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Chapter Text

Once, Anthony Bridgerton had been a man prone to regrets. 

Unsurprisingly, considering the circumstances of his life, most of it had to do with his family. He deeply regretted not being able to do anything to save his father. There had been so many things he wished he could have done in that moment—to push him away or to take his place. He regretted not being the one to die in his place, especially as the years went on and it became clearer how inadequate of a replacement he was as Lord Bridgerton. 

His regrets would start but would not end with his father’s death. Every year, it seemed like some new mistake would come about due to his own failings and he’d find yet another regret in its place. His mother’s grief-stricken stupor. Hyacinth’s traumatic birth. Debts unaccounted for, on both sides of the equation, that now fell on him to shoulder. On and on it went. Daphne’s disaster of a season. His lifelong friendship with Simon irreversibly damaged. Eloise’s somehow even more disastrous season that was only overshadowed by own disaster, which had culminated in a failed wedding set up by the queen herself. 

Needless to say, Anthony’s life had a wealth of mistakes to draw his regrets from. But somehow, from all these disasters, he’d emerged with a life that seemed plucked out of his most heartfelt unspoken daydreams, ones that had died a death along with his father so many years ago.

Now, Anthony had Kathani Bridgerton, who somehow, despite everything he did and all that had gone wrong, agreed to spend the rest of her life with him anyway. His life was as close to perfect as could be because she was next to him. With the beautiful life Anthony had with his even more beautiful wife, it was hard to hold onto his regrets, or really, any negative feelings at all.

Still, sometimes, when there were whispered words behind their back by the vultures in society who had still yet to let go of the scandal of their season, when his wife was unfairly maligned due to his actions, or even when there were simply a few too many mocking jests by his own family in reference to his past mistakes, Anthony felt the familiar stirrings of regret again. 

If only he could go back and give his Kate the season she had deserved, one where he’d shown her from the beginning that she was all he had wanted and needed in a wife. 

-

(Perhaps he should have known. After all, didn’t they say, be careful what you wish for?)

-

On what seemed to be just another morning of his blissfully married life with Kate, Anthony Bridgerton woke up alone in bed.

Blindingly bright sunlight made for a most unpleasant morning call as he struggled to wake against the pounding in his head. 

Clearly, the night out at Mondrich’s had been a mistake. But Kate had been unavailable, one of Lady Danbury’s ladies-only soirees, and he’d been too restless (lonely) to stay at home or work in his study. 

He’d come home drunk as a skunk, to Kate’s amusement. His joy at her presence had made him wax poetic at her beauty, but he was no poet sober, let alone deep in his cups as he was then. 

The whisky on his breath had made her refuse to do anything more than a few sloppy kisses, but they’d still ended the night in bed tangled together with minimal clothing between them. Just the familiar press of her skin against his own was soothing, a comforting warmth in his belly instead of the roar of desire. 

Now, however, when he turned to the space his Kate should have occupied, he was faced with nothing but cold morning air. He frowned at the slightly rumpled sheets. 

It was not, unfortunately, entirely unheard of for his wife to wake up before him and leave him abed to his lonesome. Especially when he did not wake early enough for her liking. 

Considering the ache still building between his eyes and the burn of the sun from the window, he was likely up later than usual. 

With a defeated sigh, he slowly got up from bed to call for his valet and get ready for the day. Depending on the hour, perhaps he could still share a meal with his lovely lady wife, even if it was to be his first and her second. 

-

Contrary to his expectations, the call for Lady Bridgerton did not produce Kate but his mother instead. 

This was not an uncommon mistake exactly, as the transition from being the Viscountess Bridgerton to being the Dowager Viscountess Bridgerton was still one many had yet to master, after the many long years his mother held the position. But the staff at Bridgerton House was well used to Kate being the one referred to by that title by now, especially when it came from him. 

He frowned, feeling a mixture of confusion and growing suspicion, especially as his mother spoke up. 

“Anthony, my dear, I was not expecting you to call for me at this hour. Is something the matter? In fact, I was not expecting you at home at all.” Violet Bridgerton noted upon seeing him, slight disapproval coating her words as she continued, “After the rather late hours you kept last night.” 

This was also not an unfamiliar lecture. In the days where he lived up to his title as a rake, he had heard some variation of her scolding words in the mornings after so often he could likely recite them in his sleep. But that was then. After he had married Kate, even when he did have the rare night out, his mother had never commented as before, largely leaving any scolding to his very capable wife. 

So, feeling a strange sense of deja vu, it took him a moment before he could find the words to ask the most important question of all. 

“Where is Kate?” 

Of course, she then delivered the most horrifying response of all.

“Anthony, who is Kate?”

Chapter Text

Clearly, Anthony Bridgerton was stuck in a nightmare. That was the only sensible explanation for this turn of events, he was sure. He must still be in bed, having a nightmare born from too much drink after his ill-advised decision to drown the Kate-filled hole that night with entirely too many cups of liquor. 

But no matter how many times he pinched himself he was not waking up. He was growing so desperate, he actually decided to slap himself rather hard in the face, and succeeded only in making the faint throbbing in his head grow into a fierce pounding. 

“Anthony! What on earth are you doing?!” His mother was utterly stunned, letting out a rather unladylike scream as she watched him pinch and then slap himself. “Stop this madness!”

Clearly, pain was not the solution here. His mother’s rather loud screech was not helping his headache either. Frankly, Anthony Bridgerton had no idea what to do now and his head was so empty of thought in his panic that his mother’s own panicked questions were ringing all too loud and clear. Again, this was not helping his headache, which at this point, was more due to his situation than the spirits he had unwisely consumed last night. 

“Mother, please tell me earnestly—I have no heart for japes at this moment—“ He abruptly cut her off, uncaring for politeness in the face of his desperation. “Do you know where my wife, Kathani Bridgerton, is at this moment?”

“W-Wife?!” Violet Bridgerton was so shocked she stuttered. “Anthony, did you get m-married yesterday?!”

Anthony merely hung his head and sighed. Though he had expected such a response, he was disappointed nonetheless. Before his mother could further descend into panic over his impromptu matrimony, he frankly corrected her, “No. I married the love of my life over a year ago. Or what should have been a year ago. Now… I have no clue.”

“You what—“ His mother’s disbelieving cries faded into the background as his mind spun to make sense of all this. 

Was he in some alternate universe where Kate did not agree to marry him? But no—his mother did not know who Kate was at all. Even if they did not marry, there was no way his mother would not know who Kate was after everything that happened in his mess of a season.

His season. Did that mean he was in the past then, before any of them had met Kate? It made the most sense, as much sense as could be made in this senseless scenario anyhow. Suddenly, he remembered a moment from last night with a flash of clarity that cut through the fog of panic.

-

“My beautiful Kathani! My sun and stars! My heart, my life!” Antony cried out like a supplicant before a goddess, though he was far closer to his goddess than even the highest of priests could ever be, as he cradled her close in his arms, face not quite pillowed on her bosom. “You are everything that is good and just—and good with the world!” 

“I see that unlike other men, imbibing spirits only make ever more eloquent, jaanu,” Kate replied with amusement, shaking her head with a light scoff. “And to think, you once told me you were not a poet.”

“Oh, but I am not! How I wish I was. You deserve to have all the great poets from here to India sing sonnets in your name! I should take all the jewels in our vault and drape you from head to toe!” In fact, he attempted to do so, ready to plunder the wealth of his ancestral vault and lay it before her feet. Thankfully for everyone involved, he struggled to even stand up, and eventually fell back into his wife’s waiting arms with a distinctly childlike pout. “Tomorrow morning, I promise you, it shall be the first task on my list!” 

“I am not sure I would even be able to walk from the weight of all those precious heirlooms if you did so,” Kate hummed thoughtfully. “Perhaps one piece would be more than enough? In fact, Violet mentioned a necklace that would pair quite nicely with the gown I was planning on wearing to the next ball.”

“But you deserve it all and so much more! I wish I could go back to the beginning and treat you how you deserve. If only I could call myself out for the way I had treated you!” He nearly sobbed in his sorrow yet Kate looked more amused than anything.

Still, she humored him. “And I appreciate that. I know now that given the choice, I’m sure you would have been the most charming of gentlemen and swept me off my feet.”

“Indeed! I wish I had…”

-

Once more, he cut off his mother’s confused questions with a one of his own, “Tell me, what date is it? With the year, please.”

From the look on her face, you would have thought he had abruptly started slapping himself again. 

“It’s March 19, 1814,” Violet answered him slowly, as though afraid her response would provoke another tidal wave of alarming reactions. She was right to fear so. 

Anthony Bridgerton suddenly broke out into a wide grin, the likes of which had not been seen in years. It was a boyish one full of utter glee that made his eyes light up and his face transform, as though the years sluiced right off him. 

“Anthony?” 

“I’m just in time then! Perfect.” Anthony spoke with confidence, grin not faltering for a second, as he broke out into a short laugh. “Worry not mother, all will make sense in time.” 

Faced with having his blissful married life torn away from his hands without warning or explanation, Anthony Bridgerton had been understandably confused and furious. Yet the flash of memory and the confirmation of the date made his heart leap forward with entirely different emotions. Hope and elation.

He was a bit early, as he would not be running into Kate on horseback that fateful morning until about a week from now. So unfortunately, he would not be reunited with his love just yet. But that was fine, he told himself, hoping to stave off the yearning in his heart, as it gave him a bit of extra time to get things in order. 

This time, he would have an entirely different list of requirements to start off the season, he concluded firmly. Mind awhirl, he was already compiling a list of her favorite things that he might give as gifts, a list of her favorite topics that he ought to smoothly slide into conversation, a list of events he and Kate had both attended during their last season together, as well as another one full of new possible events he could engineer—and last but certainly not least, a list of everything he would need to ensure they had the grand wedding of their dreams that they had been denied in their time because of the still ensuing scandal. 

Caught up in his fantasies of Kathani wearing down the aisle towards him in an intricate white dress, Anthony wore such a besotted look of love on his face without even realizing it. Not that he would have cared if he did. 

-

His mother was not so enlightened to this new version of her son though. Violet felt her breath catch as she was faced with a side to him she had not seen in so long. There were so many questions bubbling in her throat, and though she was still filled with such confusion, she found she could not bear to see the joy leave her son’s face.

So, she could only watch him pace around the room with his head clearly in his thoughts, unfamiliar smile on his face, before he eventually stopped and muttered to himself, quickly leaving the room with a never before seen spring in his step as he hurried off into some destination unknown. 

Chapter Text

It was a fine morning. Dawn had just broken and the world was lit up by a cozy glow amidst a soft fog of grey. This was the perfect backdrop to the fateful meeting between two (soon-to-be) lovers. 

Anthony spurred his horse on eagerly, not even trying to contain the excited grin that wanted to break out on his face. The wind whipped sharply against his face as he rushed forward. But he hardly even noticed. 

Finally, he would meet his one and only Kathani. 

It had taken almost a week of waiting, but the day had finally arrived. March 26, 1814. The day he first met Kathani Sharma.

In truth, Anthony felt the first time this meeting had played out was already perfect enough. Yes, he’d made a fool of himself chasing after a woman who did not need any saving, but Kate had clearly been as amused and intrigued by him as he had her. They’d shared banter that had what was most certainly a flirtatious edge to it, and he was sure, in hindsight, that had events not unfolded so disastrously thanks to his mistakes, they would have had a much smoother time with their romance. 

Even Kate had eventually admitted that she’d found herself as initially intrigued by him as he had her, and that she’d actually been searching for him at the Conservatory Ball and that was what had led to her overhearing his damning words that night—something he would make sure not to repeat this time, obviously. 

Unlike this equally clearly fated to be first meeting between them. There was little need to change this part of their past, admittedly, but there was always room for improvement, he thought, with growing excitement. 

-

When Anthony finally glimpsed the figure on horseback he had been waiting so long for, he nearly whooped in victory. Instead, as per the script, he called out to her and quickly followed her sudden mad dash. 

They chased after each other, their horses galloping through the empty park at great speed, hooves knocking loudly against the rough ground. He rarely rode so fast, not in London, where the lands were nowhere as familiar as Aubrey Hall’s. 

The thought of his ancestral home made him recall many a ride through its familiar grounds with his wife. There was many a horse race between them over their year of their marriage. Most of them were in Aubrey Hall. But quite a lot were in India, on the lands that she had grown up riding in, during their extended honeymoon. Then there were the brief little excursions while in the various countries they’d passed to get to her homeland. Regardless of place and time, even after the accident that nearly made her lost to him, Kate rode with a natural ease. 

One that she showed now as easily as she did in his memories. As she did the first time, she jumped over the fence of thorns with ease, all confidence despite it being such unfamiliar ground.

Unlike the first time though, Anthony did not hesitate to jump over as well. Contrary to Kate’s teasing, he was hardly a novice on horseback, and the first time, he’d hesitated more due to the shock of her jumping than any lack of skill on his part. This time, it was her turn to look surprised. But of course, it did not last long, and Kate quickly turned her horse around to continue the little race. 

Anthony grinned, but knew better than to follow quite as closely. Perhaps it was not exactly gentlemanly, but it had been fun to surprise her the first time he’d done this, after all. So, feeling rather mischievous, he allowed Kate to think she had lost him, all the while, he was merely taking a roundabout way to get to where he knew she would end up. 

-

To his great pleasure, as he’d expected, he soon caught sight of her once more. This time, she was the one who rode towards him, until she caught sight of him and quickly pulled on the reins to stop. Before she could run away from him again, he quickly called out to her, “And so we meet again!”

The grin on his face visibly widened at the startled curse that slipped from her mouth. It was even better now that he knew what she was saying. While he was still no expert on the languages she’d grown up speaking, over the year of their marriage, he’d picked up enough of the basics: that is, endearments and swear words. 

His Kathani was as beautiful as he remembered. With her windswept hair and her cheeks flush from exertion, she looked so breathtakingly alive, he ached to touch her. On instinct, his eyes were drawn down to the plush lips that were parted in surprise before quickly pressing together into a frown. 

This time, the flush on her cheeks seemed less from exertion. 

“What is your name, Miss..?” 

“Apologies, sir. I did not mean to cause any concern,” Kate replied stiffly, ignoring his question entirely. Taking a breath, she continued on, “But I think it best if we pretend this encounter never took place. You allow me to go my way and you go yours.” 

Even as a stranger in a strange land, riding astride on a borrowed horse with her cloak askew and her hair mussed by the wind, Ms. Kathani Sharma, held all the grace and confidence of a queen. She made such a striking sight, part of Anthony was tempted to fall to his knees and obey her every word as law with far more readiness than he would his actual sovereign. But he could hardly do so, could he? Or this would be the end of their story instead of the beginning, and that was the last thing Anthony Bridgerton would ever do. Indeed, he would do nearly anything to ensure their story had a most happy ending, middle and beginning. 

“I think it’s quite a bit too late for such a pretence, don’t you think? How could I ever pretend to forget a woman like you?” Anthony meant it quite sincerely. Even the first time, he’d found his thoughts straying towards the stranger on horseback more times that he had ought. “But if you worry about your reputation, you need not. I shall keep this meeting between us, as you wish.” 

“I appreciate it,” Kate said, though her tone did not sound very appreciative, so much as suspicious. “Then, I shall take my leave, sir.”

“How could you, when we have not yet come to a satisfying conclusion to our race?” Anthony replied with a bit of a pout. He remembered this to be a brief meeting, yes, but was it truly to be over so soon? He hardly had even a tenth of his fill of her yet. 

His words drew a small laugh from her, and it made his pout turn to a grin in an instant. Raising a brow at him, she asked teasingly, “Is that what that was? Does one not need actual competition for a race?”

“One also needs an agreed upon start and finish line. Besides, you do recall that it was I who was here, waiting for you. Ergo, I was here first, and thus the winner of this rather impromptu race of ours?” Evidently, this had not dawned on Kate until this moment, and Anthony quite relished the realization that he was in fact the winner of their first race together.

Yes, he was technically cheating, having used his knowledge of the future to ensure his win. But in all their races, as in all their competitions together, including Pall Mall, there was no such thing. There was only winning, by any means necessary. Truly, if one did not attempt to win using every weapon at their disposal, was it truly a competition at all? 

Or perhaps that was merely the excuse of those who were unsatisfied with losing. As Kate clearly was. 

“As you said, this was hardly a satisfying conclusion, if this was indeed what you’d call a race—which I would not. If this were a true race, I would quickly prove to you that this win of yours was clearly an erroneous event not to be repeated again.”

“Is that so? I think I would quite like to see that happen. It sounds like quite a miracle, after all, seeing as I’m rather impressive on horseback, as I’ve just proved.” Anthony couldn’t resist needling her a little as he often did, like a schoolboy tugging on a girl’s pigtails. 

It looked dearly like another curse wanted to escape his dear Kathani’s mouth, but he managed to bite it back rather admirably. Instead, she ground out, “It seems we will simply have to see then.”

“Shall we agree on a finish line this time?” Anthony asked with false innocence, not quite bothering to reign in the teasing grin on his face. 

“We shall not—“ Kate began, clearly taking offense to his teasing, before the sound of other people on horses made her swiftly fall silent with the reminder that they were not actually the only two people around, and in fact, in a rather public space where they could be discovered any moment. 

The reminder of reality was enough to make Kate stiffen, and once more, she went to leave him, remarking with an overly put-upon sigh, “I am afraid I no longer have any time to entertain strange men at parks, as I have business elsewhere.”

Knowing that dragging out this meeting would not be to either of their benefits despite how much he wanted to, Anthony did not fight it. Instead, he pointed out helpfully, “I would assume you are headed for Mayfair then? If so, I’m afraid that it is in the other direction entirely.”

This time, she did let a curse slip out, as she quickly turned her horse around to head in the correct direction. Before she left him entirely though, he called out, “What about our race? Or shall I be recorded as the winner for all the ages after all?”

“Another time, sir!” Kate called out with a wave of her hand, turning to give him a mischievous grin he could easily see on a younger version of herself, as she cheekily pointed out, “Surely a master horseman such as yourself will ride here once more in the future.”

Anthony could only grin back, feeling elated at this not quite promise to meet and race again. Certainly a better ending to this meeting than the last time. 

Still, as he watched her figure grow smaller until it disappeared entirely, he felt a pang of longing in his chest. He couldn’t wait to be her again. Every moment not in her presence was a torturous one. But he reminded himself that he would be seeing her again soon. Tonight, in fact. So, he began the trek back to his lodgings as well. He had a ball to get ready for, after all. 

-

-

-

When Kathani Sharma had boarded a ship for England, it was full of determination to ensure a successful match for her sister. At no point had she considered a match of her own. 

Not in years, truly. Not since her father’s untimely death. But the suitors she’d had then had been no gentlemen despite their names and even titles. Marriage then would have meant she had to abandon her family to what seemed like certain doom, considering Mary’s grief-stricken fugue and Edwina’s young age. 

So, she refused any and all offers, abandoned whatever scraps of a season she might’ve had and tried to keep her little family afloat as best as she could with her at the helm as its de facto head. For the most part, she’d had no regrets, not even as she watched nearly all her old friends get married one by one and eventually give birth to children of their own, while she was boxed into the role of a “spinster”.  

The girl she had been who once dreamed of a love of her own, the kind shared between her parents—which included both her birth mother and Mary, later on—that girl had died along with her father. 

So why then, did Kate find her heart beating an unfamiliar rhythm when she thought of the strange man and his even stranger smile? 

No man had ever reacted to her riding on horseback like he did. Surely it was just the sudden race that had her blood rising like this? Nothing more, she told herself. Yet despite her usual response to possibly losing any kind of competition, she found herself lingering on the memory of his foolishly inappropriate smile more than anything else…

Chapter Text

The Conservatory Ball was the start of him making a mess of it all, so Anthony was determined to do better this time. 

Obviously, this time, he would not make the mistake of running his mouth amongst his fellow noblemen and his beautiful headstrong eavesdropper. He would not be conducting any interviews of eligible misses, as he already had one firmly in mind—not least because when Kate had finally learned of all this, including the contents of his questions, she’d laughed quite handily at him, before raising that imperious brow of hers and throwing each question back at him. His embarrassed, spluttering replies had shown his own ridiculousness in stark relief, and so he was quite content to sidestep that farce entirely. 

Still, it was not enough to merely sidestep the obvious pitfall of past incarnation. He needed to do everything he could to ensure success. To that end, he was tempted to immediately make his way to the Sharmas the moment he entered the conservatory. Better to reach her and claim her before any other. But, of course, such an action would raise questions. 

So he waited, as much as he was able—which was not very long at all. As soon as he’d entered, his eyes had sought her out immediately. It wasn’t as easy as he’d hoped, to spot her amid the crush of people. 

Finally though, he spotted her, and it was a wonder he hadn’t seen her earlier. Even in the same glittering gowns as any other debutante, she stood out. Standing tall and confident, she held an otherworldly air that made her look like a goddess for man to worship, in Anthony’s (not so) humble opinion. In the glow of all the candlelights, she looked so beautiful he was ready to throw himself at her feet. 

With a growing smile on his face that he couldn’t quite keep off, he walked as nonchalantly as he could towards her—which was not at all, frankly. Half the ballroom turned to watch him and follow his path, as he marched at a swift pace quite out of place. Indeed, in his haste, he nearly shoved one unfortunate man into the punch bowl at a nearby table. 

Anthony was utterly oblivious to this, of course. He was only thankful that this time he could cross the room without a mass of ladies throwing themselves at him. No announcing his plans for marriage this time—he had been very clear with his mother on the way over. The viscount already had a woman in mind and he would be courting her and her alone. 

When he’d asked for the family ring to be prepared (this time, he was going to use that ring to propose to the right woman or die trying), and refused to answer any of the many questions this brought up. His family would see soon enough. Kate was perfect not only for him but for all the Bridgertons, truly.  

-

“Hello, once again,” Anthony called out when he was close enough. “It seems we are destined to keep coming across each other, Miss.” 

“You!” Kate’s eyes widened in surprise, and a flash of joy reflected on his own, before she covered it up with a veneer of politeness much more appropriate for their current setting.

Of course, Anthony grinned regardless, uncaring of propriety. “Yes, me.” He watched the little furrow in her brow with amusement. There was an obvious struggle there as the words she actuallt wanted to say warred with the ones she ought to as a respectable lady of society. 

Before she could decide one way or another, he held his hand out and asked, “Perhaps you could do me the favor of a dance?” 

Kate looked stunned for a moment, her wide doe eyes growing so large in her shock that Anthony was truly in danger of drowning in them. “You want… a dance—with me?” 

Finally regaining her senses, she quickly shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t have a dance card.” 

Anthony was about to reply when another voice broke though. As usual he’d all but forgotten he was not actually alone with Kate. 

Both Lady Danbury and Mary Sharma were still there acting as rather eagle eyed chaperones. They were very clearly confused and intrigued by what seemed to be their acquaintanceship. Edwina was distinctly absent, but he swiftly concluded she was likely already on the dance floor. Even without the title of diamond bestowed on her yet, she was a clearly eligible young debutante who had men flocking to her already.

“Ahem,” Lady Danbury coughed rather pointed, eying the both of them with suspicion. “Introductions are typically given before any dancing, as you well know, Lord Bridgerton.” 

Anthony tipped his head, “Ah, of course. Thank you, Lady Danbury. I was simply too enchanted and forgot myself for a moment.” 

The suspicion did not fade from her eyes, but she hummed in agreement and made the proper introductions anyway. “Indeed. Lord Bridgerton, this is Miss Sharma. She is under my care for the season, along with her sister Miss Edwina, who is currently on the dance floor with Mister Blackwood. Miss Sharma, this is Viscount Bridgerton, eldest son of a dear friend of mine.” 

As was proper, he bowed and she curtsied. For a moment, they were the picture of propriety. Then, of course, the both of them held gazes just a little too long to be polite, and they ruined the image quite handily. Kate’s eyes were filled with curiosity while his were full of suppressed longing. 

It was a queer feeling, to be introduced to your wife like a stranger. He did not like it. But there was little he could do short of sweeping her off her feet right now and rushing her to an altar regardless of her protests. Lady Danbury’s cane would no doubt smack his shins to bits if he even tried. 

Despite his less than courteous thoughts on her, she soon proved to be the most helpful of allies in his quest for Kate’s hand as she spoke once more, “And worry not. I happen to have an extra dance card here that will fit perfectly on Ms. Sharma’s wrist.” 

She then wisely handed the card to the viscount directly instead of her less than compliant charge. Anthony promptly asked forgiveness for his unkind thoughts on her, and thanked her quite effusively, “Thank you, Lady Danbury. You are a most gracious host.”  

“Lady Danbury—“ Kate tried to protest, before falling silent at the look in the older woman’s eye. Clearly realizing attempting to fight her sponsor was a lost cause, she turned her sights towards Anthony instead. 

But Anthony was rather preoccupied with the card that would soon be on her hand. He was quick to write his name for both the next set and the closing one. If he didn’t know it was already pushing his luck to dance two dances with her, he would have thrown all caution to the wind and claimed three. Even he was not so foolhardy with a clearly wary Kate. 

In truth, even a married Kate Bridgerton was hard to convince to dance three sets with him. There were always entirely too many arguments about propriety and dance etiquette that he cared not for. Still, she never truly complained when he drew her to the dance floor anyway. Nor when he pushed the envelope further by sneaking kisses in the midst of a dance or two while in full view of all of good society.

“There we go!” Anthony finished writing his name with a flourish, easily ignoring the disapproving look in Kate’s eye. It would hardly be the first time. At least this time, it was for her own good, truly. 

“Lord Bridgerton…” She started, the tone of her voice suggesting she was about to start protesting again, when the music changed.

“That’s our cue, Miss Sharma,” he pointed out, rather unnecessarily—and entirely too smugly, in Kate’s opinion—as he held out his hand for her to take. After a moment’s hesitation, she took it, and they proceeded towards the dance floor. 

-

It was the loveliest feeling in the world to have Kate in his arms again. How he had missed her. A large part of him was tempted to get even closer, to hold her close and smell her perfume where it was strongest at the junction between her neck and collarbone. But he could not. It was a terrible fact that he had to keep reminding himself of. 

Such an act was scandalous for a married couple, let alone a pair of strangers not even courting yet who were only sharing their first dance. Proprietary dictated a certain distance that he struggled to keep, drawing closer to her on instinct, like a moth towards flame. But she was no better. She never leaned away, never stepped back. No, the two of them were drawn to each other, together, like magnets. 

Even now, despite her clear discomfort with him, she didn’t even try to place more distance between them, not even as he tested the waters and stepped just a little closer than he ought to. It was almost enough to make him beam with joy. 

Unfortunately, while he was experiencing near overwhelming bliss at this experience, the woman in question didn’t quite agree. 

“Why have you asked me to dance with you?” Kate asked him in a heated whisper, eyes narrowing suspiciously. 

It was a little wounding honestly, especially as he’d done nothing that should have warranted it this time. So perhaps he was a bit too flipplant with his response as a result. “Why does any man ask a woman to dance?” 

But Anthony could not stand to leave it there, not when her narrowed eyes reminded him of the importance of her good opinion. With what he thought was the pleasing smile that she’d once confessed to despite herself during his first go around at this, he added, “I asked simply because I am interested in you, Ms. Sharma. How could I not be, after the moment we’ve already shared?”

“You cannot be interested in me.” Kate said with a confounding mixture of confidence and doubt. Part of Anthony wanted to shake her to her senses, while the other wished to comfort her from any insecurities. He could do neither, of course. “If this is about what happened in the park, then I should like to remind you that we agreed to pretend no such happening occured, for both our sakes.”

This time, it was Anthony’s turn to raise a brow. Though he knew he ought to be more careful with his words, faced with such an opening, he could not help but tease her, “And I should like to remind you that you ought to be more careful with your words. A race on horseback is not typically the first thought when there is a happening in the park.”

Though Kate was virginal as any debutante in the strictest sense, she was not anywhere as naive to the happenings of the flesh, and she flushed at the insinuation. She had not meant to imply anything improper with her words, though, of course, even their relatively innocent meeting was already quite improper by restrictive British society standards. Still, as free-thinking as she was compared to most young ladies of high station, she could hardly compare to a notorious rake. 

“Why, you—rake!” Kate found herself at a rare loss for words. In fact, she barely had the presence of mind to continue dancing. It was only years of practice (for both her own unrealized debut and later, Edwina’s) that ensured she didn’t stumble too much over her feet even as her mind did. 

It was a moment Anthony certainly appreciated, as the smile on his face proved. Still, he quickly took pity on her, as he reminded himself of his purpose. As amusing as it was to fluster her, he was supposed to be properly courting her. “All jesting aside, Ms. Sharma, I meant my previous words earnestly. I asked you to dance not once but twice because I am truly interested in courting you.”

If Kate had been at a loss for words then, it was nothing compared to the blank she experienced at this. All she could manage was a far too soft, “Why?” 

“Because you are beautiful, whether windswept in the woods or glittering in a gown. You have a quick wit and a clever mind, and we’ve yet to have a boring conversation as a result.” Indeed, before Kate, he had never known how pleasurable it could be to simply talk to a woman. “Oh, and of course, you are damn good on a horse, even if not quite as much as I.” His eyes shifted from earnest to amused as he couldn’t quite resist adding on that last bit. 

Predictably, Kate scoffed at that, finding her words at last. “Bold words from a man who has yet to truly race me. But I’ll concede your other points. You’ve a pleasing smile and acceptable enough wit yourself, Lord Bridgerton.” 

Anthony didn’t bother to stop his growing smile at her words. She did find it pleasing, after all. But before he could say anymore, the music unfortunately signaled an end to their dance, and thus, their conversation for the moment. 

“I’ll be counting down the moments until our next dance, Miss Sharma,” he promised her, eyes burning into her with an intensity that she returned. 

Unfortunately, the viscount was forced to part from her then. He wanted to linger close to her and he certainly tried, but Lady Danbury’s impressively raised brow when he attempted to do so quite handily put a stop to that half-formed plan. 

So Anthony had little choice except to step away from her, but even as he did, he could feel the burn of her stare on his back. It was just enough to ease the sting of their forced parting.  

Chapter Text

Indeed, they somehow managed to keep locking eyes repeatedly even in a crowded room. Anthony was obviously doing his best to keep his eyes on her, but he would not be so successful if Kate was not also doing her part. It did not even matter that the emotion in Kate’s eyes more closely resembled confusion and suspicion than affection. He was simply elated to have her gaze so intensely focused on him at all. 

So he was understandably quie furious to see it taken away. He watched with growing alarm and rising fury as completely unworthy men began to shamelessly approach his Kathani for a dance. 

It turned out that having the most eligible viscount’s intense interest attracted everyone else’s as well. Anthony rarely danced at balls unless forced by his mother, after all. But he’d quite clearly and firmly—to the point of causing chaos, in fact—walked up to her and all but screamed his interest for society to hear. 

Their whispered conversation on the dance floor drew equal interest, especially as the brief snippets of it other dancers could catch painted the most intriguing picture. 

At the time, securing a spot for the last dance had seemed like a clever move, a way to essentially get to say goodbye for the night as well as ensure he was the last thing she was thinking of before she left. Forced to grapple with the many possible dances between now and then, however, he started questioning the wisdom of his past self, especially as other men filled in the gaps he had so foolishly left behind.

(He completely ignored the fact that he could hardly have put his name for every dance of hers.)

Feeling the harsh burn of jealousy in his chest, he swiftly attempted to come up with a plan even as he glared daggers at the supposed gentlemen who had taken Kate to the dance floor. 

Lord Fife himself, the very man who had caused the mess at the last Conservatory Ball with his horribly mistaken words on the was somehow dancing with his Kate!

It was entirely too much. 

-

It took entirely too much time to find his brother, but Anthony eventually found him hiding from the debutantes amidst some foliage at the side of the ballroom. Honestly. He was about ready to pull out his hair in frustration when he finally spotted a familiar head of brown hair. 

“Ben, I need you to do something for me!” Anthony hissed at him, barely bothering to lower his voice. 

Needless to say, he attracted the attention of the nearby crowd. Luckily for him, Benedict had chosen this spot specifically for its lack of crowd, so they only drew a few stares. 

“What can I do for you, dear brother of mine, who seems strangely stressed at this time?” As usual, the other man was eager to mock his older brother. “It’s quite a departure from your equally strangely buoyant mood this week.”

But Anthony was too focused on his task to take any offense or to take any care with his words, “You must dance with Ms. Sharma!”

Benedict blinked, a face of comically dumbfounded confusion that Eloise would certainly have laughed at and mocked him for if she weren’t too busy avoiding the ball herself. 

“The elder Ms. Sharma.” He quickly added as an afterthought, not wanting any confusion and dreading the comedy of errors that might result should Ben dance with Edwina. 

Eyes still narrowed in confusion, he asked, “And why exactly do you want me to do that?”

“Why must you be difficult?” Anthony threw his hands in the air in frustration. “The reasons are irrelevant! Time is of the essence. You must secure a spot in her dance card before it is filled with any more foppish fools!”

Every word out of Anthony’s mouth made Ben’s brows rise higher and higher. Suddenly, he was quite sure of exactly why his brother, who never danced at any ball if he could help it, was suddenly dancing and electing to forcibly spread its joy to him. Still, he could hardly agree so easily, could he? 

Hiding the smirk that wanted to grow on his face, he pointed out, “On the contrary, I think I am being perfectly reasonable in asking why you would suddenly ask me to dance with an eligible debutante at a ball when you know that is precisely the thing I wish to avoid.” 

The most distinguished viscount all but growled at him for this cheek. “I will help with our mother and ensure she does not attempt to ensnare you with any debutante or lectures at the next ball.”

There was a long moment’s pause as Ben contemplated the offer. As Anthony found his patience dwindling and started considering the merits of having one less brother in his life, the younger man replied, “Alright. I’ll help you out with Ms. Sharma.”

With Benedict finally agreeing to his plot, Anthony breathed a small smile of relief. 

The upside of his frustrating conversation with Ben was that it had taken up so much of his time that the moment he would finally be able to dance with Kate again was arriving sooner than he’d initially thought. 

Still, he had to watch and wait as an unknown man, who he was certainly looking into after this, danced with Kate. At least he could comfort himself with the fact that she was clearly not enjoying the dance much, certainly not anywhere near as much as her dance with him.

When it was over, Ben finally approached her for a dance as well. There was a look of surprise and then suspicion on her face, no doubt as soon as he was introduced and she connected the dots as to their relation. The way she then immediately looked for him and met his eyes confirmed it. He knew his wife well, after all. Indeed, even without words, he knew exactly what she was asking.

So, he nodded with a smile, tipping his glass to her. Yes, Ben was there on his orders. 

Kate frowned at that, but soon broke off their wordless conversation to dance with Ben. 

It made Anthony want to frown in turn, especially once the two started to dance and he saw her laughing at something his brother said. Jealousy burned bitterly inside him, and he began to think he might have made a mistake. Perhaps instead of waving their mother off Ben’s scent, he’d fan her towards it instead. Surely, it was about time the second Bridgerton son settled down as well? He would be marrying Kate before the end of the season, after all.

As he lost himself in fantasies of throwing his brother to the wolves (the debutantes, in this case), it thankfully allowed him to find some measure of calm before it was finally his turn to dance with Kate again. 

-

Despite the less than ideal events that happened between their first dance and this current one, the moment Anthony had her in his arms again, he found that nothing else truly mattered. 

Any previous frustration melted into a contented smile, even as Kate raised a brow at him. “Lord Bridgerton, I had a most interesting conversation with your brother during our dance.”

Anthony felt some frustration return then, frowning. From what he could see, she’d been having quite an interesting conversation indeed. 

Thankfully, before he could let his jealousy get the better of his sense, she continued on, “He illuminated me in your own rather interesting conversation with him earlier tonight.” 

The thought that she was asking about him made him smile again. Feeling his mood lighten, he teased, “You were looking in my direction tonight most intensely, were you?” 

Kate merely huffed, “How could I not? Your continuous gaze on me was a distraction I could hardly ignore.” 

“If only that were true. From what I saw, you seemed able to ignore me handily while dancing with a whole host of other men.” He could not help but point out, unable to hide his bitter jealousy this time. 

Kate didn’t try to hide her ire either, as she scoffed at him, “Lord Bridgerton, this cannot possibly be the first ball you have been to—so I know you are well aware that dancing with a variety of different partners is entirely the purpose of such a thing!” 

“For others, perhaps. But not for us, is that not right?” 

“There is no us!” Kate protested immediately, but the slight flush to her betrayed her words. 

“Is there not? I should think that despite our pretenses otherwise, we’ve already formed something of a bond through a shared secret.” He spoke the rest in a low whisper, aware he was skirting the lines of propriety yet again with his words. 

Kate’s eyes flashed at the reminder, no doubt remembering his less than gentlemanly insinuations, but before she could say something no doubt quite cutting about him, Anthony quickly spoke again, with deliberate lightness, “But even disregarding that, I think you’ll see that I was quite serious about my previous promise to court you. Soon enough, there will be an ‘us’ quite happily headed for the wedding aisle, I should say.”

The utterly dumbfounded look of confusion was much prettier on Kate’s face than his brother’s, Anthony quickly concluded, feeling satisfaction curl in his gut at the sight. He did not miss the way the blush stole on his wife’s cheeks at his words. Truly, a flustered Kate was a sight for sore eyes. 

A vexed Kate was just as satisfying, as she rather deliberately missed a step and stomped on his foot hard enough to make him wince. He still did not let go though. It would take much more than a little (alright, a lot) of throbbing pain in his foot to do that. 

“You think to make a fool of me, but the only fool here is you! I have no intentions of marrying anyone this season, let alone someone like you!” 

Anthony winced again, feeling the blow of her words even harder than her foot. It was all too reminiscent of the first time they did all this. Clearly, he’d miscalculated with his words again. His entire countenance shifted to that of a look that would not be out of place on Newton. With a dejected pout, he all but begged, “Please, I beg of you, do not say such a thing, even in jest. I am utterly sincere in my intentions! I wish only to earn your affections and eventually, your hand.”

“You…” Kate trailed off, at a rare loss of words. Brows furrowed in confusion, she asked, “Was one accidental meeting on horseback truly such a transformative experience for you?”

Yes. He thought. Even the first time, yes. 

“Yes,” Anthony said aloud, laying his heart bare as he went on, “I have never met a woman—or anyone at all, really—like you. You were like a goddess, a force of nature I had to follow. You jolted me back to life. For the first time in a long time, I felt the full force of my heart beating inside me when you raced astride beside me.”

Kate was momentarily stunned by the force of his words, before she managed to shake her head and regain herself, “Surely that was simply the race itself. I cannot imagine a viscount encountering many sudden races in parks at dawn.”

“Indeed, I cannot imagine doing such a thing with any other than you.” He agreed, with an added layer of meaning to his words that was clearly not lost on Kate if the way she flushed again was any indication. 

If she had any more to say, it was unfortunately going to be lost to him, as their dance once again ended. It was truly a shame these dances were so short, he thought, as he conveniently ignored how he’d been lamenting how long each dance was when he saw her dancing with other men. 

“I will call on you at Lady Danbury’s tomorrow.” Anthony promised once they were parted, and though there remained some suspicion on Kate’s face, she said nothing and merely nodded.

It was a start, he supposed. Anthony would simply have to do better to secure her affections at their next meeting. 

-

-

-

“Anthony Bridgerton, what on Earth possessed you to act like such a brute tonight?!” 

Violet was too well-mannered to scold her son in public, but the moment they were away from the prying eyes of the ton, she was clearly ready to deliver the dressing down of the century. 

Her words fell on deaf ears though. Anthony was far too busy planning his next move in his grand quest to court Kate. Tomorrow would be a busy day, as it would be his first time calling on her at Danbury House, and he was quite committed to making it a most memorable occasion.  

Chapter Text

Needless to say, Anthony’s rather unusual actions at the Conservatory Ball were soon reported in Lady Whistledown, causing quite a stir as everyone suddenly paid much more focus on the foreign spinster sister weaving some unknown magic to capture the viscount’s attentions more ardently.

While the ton as well as his family and friends digested this news with varying degrees of confusion, intrigue and amusement, Anthony himself was completely unaware of all this though. Like all the true move makers of history, he was more (unintentionally) focused on creating more news for Lady Whistledown, as he eagerly called on Danbury House the very next day…

-

It would be some time yet before Edwina would be announced as the Diamond of the Season, so when Anthony approached the Danbury house that day, there was no line of gentlemen callers awaiting entry.

There would be absolutely zero distractions, no reason for Kate to focus on her sister’s suitors, as there were no suitors at all. Instead, there would be only Anthony. Just the way he liked it, he thought, as he remembered the other men she had danced with last night. No other men this time, he reminded himself, the thought making the smile on his face grow rather smug.

Such was his enthusiasm that Anthony arrived at Danbury House quite a bit earlier than was strictly polite or sensible. He’d simply been too eager to see Kate again to care overly much about such things. Lady Danbury was entirely too used to him and his family anyhow. There was no way she would refuse him entry even if he was early. Most likely, she would simply deliver a cutting remark and possibly a smack with her cane if he decided to reply as unapologetically as he was feeling. 

Neither consequence outweighed the benefit of more time with Kate, so here he was with a bounce to his own step as he practically bounded up the front steps. This was a particularly impressive achievement considering the very large bouquet nearly overflowing out of his arms that he was carrying with a care at odds with his enthusiasm. 

Once more, he brought several large bouquets with him. Flowers, not only for her, but for her mother and sister as before. But this time, he made sure Kate’s was the largest and most extravagant. There was absolutely no mistaking who he was courting here. 

As if to ensure there was truly no mistaking the root of his affections, while the bouquets for her family were carried by a footman, the one for Kate he carried himself. Or maybe it was simply a matter of the fact that he couldn’t carry anything else even if he wanted to.  

It was a rather cumbersome thing, weighing surprisingly heavy in his arms and blocking most of his vision, so the care was especially needed to prevent any accidents this early on in his courting. 

Needless to say, this was, frankly, all a quite ridiculously excessive amount of flowers, and it boggled the mind of just about everyone not named Anthony Bridgerton to see it. There was a method to the madness in his mind though.  

As Kate had once told him that he was the first man to gift her flowers, he obviously had to make sure his second try at this would be especially memorable, and the florist had certainly delivered. Eventually, anyway. The florist in question had actually initially made several conventional-sized yet still beautiful arrangements. 

Yet these attempts had been rejected time and time again until the man had given up on anything resembling reason and sense, resulting in the large and colorful monstrosity now taking new residence in the Danbury house. 

It was a riot of color, full of all the flowers he knew she liked best, and he was quite proud of himself when no one could look away from it, least of all Kate herself. There were identical expressions of disbelief on their faces, and part of Anthony noted that he could suddenly see the resemblance between the two sisters quite clearly in that moment.

“Lord Bridgerton, you’re here to call on Miss Sharma then.” Lady Danbury’s voice drew him out of his staring, in a rather deliberate move, judging by the judgemental look on her face.

“Indeed,” Anthony confirmed with what he thought was a particularly charming grin. Lady Danbury was, as always, unmoved. Kate was, happily, not as unaffected as she wanted to appear, as he could see the slight flush even on her dark skin. Oh, how he wished he could kiss it again.  

“You… brought flowers for me,” Kate said with a wonder she couldn’t hide. Her eyes were darting to and fro the various flowers, even as his were entirely riveted to her instead. Anthony could tell from the look in her eyes that she loved the flowers as much as he thought she would—no surprise there, as they were a combination of her favorites and a few that simply reminded him of her. 

“Brought us all a lot of flowers, it seems, though you most of all, didi,” Edwina corrected in a whisper to her sister that Anthony nevertheless picked up on thanks to his intense focus on Kate. 

She was looking at the flowers in awe, tinged with the kind of amusement he was very familiar with after living with seven siblings. “And you told me last night that your suitor was merely giving you false promises!”

Kate’s expression shifted to a glare as she quickly scolded her sister, “Bon! Don’t be so rude to our guest.”

“You mean your guest,” Edwina teased, before acquiescing to her sister’s stern expression and falling silent. 

“Thank you for the flowers, Lord Bridgerton,” Kate said, turning towards him with those eyes shining so beautifully. The honesty in her words made him feel about ten feet tall, and he practically floated off the ground in sheer joy. 

“Yes, yes, thank you for all the many flowers and the visit at quite the early hour too, Lord Bridgerton,” Lady Danbury noted drily. It was almost impressive, how she somehow managed to make his title sound like the scolding of a schoolteacher. “It seems you’ve quite a surplus of enthusiasm when it comes to courtship.”

Lady Danbury also had quite a gift for understatement, as they would all soon discover. This was only the beginning of Lord Anthony Bridgerton’s excessively extravagant courtship of Miss Kate Sharma. 

-

They moved on to the drawing room as proper, sitting side by side on the couch there, in a distance deemed too close by the disapproving look on Lady Danbury’s face. Some pointed coughing later and they moved apart until their distance was societally appropriate once more.  

It was awkward at first. 

Anthony had never been forced to talk to Kate within the trappings of a normal courting. All their most significant meetings had been private, allowing them to eschew propriety and speak their minds without reservation. Even this time around, they’d had their morning ride with no one else around and a semi-private dance where they could at least talk without being overheard by eager-eyed chaperones. 

How could anyone get to know another this way? Anthony had never found much sense in most of society’s rules, and neither did Kate, he knew. It was one of the many things they shared. In hindsight, it was really rather inevitable that they had fallen in love with each other. 

Briefly, Anthony thought about being in this position with Edwina this time last year. All of their interactions had been very much within the trappings of social convention. It was quite a stark reminder of how different his first go about this was, and how much he needed to make sure it didn’t go the same this time. 

With that in mind, he attempted to steer their conversation outside of meaningless niceties and inane chatter about weather, which he knew she hated perhaps even more than he did.  

“Miss Sharma,” Anthony began, a little hesitant as he was all too aware of the eyes and ears (and cane) on them. “Perhaps you could tell me more about India? I’ve read some on the topic, but I’m sure the writings could never compare to the experience.”

Kate’s eyes practically lit up at the question, even if the slight suspicion in them never truly left, it was still gratifying to see. “What have you read about? India is quite vast, and I was not particularly well traveled so I could not tell you about its most famous sights.”

Having actually been to India with Kate for their honeymoon, Anthony knew this. So along with visiting her childhood home and its familiar sights, one of the points of their trip had been to travel to the parts of India she had yet been to. 

“I read about the Taj Mahal, of course, and the Red Fort, as well as Qurub Minar and the Mysore Palace. All amazing places, I’m sure.” Anthony took care to pronounce the more unfamiliar words as Kate had taught him but he was sure he still failed. Even after a year of practice, his accent was still atrocious and never failed to make his wife giggle in amusement, which was admittedly also why he had never tried as hard as he could to get better. “But I’m equally interested in the sights that would have been most familiar to you as home.” 

“Hmm, you’re surprisingly well-read on the topic.” Kate looked genuinely impressed for a moment, before her face grew into the one of nostalgic contemplation she always wore when speaking of the better parts of her childhood in India. “As to my home, well, there was a river quite close to it that I often visited. On hot days, I would sneak away to soak my feet. The turtles and I became quite good friends.”

Anthony grinned outright at this recollection, as his mind flashed with the way they had revisited this very river on their honeymoon. While the turtles in question had indeed received Kate like an old friend, they had been less welcoming to Anthony, nearly biting one of his fingers off when he had drawn close. It had been quite frustrating and even a little frightening if he was completely honest, but the sound of her laughter ringing so loudly and sweetly around them had made the moment one he cherished anyway. 

Still grinning, he teased her, “I’m not surprised to hear that you charmed horses and turtles into doing your bidding even from a young age. I can see you as a young girl with a trail of baby animals following at your feet like the Pied Piper.”

Kate huffed in offense at that, but there was no denying the smile trying to break out on her lips. “I will have you know that I did actually learn to play the bansuri as a child, an instrument very similar to the flute.”

“And you charmed everyone and everything with the beauty of your playing?” Anthony, having heard his wife’s attempts at flute-playing knew the answer was a resounding no, but it was amusing to see her try to lie anyway. 

“Obviously,” Kate blatantly lied.

Obviously, Anthony had to rise to the challenge. “Then you must play for us. I am very eager to be charmed by your musical stylings.”

Clearly caught in her lie now, Kate attempted to backtrack. “Ah, but I’m afraid I no longer possess a bansuri, and your English flute is unfamiliar to me.”

But Anthony would not be so easily dissuaded, especially not when this presented the perfect opportunity, “I am sure I can find a bansuri for you, given time and preparation. I shall gift one to you as soon as I can.”

“I…” At a loss for words, she looked around for a moment and found both her mother and Lady Dabury’s pointed gazes their way. The subtle flush that stole across her cheeks made her look ever more beautiful. “I will thank you for your generosity when you do, my lord.”

“And play a piece to charm us all, I’m sure.” Anthony made sure to pair the statement with the most charming, innocent smile he could, even as he was internally laughing at his own mischief. 

“…of course.” Kate forced a smile on her face that was clearly tinged with frustration, and it took a lot of effort for him not to give up the game and burst into a laugh. 

Anthony was unfortunately forced to leave soon after, but he left with the promise to come calling soon thereafter. The time away from the house would give him time to get her a bansuri, at least. They had not bought one until their trip to India, but he was sure he could find one available here in England somewhere. His ears would not thank him for the effort, but he was looking forward to hearing her play once more. For all her lack of talent with it, he knew that Kate genuinely enjoyed playing the instrument. 

Chapter Text

Over the course of the next week, Lord Bridgerton continued to court Kate by calling on her at Danbury House. Because he was him, and he was a dramatic, excessive man at his core, this meant he visited every single day of said week, ignoring all sense of propriety and the attention directed at him for doing so. 

Not even Lady Danbury’s gimlet stare nor the printed words of Lady Whistledown suggesting he’d been thoroughly bewitched by this foreign spinster could slow him down, let alone stop him. Not that he wasn’t bothered by all the attention on him—or rather, them—but his focus on the matter seemed decidedly misplaced, in what would be everyone’s opinion aside from his own. 

More than once, he could be heard muttering about overbearing chaperones and a lack of privacy. He was often sitting as close to Kate as possible even while under the watchful eyes of said chaperones, so she could hear his every word all too clear.  

He was truly a fool, she thought at his ridiculous mutterings, with entirely less annoyance than he deserved. More than once, Kate was tempted to ignore propriety herself and slap him with her fan for his ridiculousness. 

More than once, Kate was tempted to slap herself. Because she was not truly as fed up or annoyed with his shenanigans as she should’ve been. He was simply too charming for his own good. It was impossible to resist him. Not even Lady Danbury could entirely. If she was truly as through with his shenanigans as she claimed, she could simply bar him from her home, no matter the protest, after all. 

It was all too easy to picture a tinier version of him, all chubby cheeks and cheeky grins charming family and staff alike into giving him treats and forgiving his mischievous misdeeds. The image then all too easily morphed into a version of him with her own dark skin and curly hair, and she would have to forcibly stop herself before her heart gave out at the image. 

It was ridiculous! She knew the man all of a week. Clearly, he was infecting her with his ridiculousness. There was absolutely no sense in imagining such things, especially not when she had no plans of marriage, she reminded herself. 

Any dreams of having children of her own had been packed away at the same time she’d shelved any hope for a marriage. It was something she’d grieved perhaps even more than a husband. She’d comforted herself with the thought that she’d get to care for a whole brood of children as a governess, and be a loving, if distant, aunt to Edwina’s children instead.

But now, faced with a charming viscount and his pleasing smiles, who continued to court her most ardently? It was hard not to slip into the silly girlish daydreams she’d long abandoned years ago when he spoke so earnestly about wanting to marry her even after having had only a grand total of two meetings together. 

It was ridiculous. He was ridiculous, and he kept proving it every turn. Despite his flowery promises otherwise, part of Kate kept expecting Lord Bridgerton to cease his strange and excessive courtship. It was the sensible thing to expect.

But as was becoming typical with him, it seemed the man did the least sensible thing possible. 

So, against all sense, and to her continued confusion, he continued to visit her at Lady Danbury’s home, always bringing with him an assortment of ridiculously extravagant and beautiful flowers, somehow managing to make them even bigger with each time—for her bouquet anyway. The ones he gifted to the rest of her family stayed the same size and design, while the one meant for her grew, seemingly exponentially, in both. By the end of the week, he could no longer carry it by himself, and he needed the help of two footmen to do so instead. 

Kate’s room was a riot of flowers, and despite finding it ridiculous and wasteful, she couldn’t help but appreciate it all the same. It was a little like sleeping in a garden, and made her recall nights at home as a child where she’d fallen asleep underneath the stars with grass beneath her back and the scent of flowers in the air. 

But his attempts to curry favor with her companions did not end with her human family. To her surprise, he was quite accommodating to Newton, regardless of his discomfort with dogs, which was all too clear despite all his claims to the contrary. 

(It also proved he was a terrible liar. Which meant he was telling the truth when he spoke of not only courtship but marriage with her, and Kate had no idea how to take this, so she decided to simply ignore the revelation the way she did with other troubling facts in her life.)

In any case, the point was, the flowers were not the only point of escalation in this unexpected courtship. Meanwhile, she still had no clue why this high eligible bachelor was suddenly darkening her sponsor’s doorstep every day in the hopes of winning her hand. Even as her family, Lady Danbury, and the entirety of London it seemed, very eagerly chiming in with their own opinions on Lord Bridgerton, Kate had trouble forming her own—very much a rarity—as her heart and mind warred with each other and came to no conclusion.

Not one that could be reached in a mere week of acquaintance, anyhow.

-

-

Their conversations often swung towards personal matters that went beyond the typical pleasantries that dominated most conversations between courting couples in the ton. Anthony did his best not to seem like he knew too much about her already, but he’d never been very good at controlling his words around her. 

It actually helped that he was simply acting so strange already, any slipups in knowledge were just another addition at this point. 

Though they were merely the trappings of a normal courtship, perfectly mundane and even boring by most standards, Anthony found that because it was Kate, he was enjoying himself anyway. That first time, he’d managed to keep a polite smile up as he’d charmed Edwina with his best approximation of a gentleman, even as he’d internally felt something closer to despair than attraction. 

Now, his smile was entirely too wide and enthusiastic to be polite, and the teasing banter he and Kate naturally devolved into once a conversation went on longer than a few moments was hardly gentlemanly or ladylike. 

Still, even though he enjoyed any time with Kate at all, even when it was sitting in a stuffy room drinking tea together with an audience that was entirely fed up with their antics, Anthony was well aware that he could be enjoying himself much more. Not even in a lustful sense—though that was certainly true—but simply without any watchful eyes judging every word and move they made. 

He only had so much patience when it came to Kate—that was to say, he had very little of it. 

So, by the fifth visit, clearly tired of merely staying in the sitting room at Danbury House under judgemental hawk eyes of its esteemed owner, Anthony invited them out instead, clearly hoping for less sharply chaperoned time with his (future/past) wife.  

“Perhaps we could take a walk with Newton?” He asked with near desperation, after the second time that day alone that Lady Danbury’s cane was waved threateningly in his direction. 

Over the year or so of his marriage with Kate, he and Newton had come to a certain understanding. While Anthony would not come anywhere close to the dog’s “mother” when it came to feeling affection for him, it was hard not to feel something, when he loved Kate so much, and she in turn, loved Newton so. 

If viewed as an extension of her, it became much easier to transform his initial feelings of frustration and irritation to something more fond. It was the same mix he often felt for his many siblings, after all. 

Now, in this second chance of his, he hoped to make a better impression on both dog and owner, and in doing so, directly improve the relationship of each through the other. 

So far it seemed to be working well. Too well, perhaps. In hindsight, perhaps Anthony should not have attempted to curry favor with the mongrel by sneaking him treats from his pocket, because now it meant that the dog was always jumping on him, licking at his hands and clearly attempting to chew through his clothing for a chance at his beloved treats. 

Of course, as he’d expected, his master made no real attempt to correct this behaviour. Though she called out his name in what might’ve been scolding, it was half-hearted at best, easily cancelled out by the clear amusement shining in her eyes. As usual, Anthony found his temper and annoyance melting away at the sight of it. 

They got permission for a promenade with Newton, and seeing as Lady Danbury found the furry beast even more distasteful than he did, were mercifully only chaperoned by a maid and footman who frankly seemed more interested in each other than paying attention to their supposed charges. Truly, love was in the air, he thought.

Knowing Newton, he made sure to stay away from any body of water, and instead steered him towards the grassy areas where he could run wild and play to his heart’s content. Considering his rather impressive gut and the treats he’d already sneaked him, the dog really did need all the exercise he could get. 

“It seems we may finally have a conversation that will not be dissected to pieces at dinnertime.” Kate commented, with a glance at their distracted chaperones. 

With a smile resembling an eager little boy more than a distinguished viscount, he exclaimed, “You talk about me with your family!”

“Not by my choice, I assure you.” Kate swiftly corrected, even as she internally cursed herself for her slip. At his imploring look, she huffed in exasperation, “You are a well-known man in the ton. Surely you are aware of the gossip that surrounds you? This is hardly the first time you will have been talked about at the dinner table!” 

Anthony was dismissive when it came to the gossiping mamas of the ton, except when the mama in question was Kate’s, of course. After all the events of his season back in his original past, his relationship with the Sharmas was rather strained, to say the least. 

He was determined to do better this time, for his own and especially for Kate’s sake. Her own relationship with her family had never quite recovered either, and the literal distance between them had meant that they would truly never return to the closeness they once had. Perhaps this time, they might not move all the way to India this time and they could all share a closer relationship here in England. 

“But this is not any dinner table. This is your family! Soon to be my family. I care quite deeply about any opinion held by your family, as I know how much you do.” Anthony said conclusively.

Kate looked rather stunned by his declaration. Whether it was because of the reference to them soon sharing family, the notion that he knew her well to declare what she did or did not know, or the fact that he was right—well, every part of it was mind-boggling, truly. Not that Anthony seemed aware. He was wearing that earnest look on his face again, the one that made him look boyish (and called to mind those accursed daydreams or children sharing their look again). 

“I…” In the end, Kate found she could not resist him when he was like this. “I had not expected this turn of conversation when I mentioned what I thought was an amusing piece of banter. But… yes. We have talked about you.”

His earnestness shifted to attentiveness, hooked to her every word, even as Kate shifted uncomfortably in embarrassment as she recalled the long talks about the man that was strangely, ardently, courting her. To their credit, her family had betrayed no surprise at the fact that the season’s most eligible bachelor was doing so. If anything, they kept reaffirming that this was just what she deserved, that she was just as much of an eligible debutante despite the label of spinster thrust upon her. 

“Everyone was most eager to recount and then analyze your every word and action closely. There was also much talk about the many, many flowers you brought to Danbury House. Lady Danbury also talked about your family as well. Are there truly eight of you Bridgeton siblings?” Kate asked, wanting to know, and to turn the question back on him for a moment. 

“All named in alphabetical order.” Anthony confirmed, with a wry smirk. “We are a prolific family, in more ways than one. You are already acquainted with Benedict. But after him, there is Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth.” 

There had been some brief mentions of his siblings here and there in their conversations before this, as it was clear he was quite close with the whole lot of them, but this was the first time he had done a count of all of them, and it was a little intimidating to hear it all laid out. Kate’s eyes couldn’t help but widen with every name dropped. “Prolific indeed.”

With a laugh, Anthony shook his head. “Indeed, and they are all each and every one, except for Fran, more than loud enough for two people as well. Every single family event is a chaotic one.” But a loving one too, clearly. For as exasperated as he acted, his love for his family shone clear through.

Something in her heart clenched at the thought. Familial love, and the duty that came with it, was something Kate understood very well. That was why she couldn’t help but ask, if only for the sake of her own. “So why?”

The look of pure confusion on his face was nothing short of comical, really, but Kate was too anxious to appreciate it, unfortunately. Taking a deep breath, she went on, in a rush of words that betrayed her nerves, “Your care and duty towards your family matches my own, so you must know. I am hardly the ideal viscountess.” 

Kate held no illusions about herself when it came to her place in Society. Shaking her head, she went on, “I am a foreigner unfamiliar to English high society. Lady Mary is not my biological mother, so my ties to English nobility include no blood relations. Not to mention, I am six and twenty. By English standards, I hardly on top of any lists—“

Though she was only listing facts already known to all of society, Anthony was looking utterly gobsmacked at it all, every new deficiency she listed like a physical strike against him. Until, finally, he could take no more.  

“Stop! Kate, please, cease this talk at once. No more lists!” He cut in desperately, spitting the final word with disproportionate venom. “I cannot take you speaking of yourself like this.”

If he never heard or made another list in his life again, he’d be ecstatic. Who would have thought the infernal list of requirements from his last life would somehow still haunt him? But of course, every stupid word Fife had spoken and he’d agreed to was merely the unspoken cold facts of society laid bare. 

But Kate could never let anything go. That was true in any life. So she barreled on despite his objections, “I am aware of my own worth, Lord Bridgerton. I say all this because I know my own perception differs quite greatly from that of the society that you are a significant part of.”

Anthony was ready to renounce his title, sweep Kate away and run to India if that was what it took to get her to understand she mattered more to him than the ton.

Before he could though, she held her hand up. “I only seek clarification. Lady Whistledown asked it in her papers, and I find myself equally curious. What exactly has you ignoring all the accomplished debutantes of the ton and courting a foreign spinster so ardently before the Season has even truly begun?”

Chapter Text

Contrary to popular belief, Anthony was in fact quite aware of his deficiencies, including his tendency to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. So he was doubly aware that he needed to say the right thing at this exact time, if he wanted to earn Kate’s trust and affections properly. Unfortunately, this knowledge did not make it any easier for his mind to come up with the secret combination of words that would allow Kate to understand his love without admitting any of the unbelievable parts involving time travel. 

There was a moment of tense silence as his mind churned. His first instinct was to simply burst into professions of his love. It was the truth, after all. 

Why?

Because I love you!

Of course, it took only another moment’s thought for him to realize the most likely reaction Kate would have to such a sudden proclamation. In all likelihood, there would be surprise, disbelief and anger. Even in his most optimistic fantasies, it was hard to believe she would react the way he wanted, which was to say: I love you too!

No, even thinking most optimistically, at best, she would be confused or hesitant. She did not know him enough yet to love him back, and in the end, he realized that would be the worst part. To have his love unreturned. Anthony could not bear even the thought of it. 

As his thoughts continued, so did the tense silence, and Kate’s expression grew terse as well. Not good. Alarmed and worried his continued silence would be more damning than anything he said, he ended up blurting out, “I.. Do you not feel it as well?”

Kate looked startled by his words. Her mouth dropped open, but no words spilled out. Her silence, her lack of objection, was an answer all on its own. 

It gave Anthony the confidence to continue, finding the words easier now, “This pull between us, like gravity—it has us unconsciously reaching closer to each other, regardless of propriety or our chaperones’ sharp looks.” 

Indeed, just in this very conversation alone, they’d stepped closer than was proper. Her eyes widened as she realized it, and she took an instinctive step back, making Anthony follow like a puppet on a string. Despite the look she sent him at his actions, she did not verbally admonish him. It was tacit permission, and it made Anthony grin. 

Her eyes fell to his mouth then, and so did his to hers. For a moment, he could feel the gravity between them pulling them closer, and he could practically feel her lips on his again. 

Thankfully for their reputations, a loud, excitable bark drew them back to their senses. A quick glance around showed Newton was quite happily chasing after a bird of some sort while their chaperones were even closer together than they were. No one else of note was around their corner of the park though, which meant any possible scandal was averted. He was certainly tempted though, as the memories of other similar encounters flooded him. Shaking away the visions of his past (future?) Kate in his arms again, he focused his attention back on their conversation. 

“I… I clearly cannot deny that there is something here between us.” Kate admitted begrudgingly. “But it is clearly a dangerous, reckless thing, as this moment just proved. It is fire that we are playing with and we will both be burned if we are not careful.” 

Anthony wondered if this was better or worse than her past lines about their passion fading. Deciding it was better and feeling emboldened from it, he continued on with confidence, “Your parents were a love match, were they not? Mine were, rather famously so. Perhaps it is too early to call this feeling love, but this fire is more than enough to burn through any cold calculations about what the ton would deem important.”

But Kate merely shook her head, pointing out, “My stepmother ran away from society to be with her love. Your parents were well matched in status regardless of any feelings between them, so that point is moot.”

“If you require me to sail away to India with you to prove my devotion, you need only say so. Because there is no corner of the world where this gravity of ours will not pull me to you.” Anthony countered forcefully. 

For a brief moment, he was back to that moment where Kate declared her intentions to return to India without him. He could not put up with such a notion even then, when he was still fighting his feelings for her. Now, after having tasted her love (quite literally, in fact), he could never let her go. 

Thankfully for both their families, Kate quickly shook her head. “No! I don’t want—” She huffed, looking entirely, familiarly exasperated with him. “I do not want to run away. I did not cross oceans to arrive at this infernal country only to run back a week in. More importantly, Edwina still needs to have her Season here.” 

“Perfect! So we will stay here then, as intended.” He declared with a broad smile on his face. While he was prepared to abdicate his title and run away to India with Kate if that was what it took, he would certainly much prefer not to, for both their families and their own sake. “You will become the viscountess and your sister’s prospects will only improve as a result.”

Indeed, from a purely logical perspective, there were only positives to a marriage with him. She would gain wealth, status and power magnitudes above what she currently possessed. Yet despite this fact, she only frowned at him. 

“Do you truly not care about society’s good opinion? What about your family? Your sister has also just debuted, and you have plenty more waiting in the wings. It is all too easy to court scandal for a woman, and they will be marred by their mere association with me should I become the… viscountess.” The final word was whispered hesitantly, as though merely speaking it aloud would turn it true. 

Anthony would be the first to celebrate it, if so. Alas, he could only keep the memory of her whisper in his heart. In the meantime, he smiled at her, softer this time, as he informed her, “The fact that you already care about them enough to think of all of this is already proof that you are the best viscountess I could hope for.”

Love and care was much rarer than gold among the ton. Most matches were made purely for wealth or status. Most children were merely heirs, spares and brides to marry out. Kate was not wrong about her views or her concerns when it came to the ton. But she was wrong about them. 

In the end, whatever list of requirements Anthony had once drawn up for his imaginary bride truly came down to one thing, and he told her as much now. “I don’t need riches or titles or anything of the sort. I have quite enough of all of that on my own. What I need in a wife is someone who will love my family as much as I do.” 

Indeed, even in the midst of their scandalous union, or in the happier haze of their honeymoon, Kate had still thought of her new family as much as she had her own, learning all their habits and hobbies, and looking for souvenirs to gift them when abroad. Thankfully, the Bridgertons had embraced her just as eagerly. In fact, more often than not, they sought her over him, and it warmed him as much as it annoyed him. It seemed as though Anthony had unlocked the right words to ensure Kate would not board the first ship back to India after all, because she finally smiled at him. There was even emotion in her eyes that might be the beginnings of love. The viscount chose to see it that way, anyhow, because Kate had turned him into the kind of man who thought positively about things to come now. 

Still, despite the smile on her face, she could not help but ask, doubt and disbelief mixed in, “And you believe I am this someone? After a week of meeting me?”

Though he was tempted to blurt out a far too enthusiastic affirmative, he managed to restrain himself. “I certainly think you could be. If the love you show your own family is any indication, I think the potential is there.”

This time, Kate merely nodded, looking thoughtful. It was clear that her questions were finished, for now, and this time, the silence afterwards was a more comfortable one. 

They passed the rest of their promenade with only some light chatter and their familiar banter. All too soon for Anthony’s liking, they were once more forced to part, and he watched her leave with a heavy yet hopeful heart. If his words reached her well enough, perhaps the moment when they would no longer be parted would come faster than he thought.  

-

-

-

Kate had been wary, but also charmed despite herself, and she’d indulged his sometimes inane attempts at conversation under chaperoned conditions with a surprising amount of patience. The truth was she had just as little patience with him as he did with her. She’d been bursting with questions and wanting to interrogate him from the first time he’d shown up at her doorstep with his exceedingly large bouquet. But she could hardly conduct an interrogation while under their usual chaperones’ watchful eyes. So, at the first chance away from them, she finally asked the burning question that had given her many a restless night. 

His answer was not at all what she’d expected, and she’d been expecting the unexpected already, after everything Anthony had already said and done outside the norms. The trip back to the house and whatever happened afterwards passed in a daze. Kate’s mind kept flickering back to their conversation, to Anthony.

While the matrons were kind enough to leave her to her thoughts, her little sister was not quite so thoughtful. Instead, Edwina was displaying an eager childishness that made her think of the days when she was much smaller and begging her for sweets. Only this time she was begging for a bit of Lord Bridgerton.

“Didi! You must not keep in such suspense. You must tell me what happened.” She burst out as soon as they were alone in the room. 

Kate shook her head. “You already know what happened. We took Newton out for a walk.”

“That cannot be the whole of it!” Edwina replied with a pout. “You would not look so nearly out of sorts if that was all. Unless Newton somehow learned a trick for the first time in his life, I can only assume Lord Bridgerton is the cause for your shock.”

Sparing her sister a look for the insult to her beloved pet, she nonetheless answered as calmly as she could, “Again, nothing happened. We merely walked at a snail’s pace, talking as we did so, the same as any other pair out on a promenade.” 

Once again, she was sent a look of suspicion. Then, with a quick look at the closed door, Edwina asked in a giddy whisper, “Did he try to kiss you?” 

“Edwina!” She scolded in a hiss, while sending the closed door a look of her own. “Nothing of the sort happened! We would never risk bringing scandal to our families like that.” 

Kate conveniently ignored the fact that it had nearly come to pass, considering how close they had stood next to each other. They’d likely been moments away from a kiss and scandal if Newton hadn’t barked at the exact moment. 

For a moment, Edwina continued to look suspicious, before she heaved a sigh, looking disappointed. “Alright then. But if not a kiss, then what has you looking so flummoxed?”

“It was merely something he said.” Kate finally admitted, her mind once again drifting towards his words. Unconsciously, her expression once again took on the rather distracted look she’d been wearing ever since her return. 

Edwina perked up again at this. “What did he say?” 

Abruptly startled back to the present, she found herself struggling for words, “Well, he said quite a lot, in fact. To sum it up, I suppose there were all his thoughts on family, and love, and the like?” 

It was rare for her to be so ineloquent but she found that even though she could recall every word of his answer, she could not seem to bring herself to repeat it. Perhaps his ridiculousness was now spreading to her but she wanted to keep all his ridiculous words only to herself.

Certainly, this was far from the first time she had to censor her words for her younger sister’s ears. But usually, it was because it was inappropriate or would merely bring unnecessary pain or worry. It had never been simply because she felt a strange selfish need to keep something for herself. This need disconcerted her, almost as much as his words had. 

After her confusing confession, her sister’s brows had climbed so high it was comical. But then, a smug smile took over, one that was quite unbecoming of a lady, truly, as she airily announced, “No need for more details. I think I can fill in the rest, didi.”

It was Kate’s turn to be confused. “That seems… unlikely.”

“Your lack of words speaks volumes. I’ve never seen you at a loss with anyone ever before! Not even with the rajah or his sons back in the palace.” Edwina was undeterred as she quite perceptively continued, “So, clearly, Lord Bridgerton has surprised you, in the most positive of ways. In the most romantic of ways, perhaps?”

There was a familiar glittering in those eyes, and Kate quickly held a hand up, “Before you start comparing him to the men from your books again, I’ll tell you now, it was nothing of the sort!”

Out of everyone, it was Edwina who had been most enthusiastic about this unexpected courtship, and she’d been surprisingly taken with Lord Bridgerton himself. Kate had been a little worried in the beginning that she might have held feelings for the man, but she had quickly been dispelled of the notion after Edwina had made it clear how it was merely the assumed romantic nature of his ardent courting of Kate that she loved so much, often comparing it to the many stories she had consumed of a similar nature. In fact, she’d referenced one story repeatedly, looking quite amused as she pointed out their similar traits to the protagonists in question. 

In the end, Kate found herself clarifying, “He hardly declared his undying love to me, bon. He simply thinks I will be his perfect viscountess because I will love his family as much as he does.”

“Oh, didi.” The look she sent was a little pitying, which grated terribly on her nerves. “But that’s exactly the kind of speech you would find romantic! It might as well be a declaration of his undying love at this stage.” 

At that astute reply, Kate found herself at a loss for words once more. What could she say, when she didn’t want to admit the truth? Lord Anthony Bridgerton was worming his way into her heart despite all her best defenses after all. 

Chapter Text

It was another night and another ball. But this was not just any ball. This was the ball where the queen finally named the Diamond. 

It was according to Anthony’s recollections, anyway. Despite the changes he’d already made, there should have been nothing he’d done to affect this. Lady Danbury remained in the queen’s confidence, and she would no doubt once again do her best so that her charge was the one given the illustrious title and thus, the attention of the ton. 

(He should have remembered what they said about making assumptions.)

Anthony assumed that once Edwina was the Diamond, suitors would flock to the house. As he had absolutely no intentions of being a part of that crowd and elbowing them all out of the way with his clear courtship like last time, this meant that Kate would be quite busy weeding out the men. 

His plan was to hopefully help with that weeding, for the admittedly not entirely altruistic reason that he might regain Kate’s full attentions again. To that end, this time, he’d compiled a list of suitors that would hopefully fit his future sister-in-law. 

In his own past future, Edwina was already married, to a man she’d met when she returned to India in the aftermath of their shared disaster of a Season. He did not know much, unfortunately, aside from the fact that he was some form of scholar and he had no title or great fortune to his name. Despite this, it was a love match and she was happy living a simpler life with him in India, as well as in various other countries, when his work took them there.  

He could not say if it was all true or not, as letters not even written to him could hardly convey the full picture. It didn’t seem to match the woman he’d met, but then, he’d hardly known her at all, had he? He’d held little interest in knowing her even as he’d courted her. Kate had been quite right to reject his suit from the onset, even without the tangled knot of their own relationship factoring into it. To recall his actions now made him wince in guilt and shame. 

In his defense, a normal society courtship and most men of the ton were not much better. But he’d never held himself to those shoddy standards before. Instead, he’d always compared himself to the great Edmund Bridgerton, and he’d always fallen short in comparison. Just imagining the look of disappointment on his father’s face over the way he’d treated both Sharma sisters the first time…

It took a while to shake off that haunting image. Suffice to say, Anthony had learned this lesson well, and he would not be repeating his mistakes. 

None of the other woefully insufficient men of the ton would have such a sacred second chance though. Thinking it over, perhaps in the end, Edwina was better off without a nobly titled husband. 

But he could hardly ship her off to India on some hope that Fate would ensure she’d meet her future husband there. Especially not when only he knew the man currently existed at all. She was here now, and she could hardly have a season with no prospects at all. So Anthony would simply have to do his best to ensure her happiness regardless of how things went this time around. It was hopefully a penance for his actions in the previous time, and the foundation to what would be a true sibling relationship this time. 

Aside from looking into potential suitors here, he’d also done his best to look into finding the man and somehow bringing him to England so that Edwina might have the chance to fall in love with him again here. 

Anthony was a firm believer in Fate now, and so if the two were truly meant to be, he was certain that they’d somehow meet again after all, regardless of continents between them. That was what he kept telling himself, anyhow, after his research stalled. Hopefully the men he hired would have positive news before the Season ended. 

In the meantime, he would have to contend with sifting through his fellow noblemen for suitors that would meet Kate’s standards. Which was easier said than done. It was not easy to compile a list of men that would meet that, as well as match what little he knew of the man Edwina had ended up with. Not to mention his own requirements for the man who would be his brother-in-law. 

Needless to say, it was a rather short list at the moment and Anthony realized he would unfortunately need to widen his social circle if he wanted to add to it. Especially if he was looking for someone of a scholarly bent as per Edwina’s apparent preferences. The thought of going to museums and lecture halls, and listening to historical and scientific lectures made him want to groan already. 

It made him recall his days at Eton and Oxford, where he was hardly the most attentive student. He’d studied well enough not to sully the Bridgerton name and not one book more. Frankly, he preferred to study old ledgers over old philosophies of men long gone. Yet if it all worked out as intended, Kate would be pleased, which was more than enough for him to swallow any hardship. 

Indeed, the mere thought of his wife’s smile was enough to keep him going with a near skip in his step as he went about his preparations like a particularly eager bee, utterly heedless of the mass confusion he left in his wake, as his thoughts practically beat a steady rhythm of Kate. 

By the time Anthony was ready to head out with the rest of his family for tonight’s ball, he was practically bouncing on feet in anticipation of meeting Kate again. His new positive outlook on life meant he was rather optimistically planning for his future already. But he should have remembered that the tides of fortune were rarely so kind to him. 

(At the very least, he should have remembered Lady Danbury’s propensity for scheming and the queen’s tendency towards dramatics and the unexpected.)

-

Anthony had all but run to Kate as soon as he’d arrived at the ball, and he’d hovered around her for the remainder of the night, even after his allowed two dances were already over. Propriety dictated he keep his distance, but despite the looks from their chaperones, not even Lady Danbury attempted more than a half-hearted, exhausted scolding. 

While neither of them were able to speak more on the topic of their last conversation with all the eyes and ears focused intently on them, it was clear from the look in Kate’s eyes that she remembered his words well. 

They spent the evening dancing slightly closer than proper, as usual, keeping a lively conversation that equally skirted the conventions of polite talk all the while. 

Unfortunately, he also had to contend with other men dancing with her as well, while he stood on the sidelines watching for the slightest hint of impropriety like an eagle-eyed chaperone (or rather, intensely jealous suitor). The actual chaperones merely eyed this with indulgent amusement (Lady Mary) or resigned exasperation (Lady Danbury). Thankfully for all of society, no man other than Anthony himself even tried to get close to crossing any lines. 

Equally thankfully for Anthony’s health, after every time Kate was forced away from his side, she would return to him, bearing an expression that was significantly warmer than whatever polite smile she wore for the insignificant creature dared to infringe upon her company despite his clear presence. It was enough to calm his jealous rage into more of a low boiling simmer instead of a pot about to spill. 

All in all—at least once back in the company of his future lady—Lord Bridgerton was having quite a jolly good time at tonight’s ball, actually. 

-

Until the moment everyone had been waiting for had arrived, that was. 

-

While all eyes were on the queen as she spoke, his remained locked onto Kate, wanting to see her joyous and prideful reaction to her sister being metaphorically crowned (not that he really needed much excuse to pay intense attention to her). That meant he was right next to Kate when it happened. 

“Allow it to now be my honor to present to you the season’s diamond—Miss Kate Sharma!” 

The words rang in his ears long after they were spoken. Kate was the diamond. His Kathani was the diamond.

While Anthony’s head continued to spin in confused shock, the ballroom exploded into whispers. Miss Kate Sharma, proclaimed spinster and foreigner to English soil, was the diamond chosen by Her Royal Highness herself. How? Why? What was the queen thinking? They all asked with the eagerness of beasts seeking a kill. 

On the one hand, Anthony understood perfectly. Kate was the best of the best, and clearly a cut above the rest of the debutantes this and any other season. Of course, she was proclaimed the diamond! She was truly Incomparable to any other! Anyone with eyes and sense would do the same!

…Yet on the other hand, Anthony was very confused. Because this was not supposed to happen. Edwina was supposed to be the diamond. Surely… this was not because of him? But then, why would this deviate from the expected course? He tried to think back to everything he had done so far since he returned. To his knowledge, he had not done anything to change things so drastically in a mere week…

The answer, to anyone who was not Anthony Bridgerton, was exceedingly obvious. It was him—and his intense, excessive interest that spurred on these events. The focused attentions of the most eligible bachelor long had everyone, including Lady Whistledown, wondering what made Kate Sharma so special. Inevitably, it attracted the queen’s notice as well, and with Lady Danbury’s words in her ear, this was merely the inevitable result.  

Perhaps proving they were a matched pair indeed, there was another at the ball sharing Anthony’s dumbfounded shock and confusion. Much like her future husband, she had also been expecting her sister to be named the diamond. 

The sister in question was also nearby, looking just as happy at this turn of events as her mother and Lady Danbury next to her (and if her smile was perhaps just a tad forced, if there was some other emotion hidden there—well, it was lost in the chaos of the moment and no one noticed). Their contrasting expressions, and the general absurdity of their circumstances were almost comedic in a Shakespearean way. But it was hard to see the humor when faced with the likely consequences of all of such circumstances. 

Especially when he was faced with Kate’s eyes, which were wide with not only shock and confusion but also a certain shade of concealed panic. It was a sight Anthony had only previously associated with storms and failing her family, and it made his heart clench painfully in his chest to see here. He ached to rush to her and draw her into his arms until the emotion went away. Yet he could not. He had to remind himself, and his hand could only twitch in midair before helplessly falling back to his side. 

Still, he could not help but move closer, as if to shield her from a blow. Certainly the ton’s unforgiving eyes could be likened to any weapon. In return, Kate had drawn a little closer to him as well, and even amidst the less than ideal circumstance, it still warmed him that she did so. 

They were soon forced to part, however, as the queen herself walked towards them.  

Despite the clear emotion in her eyes saying otherwise, Kate stood tall and proud, just like the diamond she was recently proclaimed to be. 

Queen Charlotte was clearly pleased at the sight and with her choice. With an imperious nod, she concluded, “I see what had our own illustrious Viscount Bridgerton in such hot pursuit of you, Miss Sharma. You are quite a vision.”

“I thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty.” Kate replied, as politely and gracefully as she could manage, which was an impressive amount considering the mess of emotions currently rolling through her. 

Picking up on her hidden unease, Anthony could not help but draw close again. An action which did not go unnoticed. Turning towards him with a raised eyebrow, she noted sharply, “Lord Bridgerton. I am quite certain you have already danced two dances with Miss Sharma tonight.”

“Ah, yes, right.” The words stumbled out uncertainly. His mind was unfortunately blank, and he struggled to find some way out of the trouble they had stumbled into. “Yet, surely, this is a special occasion…?”

Needless to say, Queen Charlotte was hardly convinced. In fact, she looked rather disdainful of his attempt entirely. “Surely, you are a gentleman who observes propriety most properly, Lord Bridgerton?” 

Once again, he could only agree, “…right, of course, Your Majesty.”

Clearly unsatisfied with his rather lackluster show of assent, the queen decided to torture him. With a falsely light tone that nonetheless brooked no argument, she declared, “Fear not, Lord Bridgerton. Your concern for Miss Sharma’s dance card is unwarranted.”

She pointed to the man just a ways from them, clearly waiting in the wings for a chance to swoop in like the vulture he was. Though he flinched a little at Anthony’s glare, he stood tall and continued onto the new diamond’s side the moment Queen Charlotte bade him to. The horrible man—whose name slipped his notice entirely, as he spent the introductions fuming in mute jealous rage—then had the gall to smile at his Kate. 

Of course, equally unable to say no when the queen herself dictated it, Kate could only take the man’s hand and the two made their way to the dance floor. All the while, he could only watch, fists clenching at his side as he battled the urge to do something violent to the man in question. Lost in his murderous fantasies, he did not even notice his sovereign’s thoughtful eyes on him. He only ever had eyes for Kate, after all—and by unfortunate association, the man she was currently being forced to dance with.  

All in all, after what had seemed like a most promising start to the night, it was turning out to be not so jolly a good time for Anthony Bridgerton after all. 

Chapter Text

“This cannot be happening,” Kate cried out the moment they had stepped out of view of the rest of the ton and back into the privacy of the carriage taking them home. 

Though she’d done an admirable job of holding onto her calm with everyone’s eyes on her, the thread had clearly snapped now. Were she not trapped in the seat of a carriage, she would surely be pacing a hole onto the floors by the restless energy she carried. 

“Clearly, this is a mistake!” Though she was not the type to beg, she found herself willing to throw herself at the older woman’s feet if it meant she would agree to her request. “There must be some way to change the queen’s mind.”

Unfortunately, Lady Danbury remained quite unmoved by the display. With a raised and somewhat offended brow, she drily pointed out, “The queen will hardly take kindly to accusations that she has made a mistake.” 

“Kate dear, please calm down.” Unlike their sponsor, Lady Mary looked rather worried at her state. “Perhaps you ought to close your eyes and take a rest?”

Though she would normally do her best to placate her stepmother, Kate found herself too wound up by the situation to even attempt to relax.

In this uncertain silence, Edwina asked, “Why are you so unhappy with this? Isn’t it a good thing to be named the diamond?”

There was a confused and worried look on her face, and her immediate instinct to comfort her sister warred with her equally instinctive panic at being in this situation she had never planned for. 

“Bon...” Kate trailed off. There were a thousand frantic thoughts racing within her.

What could she say? That she was not even an English lady, let alone this diamond chosen by the queen herself? That she had no time or mind for this nonsense, because this was supposed to be Edwina’s season? This life of balls and gowns was not meant for her but beloved sister, who had been raised, in fact, to rise to this very occasion. Edwina was supposed to be diamond, not her, and she could not help but feel as though she had stolen her place somehow. 

In the end, whatever words she might’ve said, whether it be truth or excuse, were lost entirely, as Lady Danbury seemingly lost the battle with her patience and snapped, “Enough of this! The queen has made her choice of diamond and it is you. There is no changing that fact, so you must simply accept it now, Miss Sharma.”

Kate opened her mouth to attempt a protest, but swiftly shut it upon the look on their sponsor’s face. While she was one of the rare few who had no compunctions about standing up to the “dragon” of the ton, she still knew when to pick and choose her battles. Besides, in the end, no matter how she felt about the matter, she could hardly go against the queen of England, after all. Lady Danbury was right on that point. 

“All eyes will be on you, and no doubt there will soon be gentlemen aplenty outside making a line for you outside my door.” The older woman went on to add dryly, “Lord Bridgerton will no longer be your only suitor, though he will no doubt be your most ardent one.”

Kate didn’t even try to say anything this time. Because that was another complication she had not planned for. Lord Bridgerton was a confusing, ridiculous, vexing mystery of a man. 

In the end, utterly lost in her thoughts, the rest of the ride back to Danbury house was made with silence, at least on one end. 

The two matrons did not seem much perturbed by the turn of events, and kept up an easy conversation with each other, though Mary did keep sending worried looks her daughters’ way. 

Edwina made a few token attempts to join in at first but soon fell as silent as Kate, equally lost in her own thoughts and feelings over the day’s events. 

-

The sisters remained unsettled, even as they reached their destination. 

As the two young girls distractedly disembarked, the two matrons shared a glance between them, resolving to allow them the night to think over matters in relative quiet and peace. 

Come morning, the rest of the ton would no doubt be clamoring at their door in the form of Lady Whistledown, suitors in search of the new diamond, and whatever ridiculous scheme Lord Bridgerton would likely do in the name of courting. 

-

Though she would never admit it out loud, all alone in the middle of her bedroom, Edwina could admit to herself at least that she was disappointed with how things had gone. 

She tried not to be. She wanted to be happy for her sister. And she was! Truly. There was no doubt she deserved to be declared the diamond of the season. 

Everything she was, everything she knew, it all came from Kate first. Whether it was dancing, languages or etiquette, it was her sister who taught her, who was always so much better than her at nearly everything. In her earliest memories, she remembered looking up all the time, hands always reaching out for Kate, who was always there, ready to reach back with a smile and a laugh. The part of her that loved her sister was truly happy for her. 

But the other part? It seemed like nothing could stop the poisonous stings of jealousy bleeding black pinpricks over her heart. Though she felt like a horrible sister, Edwina could not help the whisper in her thoughts saying that she should have been named the diamond instead. 

After all, Kate already had a dashing viscount falling all over himself for her hand. 

Meanwhile, Edwina had yet to secure anything more than a dance or two with men who did not even bother to call on her afterwards. Was it too much to hope to find some romance of her own? That had been the plan in the first place, after all. They had made this long arduous journey for her marriage, and this was essentially the culmination of all her life’s dreams.

In her fantasies, she’d dreamt of being swept off her feet by a handsome and charming gentleman, the perfect storybook prince. She imagined admiring eyes and possibly jealous suitors, and when she’d learned of the queen’s practice in naming the Incomparable of the season, she’d dreamed of her name being called. All in all, she’d spun fairy tales of her own design for this season.  

Now, Edwina was not a child any longer. She knew that the daydreams she’d been entertaining were rather on the unrealistic side. 

(Mostly, she’d clung to them because it was better than the depressing possibility that she would find no one at all, or that she would be forced to wed the first man who would take her.)

But then, Kate kept on reassuring her that all would be well, and Lady Danbury was said to have the queen’s ear, and Mama herself had been the given the queen’s favor during her own season (though admittedly it had ended in her disfavor), all of it pouring water onto her hopes until they grew to great heights. 

Only to come crashing down tonight. 

For a moment, she had thought perhaps the queen had called out the wrong name by mistake. But that was a notion immediately put to rest, as the queen herself began to walk towards her sister to declare her virtues for all the ton to see. 

No, the only mistake was Edwina’s. Clearly, she’d been reading too many a romance novel, as Kate had often exasperatedly noted. But it was equally clear her sister had not read enough, to somehow be just as shocked as she was by this turn of events. How her sister could continue to mistake Lord Bridgerton’s ardent courtship for anything other than love was beyond her. 

In hindsight, the older woman being named the diamond of the season was equally obvious, and she could not help but place part of the blame on Kate for fooling herself so well she had fooled Edwina along with her. 

Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice…

Well, Edwina refused to be the fool once more. This season would not be turning out as intended, and she would need to accept that, regardless of how bitter a pill it was to swallow. 

Unfortunately, this was rather easier said than done.

When faced with having to accept that her season could likely end with her married to some strange man who didn’t love her, or to be such a failure as to secure no match at all, Edwina wondered if perhaps it was better to continue to live in blissful ignorance after all…

-

In the next room, Kate was equally troubled with her thoughts. 

The thing was, she had expected England to be a strange place full of strange people. Her memories of it as a child had not helped this perception. Though she was too young to remember much of it, she remembered just how strange it all was to her, from the food to the people to the clouds in the sky. 

Seeing it all now through the eyes of adulthood only proved her younger self right. The food was bland, and the sad excuse for tea they served made her wish dearly that she had been able to pack more spices for her chai. The people were incomprehensible in their rules and horrible in their priorities. The near constant grey weather made her miss even the heat of the summer because at least then she’d get a glimpse of the sun again. 

Even the things that were pleasant, like the lush greenery of the park she’d ridden through, or the admittedly beautifully decorated houses along Mayfair, were unfamiliar enough that some part of her could not fully relax into appreciation. All in all, only a few days into her time in England, Kate already missed India dearly.

But however much she had expected strangeness, she could never have expected Anthony Bridgerton at all. Frankly, she might’ve thought she was dreaming but she could have never imagined him.

Even in her most secret daydreams of love, which she would never admit to anyone else to having, she’d been somewhat practical. She imagined a second or third son, someone on the fringes of the ton who would not look down on her origins or her less ladylike traits. He would likely be on the older side too, and she pictured a widower with a child or two in need of a mother, not unlike how she and her Appa had been with Mary. Nowhere in her daydreams would she ever picture a young, handsome lord who charmed her off her feet. That was the kind of fairytale she left to Edwina.

Just like being named the diamond of the season by the queen of England. 

It was completely outside her expectations. Though she frankly thought it was ridiculous how society had deemed her and other women spinsters doomed on the shelf at the ripe age of six and twenty, while men were merely eligible bachelors at far beyond, that was simply the unfortunate reality. She had accepted it, and planned for it by returning to India to be a governess instead. 

But nothing had gone according to plan since Anthony Bridgerton had barreled his way into her life. Faced with his ridiculous and exaggerated attentions, she suddenly felt like a young debutante being courted for the first time. Though he was nothing like she’d imagined, he was somehow everything she’d never let herself want again, like he’d been fashioned from the old childhood drawings of a much younger Kate’s heart. 

(The truth that she couldn’t quite yet admit to herself was that if Anthony Bridgerton had asked for her hand at the end of Edwina’s season, after her sister found herself a match, she would have said yes.)

Now though, there was the sudden unexpected complication of her being the diamond. A position that was meant for her sister. She could feel a headache coming already as she imagined the attention of the rest of the ton on her. Kate was not some shy wallflower, and during those halcyon days when her father was still alive, she had always been happy to follow him around court and to mingle with the children of the rajah. 

But she still remembered all too well the sting of falling out of favor with those in power, after her father’s death. Though the queen approved of her now, who was to say how long that would last? Especially when Kate did not move according to her wishes. Her own stepmother’s story was proof of the precarious position she was now in. Even worse though, was the position her sister was now in. 

What would happen to Edwina now?

It was hard not to spiral into worst case scenarios. While Kate believed greatly in her sister’s inherent charms and ability, she was not so sure about the discernment of the ton. Men everywhere were all the same, she thought, like crows attracted to shiny baubles. Now that the queen declared she was the object of attraction, she risked taking all the attention meant for her sister for herself instead. 

Hanging ever present in the back of her mind was her damned deal with the Sheffields. Edwina needed to meet and fall in love with a titled gentleman if they wanted an acceptable dowry. This season was their only chance.

Kate had to somehow bring the focus back on her sister without bringing the queen’s ire down on them. A most perilous task, especially as she doubted Lady Danbury would agree with her plan. It was especially frustrating, because out of everyone, she alone knew the conditions of the Sheffield’s deal. But the older woman had her own ideas of what was the best course of action.

She seemed to think Kate would be the one to marry well this season, and she no doubt orchestrated this scheme to make her the diamond to help it along. It was pointless though. No matter what gentleman wanted Kate the diamond, they would not want her once they realized the truth of her—that she had no dowry to her name and yet she came with a family in need of her support that she refused to abandon. 

Just like the young men back in India all those years ago. 

In the beginning, she’d had suitors like any other eligible debutante. They’d all been drawn in by her beauty, her charm, and list of superficial accomplishments. Some even went as far as offering their hand, until they realized what else came along with it. She’d been young and foolish then, hopeful enough to think someone might come along and make everything better. But there was no man who looked at the grieving Sharma family, with their dwindling financial resources, and held out his hand. 

There was only Kate, mending the holes in what was left of her family as best as she could: balancing the household budget, teaching everything a young Edwina needed herself when they could not afford to keep the tutors, trying to bring some life back into her stepmother when her depression kept her to bed…

The list of tasks stretched out longer and longer as the years went on, up until the day they’d sold nearly everything they had and boarded a ship to England. This was, ultimately, meant to be the last task on her list. Her sister would marry, her stepmother would stay on with her, and Kate would leave to return to India. That was the plan at least.

Now, she had no idea what the plan was. Or rather, how to get back to her original plan now that they’d wandered so off course. While she had some suspicions on how tomorrow would unfold, she had yet to decide on how she would proceed.

(Kate desperately tried not to think about Lord Bridgerton and what he would do. She told herself it was because she needed to focus on her family, and she could not allow herself to be distracted at such a critical moment. 

But the other truth she couldn’t admit was that she could not bear to pin any of her hopes on him, because she was not sure she could survive the heartbreak of him turning out to be just like the boy she’d thought she loved, only to find love was not enough after all.)

In the end, her thoughts could only circle around the same points anxiously, unaware that just a room over, her sister was sharing similar worries...