Work Text:
What if the events of season 2 happened up until the 'thorn' comment.
Kate's backstory- She is daughter of Rani Karnavati and Raja Veer. She is a beloved grand daughter of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. At the age of 4, her father is killed by a spy. They don't know which kingdom sent their spy so Kate and her mother flee along with Raja Veer's secretary (could be a cousin too 🤷♀️) Milan Sharma.
Karnavati flees without informing her royal fam because she is not sure who to trust. Anyhoo, she and Milan disguise themselves as a 'loving couple' so as to protect Kate and their identity. Milan becomes a royal secretary to Maharaja Dripnath Shah of the Nagvanshi Dynasty (Neutral kingdom or some such thing). Kate is unaware of her lineage and in the meantime is dearly missed by The Merwar Clan. When she is 6, her mum dies due to a lung disease in the monsoons. Milan loves Kate as his own daughter and pledges to protect her with his life- as is his duty to the crown (or uncle if I decide to make Milan Veer's cousin). Anyways, he accompanies the Maharaja's son- Raja Deo Nath Shah on a diplomatic tour to England. There during the London season, he crosses path with the 'Diomand of the season' (aka Mary), falls in love with her, and marries her. They move back to India and Milan continues to work for Raja Deo Nath.
Due to his oath, Milan does not tell Mary about Kate's true identity although he knows that Mary loves her like her own. In the meantime Edwina borns and they are a loving family of 4.
When Kate is 17, Milan becomes sick and on his deathbed tells her about her true identity and whatever happened when she was 4. He was told not to trust anyone and tells the same to Kate. Kate still loves him and though she is sad that he is not her real father, in her heart he will always be her appa.
When she is 18, she realises that the Merwar clan is still searching for her cuz she comes across spies for the kingdom. She feels that they are out to kill her (she did not know that she was loved by them n all that stuff). Funds are low and Kate decides to move from state to state (a smaller lodging each time) so that Merwar clan never finds her. In the meantime she contacts the Sheffields. They agree to 'The Scheme' and she teaches Edwina how to be a proper younge lady and all that.
All this happens OFF SCREEN alright but parts of this can be told in the fic too.
*Insert Happenings of Season 2*
During season 2 Kate receives certain letters from her cousins. They are able to track her and to persuade her to return with them to India. They do not try to outright confront her... fearing she might flee n never come back. The cousins are on a diplomatic tour and are currently in Spain k?
After the not wedding, she writes back to them n goes on the ship with them to return to India. On the ship the cousins tell her they found out who ordered to killed her father (It was Maharaja Pratap Singh of Kachwaha Dynasty). Kate decides to take revenge and her cousins help her. (she is a tired, lonely gal who just found her fam alright? Cut her some slack.) As she is the only Merwar heir the Kachwaha's are not aware about, she decides to impersonate herself as a very rich heiress of an old, forgotten Dynasty (the Mauryas perhaps? 🤔). They meticulously plan how to make the heir apparent of Kachwahas fall in love with her, their strategy as to how they will attack on the Kachwahas when they are at their weakest and it's like a big bonding moment.
Edwina- I don't care for Edwina but she is a plot device alr... she lashes out on Kate and makes sure she is present when Lord Bridgerton goes on about 'thorns' and 'blossoms'. This makes Kate angry n sad n she returns to India. In this fic edwina marries a Mr. Anderson- a business man dealing in spice.
Anthony- oh boy where to begin. Poor, sad Anthony. The love of his life went back to India without even telling him 💔. He cries, tells Violet about the grief inside him, broods and drinks himself to stupor. Until one day he realises that his tendencies are having a negative effect on the younger siblings. He is sad but he decides he needs to try atleast once to convince Kate to be his wife for the rest of their lives.
The Story- Anthony goes to India, thinking he will find Kate as a governess, dreaming how she will rush to his arms as soon as she sees him but instead what happens is that he befriends a royal named Govind Nath. Govind hosts a party for all the other royals and there Anthony finds himself directly face to face with Rani Kathani of Maurya empire (recall that it's a disguise and she is actually of Mewar) affianced to one Jagat Singh- heir apparent of the Kachwaha Dynasty.
He feels like he is dying inside. All things that shouldn't be happening are happening. She finally found the love of her life. Anyways all the royals have descended to Uttarakhand (region where Kachwahas rule) to celebrate Kathani and Jagat singh's betrothal period (parallel to Aubrey Hall).
Kathani tries her best to ignore Anthony, she really does, but she can't remove his existence as he is a friend of Raja Govind Nath. She employs her cousins' help to keep him away but still they find themselves alone from time to time. Horse-riding scene happens here too. Anthony tries to convince her that he loves her, and that she should marry him. Kate is reluctant to forgive him tho...
Kanthony share many fluffy moments although their is something dark looming over them during this time as Anthony knows Kate will marry Jagat.
Also, Kate and Jagat have a haldi ceremony wherein the guests are supposed to apply haldi on the bride and groom. Poor Anthony has to apply haldi on the 'glowing bride' too 😢.
Kate knows Anthony is hurting but she needs to avenge her father's death and so continues with the wedding ceremonies. She does tell him she forgave him for what happened in season2 after he tells her all about his father's death and his own crippling fear of dying at a young age. Kate comforts him like she did in Aubrey Hall but still deflects whenever Ant tries to persuade her to redevelop romantic feelings for him. (He doesn't know Kate loves him too and he is a sad little boi 😢).
On the Wedding day- Kate looks beautiful in her mother's red lehenga. Jagat Singh looks dashing too. Beside him is his father Pratap Singh (ooh 😮😮). Anthony is invited to the wedding too ofcourse. He looks with red-rimmed eyes as the bride is about to put the garland on the groom when, out of nowhere, Kathani's cousins drag him and try take him to the nearest port to go to England on the next ship as it's not safe for him (Kate instructed this to them prior to the wedding. The cousins know kathani loves the sad white boy too) as there is about to be A War (*dun dun duuuunnnn*). Anyways there is a commotion on the wedding grounds. The bride has run away from the Mandap (it's sort of like an altar okay?) and the ruler of Kachwaha, Partap Singh is dead (justice finally!).
Anthony decides that he won't, infact, go to England. He finds Kathani, learns the wedding is over, and they share a kiss and something more 🤭. Kathani still does not tell him that she loves him but he can see it in her actions lol.
War war war - Kanthony - war war war - some more Kanthony.
Jagat Singh raises the white flag and says he will surrender if he can meet Kathani one last time. They meet in full view of court with people present (Ant is too). He goes on n on about how sorry he is for what his father did, tells Kate that he loves her and blah blah stuff. Kate ends the meeting and as she turns away he takes out a gun (oh no!). He is about to shoot her but Anthony comes in the middle and Kate is safe. Don't worry, the bullet just grazed past his arm and everyone is fine. Kate is distraught and fusses over Anthony. She cries a bit and they share a passionate kiss in front of the entire court. Later when everyone is enjoying the celebrations and bursting crackers, they confess their feelings again (like it was supposed to be during the featherington ball 😌).
Epilogue- Anthony meets the cousins properly and bonds with them. Kanthony get married. Travel around the world. Move to England but occasionally come to India and live Happily Ever After.