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Anthony, Kate, Eloise and Violet sat in the morning room discussing the season. Violet and Anthony were trying to persuade Eloise to, at least, give her suitors a chance.
“Eloise why can’t you just attempt to entertain your suitors. You might find someone you like.” Violet cajoled.
“I don’t see why I have to pander to the whims of the ridiculous men of the ton. I’d much rather be reading a new book or attending a lecture.” Eloise frowned at her mother.
“Eloise you have hardly even spared a glance at any of the young men who have come to call. Even going so far as to be incredibly rude just to get them to leave. We have tried to be patient with you but you must take this more seriously.” Anthony interjected.
“Why? Why must I take this seriously? I have no desire to be a wife or a mother and I resent the fact that I am being forced to primp and preen like a calf trussed up for auction.” Eloise hissed.
“Eloise no one wants to force you to do anything but you could at least consider . . .”
“Not going to force me? Ha! Like you weren’t going to force Daphne with Berbrooke Anthony! Why should I trust that you wouldn’t force me to marry some odious man against my will!” Eloise snorted derisively.
Kate gaped in the silence that followed such a statement. Her eyes flitting back and forth between Anthony and Eloise. She saw immediately how much this hurt her husband. His eyes shuttered and he held himself stiff as a board. He had confided in her the shame he felt at how he dealt with Daphne's season and the fear that he may have tied his sister to such an unscrupulous man. Kate quickly looked over to Violet to see if she would reprimand Eloise for her hurtful comment but to her surprise Violet seemed to be in agreement with Eloise!
Anger welled up in Kate at the complete disregard the Bridgerton matriarch was showing for her eldest son and she decided enough was enough!
“You know, you’re right” Kate began in a thoughtful voice. “If you do not want to pick a suitor perhaps we shall simply choose one for you. I’m sure there are plenty of men who would be happy to have a bride with such a healthy dowry and such an old family name. Perhaps Berbrooke is still available. He doesn’t seem the sort to mind switching one sister out for another.”
Anthony gave her an incredulous look but she simply gave him a little shake of her head. Turning back to Eloise and Violet she saw both were sporting horrified looks.
“It is well within Lord Bridgertons right to choose your husband as he sees fit. He is not required to ask for your opinion or your blessing. He could order you to marry whoever he decides and there isn’t a thing you could do about it.” Kate finished with an impassive look.
“I would run away before I would ever be married to that man!” Eloise spat viciously.
“Run away?” Kate asked innocently. “Run away where? Where would you go and with what money?”
“I would find someone willing to help me. Penelope would house me and I have saved some of my pin money.” Eloise retorted.
“Penelope could not help you if it was in direct contrast with Lord Bridgertons wishes. With the law on his side he could have you forcibly removed from the house and she could do nothing to stop it and your pin money actually belongs to Anthony. Besides that money would not last you very long without the protection of your brother. If he turned you out onto the street because of your disrespect and insolence there is nothing that could be done for you.” Kate gave Eloise a long look.
“You would have to find employment of some kind in order to sustain yourself if you ran away. What would you do?” Kate asked.
“I could . . . I’m sure I would think of something.” Eloise stuttered.
“And lodgings. You would have to find a place to live.” Kate spoke as though she hadn’t even heard Eloise.
“You would need different clothes as yours are too fine to work in. You have no references. No work experience. There are few people who can take the risk of hiring someone with no guarantee they can do the work.” Kate tilted her head.
Eloise was looking both confused, upset and angry.
“I’m sure you think running away would be preferable to marrying someone and maybe you are right, depending on the person. But you also have no idea how difficult that life really is. You have lived an incredibly privileged life. I imagine you cannot do even the most basic things that would be required if you were to live in more modest circumstances.”
Kate tilted her head to regard Eloise with a challenging air.
“Or do you know how to light a fire, cook your own food, make your own bed or wash your own clothes? Do you even know what food costs? Whether something is a good deal or not? How could you tell if someone was taking advantage of your ignorance and charging you more than something is worth?’
Eloise’ had begun to look more and more overwhelmed the more questions Kate posed. Fear also began to fill her eyes. It was the fear that made Kate decide Eloise had finally started to listen.
“I’m not saying this to frighten you. I’m saying this so you know you should be grateful. Grateful to Anthony for how exceptional he is. He has not forced you to do anything. Yes he made a mistake with Daphne but that is what it was. A mistake. He never wanted your sister to marry a bad man. In fact he thought he was saving her from bad men by arranging a match with one who he thought was suitable.”
Kate walked over to sit next to Eloise.
“Your brother loves you so much and all he wants is for you to be happy. Most men in this day and age and certainly of the ton care nothing for the women in their lives only so far as they advance their own agenda. You are in the unique position of having an older brother who actually cares about your wishes and wants to take them into consideration when planning your future.”
Kate took Eloise’ hands and gave them a squeeze.
“You owe it to your brother to treat him with respect and answer him honestly when he is talking to you about these things. Many wouldn’t even consider consulting you. You have no idea how blessed you are.”
Kate could see the wheels turning behind her eyes and decided Eloise could benefit from some time and reflection.
“Why don’t you go to your room and lie down. Take some time to really think about what you want for your future. Examine every angle and then you and your brother can have a real conversation about what we should do moving forward.” Kate gave Eloise a soft smile and an encouraging nod of her head towards the door.
Eloise stood as if in a trance and made her way towards the door and up the stairs to her room. Once she knew Eloise was out of hearing range Kate turned her attention to Violet.
One down, one to go.
“Violet, I am aware that you look at Anthony as the head of your family but I think you need to remember that he is also your son. Eloise’ comment was deliberately hurtful to him and you chose to say nothing. Not only do you do your son a disservice by refusing to defend him you also do your daughter a disservice by allowing such behavior. Eloise cannot be allowed to believe such words are acceptable, ever.” Kate finished with a strong voice.
“Eloise has a right to be apprehensive given what Anthony has done in the past.” Violet defended herself.
“Yes, Eloise has a right to be apprehensive about her future but she should never be made to fear her older brother. Her older brother who has lived his entire life for the happiness and security of his siblings.”
“Edmund would never have brought Berbrooke into this house.” Violet murmured.
“Violet, how can you say that? How can you know what your late husband would or would not have done? You cannot keep imagining that everything Anthony does is falling short of an unattainable ideal.”
Kate could feel her blood begin to boil and she stood to move away from Violet.
“Even now you offer nothing but criticism and complaints without ever giving any other alternatives. You only say he isn’t doing things like Edmund would and condemning him for not being his father. He will never be his father nor should he. He is Anthony. He is the head of this family and you owe him more respect than you have given him.”
Kate had started this intending to remind Violet that she needed to remember Anthony was also her child and deserving of her defense but now that she had started she could hardly stop herself from continuing.
“I’m aware of what vitriol you spewed at him in the wake of your husband's death. The guilt and anger you heaped on him and that he took to spare the rest of your children. Overnight Anthony became the Viscount, the head of the family, father to your youngest children, and mother while you were incapacitated in your grief. He also became your punching bag and the scapegoat for every problem any of you seem to have. If something goes wrong it’s Anthony's fault. None of you acknowledge that he never got to grieve his father. He had too much work to do. Too many children to look after and he did it all without any help. Without any guidance. Certainly without you. What eight and ten year old young man could have accomplished all that he did without bowing under the weight that was thrust onto his shoulders. It is a miracle your son has not succumbed to the enormous burden placed on him.”
Kate was heaving at this point. The strength of her love for Anthony made her feel vicious in her defense of the horrors he had endured.
“And throughout all of it he managed to be a wonderful father to the younger children. He has increased the Viscountcy. He has secured your family's financial future for generations to come. Your children want for nothing. You want for nothing. How much more will you demand of him before he finally breaks. Your son is the best man I have ever known and it kills me that none of you seem to realize this. None of you recognize how your lives would fall apart were he not here keeping everything together. I have half a mind to kidnap him and see how well you all fair without him at the helm. I give you a sennight before you came running after us begging for his swift return.”
Kate finished her lengthy diatribe practically panting with righteous anger. Her eyes burned into Violets daring her to contradict anything she had just said. Violet stared, opened mouthed with wide eyes. Eyes that had begun to glisten as tears began falling down her cheeks.
“Oh Anthony!” Violet sobbed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Mother I . . . “
“No Anthony, she’s right. Kate's right. I have been a horrible mother to you since the moment your father died. I was so lost and so angry. So heartbroken but she’s right. I left you all alone to handle everything. You were my baby. My first baby . . “ Violet broke off as more sobs escaped.
Anthony slowly moved to sit next to his mother and hesitantly patted her hands.
“It was very difficult for you when father died,” was all Anthony could think to say.
“That doesn’t change the fact that I have failed you.” Violet raised her tear filled eyes to look at her eldest son. “I failed to help you, encourage you. I should have been right beside you as you stepped into your role but I could not fight the despair that filled me.”
Violet lowered her head and brought Anthony's hands to her mouth to kiss them.
“You always seemed to have everything under control. I thought you didn’t need me. I didn’t see . . . perhaps I didn’t want to see . . how difficult it was for you.”
Violet wiped at her eyes.
“These habits will be difficult to break but I will try to be better. I cannot change the past but I will work towards the future. The first step I will take will be speaking with Eloise.”
“Mother, you do not have to . . “
“No.” Violet interrupted. “I do have to. Kate is right. I do you both a grave disservice by allowing such behavior to go uncontested.”
Violet rose with all the grace one could expect of the dowager Viscountess. She gave Anthony's hands one last squeeze. She gave a nod of her head in respect to Kate and then turned to glide out of the room and up the stairs after her daughter.
The room was silent in her wake for a moment before the reality of all that had occurred came crashing down on Kate. Worried that she had offended her husband with her impertinent speech she began to apologize.
“Anthony. . . I’m sorry . . I should not have spoken so. I forgot myself and . . .”
Long arms wrapped around her as Anthony burrowed into her neck.
“Kate. . Kate. . thank you.” Anthony sobbed as he broke in her arms.
Kate simply held him tighter as he cried until there were no more tears.