Chapter Text
Her baby sister was getting married. At nineteen years old to a man she had known only six months. A perfectly reasonable situation, right?
Ridiculous.
Kate was happy for her; at least, she was trying her damndest to be. She should be happy and supportive. She should be thrilled that Edwina had found a partner who was sweet and kind and loved her beyond reason.
And she was happy that Edwina had found Matt. He was nice and clearly smitten with Edwina, but marriage was a step too far, too quickly. Why such a rush?
Of course, Kate couldn’t tell Edwina how she felt about the situation. She could not say things like, ‘it’s too soon ’, ‘why don’t you try living together first? ’, or 'what’s the rush, you’re both so young ?’ The question, ‘what about school? ’ also remained unspoken but repeated loudly in Kate’s head.
These were all things Edwina did not want to hear. As much as Kate wanted to be honest, this time she couldn’t bear to be the one to crush her sister’s dreams. A happy smile had been fixed on Edwina’s face since she breezed into dinner, serenely showing off her engagement ring affixed finger for all to see. Kate couldn’t be the one to make her joy fade.
Kate had to hold her tongue, it was not her place. A year ago, she wouldn't have been able to help herself, but she had grown wiser since then. Edwina seemed to take her advice rarely as intended, often spurring her to completely dismiss Kate and not taking her opinion with the sincerity it was offered. Kate was a know-it-all, too invested in Edwina’s life, unsupportive and judgemental. She was tired of the accusations but refused to acknowledge there was any truth to them. Kate only wanted the best for Edwina. If that made her bossy and unreasonable, so be it.
Tonight, she had been with Mary at Agatha Danbury’s home when Edwina arrived –without her boyfriend but with the bombshell that he had proposed that afternoon. Kate had forced a tight grin as she took in the news, tensely hugging her sister.
She was grateful for Mrs Danbury’s raised eyebrow and unimpressed expression when she observed the amount of time Edwina and Matthew Bagwell had been dating. Mere months! It was absurd, far too soon to be married. Did she think she was a princess in a fantastical Disney cartoon?!
It relieved her to see she wasn’t the only one who objected to the situation. Kate had always liked the older woman; a friend of Mary’s from the time before she eloped with Kate’s father and moved to India. Mary had a falling out with her own parents, but remained in close contact with the woman almost, but not quite old enough to be her mother. Agatha Danbury was formidable, someone Kate had respect for even though they had clashed quite a bit through the years.
The Sharma family visited London twice a year or so and stayed at the Danbury Home, which was truly a mansion. The woman was a widow and extraordinarily wealthy. Kate had never quite felt like she fit in during home visits. Not like Edwina. She loved her sister, but never had the easy way of adapting that seemed to be innate to Edwina.
And so tonight she sat stabbing at her salad, listening to Edwina discuss all the things she wanted for her wedding. All the things Kate would need to provide for her. Her stepmother had not looked at their bank accounts since long before Kate’s father died. There was no money left for a wedding. There had been no money left either for Edwina’s schooling either, but Kate had taken up a second job and worked through her summer breaks to ensure that there was.
Kate drank her wine, anxious to get home and start crunching numbers. Edwina placed her hand on Kate’s arm, drawing her attention back to the conversation. “I think a fall wedding would suit me, early fall so it would neither be too hot or cold. September this year or next? How wonderful it would be if we could get married in three months!? Kate, what do you think of a bouquet of peonies and lilacs?”
“They’re fine, bon.”
“That’s Kate for ‘I hate it ’,” Edwina said with a giggle, looking at Mary as if she expected agreement. Their mother smiled softly, remaining quiet.
Kate squeezed her sister’s hand. “Whatever flowers you want are surely the right choice.” Peonies were an expensive choice and lilacs impractical for a fall wedding, but if Edwina wanted them, Kate would move heaven and earth to get them for her. It was what sisters did. It was what their father would have done.
“I want to get married outside, but what if it rains? If only there was a way to book two places and simply pick one on the day of.”
Kate cleared her throat. “Perhaps we can find a venue that has both an indoor and outdoor option that you like.”
“Yes, that's very practical.” Edwina smiled warmly at her. “What would I do without you, Kate?”
“Perish, I’m sure,” Mrs. Danbury interjected dryly before taking a sip of wine. Her raised brow was a mood that Kate related to at the moment.
Edwina continued on. “I want to get married at a castle. Something grand, with flowers and a string quartet, candles and fairy lights. It’ll be beautiful, magical almost!”
“Does Matt have any thoughts on what he’d like?” Mary asked.
“It seems strange that we have not even met his family yet,” Kate said as diplomatically as she could. The meaning behind her sentiment should have been obvious, but Edwina brushed it away like every concern Kate had ever broached.
When they were younger, they had fought bitterly when Kate disapproved of Edwina’s first boyfriend–a disapproval that was quickly proven correct when he broke her heart days after Edwina lost her virginity to him. It never mattered that Kate had been right to worry. Any time Kate voiced her opinions, Edwina lashed out, reminding Kate that she was not her mother, nor a substitute for her father. Only her half-sister. The pain from that moment was a wound that would never quite heal for Kate. It kept her silent at times like tonight when she wanted to scream.
As dinner was served, Kate was lost in thought, pondering the best way to make the best of the situation. Today was the last week of classes at the university she taught at, summer break would start next week; she would need to find a full time job this summer in order to raise enough money for the kind of ceremony Edwina wanted. It was the only option, her savings had already been depleted by Edwina’s school costs.
At least it would only be this once. One wedding to pay for. Kate hoped, at least. Mathew was nice- a sweet, perfectly pleasant philosophy scholar. Sure it was a useless degree that would never lead to monetary success but as an art history teacher, it was a lifestyle Kate was only too familiar with.
“I think I want a photo booth as well as a photographer, they’re always so fun,” Edwina said. “Maybe some sort of themed props. Ooooh. What if we do a regency wedding? Everyone dresses like it’s the 1800’s!”
At that, Agatha Danbury rolled her eyes to such a degree that Kate had to stifle a laugh.
“Must everyone bathe like the 1800’s?” a familiar voice cut in. “I think that is some historical realism the world could live without.”
All eyes turned to the entrance of the dining room. Agatha Danbury’s godson Simon Basset stood with a grin, in black trousers and a matching black button-down shirt, effortlessly dapper as he had been for as long as Kate had known him. He was typically serious but with a wry sense of humour, almost always with a glint of mischief in his eyes. He was a welcome sight and Kate stood to greet him, hugging him tightly when he approached the dinner table.
She had always liked Simon, they were friends of a sort- not the type that shared secrets or had deep conversations, but he was good for a laugh and a great drinking buddy. They had a tiny romantic past, having messed around a bit when Kate was in her early twenties, nothing serious. It had only been casual hookups when the Sharma family was in town visiting his godmother. They all felt bonded together by their found family relationship with Mrs. Danbury, but distant enough that a good fuck felt perfectly respectable.
Once the Sharma family moved back to London permanently last year, without even discussing it, they had stopped all such interactions. Kate never wondered why; they had been together when it was convenient, easy- but there was nothing beyond decent sex. They both seemed to understand that whatever it was between them couldn’t translate to normal life.
Agatha pursed her lips, looking at him expectantly. “What brings you here, Simon?”
“Apparently, to hear about this wedding of the century? I assume congratulations are in order?” Simon gave her a questioning confused look.
“They are!” Edwina squealed with delight. “Matt proposed!”
“Who is Matt?”
Kate rolled her eyes. “Matt is Edwina’s boyfriend. Fiancé,” Kate quickly corrected. “They have been dating since February.”
“Ah. And I have been gone since January. Seems quick to get married, innit?”
Kate remained silent, secretly pleased that Simon agreed with her. She looked at a stricken Edwina who seemed speechless.
Kate schooled her features into a look of concern. She hated that she could not speak her mind, but she was Edwina’s greatest supporter. It was a mantle she had proudly taken on. She would support Edwina’s mistakes and clean up after so well that Edwina would doubt it had been an error. It came with the duty of the eldest.
Kate gave Edwina an encouraging smile. “Edwina’s heart knows that it’s right. I think we can all trust that if she feels it is time, then there is no reason to wait even a day.”
Edwina lit up.
It was madness, but it was what Edwina wanted to hear. Her sister clutched her hands to her chest and Kate could see the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes.
“Kate, that’s so sweet of you. Thank you!” Edwina turned to Simon. “My sister is the smartest person in the world, and if she thinks it’s true love, then we should all trust her judgement. I know I do.”
Kate resisted the urge to object, to list out the many times Edwina ignored her counsel, called Kate overprotective, and mocked her very real concerns as absurd. Remind her of all the times, she had held her sister’s sobbing form as she mourned a relationship or situation that Kate had advised against.
Instead, she offered up a toast to Edwina and her upcoming nuptials.
Simon plopped down beside Kate and began fielding questions about his trip; he was all good humour and charm, never mentioning the incident that had caused him to flee the country for months and go on a romp around Asia. Kate had not seen him in that time, but understood he had quite the row with his estranged father, only returning recently upon his death.
Kate had heard from Mary, who she assumed was told by Lady Danbury that on his father’s deathbed, he had chosen to finally accept Simon as his son and tried to make amends for a lifetime of toxic neglect. Needless to say, it was not something Simon had any interest in. Whatever happened, it had to have been awful.
Kate didn’t feel like it was her place to ask. They had never had that kind of relationship. Kate had never been to his flat, met his friends, or talked about anything real. It wasn’t what they were. They were fuck buddies, acquaintances– friends of a sort. But only in the most surface-level way. They were the definition of casual.
“Kate,” Simon called out quietly to her after dinner as the others moved towards the drawing room for herbal tea. So many rooms, it was truly absurd how Mrs. Danbury had a room for everything. “I have an offer for you.”
“No thank you.” Kate narrowed her eyes, breaking into a confused look. “I thought we were on the same page-”
“Oh, not that.” Simon waved his hand emphatically. “Or I suppose sort of, but not the way you were thinking. I wanted you to come to a party with me next week. As my date, my girlfriend really.”
“No, and why would you even ask that?”
He groaned. “I may have made an error last year and I would rather not let it become a bigger issue.”
“Oooh, tell me all about your mistakes.” Kate felt herself glowing with delight and anticipation.
“Can we go somewhere? Out for a drink? This needs alcohol. A lot of it.”
“Fine, but I’m driving,” Kate said before they went to give their farewells to the others.
Thirty minutes later, they had found a booth and were seated, drinks in hand as Kate waited for an explanation from Simon. He stared down into a glass of whisky, before grimacing and draining it in one long sip. “I’m grabbing another, you want anything?”
Kate gestured to her full glass of gin and tonic. “I’m good thanks,” she said, full of amusement over what had Simon so rattled. He was typically so unflappable, it was fun seeing him like this.
A few minutes later he returned with another glass, more full than his last. The bartender must have not wanted to deal with him again so soon.
He took a few sips before hesitantly meeting her eyes. “Do you know the Bridgertons?”
“I know of them. Super rich, lots of them. Dead dad. Usual rich person nonsense.” She gave him a pointed scowl.
“I know, I know,” he chuckled. “We’re unbearable aren’t we?”
“You have no idea.” Kate took a sip of her drink, waiting for him to continue.“What about them? Friends of yours right? I know Agatha has mentioned them in passing.”
Simon nodded, still seeming hesitant. “I do. The eldest, Anthony, we were in school together, he has been my best friend for years.”
“And yet, I’ve never met him. Or even heard you speak of him…”
“Well, I didn’t think you would want to hear about it, he’s a posh twat, but he’s my mate. We mostly have just hung out the past few years when trying to pull. Which I’ve never had to do when you're around.” He shot her a wink and Kate groaned.
“Can we please forget the mistakes of our youth?”
“No. But getting back to mistakes. Okay, so the Bridgertons. Things were rough last year and I spent time at their country home.”
Kate opened her mouth and Simon quickly cut her off. “I know, rich people. Awful and wasteful.”
“Anyway, ” he continued. “I spent the summer there with Violet and the kids. Anthony and his brothers weren’t there much. But the girls were, specifically Daphne. She was on break from fashion school. And well…” He took another long sip of his drink. “We grew close.”
“You slept with her,” Kate stated, having no doubt about what had happened.
“Yes.”
“Once?”
“At first, I felt awful about it. My best friend entrusted me to stay with his family and I went ahead and fucked his nineteen-year-old sister. I was adamant that it was a one-time thing.”
“And of course, it wasn’t.”
“It wasn’t. At first, we kept saying that this would be the last time, but after a few times, we stopped pretending.”
“Are you still together?”
“No!” Simon set down his drink so forcefully, the table rattled. “I ended it, Anthony came back and we got to talking about Daphne. He didn’t know anything about us, but he told me what I already knew. That she wanted a serious relationship, she’s a hopeless romantic, she wants the white picket fence life. All things I already knew.”
“And that’s a problem for you,” Kate guessed.
“It is. I don't ever want to get married and have kids, and she wants that more than anything. It needed to end, and it needs to stay over for her sake as well as my own. Our lives do not work together.”
“Okay, so you broke up with her. It’s done. And you what, want to throw me in her face to make sure she knows it?”
“I wouldn’t put it like that.”
“Really? It sounds like it.”
“I just want to… she’s back for the summer again. And I’m not staying there, but there’s parties, so many parties. And…”
“And what?” Kate waited, studying him carefully. She had never seen him like this before.
“I don’t trust myself around her. If I’m alone and I see her, I won't be able to help myself. But if she thinks I’m with someone…”
Kate nodded. “She’ll back off. Got it. Have you talked to her? About the marriage and kids thing?”
“No, because I know her. She would say she could live without those things but it would be a lie. She would resent me. Maybe not right away, but when she’s forty and every other person she knows has kids, she’ll regret choosing me.”
“That sounds like her choice to make. And you don’t know that in five years, you might feel differently. Why shut yourself off from the possibility?”
“I won’t change my mind! About kids, about Daphne. As much as I care for her, it can’t happen again. Please, help me. I’ve been avoiding Anthony- the whole family really, but next week is Violet’s Hearts and Flowers ball and I can’t not go.”
“A ball.” Kate literally cringed. “How upscale are we talking?”
“Very, but I’ll buy you a dress! And pay you for your time. In fact, if it goes well. What would you think of spending the summer as my fake girlfriend?”
“I don’t think very highly of it,” Kate quipped.
“Please, Kate.”
“You can’t be serious.
“Deadly. And I’ll pay handsomely for it.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “You’re lucky Edwina got engaged this week rather than next.” She sighed. “I love her, but that girl has zero understanding of money.”
“I can’t imagine what that’s like,” Simon said with a shrug.
“I hate you.”
“You don’t, but it’s cute of you to pretend.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’ll do this, but I’m not sleeping with you again.”
“Okay, okay. Sex, optional.”
“Non-existent. This isn’t one of those dumb rom-coms where we’re going to fall in love.”
Simon laughed. “I don’t think either of us need to worry about that.” He held up his glass to meet hers. “To Edwina’s wedding.”
Kate clinked her glass, before bringing the drink to her lips, following Simon’s lead and finishing it fast.
“Another?”
“Another.”
One more drink led to three as they went over the details of their plan, time commitments, expenses and the amount of money Kate would receive for the scheme. Kate talked him up to an amount that would be more than enough to cover Edwna’s lavish nuptials and help out with her tuition. After a few drinks, it felt like this was the best idea Simon had ever had.
She knew sober Kate would disagree, but she wasn’t here. Only Kate, excessive amounts of gin, and her new fake boyfriend.