#𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 ― kate sharma

[seaoftales]

small muse tag drop so i have the complete list here pt. 1

[seaoftales]

The panic on Anthony's face matched the panic she felt seeing him like that, and it was all thanks to Daphne. They all heard the argument, even more so when coming to the drawing room, and were it not for Gregory and Hyacinth standing right outside, Kate would have had a serious word with the eldest Bridgerton daughter, and she just might after Anthony was properly taken care of.

Kate was by his side immediately. She saw Anthony in many stressful situations, thought this one easily took the cake. Gently, she reached out, trying to pry him off the wall so she could move into his arms and hug him close, hoping that a soothing embrace and her closeness would help him calm down. It usually did wonders when Edwina was younger and she'd wake up from a bad dream, and she had hopes that it would do the same with Anthony.

"I'm here," she whispered. "I'm here, my love. Try to calm down. Nobody will come after you here." Kate knew just how much he did for the family, how many sacrifices he made to make sure every single one of his siblings and his mother were taken care of. The way Daphne and Benedict spoke to him simply tore her heart apart.

Kate. As much as he knew the escalation would draw the entire family, he was struck by Kate potentially hearing the last admission. And forever reading him well enough, she asked him to leave the room with her, removing him from the situation.

"Of course," he said in agreement, moving to walk outside with her. He froze for a moment as he saw his mother's face as well as Gregory's and Hyacinth's. He didn't even dare for a moment look at Benedict or Daphne again or anyone else.

He followed his wife outside, into an adjacent room. And yet he didn't stop, couldn't stop. His hands were shaking. his waistcoat felt too tight. He continued to pace, as he tried to make sense of the confrontation, the hatred, years and years of hatred, expectations and pressure all weighing on him, all weighing on his chest. He leaned against the wall, bracing both hands against it as he tried to breathe, but he couldn't get enough air into his lungs. He couldn't get enough air.

"I....I can't breathe," he gasped to alert his wife.

[seaoftales]

"Shhh... save your strength," Kate whispered softly while still stroking his cheek. The more she looked at him, the worse he appeared to be. She tried to bring him some ease with her hands, but there was only so much she could do. Turning to one of the maids, she instructed her to bring a basin with cold water and a cloth, fully intending to stay by his side and make him feel even a little bit better if she could. "Did you call for a doctor?," she asked, to what one of the other maids nodded.

Simon in the meantime feared even stepping closer. As hard as it was to admit it, Anthony looked like he was on death's doorstep. Still, he gave him a small nod, understanding what he was asking from him. A hand was placed on the small of Daphne's back. He couldn't even begin to imagine how she felt in that moment. "Listen to your wife and save your strength. I'll make sure the estate and household are taken care of." That was a promise he didn't intend on breaking.

They were here. Thank goodness. They were here. Kate's soft cool hands touched his cheek and he turned his overheated head fully into them, seeking any form of cooling down.

"Hyacinth and Gregory are in bed," he whispered to his wife. "I...Simon," he looked at his best friend and brother in law. "Please take care of the household and..." Well he probably didn't even need to finish it as pain shot through his chest.

[seaoftales]

Were it not for the shouts coming from the drawing room, one could easily hear a pin drop no matter where one was in the house. Everybody was completely still and quiet. Gregory and Hyacinth stopped playing, Eloise put her book down and Kate and Violet paused their conversation, exchanging looks.

As much as Kate liked Daphne and her character, this was taking things too far even for her own tastes. She knew that Anthony and Daphne butted heads more often than not, but she couldn't even begin to fathom just what they were discussing that riled up Anthony that much. Worst of all, she knew exactly how he felt, and while she, too, took on the big role in the family and put her sister and mother first instead of herself, it couldn't be compared with what Anthony went through after Edmund died.

Excusing herself, the Viscountess moved to the drawing room, Violet in tow, giving a few soft knocks just to announce herself before entering. "Anthony? Could I talk to you for a bit? I'm afraid it's rather urgent." The situation had to be deescalated, and the easiest way would be to keep the siblings apart for a while. Violet would handle Daphne somehow.

@seaoftales

"DON'T YOU THINK I WISH THAT TOO?" Anthony's voice echoed through the Bridgerton drawing room. The disagreement between him and the Duchess, as well as Benedict finally came to a head when Daphne threw at him that sometimes she wished it was their father here, not him.

"I wish for that every single day. That I had died that day, not him! That I would have been spared your hatred and disdain! That I had some form of freedom to hope for a future on my own term, to dream like you two have been afforded to! I had to fill his role, his dtuy, every day and I fall short, you never ever fail to remind me. If I devote myself to the ledgers so you can have the life and opportunities our father wanted for you all, you blame me for it. If I take a moment to myself, I am blamed for it. If I try my best, I get not a moment of grace from any of you. Do not say I am the one resent you when every moment of my life is consumed to fulfill my duty to you, to make your life comfortable, let you live my dream. You have had ample opportunity to remind me, over and over again how you pity and hate me, sister. Believe me, I know. I remember every single remark. I remember every moment I had to be strong when you had the luxury to fall apart. I wish every day I had died, not father. You would have already forgotten about me and moved on, loving father like you could never love me."

He knew by now the disagreement has drawn the rest of the Bridgertons, by birth or marriage into the drawing room.

"And I still wish for my death every day, but instead I am cursed with having to face your hatred every days I work, every day, that all of you have the funds, the luxuries you all desire, without a father to guide me, might I add. "

[seaoftales]

Kate had noticed the small change in Anthony for the last few days, which was enough for her to hesitate even attending the upcoming ball. Unfortunately, with Francesca and Eloise attending as well as her own sister, she as the Viscountess had to attend to chaperone them, especially if Anthony wouldn't be attending. The fact that neither Benedict or Colin were home didn't make things any easier. So reluctantly, she left his side for the evening, though the time spent at the ball didn't last too long.

When one of the maids discreetly approached not just her, but Daphne and Simon as well, Kate knew that something went horribly wrong at home. Her mind immediately went to Anthony, how he wasn't feeling all that well, how she should have stayed at home with him and take care of him.

The ride back to the estate found her in a state of complete panic, so much so that she nearly rushed outside the moment the carriage stopped and inside the house. One of the maids informed her of Anthony's situation before she entered their bedroom, worry painted all over her face as Simon and Daphne followed her.

"Anthony!," the Viscountess cried out, gloves carelessly discarded on the ground as she knelt down by his side, hand reaching to gently stroke his cheek. "You're burning."

@seaoftales

For Simon, Daphne or Kate (or all)

He hadn’t felt fully up to it for a few days. A low cough happened, but it was manageable. His brain was a little slow on the uptake, but he could still care for the accounts and the family.

But things took a turn for the worst the evening before. Throughout the evening, while the women of the house were out at a ball and Benedict and Colin were abroad, he felt increasingly bad. Only Gregory and Hyacinth remained in the house with him, too young to attend the ball, while Francesca was with some girlfriend and Eloise was heaven knew where. Eventually, after seeing the kids off to bed, his knees buckled in the hallway as he passed out.

Later, when he woke stripped with a wet cloth on his head, the maid attending to him told him Gregory found him and called the maids for help.

One rushed to the town to inform a doctor and his family at the ball.

“S…send for the Duchess…” Anthony croaked. It certainly didn’t feel like a sickness he ever felt before. The pain, the weakness, the way he felt hotter and hotter by the minute, Anthony couldn’t see himself making it through several days of this.

“Add the…the Duke…” Gregory couldn’t be the head of his household right now. Benedict, who would be the Viscount if he passed, was far away. They needed Simon and Daphne, too.