Chapter Text
First the Fireworks, then the Fire
Kate was silent on the carriage ride back to Lady Danbury’s residence. Mary looked slightly put out and kept sending glances Kate’s way, but she didn’t speak. Edwina gazed out the window with a small smile upon her face. Lady Danbury looked as if she might fall drift off to sleep at any moment.
There would be time to tell them all that she was staying, that she wasn’t leaving tomorrow, on the ship bound for India. The ship that would take her away, away from her sister, the only mother she’d known since childhood, away from him.
From Anthony.
But I’m staying, she thought.
She would wait and tell her family along with Lady Danbury in the morning. For tonight she would hold on to this feeling inside herself. The feeling of knowing she loved and was loved in return. The euphoria coursing through her veins is hers and hers alone. As she prepared for bed, somehow managing to escape to her room without conversation, her hands shook with excitement.
She was to be Anthony’s wife.
While anxiety over running such a large household and becoming responsible for several of his siblings would surely strike hard in the next while, at that precise moment all Kate could consider was the notion, soon to be reality, of becoming Anthony’s wife. She would have leave to touch him, to gaze upon his face at leisure. Oh, not like what they’d shared in the gazebo at Bridgerton house, though truth be told she was quite looking forward to that, indeed. But rather, she would have the ability to lay her hand upon his shoulder in comfort should he ever look as he did in the library at Aubrey Hall. Or perhaps embrace him at the end of a long day when either of them craved physical contact after dealing with their many responsibilities. And had she not already fantasied numerous times about placing a kiss on his lips when that scowl appeared on his face when he’s perturbed with her? Now she would have her leave.
It would not be the wedding she’d dreamt of as a young girl, listening to fascinating stories read to her by her Appa but it would suit her well enough. She thought of what she and Anthony had discussed the night before. The fireworks had rained down and the taste of him was on her lips. She’d worried, briefly, if she’d agreed to the plan too soon but now realized it was for naught. She cared, she found, less for the ceremony and more for the marriage.
“Oh, Appa, how I wish you were here with us now,” she whispered.
She crawled into her bed and pulled up her blankets. Too excited to drift off, she tried to practice what she would say to her family in the morning but found her mind reverting back to look in Anthony’s eyes when they’d parted at the Featherington Ball. Minutes later, Kate was sound asleep.
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Anthony strode into the drawing room at Bridgerton House with papers clutched in his hands and saw Violet, still her dressing gown, tiredly sip from her cup. “Mother! Good, you’re awake.”
Violet started, almost spilling her drink. “Anthony. Dearest, whatever are you doing here at this hour?”
“I worked late in the study and stayed here last night.”
His mother’s face took on an even more confused expression. “Here? Where?”
How much had his mother had to drink last night, he wondered? “In the viscount’s rooms.” He paused briefly when Violet gasped. “I am the Viscount, am I not?”
Violet rose as she placed her cup on the table and replied hastily, “Of course, dear. It is only that you have refused to attend to the Viscount’s rooms all these years. You have your own lodgings which I know you prefer. I’m simply… surprised.”
“Kate and I are to marry.”
His mother gasped. “Oh, Anthony! I am so happy for you, my son.” Her arms moved forward as if she meant to embrace him but then retreated. “We shall have so much to plan. I’ll send an invitation to the Sharmas for tea.” She called out for the maid and requested her stationery and wax be brought to the drawing room.
“Planning, yes.” Anthony waived the papers in his hand. “Exactly what I wished to speak with you about.” He cleared his throat and took a seat, ready to deal with business.
“First, the mattress in the viscount’s room is horrid. It will need to be replaced immediately. The room requires a proper airing as well. The drapery is quite dark. The paper on the walls is as well. I like the blue but we’ll need to have it completely refitted. Kate prefers purple; perhaps you’ll find a way to incorporate it.”
“I’ll find—”
Anthony spoke over her. “The credenza in the far corner needs to be moved to the east wall and the bed, when the new mattress arrives, should be placed against the south wall, between the windows is preferred.” He turned over paper after paper. “I’ll be sending a message to our solicitor to list my private lodgings for sale. Unless Benedict wants them of course.”
“Yes, of course, dearest. But—”
“I don’t quite care what happens to the viscountess’s rooms, but Kate may wish to store a few personal items there. You haven’t used it in a number of years, so I don’t expect that to be a problem?” He looked expectantly at his mother.
“Of course not, darling, but I simply must ask—”
“Good. Perhaps get rid of that horrid color on the walls.”
Violet chuckled softly. She opened her mouth to speak but, like the embrace earlier, thought better of her comment. “Certainly. Why are you telling me these things?”
“Are you not the current lady of the household?”
“Yes, dearest. However, you are the viscount. Arranging the sale of your property and acquisition of furnishings for the viscount’s rooms are generally conducted between yourself, your valet, and your solicitor. I ask again, Anthony. Why are you telling me these things?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose. His hope that she would take instruction without question was proving futile. “Because I will not be here, and someone must be responsible for ensuring the work is completed. I trust you to manage the staff to ensure everything is done to my specifications.”
Violet’s gaze narrowed then widened as she finally understood. “No.”
“Mother, it is the best option everyone—.”
“No. Absolutely not.” Violet rushed to her feet. “You cannot do this, Anthony. You are the viscount. This cannot be done. We will talk about this. All of us, as a family. Mrs. Cranston!” she called. “My stationery, if you please!”
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Kate thanked the lady’s maid for her assistance with dressing and made her way to the breakfast room. The sun was well above the horizon. She’d slept later than expected and had rushed to call the maid to do up her laces. Now she struggled to put one foot in front of the other.
Telling her family was proving more difficult than it had seemed last night.
Edwina, Mary, and Lady Danbury were already seated at a round table when she arrived, each dressed for the day and looking rather well rested after such a late night. Edwina looked up from her tea and greeted Kate with a smile.
“Kate,” Mary called, “please, join us.” Her voice held a bit of mischief that seemed somewhat out of place.
Kate moved toward the table with more apprehension than she’d previously held. A place was set for her, directly across the table from Lady Danbury, who’d not yet spoken but had eyed her steadily as she’d crossed the room. She took her seat and almost absently noticed the small envelope resting on the empty plate in front of her.
“What is this?” she asked the table at large.
“A summons,” Lady Danbury replied, her eyes sharp on Kate. “Perhaps you should open it. Tell us your thoughts?”
Everyone at the table was looking at Kate. Her eyes roamed back and forth between each of them. Her spine straightened and she cleared her throat.
“Before we see about this,” Kate said as she patted the envelope in front of her, noting that Mary and Lady Danbury each had an open envelope in front of them, “I have an announcement to make.” She wasn’t sure if all of them leaned forward a bit or if it was her imagination. “I am not returning to India today.”
Lady Danbury pursed her lips. “And?”
“I, um…” Kate was not ordinarily at a loss for words but that that moment she simply couldn’t seem to find the right ones. She looked to Edwina for assistance but was met with a smirk and raised eyebrows. Mary was no better; she had her head cocked to the side and appeared to be chewing on her own cheek.
“Open the message.” Kate nodded at Lady Danbury’s instruction and tore open the Bridgerton seal.
It was a summons indeed. The Dowager Viscountess Violet Bridgerton requested her presence at Bridgerton House for a “discussion regarding the family.”
“Oh,” she said, just a bit breathlessly.
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Daphne made her way back to bed, closing the door after Rose had delivered her mother’s urgent message. Violet Bridgerton rarely bothered with a wax seal for her children and its presence alerted Daphne to the importance of the situation. Daphne cracked open the seal and read the contents of the message.
She held it in her hand as she crawled crept back into bed next to her husband.
Simon sighed as he wrapped his arms around her and lowered his lips to her neck.
“Darling,” Daphne said, “we have not the time for diversions this morning.”
“We have all the time in the world, my love,” Simon said as he pulled one strap of her nightdress down her arm and moved his kisses to her shoulder and collar bone. “I’ll have you at least twice more before Augie wakes and consumes all of my attention for the day.”
Oh, I have missed you, Daphne thought. “I believe your plans have been derailed, your grace.” With great reluctance, she separated herself from her husband and valiantly denied the ache he’d already created between her thighs. “We’ll need to present at Bridgerton House quite quickly it seems.” Daphne held up the envelope.
Simon fell back against the pillows in defeat. “What could possibly be so important as to take us away from our bed?” He snatched the message and quickly scanned it. “We must make haste!”
He jumped out their bed quicky enough to cause Daphne to bounce, his smile wider than she’d ever seen.
“Simon, are well, love?”
Her husband snatched a pair of trousers from the settee and pulled them on. “Yes, darling, I am perfectly well! Never better.” He hurried to the door and called for Jeffries. He turned back to her as he was leaving.
Daphne was quite perplexed at the duke’s change in behavior. “What—”
“Well, don’t dawdle, wife! We have places to go! Family to see, old friends to torment…”