Work Text:
Kate smiled at the new maid in the Bridgerton house as they finished talking and walked away, her silver trail following the Navy blue of her dress perfectly. She glanced back at the retreating form of Sophie, a young woman she knew for about a week, but someone she felt like she knew much longer. There was something about Sophie that was not clear to her; she was obviously refined, poised and well educated and Kate could not shake off the feeling that there was more to Hyacinth's new lady maid than meets the eye.
A sound of crashing blocks filled the hallway, along with the muffled voices and baby’s giggles. Kate’s heart soared as she recognized her son’s happy laughter and she headed toward the drawing room, wondering which Bridgerton sibling was now with little Edmund.
She slowly peeked behind the slight ajar door to see her husband standing behind the settee, his arms crossed and his facial expression a mixture of annoyance and amusement. Colin was serving himself with another batch of cookies…and down on the beige carpet was her little ray of sunshine, clapping excitedly as Benedict collected the blocks and theatrically landed them in the child’s private space. Little Edmund eagerly took two blocks, fumbling with them with his tiny fingers to try and put them together, but failing miserably. Benedict was sitting right beside him and gently helped the child to put block on the block, then another one and another one until a tower was built…only to have little Edmund excitedly pushing his arms into it, sending it crashing down once again and letting out a fresh round of giggles. Looking up, he gave his Uncle a gummy smile, joyfully bouncing on his little tushy, causing all three men in the room to smile. Benedict sprawled next to his nephew, leaning on his forearm and elbow as he started to build yet another block tower for the Bridgerton heir to crash down.
Anthony stepped closer, his eyes fondly watching his dear son playing. Benedict, on the other hand, was given a glance of slight annoyance.
“We will be late for the meeting with solicitor, Benedict”, Anthony spoke as he crouched down and immediately caught his little son’s attention. The precious child looked at him, his tiny palm offering a red block to Anthony along with a happy squeal. Anthony’s heart released a smile that lit up his eyes and curled up his lips as he accepted the red block “We must leave at once.”
Benedict pouted, picking up the blue block. Little Edmund blinked, a tiny frown that was a copy of his Mother’s creasing the space between his eyebrows as if he sensed a change in the atmosphere.
“I cannot go, brother”, Benedict replied and as Anthony shot him a glare, he grinned “I got work to do.”
Anthony frowned, watching Benedict as if he had just grown two more heads.
“What work?!”, he asked incredulously.
Benedict offered a blue block to little Edmund who was busy munching on his tiny fingers.
“I am on Uncle Duty”, Benedict declared, making Anthony scoff as he struggled not to laugh.
“Oh, I am sure that Edmund will survive a few hours without your company, brother!", as those words left his mouth little Ednund suddenly started to crawl toward Benedict who still hadn't moved from his place on the carpet. He snuggled into his Uncle’s chest, his dark eyes looking up at Benedict whose grin grew, much to Anthony’s dismay. He knelt, gently trying to pry little Edmund away from Benedict’s shirt…only to have a dear boy wail loudly in protest. Anthony glanced at Benedict in sheer panic, but his silly brother simply shrugged.
“Hey, I must listen to the tiny heir of the Bridgerton family! He clearly calls me upon my Uncle duty.”
Kate couldn't help it; she snorted softly and as all three men and the baby turned around she entered the drawing room. Little Edmund quickly forgot about the blocks, Uncle and Dad as he quickly crawled over to Kate who welcomed him with arms wide open and scooped him up in her loving embrace, holding him close and kissing his soft cheek.
She glanced at her husband and brother-in-law amused.
“I did not know that Neddy already has some duties", she quipped.
Colin chuckled behind a cup of tea.
“He had it even before he was born, Kate”, at her confused look Colin hurried to explain much to Anthony’s dismay and Benedict’s amusement “Before he met you, our brother was no fun at all. It was all about duty for him.”
“You exaggarate!”, Anthony grumbled a bit too fast, causing Benedict to grin in satisfaction.
Colin mirrored his brother’s facial expression and continued:
“If I remember correctly, the exact words you used, Benedict weeereeee…”, he pretended to think for a moment or two “Though, soon enough, we will have a tiny Anthony to contend with…?”, he raised his teacup at Benedict, signalling him to continue…
Which Benedict was more than ready to:
“…running around, declaring all of his tiny duties too, no doubt!”
Kate burst into laughter, bouncing her little son ever so gently, earning herself a sweet giggle from the darling baby boy.
Anthony stood up, deciding to let his foolish brothers have their fun at his account.
For now.
With a secure, loving move he took little Edmund from Kate’s arms and smiled devilishly as he turned to look back at Benedict and Colin.
“You two are insufferable, do you know that? I should have taken Gregory with me, he's more mature than you two together”, he quipped, making Benedict gasp comically and Colin frowning in mock hurt as he covered the left part of his chest. Anthony gave a sharp nod, his smile never faltering “At least he knows what the duty means.”
Benedict stifled a laugh as he returned the nod.
“I must protest, brother. We are all entitled to have some fun and I am just making sure that Neddy has some”, his grin was infectious and Kate hid her own smile behind Edmund’s dark locks. She knew that Benedict was just joking, that one of his favourite things to do was to provoke Anthony and her husband had the tendency to fall into the trap too easily sometimes.
And now, it was no different.
Anthony grabbed his suit jacket and donned it on. He straightened the lapels with sharp movements before stepping toward his silly brother who was still lounging on the carpet, showing no intention on moving.
“Are you saying that I don't know how to have fun?”, he asked and offered his hand to Benedict who let out a sigh before accepting it. His brother pulled him up and Benedict dramatically brushed the non-existent crumbs from his pants and sleeves, prolonging it for a minute longer just so he could irk Anthony a bit more. That was when he looked at his brother and grinned again.
“I don’t think so. I KNOW so.”
Anthony slowly nodded then shrugged and Kate noticed how his eyes flashed with…mischief?
What was he up to?
“Well, that’s a shame because I actually had something fun planned today, but I guess it won’t suffice”, clearing his throat, he turned away from Benedict who stood with his mouth and eyes wide open, gave a swift, but loving kiss to Kate’s lips and caressed Edmund’s cheek before he walked out from the room…
Only to have Benedict quickly follow him, calling out:
“Brother! Wait! What did you plan?”
Colin looked at Kate, his facial expression curious and confused.
“What was that all about?”
Kate shrugged as she followed Colin’s gaze to the now empty hallway.
“I have no idea.”
~♡~
The soft summer breeze swung the tiny daisies and dandelions as Kate held Edmund’s tiny fists in hers, lovingly encouraging him to make a step.
It was at that moment that the steps were heard and she looked up, expecting to see Violet, Hyacinth or Gregory…
But, she definitely did not expect her husband to stride toward her, beaming with a smile.
“Anthony! What are you doing here?”, as he came closer and crouched down to encourage Edmund to try and walk toward him, she asked through a confused smile “Didn’t you have a meeting with a solicitor?, at her husband's nod she creased her eyebrows in confusion ”What happened? And where is Benedict? I thought that such meetings last for hours?”
She watched as Anthony glanced up at her, his features almost boyish from his devilish smile.
“They certainly do. And seeing that my brother was in charge of everything while I was away, it was only fair that HE had a meeting with a solicitor, not I”, he wriggled his fingers to entice his little son to try and put one tiny foot in front of the other.
Kate gasped, laughter escaping her as she realized what kind of ruse this was.
“You set him up?!”, she asked, giggling.
Anthony’s smile grew and he winked as he replied:
“I just thought that it was time for me to have some fun while being on Daddy duty”, as little Edmund’s wobbly steps slowly took him closer to Anthony Kate laughed and Anthony lovingly welcomed their son into his wide open arms, murmuring in a funny tone of voice “Uncle Benedict can do the boring stuff.”
As little Edmund launched himself in his Father’s arms Anthony playfully tossed him in the air, both him and Kate laughing at the darling boy’s joyful squeals and giggles. Kate’s palm touched Anthony’s shoulder and she asked, her eyes twinkling with mirth:
“You know he’s going to pay you back?”
Anthony chuckled as he scooped the little boy in his arms, his heart swelling at the feeling of his son snuggling into his chest for a cuddle. He glanced at Kate’s shiny eyes and replied with a mischievous smile:
“Oh, I wouldn't expect anything else from him!”