but there are candles lit so he can see the gazebo in the distance. If his eyes don't deceive him he spots a silhouette, and when he closes the distance he sees someone sitting on a bench.
It is her.
Anthony increases his pace. "Kate!" He says in a normal tone when he is in earshot. "There you are." He doesn't know what else to say.
"Here I am." She obviously saw him coming and her face hardens when Anthony moves a little closer.
"Why are you outside?"
"What do you think Anthony?" Her hands play with the end of her scarf.
"I don't know, I didn't even know you were here, I thought you had to work till 8."
This is bad, Anthony thinks, the most maddening part of it is that he doesn't know how to defend himself, he needs to know how Kate feels, why she is so upset, but he's almost too afraid to ask.
"Yes, I thought so." Kate stands, her eyes full of hurt. "You didn't seem to need me though."
"Katie," Anthony sighs. "Please come back inside." He begs. "I want to show you everything."
"It is a beautiful house." Kate turns to him. "I can see now why you loved it so much growing up." A light smile enters her face, but it never reaches her eyes. "I'm sorry but I have to go, but I don't think you would miss me."
"Why?" Anthony asks, he sits beside her on the bench but when he wants to grab her hand she stands up.
"Kate?"
"Anthony don't act like a fool, you know what you did." She looks at him and there's both sadness and anger in her eyes.
Anthony feels tears starting to well up in his eyes, it goes from bad to worse in a second. The thought of Kate thinking he would cheat on her hurt, the lack of trust even more.
"I don't know what you saw, but… I can't believe I have to say this but I didn't do anything." His voice is shaky, Anthony is scared of everything that Kate hasn't said yet.
"Oh I know that Anthony." Kate grabs his hand. "It's much more complicated." Her face is just as sad as his, of that he's sure, but the fact that she made actual, physical contact makes him sigh.
"Then why do you have to go?" Anthony's head is spinning, he still pants and the feeling that everything slips out of his hands is killing him.
"We're just too different." A tear falls on Kate cheek, Anthony moves his hand to wipe it away.
"Don't." Kate takes a step back. "Please don't make this harder. If I walk away now… it's better… The longer we wait the harder it will be…"
Suddenly Anthony fully realizes what Kate's about to do.
"No! No!" He shouts out. "You can't do this! I was just making sure they donated, it meant nothing." He can't let her do this! So before he truly falls apart he needs to try to get her to change her mind.
"I know!" Kate also raises her voice. "That's not even the point! It is just… I don't think I'll ever enjoy this." She points to the place where the party is held. "All those empty talks, those shallow, posh people."
"I don't like it either." Anthony tries to soften his face, to remove the angst and show some sweetness, this is all a misunderstanding and he knows he can fix this.
"I'm sorry Anthony, but you seemed to relish in it." Kate doesn't flinch and keeps her sadness.
"From a distance I did, I was working." Anthony steps towards her. "I think it's not fair to judge me for that."
"I… I can't see myself with these people.."
"Then we'll leave." He would do it, without thinking. "And next year we'll think of something, we can take a city trip, fake an illness, whatever you want."
"I can't ask that, I don't want you to betray your family, or your firm."
"You can." Anthony puts an arm around her waist. "You can."
"But I don't want to be that person." Kate shakes to herself free.
"So you'll just walk away? Without even trying to compromise?" Anthony starts to feel irritated by her stubborn attitude. "You're making some big assumptions, but you're just as bad as me if you walk away now, please talk to me."
"I can't." Kate whispers. "I never want to feel this way again…"
"Like what?" Anthony raises one eyebrow.
"Forget it." Kate probably regrets saying it and she starts to walk away from him.
"So this is it?" Anthony says in total disbelief. "All because you can't stand the people at a party?"
Kate turns, her eyes burning so angry into him he's terrified."Those people!" She spits out the words. "They think I'm nothing! Nothing but a gold digger, I wormed my way into your life, to secure my own future, to work at your brother's gallery, which, might I remind you, is exactly the reason why I didn't accept his offer when we got together! Oh and I'm not even that pretty, so I must be good in bed… that's what I heard all evening! So excuse me for wanting to have nothing to do with them! With this world of yours! I worked too hard to get where I am today for it to ruin me." When the last word leaves her mouth she starts to run away from him.
Anthony is startled by her outburst, it takes a couple of seconds to collect his thoughts and in the end he can only think of one thing to say, so he starts to run after her. It doesn't take long before he gets her arm and forces her to stop.
"I love you." He says loudly. "And I'm so sorry for all those things. But I love you."
"Anthony…" Kate's eyes grow wide. "What are you saying?"
"I. Love. You."
"Oh…"
"Really, fuck all those crappy men inside but please, please don't leave me, I won't survive…" Anthony feels how tears run down his cheeks. "I can't change my past, but I'm not the same man anymore. I need you to believe me, I know you know. I've been such a jerk, but I hated every minute spent with them. In general I hate every minute without you. Kate you're my favorite person, I hope you give me time, so I can show you and most of all I hope it's enough for you to stay with me ...."
"Women…" Kate says softly. "It was women who've talked that way."
"I don't care, Fuck them all, I just want you."
Kate laughs, truly this time.
"I mean it." Anthony takes her hands in his, Kate doesn't reject so slowly his breath steadies and he starts to calm down. "You're incredible, if they don't see it it's their loss. Really Kate, you are enough, I don't need them, just you."
"I believe you." Kate closes the distance between them so she can put her arms around his waist. "I'm sorry…"
"For what Katie?" Anthony feels so relieved he can't think straight.
"For jumping to the wrong conclusions. I.. it just… I was hurt."
"If you don't leave me.. I forgive you." He drops a soft kiss on her nose.
"I don't think I can't now." Kate smirks. "Why do you have to be so fucking cute?" She kisses his cheek.
Anthony shivers at the touch of her lips. "Being in love kind of does that to a person." This time he smirks.
"I don't know if that holds up.. I was a bit harsh on you tonight and I still..." Kate moves her lips to his mouth, Anthony knows what's coming, he feels it in his bones, he grabs Kate's hips and pulls her in, Anthony needs her as close as possible when she says it.
"You were… but I don't get what you want to say?" Anthony kisses her back and acts oblivious. "You were harsh but you still…?"
"I meant to say, even when you act like a twat you can be in love…" Kate says in between kisses.
"Oh?" Anthony grins while he lifts his eyebrows, not making it too easy for her.
Kate gives him an eye roll but then looks all serious. Her grip tightens and her smile grows: "I love you too Anthony."