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Anthony Bridgerton has never regretted a decision more, as the lights go down and Kate practically falls against the railings screaming in excitement.
It had started when One Direction had announced a reunion tour and Kate had offered to buy the whole family VIP tickets. Most of them loved the band, the others snapped the opportunity for free tickets and then only one who'd complained had been Eloise. However, Anthony had used his spare key to pick something up from Eloise's flat and caught her dancing to their music. She'd admitted she quite liked them and promised she'd come if Anthony didn't tell anyone else she was actually a fan.
They had easily got the tickets, because the Bridgerton family knew everyone and had a friend who secured them. "If Benedict meets Harry Styles I'm pretty sure he'll leave me for him." Genivieve had declared. "He's Ben's free pass." She had said.
This had then led to a conversation about free passes and Anthony had learned far too much, Penelope and Colin outright refused to have them and started declaring they would love each other in every life time, which was probably true but the newly weds were sickeningly in love and Anthony couldn't keep listening to them yap on. Genivieve's was Stella McCartney, her long term fashion crush. Simon's was Taylor Swift who Daphne announced was secretly his favourite music artist. Daphne's was some actor no one had actually heard of. The whole conversation had led to Kate jokingly asking if they should each get a free pass. Anthony had suddenly understood Penelope and Colin's take.
This was followed by an awful night where Kate got out her old Karaoke machine and only let them sing One Direction songs. The worst were hearing Daphne's rendition of You and I in which she attempted and butchered every high note. Penelope, Genivieve and Kate singing History after several shots and kicking each other multiple times as they'd tried to perform the choreography in the music video. They had all woken up with bruises the next day. Thre very worst thought was when Colin and Eloise had decided to sing Best Song Ever after many many drinks. They'd butchered every line, confused the lyrics with some paradoy they'd seen, shouted at anyone who wasn't watching them and then tried and failed at the dirty dancing lift, if a sober Benedict hadn't caught Eloise she would have crashed onto to Penelope and probably caused a serious concussion. Anthony wondered if Karaoke nights like that happened in hell. They were most definitely torture.
After that had been the shopping trip that everyone had to go on. Kate had said it was too big a reunion not to dress up for. Eloise had ducked out arguing that if they were going for clothes they should shop sustainably and go with preloved. They had spent hours trapsing around endless shops, watching everyone try on outfits. Francesca had been the easiest, she had fallen in love with a red skater dress that she said fit the bands early years. Then Penelope tried on a black dress that was apparently related to a song of theirs and Colin's eyes had almost popped out. They had brought the dress and then disappeared for half an hour. Anthony didn't want to think about where they had gone, but when they'd returned their hair was dishevelled and clothing creased. Hyacinth had found a jumpsuit next that she loved, it was covered in silver sequins and she had praded around in it like she was on a catwalk. Genivieve had offered to make them all Tshirts, but had none the less fallen in love with a pair of burnt orange trousers which Benedict had insisted she have. Daphne discovered a see through dress that Anthony tried to insist she wear proper clothes under. She had ignored him and promised she would have under wear on. Kate had been a nightmare. She couldn't find anything she liked. Not one item so in the end she hadn't got anything which meant several weeks later Anthony had to do the shopping thing again.
Then for some unknown reason or maybe because of their incompetence at Karaoke night Kate had insisted, that they all got together to practice the dance routines including their mother and her best friends Agatha and Charlotte who were coming as well. Carnage would be an understating. They had mastered Kate's first routines when they came back to the history leg kicks. It had started out fairly well. Eloise picked it up in seoconds everyone else begging her to teach them. She had gone to Penelope first, then worked her way around the room. Gregory had accidentally kicked Hyacinth, so she had kicked back. Gregory ducked. Hyacinth ended up kicking Agatha Danbury Square in the face. Hyacinth had run from the room and vanished for several stressful days while Agatha was left with a broken nose. Anthony had made them all sign legally binding documents agreeing that should anyone attempt a high kick they would be forced to pay £100 into a jar. At the end of the night whatever was in the pot would go to charity.
Then there had been the argument. Harry Styles had worn one of Genivieve's designs and she hadn't introduced him to Benedict. Benedict had been furious and the pair had argued. It had led to Benedict sleeping on Anthony's sofa for a week, until Anthony had told him to go home. In the end they'd made up, but Anthony had found the whole thing ridiculous.
"Oh my God." Kate screeches from beside him, as Niall shoots her a wink in the first song. "I'm gonna pass out." She says, fanning herself dramatically, beside her Penelope grins. Anthony wonders if he fakes fainting would Kate leave with him. He doubts she would, especially as she is now winking back and holding up her banner. His mother holds up her sign. It reads "My Garden Is In Bloom" and Anthony wishes he didn't understand exactly what that meant.
The banner making had nearly killed him. Hyacinth had wanted to write fuck me on hers. Anthony had reminded her it would literally be illegal for one of them to fuck her. Eloise had written "reluctant fan" on hers which Penelope and Francesca had thought was a little mean. Eloise had done it anyway. Gregory had just covered his in glitter, covering the carpet, coffee table and walls in glitter in the process. Anthony was fuming, he had never wanted a his living room to be lined with silver glitter. Penelope and Colin had done a joint banner. Writing Let Me Kiss You on it with painted lips underneath. While it wasn't especially creative it was thankfully not inappropriate. That's when he had heard it. "I'm going to right my Garden is in bloom." His mother had said, laughing a little. Clearly tipsy after several glasses of wine. "Really?" Agatha had responded, looking amused. "Can't you just call it being horny like everyone else?" Anthony had wanted to be sick. Thankfully no one else seemed to have heard. Still he'd have given anything not to have heard. Anything, because he'd heard his mother use that phrase far too many times.
Now he watches his mother wave the banner and then to his absolute horror wink at Harry Styles. The night could not get any worse. Then they play a song that makes Anthony question whether it would be acceptable to murder one of his family members.
"They haven't put Story Of My Life on the set list." Hyacinth had declared during a family meal hosted by Daphne and Simon. "So I started a petition," She added, before turning to look at Anthony with the facial expression that said she wanted something from him. "but then I thought why bother promoting the petition when my brother is in the House of Lords."
Anthony nearly choked on his wine. Benedict's laughter filled the room, Colin, Daphne and Simon joining in. His mother, Penelope and Genevieve looked amused but had the sense not to laugh. Gregory and Kate both looked a little stunned, while Francesca raised an eyebrow at her youngest sister. "You want me to try and pass a bill that One Direction have to perform a song on tour?" Anthony asked, just making sure he had heard her correctly.
"Yes." Hyacinth looked pleased.
"Right but that just won't happen, they'd laugh me out of the house." Anthony stated.
"Well," Hyacinth looked a little guilty. "you could bribe them."
Anthony blinked at her a few times. "I'm sorry, just to be clear you're asking me to break the law and risk prison so One Direction will play a song you like?"
Hyacinth nodded. "It wouldn't be too hard, I mean you can always be discreet." Kate stated and Anthony turned to her, unable to believe that she would condone this.
"You're for this?" He asked with a frown.
Kate shrugged. "It's a great song."
Anthony exploded. "It's against the law and not only that but it's a ridiculous thing to request." He shouted. "And if I go to jail Benedict will take my place," He added. "Benedict." He repeated.
Benedict glared at him. "I would be a great addition."
It inevitably dissolved into a shouting match from there between Benedict and Anthony and Kate and Hyacinth. Everyone else just rolled their eyes and carried on eating used to these arguments.
"Or you could just bribe the band." Penelope quietly whispered so only Colin and Violet heard her.
Now as the opening chords of the song play, Anthony wonders whether he should be checking the Bridgerton trust fund account. Clearly one of his siblings has paid the band off and as Hyacinth is underage it can't be her. He is considering sneaking away to the bank when the band credit some blogger called Whistledown for convincing them to play the song and he relaxes. At least this time it wasn't one of his family members.
He lets himself relax a little, beer in hand and actually enjoys the music not that he is going to admit that to anyone. Not even Kate. What he enjoys even more is seeing his family enjoy themselves. They are having a great night, he can't deny that. Hyacinth seems to have attached herself to Penelope and the pair dance together, while a beaming Colin watches on. He is still so lovesick. Eloise and Kate are joined at the hip, Eloise seemingly enjoying herself. Gregory, Genevieve, Benedict, Daphne and Simon have formed some sort of unit arms around each other swaying along to every song that plays and Francesca, his mother and Agatha Danbury laugh as they dance together. They are all so happy and the music isn't so bad. It's just the build up that has caused stress. He lets himself enjoy the rest of the night.
As they leave Kate turns to him. "We could all go to another one of their shows." She suggests with a smile.
Anthony sighs. "No way Kate, one show is more than enough."