#gregory bridgerton ff

[ao3feed-kathony]

writing a love song (but the words come out all cluttered)

read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/56482951 by LookingForShadows Penelope: Gen I got invited to Aubrey Hall again and I don't think I can back out this time Penelope: HELP Gen: ffs i’m not your therapist!!!! Gen: it's been almost five years, you need to see him again Penelope and Colin haven't seen each other since a terrible fight tore their friendship apart. But this summer, they're thrown together for one week. Or, the story of how they fell apart and come back together again, through a little social media and a whole lot of WhatsApp messages. (Also, their siblings are either really great or really terrible at meddling.) Words: 1315, Chapters: 1/7, Language: English Fandoms: Bridgerton (TV), Bridgerton Series - Julia Quinn Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: F/M Characters: Colin Bridgerton, Penelope Featherington, Eloise Bridgerton, Felicity Featherington, Hyacinth Bridgerton, Francesca Bridgerton, Kate Sheffield | Kate Sharma, Anthony Bridgerton, Benedict Bridgerton, Sophie Beckett, Gregory Bridgerton, Violet Bridgerton, Genevieve Delacroix Relationships: Colin Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington, background Anthony Bridgerton/Kate Sheffield | Kate Sharma, background Benedict Bridgerton/Sophie Beckett - Relationship Additional Tags: Epistolary, Bridgerton Family Group Chat, love that's a tag lol, Texting, Estranged Friends to Lovers, Meddling, Matchmaking, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Light Angst, as a treat read it on AO3 at https://archiveofourown.org/works/56482951

[butterflybuckethat]

Wildflower

Notes: Gregory Bridgerton x Reader - I made a 🌾moodboard🌾 lol

Request: gregory pls

🦋 Masterlist 🦋

You pulled open the mahogany double doors of Gregory Bridgerton’s wardrobe as he argued with his mother downstairs. Violet chastised him for overworking her maids with all the tears and stains he returned home with in his white chemises. She wanted him to look presentable this evening for dinner, we were having guests apparently. It was a simple enough request but Greg always found the need to argue back. You were typically amused by these interactions but, when it came to Violet, you preferred he just do what she asked so you took the initiative upon yourself. You paid careful attention to the hems as that was where they were most often torn. You could still hear them exchanging words when you found the right one and were going to rush it down to them when a number of letters, with your name on them, scattered onto the floor.  

“Gregory,” you spat, desperately holding back tears you would only allow to spill once you were alone, clutching the crumpled stack of letters “how could you?” You and Gregory had always been close, him being the Bridgerton closest to your age. Your families frequently summered together. You both resided in England, of course, but you mother felt as thought you could benefit from the camaraderie siblings afford, even for just the summer, as you were an only child. 

You fit in well, slotting right in as Gregory’s twin menace. You ran amuck, the two of you, arm in arm-picking on the Bridgerton siblings and, if they weren’t available, your parents. Though this was the perfect dynamic for you both, it didn’t always mesh with the larger English society. You were always a little too loud, a little too sun-kissed, with muddy hems and bare feet. Gregory was your best friend, your other half, and you could forgive him anything, except this. This was unforgivable. 

A few months ago, you and Francesca had join a little salon of sorts. The women who comprised it were mostly older, treating the gathering as an escape from their familial responsibilities, and politics were seldom spoken about but it was, nonetheless, incredible. They would exchange baubles and gossip as if it were air, playing cards and complaining about their husbands. Sometimes they would give you and Francesca instruction on how to attract a husband, teaching you how to handle a fan, drop your handkerchief, and take a turn about the room. You took to the advice slower than Francesca. A wicked streak ran deep in you both but she was something you definitely weren’t: malleable. She took to instruction like a fish to water, all while maintaining her wit and precocious air, and you were stuck in the mud. 

Your carriage was late one evening. Francesca had offered to drop you off but you were certain it was just around the corner. The salon was in relatively low attendance so the two of you spent the majority of the evening speaking with that nights host, Lady Francis Eve. She was a rather eccentric woman, well adorned and always the first to know all the secrets of the ton. Lady Francis was widowed early in her life and produced no offspring, though she did have a truly incredible number of nephews. You were standing in her foyer, apologizing every so often for the tardiness of you ride, when she tapped her chin and said, “my nephew Peter would simply adore you.”

Three weeks later you received a letter addressed from Viscount Peter Bough containing only two lines: I sincerely hope you are the Lady Y/FN Y/LN my beloved aunt speaks so fondly of. If not, please disregard. You indulged of course, scribbling a little something in return, and so began a months long correspondence. 

“Gregory,” you said again, weaker this time. It had been over a fortnight since you had last received a letter but you did send three. Your were left in something of a lurch. You had yet to meet Lord Bough in person, and he had hinted at perhaps coming to London, “with a ring” Eloise had joked. You thought that perhaps he had fallen ill, or his home had caught fire, or was killed in the ricochet of a duel. 

“Please,” Gregory whispered, his large eyes wet. You felt a pang in your chest but steeled yourself, snatching the letters out of his hands and storming off into the gardens. 

Though the Bridgertons keep their lawns and gardens well-manicured, but you preferred the tall grasses by the creek. That sliver sat between the Bridgerton property and the next, left completely untouched. You lied down, uncharacteristically uncaring of the wildflowers you crushed beneath you, and hid from the world. You couldn’t open the letters, not yet. You had always shared everything with Gregory and he must have hidden the letters for a reason. You stared at the sun until your eyes hurt and all you could see was purple. 

“Y/N,” Gregory cast a shadow across your face, barefoot and collar untucked. He sat next to you, twiddling blades of grass between his long fingers. “My mother wanted me to tell you to get out of the sun.” You looked up at him, deadpan. “She didn’t, actually,” he coughed. 

“You must be kidding.” 

“You haven’t opened them,” he pointed at the stack of white envelopes scattered beside you. 

“I don’t yet know why you hid them.” You still trusted him. How could you not? He was the one who snuck you sweets from the kitchen when you were kids, stood in front of you when the governess would chastise your muddy smock, kept you from feeling completely alone when you were ignored at luncheons and balls. 

“Do you detest me?”

“I haven’t decided yet.”  You knew why you were upset. It wasn’t so much the violation of your property and privacy, but because you felt as if this were your shot. Never had any man in the ton shown you any genuine affection or interest, at least not one you would ever consider marrying, and you did want to marry. Lord Peter Bough was interested. This was the first time you had hope that you weren’t going to die an old maid. Only Greg knew of your guilty pleasure of trading the most ridiculous novels with the maids. 

You sat in silence as the sun set, letters burning between you both. But you could feel him sticking little purple flowers in your hair, across the crown of your head and tucked into the loosened tresses from that morning. “You should read them,” Gregory said. 

“Why?” you turned to face him, “what do they say?”

“I never read them.” 

“Then why did you take them?” 

“It’s been a month,” he shrugged. You waited for him to continue, building the silence until it forced him to speak, “Eloise...” he cleared his throat, “she made that comment,” he did it again, “about the ring.” 

“Greg-”

“I haven’t seen you-”

“You have.” 

“Not really, not like before.” He stuck his hands in his pockets, “you’re in your room, writing.”

“That’s how Eloise-”

“Found a husband!” he finished for you. You were going to say ‘spent her summers.’ Your cheeks burned red. What you were too embarrassed to admit, even to Gregory, was that you were hoping that you would. Eloise was also wild and outspoken but she, unlike you, had the cushion of good breeding. Not that you weren’t well bred, but not in any way that was comparable to the Bridgerton name. 

“I am a woman, Greg. It is my prerogative to be married.” This might be the closest you would ever get to admitting your desire. It was embarrassing, craving romance to such a degree. 

“Not you.” Your eyes burned and watered as you stood, so quickly you were likely to fall back down again. Gregory grabbed your wrist before you could run off, “wait.” You yanked your arm but he held tight. “I didn’t mean-”

“How-” you choked. It was as if a dam had broken, all the whispers and disapproving glances from the mamas, scoffs from your peers, disappointed looks from your own mother, just confirmed by the one person you trusted most. “How-” you sobbed. He moved to wrap his arms around you but you pushed him back, hard enough that he stumbled. “Why would you say that to me?” All that fear and pain was replaced by rage. Why not you? What made you less worthy of love than anyone else?

“That’s not-”

“I am deserving of love, Gregory.” You dug your finger into his chest, “is that so hard to believe? That a man would be interested in me? I am funny and kind and well-read...for the most part.” You lost steam pretty quickly. It was always like that, large bursts of emotion that fell just as quickly as they came. Gregory’s face broke, as if he were seeing you for the first time in years. He stepped toward you, snaking his arm around your waist and his hand on you cheek. 

“You are deserving of more love than any one man can offer.” He pulled you close enough that you could feel the warmth of his skin seep into yours. “Certainly more than little Petey Bough can offer.” 

It was dark and you could barely see one another but you knew what he looked like. The only lights were the distant one of the house and the yellow and green flickers of the fireflies that surrounded you. Your hear beat so loud you could hear it in your ears as you tentatively placed your hands on his chest. You could feel it steadily rise and fall. 

“There is not a moment I do not think of you,” Gregory pushed a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. “I took the letters-” he took a breath. “I took the letters because if Peter had any sense in the world he would ask you to marry him the moment her stepped foot in London,” he paused again, “and I don’t think I would be able to stomach it.”

You wanted to kiss him. You wanted to kiss him more than you wanted anything in your entire life. But he was all you had and you weren’t sure if you were ready to let go of life as it was. 

“Greg?” Violet shouted from the house. You could make a life with Greg, you knew that, if that’s what he wanted. And you did want love, so so badly, but part of you was terrified, wondering if a future as an unwed maid would really be so bad. 

“Master Gregory,” the deep voice of Smathers the butler startled you both. 

“Smathers!” Gregory had jumped nearly two feet into the air, “make some noise next time, I beg of you.”

“My apologies, sir. Dinner is awaiting your presence.” You walked ahead, not waiting for the two men to catch up.

[vertraymer]

looking for something dumb to do

All is fair in love and war.

Read it here or here.

Yes, it's part of a series and there is more Felicity to come.

Gifted to the lovely @mr-i-miss-my-wife!💖✨

[irishseeeker]

                                        the story of us

summary:  Five times Kate Sheffield and Anthony Bridgeton were just friends and one time they were more.

find chapter 1 here or here

find chapter 2 here or here

find chapter 3 here or here

-----

chapter 4: sometimes when I look in your eyes, I pretend you’re mine, all the damn time

It was a beautiful, sunny day in London.

The sky was a blinding blue, the spring air was cool and refreshing despite the bright sun shining down on them.

Anthony was sitting on the grass of the lower garden of Bridgerton House on two lawn chairs with Kate, watching Gregory and Hyacinth run around chasing a squealing Newton. It was too hot for the stuffy white suit he had been forced to wear due to his mother’s strict black tie dress code.

His mother’s annual charity gala was in full force behind them. The upper garden, patio and the house were full of their guests for the afternoon.

Benedict had disappeared at the start of the gala and conveniently escaped his mother’s matchmaking clutches, and Colin was at university. This left Anthony with no escape from his mother’s matchmaking clutches.

According to Violet Bridgerton, because she was married with children by the time she was twenty-six, everyone else should be too.

Violet Bridgerton had dragged him around the gala, introducing him to her friends and their daughters who happened to be single. He had finally managed to escape the excruciating mandatory small talk with his mother’s friends and peers, before sneaking away from the party with Kate, Eloise, Hyacinth and Gregory to the end of the garden.

If one more person asked if Kate was his girlfriend, he was going to drown himself in the sixty year old bottle of whiskey upstairs in his father’s office.

He didn’t allow himself to go there anymore. He hadn’t since university. If he entertained thoughts of what-ifs, they only led to definite pain.

He slipped every once in a while. That was a lie-he was slipping up more and more as the days went on.

One of his mother’s friends was bold enough to call Kate his future fiance straight to their faces and his devil reincarnated mother didn’t correct her.

Violet simply smirked over her glass of champagne.

He was over it. He was. It wasn’t like he could do anything about it. It had been years and he was still stuck in the same situation. He had no options. He would never put what he and Kate had at risk-not for anything. Not over something they did drunk or an offhand comment made by one of his siblings or a friend. He was a grown man. He had a dating life. He dated, he had flings-he kept it casual. He wasn’t looking for a relationship and no one he seemed to date made him want one. He was too busy to dedicate himself to someone-it would be too selfish to try.

If he was being completely honest with himself, no one compared to her. Nobody came close.

It was quite the nuisance, so Anthony had decided to hell with it and decided to avoid relationships completely. He was too busy with work and his family. It was a sustainable lifestyle. It was working out fine. He was fine.

He needed another drink.

“Do you want another drink?” He asked Kate, his gaze diverting from Hyacinth and Gregroy arguing over whose turn it was to throw Newton’s ball to look at her.

It was a risk, re-entering the gala after escaping the matchmaking clutches of his mother and her friends. It was definitely worth it. Anthony had sat through enough of his mother’s charity galas to know the two drinks he’d had wouldn’t be enough.

“Hmm?” was Kate’s distracted reply. Kate’s face was tilted up towards the sun, the glow from the sun highlighting the sharp edge of her jawline and her face. Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes laying on a patch of freckles on the top of her cheeks. “Oh, yes please. The pink champagne with extra strawberries?”

Anthony’s breath momentarily caught in his throat. Kate was glowing. She also was sucking a strawberry between her lips, which was staining her rose lips red-

No.

“Yes. Yes. Got it. I’ll be back,” He says quickly, focusing on steadying his voice but it just came out lower and almost like a bark. He felt his cheeks burn, but Kate didn’t seem to notice. She was too busy literally glowing in the sun. He quickly stood up to walk away, his hand moving to pull at his tie, which suddenly felt like it was constricting his airway.

“Anthony!”

He cursed under his breath, he had run right into the trap he was trying to avoid. His mother. He would have stayed on target, if it wasn’t for the freckles, those bloody eyelashes, the glowing-

“Darling,” Violet said, followed by a high pitched giggle. His mother was giggling. His mother was definitely tipsy, she had already made her speech to their guests and was free to enjoy herself. “Could you please speak to the caterers to bring out another round of champagne? We hit our fundraising target and we should be celebrating!”

Her group of friends cheered but one in particular, Prudence Cowper, was leering at Anthony over her glass of champagne with an unsettling smirk. Kate had snorted when he had suggested it earlier, but the older woman was definitely coming onto him. Prudence had just finalized divorce number three and she had cornered Anthony at the beginning of the party, asking him about his dating life as her hand slowly brushed and eventually rested on his upper forearm.

She was the first woman Anthony had literally run away from the minute he could.

His own mother didn’t even like her, she just liked the size of her chequebook.

“No problem, Mum. I’ll sort it out.” He quickly kissed Violet’s cheek before making a swift exit, making his way through the crowds, nodding his head in hello at people he passed on his way to the kitchen. He would quickly check in with the caterers and grab a bottle of champagne for him and Kate to share.

“Nope,” Anthony said, plucking the two champagne glasses out of Eloise and Francesca’s underage hands as he walked past them. “Did you really think I wouldn’t notice?”

“Anthony!” They both protested in unison, clawing for the glasses Anthony held out of their reach. “Give that back.”

“Don’t be such a bore,” Francesca says dryly, a challenging gleam in her eye and a smug smirk plastered on her face that Anthony can’t help but laugh at.

Eloise sighed loudly, and in a typical Eloise Bridgerton fashion, with her voice a few octaves higher and her hands flailing in the air, began to argue.“Anthony, you have to see reason. You can’t possibly expect us to sit through this sober. It’s been hours. Mum made me wear this god awful dress and I had to listen to some man explain inflation for the past hour. Inflation, Anthony. Inflation.”

“You should ask him next about the stock market over a glass of orange juice.” He ruffled her hair, which earned him a swot on the arm. “That’s as adventurous as you’ll both be getting until you’re eighteen.”

Eloise’s scowl deepened, shaking her head. “As if you didn’t drink before you were eighteen-”

He leaned towards her, putting one of the glasses down to squeeze her cheek. There was sometimes nothing more enjoyable than winding your sibling up. “What I did, Eloise Bridgerton, is absolutely none of your concern.”

“I’m eighteen in a year! You can’t stop me then!”

“You can buy me a drink then!” Anthony called behind him as he made his way towards the kitchen, downing one of the drink’s in his hand and leaving the other on a table.

He pushed open to the kitchen door, which revealed a few catering staff hanging around, chatting with empty trays. “Hey guys. Would you please be able to do another round of champagne for our guests?”

“Of course, sir.” The remaining staff quickly rushed out of the kitchen, leaving Anthony there alone. Besides the remaining appetizers, the staff seemed to have taken any of the remaining champagne with them. He walked towards the back room, which had their drinks fridge and freezer. He paused when his hand pushed at the door.

He heard voices. He pressed his ear against the door, the champagne momentarily forgotten, listening intently.

“Then be with me!”

He knew that voice. That voice had been annoying him for twenty four years.

Benedict.

“It’s not that simple.”

That voice belonged to a woman.

Benedict was speaking to a woman? In the back kitchen?

“It is. You’re just being a coward.”

“That’s not fair. We come from completely different worlds-”

Anthony, being a complete idiot, pushed against the door and nearly tripped as he lost his footing. He managed to regain his balance, slowly lifting his head to meet the eyes of a very disgruntled Benedict and a shocked Sophie. Wait. Sophie? Kate’s Sophie?

Kate constantly reminded him he had the subtlety of a hurricane.

“Ben. Sophie.” He glanced between the two uneasily, trying to decipher what the hell was going on. There was enough going on for them to argue, the last time Anthony had checked Benedict wasn’t dating. He was having fun. Whatever it was, Anthony had just walked in on it and he wasn’t equipped to handle these types of awkward situations. Kate had mentioned something about Sophie’s mysterious love life and how she kept returning home with unidentifiable hickeys. Benedict clearly was the culprit. “I didn’t mean to interrupt, I was looking for pink champagne. For Kate.”

Benedict opened the fridge door wordlessly, scanning the contents before closing the door. “There’s none here. They left the spare bottles upstairs, in Daph’s room.”

Sophie wouldn’t meet his eye and Benedict looked downright furious. The brothers locked eyes and began a silent conversation, but Benedict’s silent words were loud and clear: piss off.

“I need to get back to work. Excuse me.” Sophie made a beeline for the exit, running past Anthony and back to the gala. The crestfallen look on Ben’s face as he watched Sophie go made Anthony’s stomach drop.

Sophie was taking on extra shifts from the catering company that worked at the hotel, which his mum had hired to cater the gala.

Anthony knew he had to choose his next few words very carefully. Ben had always been more sensitive than him and Colin. He was clearly distraught and something big was going on between him and Sophie. He wished Daphne was here. She was much better with the emotional stuff. Speaking of, where was Daph? Anthony hadn’t seen her since the start of the gala. “Sophie’s nice. I like Sophie.”

That was the best he could come up with. Nice.

Benedict snorted, opening a bottle of beer by slamming the top of it against the counter. He took a long gulp before replying, drops falling down his chin and landing on his pristine white shirt. He didn’t look the least bit amused. “Me too. That’s the problem.”

“How is that a problem?”

“It’s complicated.”

That was the understatement of the century. “Clearly.”

“It’s not the problem. The problem is I like her so much and it should be easy but it isn’t. I want her to be with me but she won’t. Not in the way I want her to.”

“What does she want?”

“I thought I knew, but I just don’t. Not anymore.”

Bloody hell, Ben had always been on the slightly dramatic side but he was answering every question Anthony was answering in the vaguest, emotionally riddled detail. His patience was wearing thin. “I know whatever is going on isn’t easy for you. Clearly there’s a lot I don’t understand. Whatever her reasons are, I’m sure they’re important. It probably doesn’t have anything to do with you. From what Kate has told me, Sophie hasn’t had it easy.”

“Do you think I don’t realize that? I’ve been seeing her for over a year and there’s still so much I don’t know about her. There’s so much she won’t let me know. I haven’t even been to her flat. You probably know more about her than me.”

Anthony had come a long way in learning how to deal with his siblings. Ben had always been different. He was the second oldest and he had never wanted Anthony to step into the fatherly role for him like he had to for the rest of their siblings. Ben had always been easy. He flew through school, he played sports, he had friends-Anthony had never had to worry about him the way he did about Colin or Eloise, or any of their siblings. If anything, Anthony had relied on Ben more.

Ben was his best friend.

It wasn’t in the same way Kate or Simon was.

Ben had become this lifeline for Anthony since their dad died. He had always been, in a way, a sense of relief. He just got to be his older brother. There wasn’t any sense of duty or obligations when it came to Ben. He didn’t have to worry about every aspect of his life or how he was getting on in school the same way he did for the others. He didn’t have to be his parent. He could relax when he was around Ben.

Anthony could just be.

It filled Anthony with a dreadful feeling of guilt that he had neglected Benedict and his current pain and suffering was all of his fault. His brother had needed him and he hadn't been there.

“Come on, mate.” Anthony stepped forward, patting Ben’s shoulder and wrapping his arm around him. This has been going on for a year and this was the first anyone was hearing about it? Colin definitely didn’t know, he can’t keep a secret for his life. Kate would have told him, they didn’t keep secrets from each other. “That’s not true. She’s probably scared. What did she mean about coming from two different worlds?”

“Has anyone ever told you it’s rude to eavesdrop?” Benedict said dryly, finishing off his beer and staring pointedly at his brother.

Anthony rolled his eyes, grinning at his brother. The Bridgerton's had spent most of their childhoods eavesdropping on all of each other’s conversations. It was the best way to find out valuable information. It was how he’d found out where his dad hid the keys for his drinks cabinet and who Daphne’s first boyfriend was. “I’ll add it to my list of ever growing sins. Are you going to answer the question?”

Benedict rested his head against the fridge door, leaning fully against it. He closed his eyes briefly, his entire body tense and forehead wrinkled. “Soph has had a really difficult life. She doesn’t have any family and she has had to work extremely hard to go to university. She says we’re too different because of our families and how money has never been an issue for me. I just want to help her. I just want to make it better. I want to help her with her bills, I want her to move in with me so she doesn’t have to work and can focus on her degree-but she won’t hear any of it. I don’t see how I’m doing something wrong for wanting to help her?”

Anthony took a few moments to think before replying. This was complicated. He was well accustomed to complicated situations involving women, but this was Ben’s life. When Ben fell for a girl, he fell hard.

Anthony couldn’t remember the last time he had seen Benedict so infatuated with anyone before. It was because he hadn’t been. Not like this.

“Money can really complicate things, Ben. It’s easy for you to offer it when you have it. It’s harder for her to accept it when she has always had to work for it. She probably isn’t used to people being so willing to help her without ulterior motives. You know we’ve always had to be careful with people wanting our money.”

It was true. From playdates to friendships and relationships, all of the Bridgertons had to be careful of people’s personal agendas when it came to their money and the influence of their name. Anthony wasn’t an idiot, he knew some girls flirted and slept with him because they knew who he was and how much money he had. He had never been the best at seeing the good in people. Daphne, Ben and Colin always had and it had scorned them one too many times.

“Do you not think I know that?” He snapped harshly, brushing Anthony’s arm off of him and finishing his beer with an aggressive swig. He let out a deep sigh, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. “Shit. I’m sorry.”

“Since when did you get so emotionally intelligent?” Benedict teased, the first smile Anthony had seen on his face all day lingering on his lips. They both knew the answer to his question: Kate.

Before Anthony could retort, Benedict’s playful expression disappeared and his previous stressed state had returned. “Sophie doesn’t think people will like us together. “

“My Instagram has been doing really well over the last few years. I've gotten over two million followers this year alone. I’ve been getting brand deals and photoshoots for magazines. I’m in contact with setting up potential shows at galleries. That comes with media attention and putting a lot of my life online. She doesn’t think people will think she belongs with someone like me, that’s exactly how she put it. I told her that’s ridiculous and I couldn’t give a shit what anyone thinks, but she does.”

Anthony had been less than thrilled when Benedict announced after finishing university he wouldn’t be joining the family company or starting a stable job. He had expected it from Colin, he was mentally preparing himself for when Colin finished university-but he didn’t expect it from Ben. Ben had decided he was going to commit to being a photographer full time.

Anthony had intervened and it had caused a good few arguments. In the end, Ben was passionate about what he was doing, he was an adult and Anthony couldn’t do anything to stop him.

To Anthony’s surprise, it was working out. Ben had always loved taking pictures, their father had bought him his first camera when he was eight for Christmas. He had always been the designated family photographer, filling up photo albums over the years and he was good. His Instagram page had grown and gained followers throughout school and university but in the last two years, it had really blown up. He was earning money Anthony didn’t think was possible from social media and his photographs were really popular.

He had posted a picture of Anthony at Christmas last year, laughing at something Daphne had said with a glass of champagne in his hand. It had gotten over a thousand comments and a lot more likes.

Anthony possibly read the comments from time to time.

It was a great ego boost.

He was a lot more subtle about it now since Kate had caught him reading through the comments and she still took the piss out of him for it.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Ant.” The desperation in his brother’s voice was like a stab to the chest. “I’m so in love with her. I just want to be with her. I just don’t know what to do anymore.”

“She’ll come around, Ben. It will be okay. It will just take time.” Anthony assured him, not really knowing what else he could say. He had to fix this. Somehow, he could fix this. He didn’t know Sophie well, but Kate did. He’d speak to Kate about all of this and see what she thought. She could probably fix this. Kate usually was five steps ahead of everyone else. “Why didn’t you talk to me about this when it started? Or Colin?”

Benedict looked down at the ground, slightly ashamed. “Soph didn’t want anyone to know.”

“Anytime you want to talk about it or you just want someone to listen, you know where to find me.” He squeezed his shoulder. “I’m always here Ben.”

His brother smiled at him, but it didn’t reach his eyes. Anthony felt helpless, he didn’t know what he could do. “Come out and have a drink with us. We’re hiding in the lower garden with Newton, Greg and Hyacinth.”

Benedict shook his head, “I think I’ll head home. Will you give Mum an excuse for me?”

“Of course.” They both left the kitchen and headed towards the front hall, Anthony stepping onto the stairs and Benedict opening the front door. “Come over for the match tomorrow, Ben. We can talk. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

Anthony jogged upstairs as Benedict nodded and slipped out the front door, heading towards Daph’s old room that was stacked full of boxes.

Kate was probably wondering where he had gotten to, he had left her half an hour ago. He just needed to find the bloody pink champagne-

There was a loud, piercing scream.

Oh my god.

“Simon, what the fuck are you doing on top of my sister?”

Anthony stood in the doorway of the room, staring at Simon Bassett, his best friend of nearly fifteen years, on top of his youngest sister, Daphne.

His twenty-one year old sister.

His baby sister.

Simon had jumped like a startled cat off Daphne after she screamed, his face dropping when he looked up to see Anthony standing in the doorway.

“Mate. I’m so sorry. Please let me explain,” Simon said, his voice gruff as he spoke. He sounded desperate. He looked scared. Anthony had never seen Simon scared before. He should be. Anthony was going to murder him.

Anthony shifted from one foot to the other, waving one of his hands aimlessly in the air. “I’m having a problem understanding what is going on here.”

“Anthony, please.” It was Daphne’s turn to plead. She walked towards Anthony, trying to hold his hand but he pulled it from her grasp. “Please listen to me. This wasn’t how we wanted to tell you.”

“How long?” Anthony demanded, glancing between the two strangers in front of him. His hands were shaking, the rage within him was slowly cooking to its boiling point. He was trying to focus on his breathing, curling his fingers into fists to stop himself from exploding.

“Anthony-“

“How long?”

Simon was the one to answer. “Since your birthday.”

His twenty-sixth birthday was a month ago. Anthony didn’t understand. He had gone out to a restaurant and club with his friends including Kate and Simon. Daphne wasn’t there.

“This has been going on for a month?” He felt sick to his stomach. They had been doing this behind his back for a month? Simon was meant to be his best mate. Best mates didn’t go near their best mates siblings. Especially their younger sisters. Daphne was far too young and Simon was...Simon. Anthony had seen too much. He knew too much.

His best friend for eleven years and his roommate for the last few years.

Anthony was going to murder him.

Daphne delivered the final blow. “Your twenty-fifth birthday.”

That’s when he punched Simon. He charged at him across the room and launched himself at Simon. The sting of pain when his fist connected with Simon’s jaw travelled up his knuckles and arm made Anthony hiss. He kept on punching him, completely ignoring Daphne’s screams and tugs at his arm.

Simon managed to shove him off, cradling his jaw as he stumbled back a few steps to lean against the wardrobes. He was staring at Anthony, with a mixture of anger and regret.

“You’re dead to me. Do you understand? Dead.” Anthony was roaring at Simon across the room, but Daphne was blocking him. He wouldn’t touch his sister or shove her out of the way, so he was stuck behind her.

“Anthony,” Daphne interrupted, shoving him in the chest to get his attention. There were tears trailing down her cheeks and for a moment Anthony felt himself stop. “Stop it. Just stop it. We are going to sit down and have a civilized conversation about this. No one is dead to anyone. I understand that you’re upset and your feelings are hurt-”

Anthony wanted to laugh at his sister’s naivety, but he was not that cruel. He didn’t give a shit about his feelings. He gave a shit about his sister and what was happening to her. He wouldn’t let Simon do this to her. “I don’t blame you, Daph. He’s clearly taken advantage of you.”

Daphne’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth dropping open. “Anthony!”

“Don’t go there Anthony. You know I would never do that. Never.” Simon spat at him across the room, the redness on his cheek and eye beginning to swell.

Anthony refused to look at him. “I don’t want to hear a word out of your traitorous mouth. Daph. Listen to me. I’m your brother. I only want what’s best for you. All I have ever done is look out for you. You have no idea what he’s like. Our flat has been a revolting door of girls for the past few years-”

There was an outcry of protest from Simon, who had lifted a bottle of champagne against his bruised cheek. “I’ve changed. This is different. I’ve never felt like this before.”

Anthony snorted. “Forgive me for finding that hard to believe.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Anthony. I know Simon. I know everything about him. I’m not a child! I can make up my own mind. I have made up my mind. I’m in love with him, Anthony.”

This time, Anthony did snort. It was bitter and resentful, and he ignored the hurt look on his sister’s face. “You’re not in love with him. You’re twenty one years old. He’s taken advantage of you-”

“I would never do that. Never.” Simon’s voice broke as he spoke, looking desperately at Daphne. Anthony felt his stomach drop as he recognized the look on Simon’s face. He knew that face. He had worn that face himself. It was the face you had when you were looking at someone who meant everything to you.

If Anthony was bad at relationships, Simon was worse. Anthony had seen the trail of women he had led on, cheated on or just left once he decided he had had enough.

Daphne wouldn’t be one of them.

“He’s going to sack you off the minute he’s had his fun. That’s what he does, Daph. That’s what he’s always done. He’s probably seeing multiple girls behind your back.”

“Shut up, Anthony. I swear to god-you know that’s not true.” The crack in Simon’s voice indicated to Anthony he was close to breaking. That’s what Anthony wanted-he would push and push until he broke.

“Why would I believe you? Father like son, eh?” It was a low blow, bringing up his cheating father’s notorious past, but Anthony wanted Simon to sink.

It worked, because next thing Daphne had moved out of the way and Anthony was pushed forcefully to the ground, Simon’s fist connecting multiple times with his jaw. Anthony could faintly hear Daphne’s screams in the background, but he was too focused on pushing Simon off of him and getting another punch in.

“Get off of him!”

That wasn’t Daphne.

Kate.

Anthony’s vision was slightly blurred, but he could make out Kate’s right leg kicking Simon right off of him before wrapping her arms around Anthony, cradling his jaw in her hands.

“What the fuck is wrong with you? You could have killed him,” Kate shouted at Simon, her eyes wide and filled with panic as she looked at Anthony’s face. “We need to get ice and antiseptic for the cuts.”

“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Anthony joked weakly, stifling a laugh which quickly turned into a kiss as Kate touched the cut on his left cheek.

Kate was so close to him, her lips inches away from his as her fingers moved around his face, pressing a napkin against the bleeding cut on his cheek. He couldn’t get distracted from the rage he was feeling, from the situation at hand-but when it came to Kate, he never stood a chance.

Kate looked exasperated, glancing back and forth between Simon, who was being cradled by Daphne who was holding the bottle against his cheek and Anthony, who was sitting up against the wall. “What the hell happened?”

Simon broke the silence, ignoring Kate’s question and looking straight at Anthony. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way. We were going to tell you. This is exactly why we were afraid to tell you, you’re unreasonable. I never meant for this to happen, we never meant for this to happen- but I’m not going to made into some villain about being with the woman I want to be with because you think it’s wrong.”

The ball dropped for Kate as realization dawned on her face. It was quickly replaced by anger at Simon’s words. “I don’t know where you get off on turning the blame on Anthony for your shitty actions, Simon. I’m not talking about the violence, that’s inexcusable. But if you’re doing something behind someone’s back, it’s clearly wrong. Especially when it’s behind your best friend’s back and it’s to do with Daphne. Daphne, you are your own person capable of making your own decisions-but that doesn’t make the secrecy any less wrong.”

Anthony felt something tug in the bottom of his stomach. Anthony had spent a lot of his life fighting alone in his own corner and it was nice to have someone fight it with him.

“It had to be done behind his back because he’s unreasonable and emotionally unavailable,” Simon chastised, glaring across the room at Anthony. “This is exactly how we thought he’d react.”

Kate spoke again, her tone low and dangerous. “I’d think very hard before you open your mouth again, Simon.”

“I think you should both shut your mouths permanently,” Daphne snapped, smoothening her dress out and standing up. “You’re both acting like children. If we can’t talk civilly about this, we’re not talking at all. Let’s go, Simon.”

“I agree,” Kate said, tugging at Anthony’s arm towards the door.

Anthony stood up, ready to fight his own ground again. His jaw was aching and his cheek was stinging. “Emotionally unavailable? What the fuck is that supposed to mean, Basset?”

“It means, Bridgerton,” Simon spat the words out, still glaring at Kate before moving onto Anthony. “Not all of us can pretend we don’t feel anything and just go on about our lives living in misery.”

Kate and Daphne didn’t know what Simon was talking about, but Anthony did.

Simon was doing exactly what Anthony did. He was pushing the right buttons to get him to break.

Anthony barked out a harsh laugh. “Fuck you, Simon. I’m not going to listen to someone call me emotionally unavailable when you’ve spent most of your life running away from your daddy and your problems.”

“You really have no leg to stand on when it comes to daddy issues, Anthony.” Simon raised a challenging brow at Anthony, his jaw clenched and

“That’s enough,” Kate said sharply, shaking her head and placing her hand on Anthony’s arm. “This is just going around in circles. You’re both saying things you don’t mean just to hurt each other. We should go and talk about this another time.”

“I definitely mean what I’m saying.” Anthony smirked tauntingly at Simon, cracking the knuckles that weren’t bruised. He hadn’t punched him in a while. He should do that again.

Kate narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms across her chest. “That’s not helpful, Anthony.”

“He was meant to be my best mate. What would you do if you caught me with Edwina? What if you found out we were lying to your face for a whole year?”

That shut Kate up. She pursed her lips, holding her hands up. “Point taken.”

“I am your best mate,” Simon objected, taking a step forward and thinking about it and stepping back. “I can’t believe you have such little faith in me that you’d think I would ever hurt Daphne. I’m in love with her. I would do anything for her. You have to believe me, Ant. I’m your friend. I’m sorry you found out this way. I really am. I’m not going to hurt her.”

Anthony didn’t want to hear it. “You’re not my friend. Get your shit out of my flat and don’t ever speak to me again.”

“Anthony, please.” Daphne pleaded, leaving Simon to cross the room and stand in front of Anthony. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way, I really am. That doesn’t mean I’m going to change my mind.”

“Daphne. I’m your brother. I’d do anything for you. I want the best for you. This is not a good idea. He is going to hurt you. He’s too old for you.”

Daphne shook her head, “I don’t know what you want me to say, Anthony. I really don’t.” He didn’t recognize the person in front of him.

“It’s me or him.”

It wasn’t fair, but Anthony didn’t feel like playing fair. They hadn’t for a year. It was bitter and immature, but he didn’t care anymore.

Daphne gasped, staring at him horrified. “I’m not going to choose.”

“You shouldn’t have to. Family comes before anything.” It was what their father had taught him. It was something he lived by.

“Well. If that’s your choice, then I have nothing to say to you, Daphne.” Anthony shrugged, standing up fully and heading towards the door. He needed to get out of here. He wouldn’t let his sister see the hurt on his face or the sting of her words. She needed time. She wasn’t seeing reason.

He also needed a drink.

“Anthony, stop,” Kate pleaded, putting her hand in his and pulling at it. “You’re both going to regret this. Let’s just talk about this, rationally, another time.”

“I don’t need your permission for anything. This is my life, Anthony. My life. Not yours.” Daphne’s horror had been replaced with anger, and neither sibling broke eye contact as the siblings continued to stare each other down. “You’re not my father.”

Everyone had a string of words, or a name, that hurt them beyond belief.

It didn’t matter how many times he’d heard them. They held this power over him, twisting him inside like a knife to the gut.

Those five words were Anthony’s kryptonite.

It wasn’t the first time he’d heard them. He should be used to it. He had it heard it from all of his siblings more than once when they were angry or annoyed at him. It was a confirmation of everything he wasn’t doing right, how he was letting someone down and of the man he could never live up to.

His father.

The man he could never be.

He’d even heard it from his mother when they argued over one of his siblings or something to do with the house.

He should be used to it. It should get easier to hear.

It never did.

He let out a deep chuckle. It was hilarious, really, just how unfunny this all was. The bitterness left a stale taste on his tongue. “I never wanted to be your father. Any of your fathers. I didn’t exactly get a choice, did I?”

Anthony left then. He kept walking, hearing the rumbling of the music below of the gala which hadn’t been interrupted by their fight. He ended up in his father’s office, sitting down in his old chair behind his desk.

His mother had kept it in pristine condition. Everything was exactly where his father had left it, from the order he lay out his pens on his desk to the couch at the ene of the room. There wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere.

Anthony had sat on his father’s lap so many times on this chair. He used to love it. It was his safe place. He got to spend time with his father, away from his siblings.

Now, it was just a place riddled with lost, sad memories.

He wasn’t sure what he felt.

There were some murmurs that got louder as they approached the door, their voices becoming clear. Anthony stood up, walking towards the door and pressing his ear against it to listen.

“Is he alright?”

Simon.

“What do you think?”

Kate.

“I want to speak to him.”

Kate snorted loudly. “Oh, yeah. Unbelievable idea there, Simon. That’s definitely going to happen.”

“Kate.”

“You've got a neat right hook.”

“I box,” replied Simon swiftly, and he could practically see Kate’s glare.

“He shouldn’t have punched you, but you’re still a dick.” Kate paused. “You shouldn’t have punched him, you dick.”

“He shouldn’t act so irrational-“

Kate let out a deep sigh. “This is Anthony we’re talking about. He’s not going to act rational when he walks in on one of his closest friends with his little sister. Who would? I would have castrated you.”

“He still doesn’t get to go mental like that-“

“No, he doesn’t. But he did. Anthony has tried to hold everything around here since his dad died, don’t you get that? He doesn’t need this. He doesn’t need to find out about situations like this. You should have spoken to him before anything happened. You shouldn’t have waited a bloody year until you got caught.”

Anthony felt that familiar warm feeling in his chest. Whenever he felt like he didn’t have anyone, he knew he always had Kate.

Simon sighed, “We were going to tell him. Daphne is distraught. She won’t speak to anyone. Eloise and Francesca are trying to speak to her now.”

“She’s twenty-one, Simon. What are you doing?”

“Anthony asked me to get her an internship at the firm. We got to know each other. Then there was his party. It just happened. I never meant for it to happen, but it did.”

“Remember when you wouldn’t kiss me because of Anthony?”

“This is different.”

“How?”

“I’m in love with her, Kate.”

��Sometimes love isn’t a good enough reason to risk destroying things.”

“How’s that working out for you?”

“Fuck off, Simon.”

Anthony heard the door knob turn and he scrambled back towards his father’s desk, tripping over the edge of the carpet and cursing under his breath.

He heard the door open and click as it closed. He had swiveled around in his chair, his back to Kate.

Kate.

“I got some ice.”

He turned around slowly, smiling at her as she walked towards him. “To put in a glass with some whiskey?”

She sat on his lap, rolling her eyes as she ripped open an antiseptic wipe packet with her teeth. “I think you’ve had enough to drink.”

“Ow,” He grumbled, hissing as the wipe touched the cut on his cheek.

“Oh, stop being a baby.” She rolled her eyes, slowly dabbing the cut on his cheek with the disinfectant wipe. She placed a small white plaster over the cut. “There we go.”

“Kiss it better?” He was feeling sorry for himself. His cheek was aching, his head was pounding and he couldn’t get the look of distraught on Daphne’s face out of his mind. Flirting with Kate always made him feel better. He shouldn’t, but he would.

“You wish. Is that too cold?” She asked, carefully placing the wrapped ice on his bruised cheek.

“It’s fine.” His voice was hoarse, and he was looking right at her.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Kate rested her elbow on her shoulder, resting her head on it as she shifted in his lap. She let out a small yawn, which made Anthony feel worse. She was exhausted, she had been working day and night on a big case at work and she had still found time to come to the gala when she could have been at home, sleeping.

“No.” That was the last thing he wanted. Also, Kate was sitting on his lap. He could barely concentrate on anything when that was happening. “We should get you home. You’re exhausted.”

“I’m fine.” She shook her head in protest, pushing her hair behind her shoulders which sent a wave of the scent of lilies in his direction. “That was unfair, what Daphne said.”

He let out a deep sigh, that was the last thing he wanted to talk about. “I’m used to it.”

“That doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt.”

“This hurts more.” He gestured to the bruise on his cheek, which was forming a purplish colour.

“Stop deflecting,” Kate said, narrowing her eyes at him playfully as she moved the ice pack carefully up his cheek. “If it makes you feel any better, Daphne probably feels worse than you do.”

That made Anthony snort. It had become abundantly clear he was the least of Daphne and Simon’s concerns. “I highly doubt that.”

“Believe me. I said that to Mary once, when I was sixteen and she wouldn’t let me go to a party. I still haven’t forgiven myself.”

Anthony made a noise of protest. “That’s completely different.”

“Is it?” Kate raised a challenging brow.

Anthony didn’t say anything. He’d lose this argument either way and he didn’t feel like being psychoanalyzed.

Kate continued in response to his silence. “That doesn’t mean what you did was okay, by the way. I don’t agree with how they’ve done things, but they’re adults. They can do what they want.”

“Aren’t you meant to be on my side?” Anthony shot her an annoyed glance, closing his eyes momentarily. His head was pounding. He hadn’t been in this office for this long in years. It was beginning to suffocate him.

“I’ll always be on your side. That won’t stop me from telling you when you’re being an idiot.” There was a teasing glint in her eyes

“You tell me I’m an idiot at least once a day.” Anthony swallowed a wave of panic, trying to remember what his therapist had told him to do.

Find one thing you smell, Kate.

Find one thing you can see, Kate.

Fine one thing you can feel, Kate.

“I keep you humble.” Kate said, slowly weaving her fingers through his hair and keeping her tone playful. If she had noticed his slight panic and rigid body, she didn’t point it out. Her fingers were tickling his scalp and it slowly relaxed him. “You need to talk to Daphne.”

“Kate.” He whined, letting out a groan and shifting her on his lap, his hands dangerously moving down her thighs to shift her. “I’m not apologizing. She chose him over me. Can we just leave it? My head is bursting because I found out that my ex-friend is now my sister’s..thing.”

He couldn’t say it. Simon Basset was not and never would be his sister’s boyfriend. Simon was supposed to be his best friend and best

“Anthony,” Kate sang back, turning his chin with her hand so he would look her in the eye. “You don’t have to apologize to Simon, you don’t have to speak to him-but you need to talk to her. She’s a grown woman who can make her own decisions. She’s your sister.”

Anthony narrowed his eyes. “She’s a child.”

“No she’s not. You’ll never forgive yourself if you don’t speak to her and hear her out, and she won’t forgive you either.” He knew she was probably right and it was incredibly annoying.

“Family comes before anything, Kate. Daphne knows that. Yet, she had no problem lying to me for a year? About her...relationship,” As he spoke the words tasted sour on his tongue. He’d never accept their relationship. He couldn’t. He never would have done that to Simon. He’d never do that to any of his friends. “She then chose him over me. I’m the one who's owed a major apology here. Once trust is broken, it’s lost.”

“I’m on your side, Ant. I agree with you. Of course I do. Of course what they did was wrong. I know you and this is going to eat you alive. It always does when you’re fighting with one of your siblings or something is bothering one of them,” Kate said, twisting in his arms so she was resting her head on his shoulder. “I’ll support you no matter what but I just don’t want to see you hurt more.”

“I’m not saying you have to do this right now, just eventually resolving this when you feel calm and forgiving may be the first step in helping people feel they can approach you with delicate news instead of going behind your back,” Kate said and he scowled at her.

“I’m perfectly approachable.” He said defensively, letting out a small scoff.

Kate just raised an eyebrow.

“You’re rude, insulting a man in a fragile state.” He replied, putting his hand on the ice pack and she let go, their fingers brushing momentarily. He swiftly changed the subject, hoping Kate would just leave it. Otherwise, they’d be his second argument tonight. “This was my father’s office, you know.”

“Oh?” He realized, in all the years he had known Kate, he had never brought her here.

“I used to love it here. He would let me sit with him and play while he worked. It still smells like him,” He murmured, his fingertips dancing on top of the wooden desk. “He taught me a lot here.”

“Like what?”

“Most card games. Chess. Pool. How to open a beer with my teeth.” They both laughed, fondly remembering Anthony’s famous party trick that shockingly hadn’t resulted in an emergency dentist appointment. “He pretended to give out to me in here when mum and him caught me sneaking in drunk when I was sixteen.”

“Underage drinking? I’m appalled,” She teased, and he smiled at her. It hurt to smile, his cheek was aching but he didn’t really care about the pain. Not when Kate smiled back at him.

“I was quite the rebel.” He said, his smile fading into a cheeky grin.

Her voice softened as she put her hand over his to lower the ice pack from his bruised cheek. “He always sounds like such a great dad.”

“He was.” His breath caught in his throat, like it usually did whenever he spoke about his father. He despised it, how he was destined to only talk about him in the past tense.

“Please don’t go there.”

“Where?”

“He’s not disappointed in you, Anthony.”

He froze, staring at Kate incredulously. How did she know? It had been years and she never failed to amaze him when she saw right through him. “What?”

“I know I never knew him,” She murmured softly, her voice lowering significantly as she locked eyes with him. “I just know you don’t realize enough how proud he would be of you.”

“Why?”

“Because I am,” Kate stated firmly, leaving absolutely no room for argument as her fingertips resumed slowly stroking his hair. “You’re too hard on yourself, you know. You can’t control everything. Their fuck ups aren’t your fuck ups. Sometimes people do things we don’t understand and it has nothing to do with us. So they didn’t tell you what happened. They made that decision and it hurt you. You’re allowed to be hurt. You’ve taken care of everyone here and they’ve all turned out pretty spectacular. It’s not all on you. You should take care of yourself more and let people take care of you.”

He didn’t say anything, she knew he couldn’t, but his eyes said it all.

Anthony would convince himself he had control of it. Those feelings Kate stirred inside of him. That warm feeling in his chest and the tug at the pit of her stomach whenever she laughed or smiled or was so...Kate.

She would say something exactly like that, words that would extract his heart out of his chest and remind him that it was completely and utterly hers.

It had been for years. It always would be.

She just would never know it was.

They stared at each other, in an eerie silence, the only noise being the faint tick of the grandfather clock.

He broke the silence. “Thanks.”

She smiled softly, nudging her shoulder with his. “It’s okay.”

“Kate?” His voice came out quiet, “I don’t want to be someone who pretends they don’t feel anything.”

He was twenty-six years old. He had known Kate for nearly ten years. He didn’t want what-ifs anymore. He didn’t want to wait for the right moment he told himself he wouldn’t take.

He was feeling brave. So was Kate. “Then don’t be.”

He visibly gulped, and he began to lean towards her. He ignored the alarm bells ringing in his head. Do it, do it, do it. “Kate,” He whispered, and he was so close-

“Anthony?” A voice called through the door, followed by a loud knock. It was Francesca. “Eloise is getting sick in the bathroom.”

They abruptly broke apart, Kate springing up off his lap as the door opened.

“I’ll go,” Kate said, not meeting Anthony’s eyes as she composed herself. She pushed her hair behind her shoulders, straightening the straps of her red dress before she headed for the door.

Anthony’s heart was pounding inside of his chest. They had been so close but it didn’t happen. It never happened. It couldn’t.

There was always a reason why it didn’t. Whenever he went against his head and followed every other instinct inside of him or he followed his-ugh-heart- it always ended in disaster.

“Everything okay?” Francesca asked, snapping Anthony out of his thoughts. She was leaning against the doorway, her arms crossed across her chest as she looked at Anthony with a curious look.

“Fine,” He said, standing up and fixing the collar of his shirt. He put on his best stern look, but with Franny, it never really worked. “Absolutely fine. Didn’t I tell you two to stop drinking?”

“It must have got lost in translation,” Francesca teased, a small smirk on her lips as she continued to survey Anthony. He didn’t meet her eye, which was his big mistake. “You have that look on your face. What happened?”

“I don’t have a look. This is just my face.” Anthony frowned, pausing in the doorway to look down at her. Franny was the smallest of the Bridgertons, Anthony reckoned Hyacinth and Gregory would surpass her eventually, Franny had stayed at five foot three since she was thirteen.

Franny wasn’t buying it, staring up at Anthony “I know your many faces and that’s not one of your good ones. If you keep tensing that hard, you’re going to get wrinkles.” She poked him right in the forehead, smiling slightly at his scowl. “You can talk to me, you know.”

“I know.” His expression immediately softened, grateful for his incredible sister who was ten times more mature than he had been at sixteen. “Would you talk to me about something important to you? Something important in your life? Even if I wouldn’t necessarily like it.”

He was almost afraid of her answer. No, he was afraid. Had he turned into someone his siblings didn’t feel comfortable talking to? Daphne couldn’t tell him about Simon. Ben couldn’t tell him about Sophie.

Had he become someone they couldn’t trust? Someone they weren’t comfortable confiding in?

Had he failed his family that badly?

The mere possibility of that being true broke Anthony.

Franny frowned, the playfulness in her face completely disappearing. He knew Franny would see right through him, she always did. Maybe it’s what Anthony needed. He needed transparency. He needed reassurance. He was so exhausted holding it all in. He needed someone to see right through him and let all his secrets, worries and thoughts out. He had just lost his best friend. He couldn’t talk to Kate about certain things. He could with Franny. “This doesn’t sound like a hypothetical situation.”

“Humor me.” It was meant to sound light but desperation filled his voice.

“You know I would.” Franny said, moving to sit beside him on the side of the couch. “I told you about Michael and John, even when that vein in your forehead looked like it might burst.”

“Kate told me that wasn’t noticeable.” He quickly took out his phone, flicking the camera open and staring at his forehead on the screen. The bloody purple vein was protruding from his forehead. That was just brilliant. “How is that situation going?”

Francesca narrowed her eyes at him, not falling for it. “We’re not talking about me here.”

He wasn’t perfect, he knew his sisters were people and they would get boyfriends or girlfriends and grow up. He could handle it. Most of the time. It didn’t mean he had to necessarily like it. Anthony knew he was a hypocrite as it was different when it came to Colin and Ben. He didn’t worry about them as much. His problem with Daphne and Simon was completely different.

They had lied to him.

Franny had called him at two am a few weeks ago asking if he could pick her up from a party. He had gotten many late night drunk calls from most of the siblings, but never Franny. Anthony had quickly jumped into panic mode because Francesca got into the car and burst into tears. His sixteen year old sister was very drunk, crying and calling him in the middle of the night. He only calmed down when Franny explained everything.

She had gotten into a big fight with her friend Michael. Francesca was friends with two cousins, John and Michael. John had asked her to her school’s formal next month. Franny was excited, she wanted to be excited-but then there was Michael. She was confused about how she felt. She felt guilty for wanting Michael to ask her to the formal and she felt guilty for feeling like she was betraying John who she did really like.

The fight had erupted between Michael and Franny over something silly and it had ended in screaming insults and drunken regrets. Michael had been in a mood with her since John had asked her to the formal and Franny had demanded to know why.

It erupted from there.

Listening to his sister spill her guts had shocked Anthony to an extent. Franny had always been an extremely private and quiet person. She had rarely cried when she was younger and had mostly kept to herself. She wasn’t as loud and outspoken as the rest of them.

Bridgertons seemed to constantly land themselves into complicated situations with difficult options.

Anthony certainly wasn’t an expert when it came to having feelings for your friends, if anything, he was the guide for what exactly not to do.

He took her home to spend the night at his flat. She had lied to their mum that she was staying at a friend’s house for a sleepover. He gave her some water, fed her some food and put her to bed after they had a chat. He kept an eye on her for most of the night, in case she got sick and needed him.

All he did was tell her to not take the easy way out. Whoever she liked deserved to know how she felt about them. The consequences of telling someone how you feel wouldn’t outweigh the what-ifs of never telling them. Those were a heavy burden to carry. Which boy it was was down to her but Anthony had a feeling Francesa knew, she just wasn’t ready to admit it to herself.

He just didn’t want Franny to be like him and never tell them how she really felt.

“I’m fine, honestly.” He promised, shooting her a small smile and nudging her with his arm. He didn’t want to talk about it again. He didn’t want to involve Francesca in the argument and he didn’t want to talk about Daphne’s life without her consent. He didn’t want to play dirty. “I just want you to be able to talk to me about anything. I’ll always put your first. All of you first. I think I need to get better at that.”

“I can’t speak for everyone but I can talk to you about anything. I know that you’ll always be there for me. Everyone else does too. It’s just difficult sometimes to talk about things, I suppose.” Francesca smiled at him, leaning her head against his shoulder. “I’m guessing this hypothetical situation has to do with your bruised face.”

Anthony nodded, the lingering pain on his cheek only getting worse. He needed to find some pain killers. “Yup.”

“It’s okay, we can speak about it when you want to,” Francesca said, standing up from the couch and letting out a deep sigh. “Come on, we better go help Kate. Eloise is a mean drunk, especially when she’s getting sick.”

Anthony narrowed his eyes, clearly unimpressed. What the hell did his siblings get up to when he wasn’t around? Well, he had been way worse when he was sixteen. “How do you know that?”

“Rain check on that question?” Francesca said, shooting him a wide grin before walking out of their father’s office and towards the bathroom she had left Eloise in.

His siblings were going to be the death of him.

Anthony glanced at the clock on the wall of Kate’s kitchen, sighing as he leaned against the kitchen counter. He let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He despised being late. Especially to Hyacinth’s birthday party, who would kill him if he was a minute late. “Kate, we’re going to be late.”

“I’m coming!” She shouted back from down the hall in her room, where she had been for the last half an hour. He had arrived early and they were still running late.

“You said that ten minutes ago!” He had left her room ten minutes ago to stop himself from choking on the hairspray fumes that filled her room. She sprayed the bloody thing every few minutes.

“I’ll say it in another five if you keep pressuring me! You try doing winged eyeliner!”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s a seven year old's birthday party.”

“That’s another five minutes!”

Anthony stood up to have a wander around her kitchen, trying to find the secret stash of biscuits Kate hid when she was trying to be healthy but would finish off anyway. He was starving. It had been nearly two months since his mother’s charity gala, so it had been two months since he had spoken to Daphne and Simon.

It hadn’t been easy for him. His flat felt so empty without Simon, so he was spending a lot of time at work and at Kates. He didn’t like to be alone. Anthony had been absent from Bridgerton House, since their mother had been scheming to try Daphne and Anthony to speak. Anthony wasn’t on the greatest terms with his mother either since she had told him his reaction was silly and he should be delighted at the news of Daphne and Simon’s relationship.

She had invited them over for brunch.

Anthony hadn’t wanted any of his siblings involved but nothing ever stayed just between two Bridgertons. If one was involved, all were involved. Colin had always been incredibly close to Daphne so he was actively trying to solve their dispute and pushing Anthony to sort it out. Benedict always stayed neutral but he shared Anthony’s disdain for Simon and their relationship. Eloise called him an idiot. Franny had been his true ally, at the first Sunday dinner they attended together that Anthony didn’t go to, Franny had called their actions disappointing.

Hyacinth’s seventh birthday party would be the first event they would all be at in two months.

Kate, of course, was his anchor for today. They all had to put on a smile for Hyacinth, no arguments could get in the way of her birthday.

Anthony just felt betrayed. He had lost a friend and his relationship with his sibling was hanging in the balance. He wasn’t the one who had done something wrong. He had been lied to.

So why did he feel so guilty?

Anthony had been so stressed for weeks he could barely sleep. The more time went on, the more angry and frustrated he felt. He also felt sad, desperately sad, because he hated being on bad terms with any of his siblings and he hadn’t spoken to his sister in two months. What had he done so wrong that his friend and sister couldn’t tell him the truth? Was he that bad?

He felt so hurt. He hated it. He was scared, scared that if he talked to either one of them he would just make it worse. He had ignored their texts and calls for weeks. He had never gone a few days without speaking to Daphne.

Their relationship was different to the ones he had with the rest of his siblings. Daphne and Anthony had clashed a lot growing up. There was only five years between them and they had never had a lot in common. Daphne had always been a lot more easy going than Anthony ever had been. Their interests had never really aligned, not like with Franny. He loved her, she was his sister and he would do anything for her. He had been at every recital, sports game, art show and plays she was in since their father died.

They were siblings and he adored her, but they hadn’t got on as well as they each did with their other siblings.

Then their father died.

When their dad died, the shift in their relationship had been rough. Colin had been difficult but Anthony and him had always been friends. Daphne was thirteen when their dad died. She was still a child. She spent her teenage years rejecting Anthony’s authority constantly. She had skipped school, snuck out of the house to go to parties, not replied to his calls, ran off with boys and was just being a difficult teenager.

He didn’t blame her, they were all mourning in their own way and she was just living her life.

It had just made things very difficult when he was desperately trying to fill the gaping hole their father had left in their family. His father had expected him to take care of them all and that’s what Anthony had desperately tried to do.

Would he be disappointed in Anthony now?

They had grown closer in the last few years. Kate had grown particularly close to Daphne since her breakup with David. The three of them usually met up for dinner once a month to catch up. He was terrified he had gone too far this time and there was nothing left to salvage. He was also furious, furious that his own sister could go behind his back for a year with one of his closest friends.

Kate had been pushing Anthony to at least talk to Daphne. Her words in his father’s office two months ago constantly echoed in his head. She, of course, had been right. He was regretting it. He just didn’t know how this could be fixed. Fear kept stopping him from trying.

He was a coward.

How could Anthony approve? He knew Simon. Simon was his best friend. Simon wasn’t a bad person but Anthony knew too much. They had both lied to him and deceived him. How could they go on from here?

He heard a bedroom door close and he let out a sigh of relief, closing the kitchen cupboard and hastily shoving the biscuit packet back into its hiding place. “Finally. Can we please go-"

“Anthony. Hi.”

It wasn’t Kate. It was Sophie, standing in front of him in a loose knitted jumper and a pair of sweatpants. Her blonde hair was tied up in a loose bun on the top of head. From the panicked look on her face, she didn’t look thrilled to see him.

“Hey Sophie. How are you?” He asked, plastering on a smile and trying to ignore how awkward this was. He hadn’t properly spoken to her since he had caught her in the kitchen with Ben. She was clearly avoiding him, staying in her room or squeaking out a hello as she left the flat when he was there.

It was the last thing he wanted to do, make someone uncomfortable in their own home. He had mentioned it to Kate that maybe he should stop coming around but she had told him he was overthinking it. Everything Sophie had told Kate Anthony had already heard from Benedict. Kate just said she needed to figure it out on her own. Kate had asked Sophie if she minded Anthony being around and she had said there was no issue but Anthony wasn’t easily convinced.

“Great, thanks. You?”

“Great.”

The awkwardness in the air was unfathomable. The small talk was so uncomfortable and straight to the point, they weren’t even looking at each other.

Sophie was the one to break the ice. “What happened at the gala-”

“Sophie,” He interrupted, feeling as uncomfortable as she looked and he was begging every part of the universe to get Kate to hurry up. The last thing he wanted was another sibling angry at him for getting involved. “I have recently made an executive life decision to stay out of my siblings' love lives. What is your business is your business. Consider me out of it.”

“Great.” Sophie let out a sigh of relief, biting her bottom lip as she opened the fridge to grab a can of coke.

Anthony nodded, finding the mug on the kitchen counter incredibly interesting. “Great.”

“I’m just going to-” Sophie said, nodding her head slowly as she walked out of the kitchen.

Every instinct inside of him was

“Wait. Sorry. Sophie,” He said, shaking his head and making a grimacing face. “I know what I just said and you’re probably going to think I’m slightly unhinged, but I just want to say this.”

He didn’t want to risk another sibling not speaking to him. Especially Ben. Things hadn’t been going well for him and Sophie the last two months since the gala and Ben had thrown himself into work and dragged Anthony along to anything to make him not think about her. It would always end in Ben talking about how much he loved her and how desperate he was to fix it.

Anthony had been there before, falling into a self destructive pattern that just went around in circles and never ended. It did for some people but for him and for Ben, it wouldn’t. He had learned to just live with it. He didn’t want that for his brother.

“I’m definitely biased but Ben is fantastic,” Anthony spluttered, having absolutely no idea where he was going with this. “I could murder him most days but he really is the best person I’ve ever known. I’m sure you know things that I don’t. He’s kind, resilient, funny, smart, an absolute pain in the arse-but he cares so much about the people he loves. He would do anything for the people he loves. He’s by no means perfect but he’s Ben, you know? I know I don’t know anything about your situation but I do know I’ve never seen him like this before.”

“He likes you so much he managed to keep it to himself for a year. Do you know how big of a mouth he has? He can’t keep anything to himself. That’s an achievement. I know I’m overstepping my mark here and I swear this will be the last time we ever speak of it. My intentions were not to make you uncomfortable and I can’t imagine what you’re thinking or going through,” He said, taking a long breath of air. He was definitely rambling and talking way too much. “You’re it for him, Sophie.”

“I know we’re a lot to deal with. There’s a lot of us. It must be very overwhelming. I just want you to know that once you’re one of us, you’re one of us. Nothing anyone ever says or thinks will change that. If anyone has something to say, they’ll be dealt with.”

He frowned, replaying his words in his head and groaning. “Wow. That sounded mafia-like. I just mean-we take care of each other. We take care of family. Okay, I really need to stop talking.”

Sophie let out a nervous, small laugh but her face quickly dissolved back to its previous, worried expression.

“I don’t know if Ben invited you but it’s Hyacinth’s birthday today. There’s going to be a lot of children screaming but there will be good food, cake and Colin is in charge of the booze afterwards so we’re all probably going to end up in a cataonic state tonight. I know Ben would love for you to be there.” Alcohol and cake was what was going to get Anthony through screaming seven year olds and Daphne and Simon. “You’re welcome to come with us, if that’s what you want.”

“Thank you, Anthony. I appreciate it, I do. You’re a really good brother,” Sophie eventually replied, smiling softly at him but her eyes were sad. She looked defeated. He couldn’t imagine being in her shoes, growing up alone and with no family for your entire life. “I just-I don’t know. I better go.”

Anthony nodded, not pushing it any further. He definitely overstepped his mark, but what sort of brother was he if he didn’t try? “I’ll see you, Sophie.”

As Sophie’s bedroom door closed, he heard her wolf whistle as Kate’s door opened. Kate strolled into the kitchen, smiling at him as she put her purse on the kitchen counter. “Ready to go?”

Anthony felt his jaw drop as he looked at her. Her hair was in loose curls down her back, pulled away from her face with a loose crown braid. She was wearing a long purple maxi dress which stood out against her tanned skin. She looked beautiful.

“You look great.” He managed to say coherently, feeling his mouth dry out as he composed himself. He needed to get a grip. He thought she was beautiful in a baggy t-shirt and a pair of ripped sweatpants.

“Thanks,” She said, her cheeks darkening slightly as she grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge for the road. “Let's go, we don’t want to be late.”

Anthony grabbed his coat off the couch, looking at her again. “Wait. I thought you couldn’t decide what to wear.”

Kate shrugged, “I couldn’t but I finally chose this one. It’s really hot outside for February.”

“Kate, that was the first dress you tried on. You tried about twenty on before you kicked me out of your room.” He wasn’t exactly complaining, the small glimpses of the skin on her waist and her long legs that go on for days nearly stopped his heart completely.

Kate raised a challenging eyebrow. This woman. “I’m not seeing your point.”

It was Anthony’s turn to roll his eyes, “Let’s just go.”

Kate walked towards him until she was standing in front of him, smiling in a way that made him nervous. “Did you eat my biscuits?”

Shit. “No.”

“Next time, check your face before you lie.” Kate smirked, wiping the corner of his mouth with some kitchen paper.

Anthony blushed, hastily taking the napin out of her hand and wiping around his mouth. “I was starving because all you have is lentil crisps and avocados around here.”

“They’re tasty!”

“I’m not having this argument again.” He let out a deep sigh, not helping the smile that broke out on his face as Kate’s nose scrunched up as she huffed at him. “Lentils is an unacceptable crisp flavour-”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Sophie stood in front of them, now changed into a blue sundress with a small striped gift bag in her hand. “If your offer still stands, I would really like to come. If that’s okay.”

Kate glanced at Anthony with a look of surprise before smiling at Sophie, moving towards her to wrap an arm around her shoulder. “Of course it is. Come on Anthony, you’re going to make us late.”

Anthony stuck his tongue out at Kate’s cheeky grin as they left their flat, heading out to where Anthony had parked his car around the corner. They finally were on their way. Anthony and Kate argued about the music the entire way. Kate won and Sophie and Kate screamed the lyrics to Olivia Rodrigo’s new album and Anthony pretended he didn’t know most of the lyrics.

By the time they arrived at Bridgerton House, the party was in full swing. The house was full of screaming seven year old's and a few of Gregory’s friends, all high on sugar. There was a little girl running around with a stick of candy floss bigger than her head.

“What did you say to her?” Kate whispered to him as they put away their coats, Sophie out of earshot as she hung up her coat.

Anthony shrugged, leading them through the hallway towards the garden where the party was. His mother had invited most of the parents. “Nothing really, I just invited her. I said some stuff about Ben.”

“Well, whatever you said worked. She wouldn’t come when I asked her.” Kate squeezed his arm softly, smiling at him. There was that uncomfortable tug in his stomach again. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Anthony said, swallowing the uncomfortable lump forming in his throat. He was nervous to see Daphne and Simon. He hated these types of situations. His plan was to stick with Kate, avoid them and spend the party with Hyacinth and making sure she had a good time.

“Maybe you guys can sort it out. Whatever happens, I’m here. It’ll be okay.” Kate murmured, squeezing his hand softly and letting go quickly as Sophie appeared beside them.

They walked through the living room to the garden, which was packed with kids, their family and parents his mother had invited to stay.

“Oh my god,” Kate said, her jaw dropping as they took in the party in front of them. “Your Mum knows how to throw a party. It looks fantastic.”

“It better,” Anthony said, nodding his head in approval as he looked around the room. He had been running around London the last two weeks doing whatever his mother asked him to do for the party. She really had done a brilliant job. “Do you know how difficult it is to find Dinosaur balloons and plates?”

Hyacinth’s current obsession was dinosaurs after Anthony had her over for a sleepover last month and they had a Jurassic Park marathon, so his mother had gone all out to throw a Jurassic Park themed birthday party.

There was a large bouncy castle with a slide in the shape of a dinosaur, there was a petting zoo and brown and green balloons covered the garden and house. There was a man in a tyrannosaurus rex costume chasing the children. The buffet and snacks table was dinosaur themed and the cake had dinosaurs, a jeep and Hyacinth written across it in icing.

Violet Bridgerton knew how to throw a party.

Anthony glanced around the room, spotting a few familiar faces of parents he knew from Hyacinth’s school. His eyes froze as he spotted Simon, Daphne and Colin near the drinks table, talking to each other. He looked away as they spotted him and he turned to Kate and Sophie. “I’m going to find Hy and Ben. I’ll be back, grab me a drink?”

Anthony stepped out onto the garden through the door on the opposite side of the room, greeting everyone he passed as he looked around the garden for Hyacinth, Ben or his mum. He spotted Benedict in front of the large bouncy castle, bending down in front of it with a camera in his hand. He was the official photographer for the afternoon. Anthony grabbed two beers from a tray before heading over.

“Hey.” Anthony said, handing Ben the beer as he stood beside him. “How’s it going? Have you seen Hy?”

There was a click and a snap, the camera flashing as Ben took the picture. “Hey Ant. Cheers. Yeah, she’s up there. I’m pretty sure she just pushed a kid who skipped the line.”

“She did throw the board at Colin last week when she figured out he was cheating at Monopoly,” Anthony said, chuckling as he tried to spot Hyacinth in the castle. He waved in her direction but she didn’t seem to notice. “I need you to come with me. I have someone for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Anthony,” Benedict whispered, a look of horror on his face. “Did you get me a stripper?”

Anthony completely froze. He smacked Benedict on the arm, glaring at him. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Why would I get you a stripper for our seven year old sister’s birthday party?”

“What am I meant to think when you say you’ve got someone for me?” Benedict snapped back, rubbing the arm that Anthony had hit. “I obviously meant after the party.”

Anthony scoffed. “Oh, that was the part that was obvious to you?”

“Are you trying to set me up?” Benedict looked tired, he had dark circles under his eyes and his voice sounded slightly defeated. “Mum has already tried. Watch out, she’s invited some eligible ladies. Does she really think we’re that thick that we don’t know what she’s doing?”

“You have to admire her effort,” Anthony said, shaking his head and laughing at his mother’s attempts at matchmaking. Violent Bridgerton never missed an opportunity when it presented itself. “I would never get you a stripper. Colin would.”

“That’s true.” Benedict took another few pictures before taking a sip of his beer. He followed Anthony back towards the house, a slight frown on his face. “Who is it then? Someone from uni? You’re acting strange. I’ve never seen you...giddy.”

“I’m not giddy,” Anthony said, come on.”

“I didn’t think you would be in a great mood today. Have you seen them then?” Ben asked, scanning the garden for the famous couple. “Are you going to consider speaking to Daph?”

“I’ve got nothing to say.” Anthony stiffened, looking around the crowds for Kate and Sophie. They weren’t where he had left them. “I’m in a fine mood. Today is about Hyacinth, no one else. Let’s leave it at that.”

“Come on, Ant,” Benedict pleaded, catching up with Anthony as he weaved in and out of the crowd. “You don’t have to speak to Simon. You need to speak to Daph. We all need to sort this out. She feels terrible about all of it. She misses you.”

“That didn’t stop her from hiding it from me for a year,” Anthony retorted, feeling the familiar guilt and stress radiating through his body. “It’ll be fine, Ben. I’ll sort it out. I always do. Ah! There they are! Kate!”

Kate’s face lit up as she followed the direction of her voice, tugging a pale Sophie towards Kate and Anthony.

“Is that Sophie?” Benedict whispered from beside him, immediately straightening up and fixing the collar of his shirt.

“Hi Ben,” Sophie said slowly, smiling nervously as her eyes flicked towards him and then back down at the ground. “I hope it’s okay that I came.”

“Of course.” Benedict managed to reply, her voice cracking slightly as he glanced in confusion and shock between Anthony and Sophie. “Of course it’s okay.”

“I need to give Hyacinth her birthday present! Bring me to her, Ant?” Kate basically shouted, grabbing Anthony’s arm and dragging him away from the couple.

Anthony barely had time to whisper good luck to Ben before Kate had dragged him across the patio, squealing with excitement as she came to an abrupt stop.

Anthony had never seen Kate squeal in her life.

“Why aren’t you more excited?” Kate nudged him, watching as Benedict and Sophie made their way towards the end of the garden, probably finding somewhere quieter to talk. “This is the moment you’ll talk about in your best man’s speech.”

Anthony raised an eyebrow in amusement, his eyes on Kate. They usually were. “You’re getting a little ahead of yourself. They’re just talking.”

“I thought Soph would wallow in misery forever. Yet, she’s here. Talking to him. I never thought this would happen with the way she’s been moping about the last few weeks.” Kate sighed wistfully, her diamond earrings beaming in the sunlight. “I just really wanted her to try to work it out.”

“I hope they do. I mean, they are still very young and I’ve never seen Ben like this with anyone. His most serious relationship was with a hostess when he spent a summer in Ibiza. I just want him to be happy.”

“I know you do,” Kate said, biting her pink stained lips which Anthony always found awfully distracting. She had been doing it for years-whenever she was studying, concentrating on something very hard or before she was about to say something that made her nervous. “I also know you want Daphne to be happy.”

“Kate,” Anthony warned, finishing off his beer with another swig. He really didn't want to get into this now. Kate managed to bring it up at least once a day and it was driving him insane. “I’m really starting to think you’re on their side.”

“I’m always on your side. This is why I’m saying this. I know how much this is hurting you. I would have reacted the same when you found out. Well, maybe minus the punching. I don’t have any upper body strength.” Anthony’s frown didn’t lift from her attempt at humor so she quickly moved on. “I just-I don’t think they did it maliciously. They did it carelessly. They never wanted to hurt you. I spoke to them earlier, they were asking about you. They miss you. I know you miss them. They seem...really happy.”

“Good for them,” He said shortly, the finality in his tone cutting the conversation short. “Can we talk about something else? I’ll take Ben and Sophie’s future potential wedding over this topic.”

“There’s nothing better, is there?” Kate said out loud, but Anthony wasn’t sure if the question was directed at him. Kate looked deep in thought, she almost looked sad. As if there was something she wasn’t telling him. “People trying to make it work. Even if it doesn’t work out, at least they were brave enough to try, you know?”

“Yeah,” Anthony said slowly, his voice slightly croaky as he took a long sip of his beer before replying. “I know.”

He hesitated, but he swallowed the nerves building inside of him and asked. “Would you try?”

Kate looked at him surprised, her brown eyes widening as she tried to figure out what he was exactly asking. “Would I try what?”

He didn’t want to be a coward anymore. “Would you try to make it work with someone? Even if you’re taking a big risk?”

“Yeah,” She eventually replied, her voice incredibly soft. She sounded almost hopeful. Anthony wasn’t sure if he was just hearing what he wanted to hear. “I would.”

“Anthony! Kate!” Hyacinth’s screaming interrupted them, both their heads flicking to the birthday girl sprinting towards them. She was wearing a blue dress with black converse, a dinosaur cap on the top of her head. “You have to see my bouncy castle.”

“Hey Birthday Girl,” Anthony said, a massive grin spreading on his face as he lifted Hyacinth up and pressed a kiss to her cheek. She was far too old and heavy to be carried, but Anthony didn’t care. He could remember when he could hold her in the crook of his elbow. He couldn’t believe she was seven. She would always be his baby even if she needed him less and less as she grew up.

It constantly felt like time was slipping away from him, taking everything he loved with it.

He had already seen Hyacinth this morning, he had gotten up early to drive home to help his Mum set up for her birthday breakfast and watch her open presents. He’d never tell a soul but he had cried on the way home. Days like this were hard. It was hard watching your family grow up and it was even harder that it was a reminder of another thing their father wasn’t here for.

“Your bouncy castle is incredible! Happy Birthday, sweetheart.” Kate pulled her into a hug once Anthony set her down, kissing her cheek and laughing as Hyacinth rubbed Kate’s lipstick off her cheek. “Your party is pretty amazing. You look incredible. Where’s my dinosaur hat?”

“It’s definitely the best party of the year,” Hyacinth said confidently, smirking at the both of them and keeping her arms around Kate’s neck. “Roy Trent had a swimming party at his house, which was pretty cool. I have snakes, a candy floss machine and dinosaurs. I’ve definitely beat him. Right?”

“Are you kidding? Absolutely.” Anthony said, reassuring her. Hyacinth was only seven years old and her self-confidence and big personality were definitely going to lead to havoc and amusement in the future. They’d probably result in a lot of grey hairs for Anthony, but he couldn’t wait.

“Have you seen my cake?” Hyacinth screeched, her little head flicking in all directions as she took in everything around her for the hundredth time. There was so much going on around them. She grabbed both of their hands, dragging them towards the food table where his mother stood, chatting to some parents.

There had been so much going on, Anthony had completely forgotten to say hello to his mother.

Hyacinth was pointing at her cake, showing them her name spelt out in icing and the icing version of herself inside the jeep. Two little girls ran up to her and Hyacinth ran off with them with a quick goodbye, sprinting back towards the bouncy castle.

“Darling!” Violet exclaimed, excusing herself from her friends as she spotted Anthony and Kate. “Kate! Oh, you look gorgeous. I’m so happy you could come.”

“Hey Mum. The party’s fantastic,” He said, leaning in to kiss her cheek. His mother had worked herself to the bone to put this together and she deserved all the praise he could get. She hadn’t mentioned a word about Daphne this morning, so they were on good terms today. “You did a brilliant job.”

“Hi Violet! The party is fantastic.” Kate kissed his mother’s cheek, who beamed at her. “I would have gone nuts for a party like this when I was younger. I’m definitely going to drag Anthony onto that bouncy castle later.”

He turned to look at her, raising his eyebrows in amusement. Grown men didn’t bounce. “When pigs fly, Sheffield.”

“I’ll take those odds, Bridgerton.” Kate smirked right back at him, a challenging look in her eyes.

Anthony noticed his mother had gone unusually quiet, a suspicious look on her face as she listened to the two of them talk. The look on her face made Anthony uneasy. “Oh, you’re so sweet. I just pulled it together. It’s nothing really,” Violet said, waving off Kate’s compliment as she glanced around the party.

“I couldn’t have done it without you,” Violet said warmly, patting Anthony’s cheek softly. “I do hope Hyacinth likes it. She screamed when I let her downstairs before everyone arrived, so I’m taking that as a good sign. Ben had to bribe her with chocolate to get off the bouncy castle to greet her guests.”

Anthony chuckled, spotting Hyacinth laughing as she slid down the slide on the bouncy castle holding the hand of her friend. He spotted Ben and Sophie at the bottom, Ben picking Hyacinth and tickling her once she reached the bottom. “She’s having the time of her life.”

“I can’t believe she’s seven,” Violet murmured, a sad expression taking over her face as they watched Hyacinth in the distance.

Anthony squeezed his mum’s hand. “I know.”

Anthony shared a look with mother, a silent exchange between them where no words needed to be said. They both were thinking about his father. It had been seven years without him and seven years of Hyacinth never knowing him. Anthony would never understand how happy things could carry sadness with them, but they did.

“We should do the cake now,” Violet exclaimed, clapping her hands and snapping out of her momentary reminiscence. “I’ll start getting everyone to head inside. Everyone please gather inside for cake!”

Anthony and Kate headed inside as his mother went to fetch Hyacinth and usher everyone inside for the cake.

“I haven’t even seen Eloise, Franny or Colin yet,” Anthony said, glancing around the room until he spotted Eloise, a red headed girl, Franny and John standing near the cake.

“Anthony! Kate! Hey,” Eloise said, swiftly hiding the beer behind her back that was in her hand. Anthony rolled his eyes at her lack of subtlety. He didn’t have the energy to deal with it today. She was eighteen in a matter of weeks. “Pen, this is my brother Anthony and our friend, Kate. Ant, Kate, this is my friend from school, Penelope.”

“Hi! It’s so nice to finally meet you.” Penelope said politely, smiling warmly at them. Penelope was very small, she must be just over five foot as they all towered over her, particularly Anthony and Kate who were five foot ten. She had a head full of fiery red curls, with a pink headband that matched her white top covered in roses and plain jeans.

“Nice to meet you, Penelope.” Anthony nodded at her, smiling before he turned to John. He extended his hand, which was clammy and shaking slightly. “It’s good to see you again, John.”

If Anthony was being honest, out of John and Michael, he had always liked Michael a bit more. There wasn’t anything wrong with John, he was a nice kid. That was the thing. He was nice. Michael was effortlessly charming and funny, he had made the entire table laugh for most of Franny’s birthday dinner last year.

Anthony hadn’t been a fan of how a sixteen year old was shamelessly flirting with Kate who actually blushed at one point during the dinner. Kate still vehemently denies it but Anthony knows what he saw.

It annoyed him, really. Anthony wanted to be the person who made Kate blush.

He did notice how Franny looked at Michael. It was subtle and different to how she looked at John, but Anthony knew her. He understood her. John was her safe option but she didn’t have the same spark in her eye when she looked at him as she did when she looked at Michael.

Michael wasn’t here today.

Franny had made her choice.

He glanced at Franny, who gave him a pointed look. Leave it. Anthony gave her a subtle nod.

“Kate,” Franny said, her smile slightly forced as she gestured to John. “This is John. John, this is Kate.”

“It’s nice to meet you, John.” Kate shook his head, side eyeing Anthony who gave her a pointed look. We’ll chat later. Kate had asked for numerous updates about the teenage drama going on in Franny’s life, who had been sparse with details with both of them.

“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Bridgerton. It’s great to meet you, Kate.” John said, smiling nervously at Kate and Anthony. He rolled on his heels slightly, trying to think of something to say. “So, how long have you two been together?”

Yeah, Anthony definitely liked Michael more.

“Kate is just a friend,” Franny whispered, her eyes widening slightly as she looked apologetically at Kate and Anthony.

“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.” John fumbled with his words, looking absolutely devastated as he spoke. Anthony felt bad for the kid, he looked like he was about to pass out. He was definitely more nervous than Anthony remembered.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.” Kate reassured him, smiling at him and taking a sip of her drink. Her expression was difficult to read. She had a reassuring smile on her face but it looked strained and slightly stressed.

“Where’s Colin?” Anthony asked swiftly, trying to change the subject as glanced around the living room that had become crowded now that everyone had come in for the cake. Anthony spotted a pleased Hyacinth sitting at the top of the table in front of her massive birthday cake.

“Probably flirting with one of the waitresses or terrorizing someone,” A voice appeared behind them, which belonged to a very happy looking Benedict. Sophie was beside him, smiling shyly at Kate and Anthony.

“Speak of the devil.” Kate said, nodding her head towards a grinning Colin who was making his way through the crowd, two beers in his hand.

Anthony noticed that Eloise’s friend, Penelope, blushed and smiled slightly as Colin joined the group.

“How are my favourite people?” Colin said, grinning at the group as he wrapped an arm around Anthony’s shoulders. “Ant. Kate. I haven’t seen you two all afternoon.”

“I’m guessing you were preoccupied,” Anthony replied, smirking back at his brother and trying not be phased as he spotted Simon and Daphne walking towards the group.

“Come on,” Anthony said, gesturing towards where Hyacinth was sitting. He could see his mother was lighting the candles. “It’s time to sing.”

Anthony crouched down beside Hyacinth as the party sang Happy Birthday to her, grinning at her as she squirmed slightly in her seat from all the attention. They all clapped and cheered as she blew out the candles, Colin led the rendition of Hyacinth’s a squishy marshmallow until the final cheer.

“Hold on. Let me get a picture of you two,” Benedict said, grinning behind the camera as he took a few pictures of Anthony and Hyacinth smiling at the camera. “Kate, get in.”

Kate stepped in beside Anthony, who wrapped his arm around her waist as they smiled for the camera. Benedict took many pictures with all of the Bridgertons and everyone until they were finally free to have some cake and relax.

Eventually, it was only the Bridgertons and Kate, John, Penelope, Sophie and Simon left in the house as the last guest finally left.

Colin clapped his hands together, strolling into the living room. “How about the Bridgerton annual game of rounders?”

Hyacinth jumped off Anthony’s lap, who groaned as her bony elbow hit him in his stomach. “Please, please, please! I’ve never played before!”

Anthony glared at Colin, who looked very smug, grinning in the middle of the living room. Everyone else was up for playing and Anthony had no choice, given how excited Hyacinth was. There was a reason she had never played before. The Bridgertons were extremely competitive and the annual rounders match usually resulted in a few arguments and an injury.

“Bats and people hitting balls? I’m not so sure that’s a good idea given the current circumstances,” Kate said the last part in a low voice to Colin, giving him a warning look.

“It’s a great idea! It’s a birthday tradition of ours,” Colin said, dismissing Kate’s valid worries. The last thing Anthony wanted to do was play a game. He was exhausted and hadn’t spoken one word to them all afternoon. The plan was to keep it that way. “We play at the park around the corner.”

He was going to kill Colin.

The group made their way to the park around the corner, carrying the rounders kit they had in their shed. Their father had started this game years ago when they were young and it soon had become a tradition to play it on most birthdays.

Anthony insisted on setting up the field, mostly because he knew he would do it fairly and he didn’t trust Colin to do it. He also wanted to avoid Simon and Daphne as much as possible.

“Okay! Pen is going to be our referee and the team Captains are going to be Hyacinth and Gregory,” Colin said, grinning at a delighted Hyacinth. “Since it’s your birthday Hy, you can choose first.”

“Anthony!” Hyacinth said almost immediately, to absolutely no one’s surprise. He was her favourite, after all. He just didn’t want to end up on the same team as Daphne or Simon.

“Ben,” Gregory said fairly quickly, side eyeing Hyacinth with a competitive glance. They really did start young.

“Colin.” Anthony narrowed his eyes as Colin strolled up to their team, smiling widely at Anthony. He was up to something.

Gregory scanned his options with a very serious face before deciding, a small smile on his face. “Kate.” Greg’s adoration for Kate was fairly obvious.

“Franny.”

“John.”

“Daphne!”

Anthony inhaled through his nostrils, feeling incredibly uncomfortable.

“Sophie!” Gregory shouted, which just left Hyacinth the choice between Eloise and Simon.

“Can’t I referee with Pen?” Eloise whined, crossing her arms across her chest. “I don’t want to be here.”

“You know you’re our best bowler. Where’s that family spirit and sportsmanship?” Colin said, shaking his head.

Eloise glared at him. “Up your-”

“That’s enough.” Anthony said sharply, gesturing to Gregory and Hyacinth who were waiting to continue to pick. It wasn’t like they hadn’t heard bad language before. They both had been corrupted years ago.

He was not going to be on the same team as the new couple. Not a bloody chance. Anthony bent down to Hyacinth’s level, nudging her softly. “Pick Eloise.”

Hyacinth completely ignored him. “Simon!” She smirked happily as she looked back at her team, shrugging at her older brother. “Eloise can’t run. Simon is a big man. I want to win, Anthony. Not have fun.”

Kate snorted a few metres away from him, shrugging her shoulders as Anthony glared up at her. “She definitely gets that from you.”

Anthony pulled Colin away from the group without a word, shaking his head at his younger brother. “What are you playing at?”

Colin threw his bat up in the air. “I’m not sure what you mean. I’m about to play the great game of rounders.”

Anthony clenched his jaw. He was really losing the will to live here. “Shut it, Colin. It’s no coincidence I’m on the same team as them. I’m not playing.”

“So you’re going to refuse to play? You’d really let Hyacinth down like that?” Colin was innocently smiling at him and Anthony was this close to throttling him. “She would be incredibly disappointed.”

“I’m going to kill you,” Anthony muttered, shaking his head and letting out a deep breath. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. “How did you know who they would pick?”

“She’s seven. I can bribe her with anything. Greg put up a bit more of a bargain. I have to take him to laser tag next week with his friends.”

“You bribed our younger siblings?” Anthony asked incredulously, wondering why he was even surprised at this point.

“Of course I did. Let’s play!” Colin shouted, winking at Anthony as the opposing team moved to the batting cone and their team formed a huddle in the

“Okay, they’re batting first. Hy, where do you want to go?”

“First!”

“Excellent idea. Go on then,” Colin said, saluting her as she ran towards first base. “I’ll pitch.” Eloise said as un-enthusiastically as one could manage, strolling towards the centre of the field.

Colin turned to his remaining teammates. “Daph, Simon, what bases do you want?”

“Why bother asking?” Anthony said, his chuckle low as he started to walk away from the group. “They’ll do what they want anyway.”

He wished he hadn’t opened his stupid mouth as he charged towards third base, hearing someone’s steps right behind him.

“Anthony, hasn’t this gone on long enough?”

Daphne.

He didn’t turn around. “Go back to your base, Daphne.”

“No! I refuse to live like this any longer.” Daphne’s voice was firm and desperate, her hand grabbing his arm to force him to turn around. “I never thought you could ignore your own sister and best friend for two months.”

“There’s a lot of things I didn’t think you or Simon were capable of doing but hey, life is full of surprises.” He clenched his jaw, his eyes darting to Kate across the field who was staring at them worried. “I don’t have anything to say.”

Daphne let out a cry of frustration. “Of course you do. I’m sorry. I couldn’t be more sorry. We’re both so sorry.”

Anthony kicked his runner against the dirt, watching as Gregory stepped up to hit. “Okay, you’re sorry. Fine. I accept your apology. Let’s just leave it, alright?”

“No, it’s not alright. You won’t even look at me.”

“Can you just leave it? Today isn’t about you. It’s about Hyacinth. The only reason I’m on this bloody field is because she wants to play so badly. Don’t ruin this for her.”

“I’m not moving until we fix this.” Daphne was adamant, her voice getting louder and louder. Anthony glanced around at the field, where everyone around them was staring at them. His eyes briefly locked with Kates, who gave him a small nod. She was telling him to do it. He had to do it.

“What did I do?” He asked, finally coming out with it. He wasn’t hiding it anymore, he had to know once and for all why this had all happened.

“What?”

“What did I do that made you not trust me?”

Daphne was staring at him in bewilderment. “I don’t understand.”

“I know things have never been easy between us. I know growing up after dad died was hard. I just wanted what was best for you. I never wanted you to feel like you couldn’t come to me with something like this and trust me with it. I know I’m not the most reasonable person and I need to work on that, but your happiness would always come first.”

Daphne opened her mouth to respond but Anthony shook his head, “Please, let me finish. I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed that you felt you couldn’t come to me with this. Don’t get me wrong, I was furious that it was Simon and that you hid it from me for a year. That was wrong. I’m just so ashamed you felt like you had to hide it from me for that long. I feel like I have let you down.”

It was the reason why he had avoided talking to Kate in depth about the argument. It was the reason why he had avoided Daph’s calls and texts. He had masked his fear with anger. He felt so ashamed that he had let her down this badly. That he let his father down. He was failing at the promise he had made to his father: to take care of his family.

“Oh, Anthony,” Daphne sobbed, flinging her arms around his neck. “I do trust you. I do. I just didn’t want to disappoint you. I was so scared of disappointing you that I ended up hurting you and getting us into this mess. All I’ve ever wanted was for you to be proud of me and to trust me. I need you to trust me and know that I know what I’m doing. I also know that if anything goes wrong and I do mess up, you’ll always be there for me.”

This had surpassed the level of emotion Anthony could handle. He wrapped his arms around her, rubbing soothing circles on her back. “Please don’t cry, Daph. I’m sorry. Okay? It’s okay, Daph. We’re okay.”

Daphne eventually pulled back, hiccupping slightly as she wiped her wet, swollen eyes.

“I am extremely proud of you,” Anthony murmured, handing her a tissue out of the packet in his pocket. “How could I not be? You’re brilliant. Whatever you decide to do, I will support you. I promise. If he makes you happy..” Anthony let out a deep breath. “Then I’m happy.”

“Oh, Anthony. I’m so sorry...about everything. Thank you. I love you,” Daphne whispered, pulling him in for another quick hug before letting go, stepping back and shooting a small smile at Simon.

Simon had strayed from fourth base, moving closer and closer to third base where Anthony and Daphne were standing. Anthony could see him lingering in the corner of his eye. He still wasn’t happy about this but he had to put that aside for now. He had to move forward.

Anthony turned towards him. It was time to bite the bullet. “I’m still furious with you.”

“I deserve it.”

“You do.”

“Look at that,” Simon joked weakly. “We’re agreeing on something.”

“I put your face on the dart board.” Anthony had thrown many darts at Simon’s face over the past few weeks.

“I would have done the same.” Simon ran a hand through his hair, nervously glancing at Anthony without breaking eye contact.

“If you do anything to fuck this up, I will murder you.” Anthony meant every last word and Simon knew it. He wasn’t happy about their relationship, but Anthony’s happiness wasn’t a priority here. He could come to tolerate it. Eventually.

“I won’t,” Simon said confidently and it did make Anthony’s eye twitch slightly. That promise would remain to be seen. “You have my word.”

Anthony wasn’t sure how good Simon’s word was but he wasn’t going to say that out loud. It would take time.

“I’m really sorry, mate,” Simon gushed, a look of shame washing over his face. “About everything. I never wanted it to be like this. Our friendship means a lot to me and I royally screwed up. If you give me the chance, I want to prove to you how much I value you as a friend. I didn’t mean anything I said that day. I’m an asshole.”

Anthony didn’t disagree. “You are.”

Simon extended his hand to shake. Anthony glanced down at it and back up at Simon. Things definitely weren’t okay. They would never go back to how they were. That didn’t mean they couldn’t start somewhere new. Simon had been his best friend for years and Anthony wanted that back. It would just take time.

They shook hands.

It was a start.

“Can we finally play? Great! I’m glad to see my excellent plan worked.” Colin shouted, clapping his hands as he winked at Anthony. He looked very happy with himself. Anthony couldn’t have that.

“Hey Greg?” Anthony called towards his youngest brother, who was the first to bat. “I’ll buy you that new playstation you want if you hit Colin.”

“Seriously?” Gregory said, eyeing his usually serious older brother carefully. “The limited edition white system with a game of my choice?”

“If you hit him, you can have anything you want. That goes for everyone, actually.” Anthony said, turning to grin at a disgruntled Colin as he walked back to third base. “

“You can’t-Greg, don’t you dare,” Colin warned as Eloise began to swing her arm, ready to pitch.

“I’m sorry Colin,” Gregory said, not looking sorry at all. Anthony was proud of Greg, ignoring the fact that he was encouraging his younger sibling to violently hit a ball at his sibling. To be fair, it was Colin. “I really want the new FIFA game.”

Everyone was laughing as Colin began to protest, claiming it was not good sportsmanship and that he was the victim of this barbaric family, as he ran around the field as various balls were hit in his direction for the remainder of the game.

After the game, everyone had headed back to the house for some pizza and to relax. Kate and Hyacinth had dragged a reluctant Anthony onto the bouncy castle, along with most of their family, until it was just the two of the left after everyone else had gone home or was inside.

“You did good today, I’m proud of you,” Kate said, tilting her head to smile at him as she passed him the champagne bottle they had stolen from the leftovers earlier. They were both lying on the flat blown up surface of the bouncy castle, just at the beginning of the slide. “Are you okay?”

Anthony took a long swig of the champagne, feeling the drink bubble down his throat. It had been a long, emotionally exhausting day. Kate’s words meant more than he could ever express in words, so he just turned to her and smiled. “Yeah,” He said, actually finding he meant the words for the first time in a while. “I think I am.”

“That’s good to hear.” Kate said, taking the bottle back and laughing as she took a large sip. Her hair was spread out under head, her wild dark curls sprawled out in every direction. The light from the sunset hit her face, her face glowing below the orange technicolor sky.

She looked so beautiful.

“Thank you,” Anthony murmured, staring up at the swirling sky. “Thank you for helping me these last few weeks.”

“Hmm?” Kate’s voice was almost giddy as she turned back to him, the grin of a Cheshire cat on her face. “What was that?”

Anthony rolled his eyes. “I’m not saying it again.”

“Thank you, Kate,” She said loudly, her voice theatrical as she sat up on her elbows. “Thank you for guiding me through life and these trying, turbulent times. You wonderful, amazing, talented, superior in every aspect of beauty and intelligence-Anthony!”

Anthony burst out laughing as he pushed Kate down the slide, his laughter doubling as she grabbed onto his ankle and pulled him down with her.

He didn’t know how long they sat there at the bottom of the slide, laughing so hard until they nearly got sick.

He just knew it was what he wanted to do forever. Laughing and being with Kate.

It was the most free he had felt in a long time.

Anthony gets a call from Kate early on a Sunday morning. He hadn’t seen her all week, they had both been having hectic weeks at work. Kate, Sophie and Edwina’s flat had a pipe burst and their entire flat had flooded.

Anthony and Ben had driven to their flat, helping the girls salvage whatever they could and help them move all their stuff out as quickly as possible. Their landlord had told them he was going to have to fix up the entire flat and that they would have to move out.

Sophie was going to stay with Benedict, Edwina was going to stay with her boyfriend Matthew and Kate was left with nowhere to go.

The solution to her problem was obvious to everyone but Kate it seemed.

“There’s no way I can find a decent place at such short notice,” Kate murmured, her finger frantically scrolling through her phone. “Why is London so bloody expensive? Everywhere nice is out of my budget.”

“We can share Matthew’s bed,” Edwina suggested, with the best she could offer. “He said he’s happy to sleep on the mattress on the floor.“

Kate gave her sister a small smile, shaking her head. “Ed, I love you, but I’m not sleeping in your boyfriend’s bed with you while he sleeps on the floor.”

“Just move in with me,” Anthony suggested, ignoring Benedict’s eyes widening and Sophie raising her eyebrows. Ben looked at him with a pointed look, are you sure that’s a good idea?

Anthony ignored him.

He was helping out his friend. He had basically lived with Kate for all of university.

What could go wrong?

Kate bit her lip. “Anthony, I can’t afford your flat.”

“I own my flat. It’s just temporary until you find the place you’re looking for. I don’t want your money but you can pay whatever you want to pay.” He knew she would probably fight him on this but he would just keep the money and give it back to her later on. “I just don’t want you moving in with some random person, potentially somewhere dangerous. You can use the time to find a proper place.”

“Are you sure?” Kate still didn’t look convinced.

Anthony nodded reassuringly, picking up another box of Kate’s books that hadn’t gotten damaged. “Of course I’m sure.”

He would be able to handle it. He spent most of his time outside of work with Kate anyway. What difference would it make living with her?

Famous last words.

Living with Kate was an interesting experience. It had been nearly a month of them living together and it had gone relatively smoothly. They still argued daily but now it was over how to organize the fridge and what was the best way to stack the dishwasher.

They were weirdly domesticated.

Anthony nearly killed himself most days by tripping over Newton’s toys. That bloody dog was getting on his last nerve. His barking woke Anthony up most mornings and his scratching on the doors when he wanted to get in somewhere. He also loved Anthony’s very expensive Italian leather shoes.

Kate insisted he didn’t mean it but Anthony swore that little shit was smirking at him after chewing his favourite pair of Italian loafers.

“What are you doing?” Anthony asked one night after dinner, narrowing his eyes as he watched the travesty in front of him unravel.

Kate stared at him, as if it was obvious. “Loading the dishwasher.”

“That’s not loading the dishwasher. That’s havoc,” said Anthony, pulling out the plates and bowls she just put in and re-organizing them. “You have to put them together by category. In all of the individual places.”

Kate stared at him like he was insane. “That’s a waste of a wash. You’re leaving it half empty.”

Anthony wasn’t giving in. His way was the only correct way. “It’s neater and it cleans better.”

“It’s better when it’s full,” Kate argued back. “We’re going to have to do another load later. But fine. We’ll do it my way tomorrow and see who is right. It’ll be me.”

“My way is the only way to do it,” Anthony said, chuckling as Kate rolled her eyes and closed the dishwasher door. “You’ll see. There won’t be a mark on those dishes when they’re ready.”

It was the strangest argument they’d ever had.

He oddly liked it.

“Do you want a drink?” He asked, glancing at Kate who had curled up on the couch with Newton on her lap. “Kate,” He said slowly, his face falling. “What is the bread doing in the fridge?”

“How can you eat that?” Anthony asked, staring at Kate eating her takeaway pizza that was covered in pineapple. There wasn’t anything else, just pineapple.

Anthony had never been so disgusted in his life. That was saying something since he spent most of his life living with Colin who inhaled nearly anything he could eat.

It was a Saturday night they were both home, not on dates or out somewhere. Their hours at work were getting more ridiculous. Anthony was working on a merger and Kate was busy as co-council to one of the biggest solicitors in her firm, Agatha Danbury. It was a massive opportunity for her career. They were both exhausted after a long week, and they did their grocery shopping on Tuesdays so the flat was quite empty, so they stayed in and ordered some pizza.

“Anthony, it’s incredible,” Kate said through a mouthful of pizza, shaking her head. “I can’t believe I spent twenty four years of my life not getting pineapple as a topping.”

“I can,” Anthony said, shuddering as he took a bite of his pepperoni and pepper pizza. “It’s wrong.”

“Just try it,” Kate insisted, moving towards him and extending a piece towards him. She nudged him with one of her legs. “You can’t judge it until you try it.”

Kate had really long legs. He had noticed them before, how could he not? The problem he was having now was he couldn’t stop noticing them. Kate changed into shorts the minute she came home. Her flat attire was fluffy socks, a baggy t-shirt and a pair of shorts. He couldn’t help himself from staring at her legs sometimes. They were so long. He was sure she had caught him staring once or twice.

They went on for days.

“You just want one of my pieces,” He said, quickly composing himself as he pushed his box towards her and let her pick a piece. “Fine but I’m going to hate it.”

Kate nudged him with her foot again, crossing her legs. “Just shut up and try it.”

He took a hesitant bite, tasting the sweetness of the pineapple and the bitterness of the tomato landing on his tongue. Surprisingly, they complimented each other really well.

“Ha!” She said gleefully, grinning smugly at him in victory. “You like it!”

“It’s not the worst thing I’ve ever tasted,” He replied suspiciously, taking another bite when Kate wasn’t looking. It just tasted better after each bite. Fruit shouldn't work on pizza but it just did.

After that evening, his pizza order quickly changed.

“Anthony?” He heard Kate shout from her bedroom. He was working in the living room, finishing off some work emails before he stopped for the night.

They had formed a routine of sorts, whenever they were both home. Every evening after they came in from work, they would eat dinner together and catch up on their days. They cooked together whenever they could. Kate would shower and Anthony would catch up on work emails before they watched something on the tv until they both went to bed.

“Yeah?” He shouted back, closing his laptop shut as he walked towards the bathroom door.

“Could you hand me a towel? Sorry, I don’t have my contacts in or my glasses and I can’t see a thing. I forgot mine in my bedroom,” She shouted through the bathroom door. He grabbed her towel on her bed, still slightly warm from the wash she had put on earlier. Ever since she had moved in, all of their laundry had started smelling incredible.

It smelled of soap and lilies.

Like Kate.

“I’m coming in,” He said cautiously, holding out the towel in front of him in case Kate had gotten out of the shower and he would see something he shouldn’t. “Where are you?”

“My hand’s sticking out of the shower, can you put it in my hand? Thanks!” Anthony saw her wiggling fingers through the steamy bathroom air and he passed her the towel, with his eyes mostly closed.

When he heard the shower door shut, he opened his eyes. The shower door’s glass wasn’t clear, so he wouldn’t risk seeing her.

He didn’t expect to see what he did see.

He nearly choked on air.

He could see the outline of her body through the fogged shower glass. He could see the outline of her breasts to the curve of her bum.

He sprinted out of the bathroom as quickly as he entered it, going straight into his bedroom and locking the door behind him. He needed to let off some steam. Twice. He definitely doesn’t think about Kate the entire time.

Definitely not.

“So you’re living together?” Colin and Benedict shared a look, and looked back down at their menus. He had met up with his brothers for breakfast on a Sunday morning.

“Don’t do that.” Anthony glared at his brothers, shaking his head. “Yes. We’re temporarily living together while she finds a flat. It’s fine.”

“What?” They said in unison, far too innocently. Anthony knew exactly what they were implying, Ben had pulled him aside after he had offered and told him it wasn’t a good idea. Anthony didn’t want to hear it. It was fine. He was doing fine.

“That thing you two are doing. It’s incredibly annoying. Kate and I are friends, and her flat flooded. Me, being a good friend, said she could stay at mine.”

“Well, I don’t know about you, Ben,” Colin said, taking a long sip of his coffee before continuing. “I don’t make a habit of living with girls I’m secretly in love with.”

Benedict choked on his coffee, bringing his napkin up to mouth and trying to cover his laugh.

“I’m not-” Anthony protested, sinking into his seat and glaring at his laughing brothers. “Piss off, the pair of you.”

“Seriously, Ant. What are you doing?” Colin said, the tone of his voice sounding sincere but Anthony was still suspicious. “We’re only saying this because we don’t want you to get hurt. This is dangerous territory. What if she brings a guy back? What are you going to do then?”

“You were not a fun person to be around when she went out with that bloke David.” Benedict added, shrugging when Anthony’s glare shifted to him. “To think of it, you’ve never liked a single guy she’s ever dated.”

“That’s because they were all idiots,” Anthony snapped, completely ignoring Colin’s question. He didn’t want to think about that. He couldn’t. He didn’t think Kate would bring a guy back to his and he had certainly stopped bringing women back. He didn’t want to anymore. “Kate was far too good for all of them.”

“Well, who is?” Colin asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Who is what?”

“Good enough for Kate,” Colin said, clearly challenging him. “You’ve never liked any of the guys she’s been with. Who is good enough?”

“That’s not true.” Yes, it definitely was. “I’ve liked some of them.”

“You said that Jake guy from a few months ago was too needy.” Benedict chimed in, shrugging at Anthony as he made Colin’s point.

“The name Jake said enough already.” Anthony reasoned, nodding in thanks as a waitress brought them their food.

Ben raised an eyebrow. “You hated David.”

Anthony nodded enthusiastically. “I still hate that weasel. He spent a year cheating on her!”

“That wasn’t why you hated him and you know it,” Benedict said, challenging Anthony to argue with him. How could he? Ben was right. Anthony had disliked him from the start and it had only gotten worse.

“There was also that publisher Kevin that you didn’t like.”

Anthony didn’t even try to deny that one. “He talked too much about himself. It was exhausting trying to keep up a conversation with the guy.”

“We’re saying this because we care about you,” Colin said through a mouthful of his English breakfast. “Just tell her you love her or be careful, Ant. This could blow up in your face.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. Tell me about your photography exhibit,” Anthony asked Benedict, swiftly changing the subject. His brothers didn’t push the subject any further and they left it at that.

He had a heavy, sick feeling in the pit of his stomach for the rest of the meal.

He had a terrible feeling that they were right.

“Hey!” He called as he got back from the flat. His brothers had worked him up so much he had gone food shopping to distract himself.

It was a weird coping mechanism, but it worked.

“Hi!” Kate called from the couch, Newton snoring loudly on the seat beside her. “How was brunch?”

“Men don’t go for brunch, Kate.”

Kate pulled a face. “Masculinity? Fragile is calling.”

Anthony rolled his eyes, carrying the bags to the kitchen counter to unload them. “It was good. Ben is really excited about his gallery. It looks like it'll open in about three weeks. It’s good to see him so passionate and happy about something."

“I can’t wait until we get to see it. That’s amazing,” She said, walking towards the counter and beginning to help him unpack. “You went shopping?”

“Yeah." He nodded, running a hand through his hair. "I passed a shop and figured I’d grab a few bits to get us through until the shop.”

“Did something happen?” Kate asked, looking at him in a way that made him uncomfortable. His brothers had gotten into his head and he felt completely on edge.

“Why would something happen?” Anthony responded, trying to keep his tone casual as he

“No reason,” Kate said, still not looking fully convinced. “You usually grocery shop when you’re stressed.”

Sometimes, he really hated how well she knew him. “I knew we were running low, so I just popped in. I got a few bits.”

“You didn’t need a list?” Kate asked, looking into the bags he hadn’t unpacked. He had picked up a few of the snacks she liked, some avocados, M&Ms and salt and vinegar crisps.

“Nope,” He said, he had stopped needing a list a long time ago when it came to Kate’s snack preferences. “Did I forget something?”

“No, you didn’t.” Kate looked slightly bewildered, putting some of the groceries away and looking at the snacks he had gotten her on the counter. “Thank you.”

“No problem,” He shrugged, watching her out of the corner of his eye as she stared at the few snacks for a few seconds with a small smile, before putting them away in their cupboards.

After dinner that evening, they sat on the couch with a snoring Newton between them.

“Why didn’t we do this before?” Anthony asked, they had stopped paying attention to the conspiracy theory documentary on the television a long time ago.

“We’ve drank wine and watched conspiracy theories before,” Kate said, her red wine stained lips breaking out into an amused smile.

“No, this,” He said, gesturing with his finger to the both of them. “Live together.”

Her smile disappeared. “You know why.”

“Why?”

“Don’t play stupid, Anthony.”

“I’m not,” He argued, but he was. He wanted to hear what she would say, if she had anything to say. “I’m curious about your answer.”

Kate didn’t say anything for a few moments, playing with a loose thread from the blanket on her lap. “It would have been dangerous. Something could have happened that we would both regret.”

“It hasn’t before.” He didn’t know why he said it, why he didn’t say something a year ago-but he did.

“Exactly,” Kate said, sighing as she carefully lifted Newton off the couch and into her arms. “I’m wrecked. I’m going to head to bed. Night, Ant.”

The conversation had ended as quickly as it had begun.

Anthony went to bed, confused and disappointed.

He fell asleep, deep in his thoughts and feeling like he was spiraling more and more out of control.

Anthony woke up to a loud crash of thunder outside, the strike of lightning illuminating his curtains.

He immediately thought of her. Kate.

He sat up, grabbing his phone and sending her a text. If he didn’t get an answer in the next minute, he’d go in and check on her. He didn’t want to go in straight away, he didn’t want to startle her. He chose to text her first.

Anthony: Are you awake?

The response was almost immediate.

Kate: yeah, you?

Anthony: Come to my room. If you want.

He didn’t know if he had gone too far, asking her to come into his room. They had shared a bed plenty of times before but the conversation earlier had made him feel strange. Why had he opened his stupid mouth? He never should have said anything.

He was overthinking this.

None of that mattered. The thunderstorm outside was raging and he knew Kate was terrified. That’s what mattered. She had improved over the years, she no longer went into a catatonic state where she couldn’t move or speak for ages until the storm had passed. She still got scared whenever a storm happened but she would try to put on a brave face. He spent many nights facetiming her during a storm until she fell asleep.

He never wanted her to feel alone.

He heard the door creak open. He heard Newton’s loud breaths and paws scrap against the duvet as he jumped onto the bed, settling near Anthony’s feet.

“Hey.” He mumbled, as she crawled in beside him. He could feel her shaking, his feet were so cold as they brushed his. He pulled her against his chest, his hands moving up and down her arms as he tried to warm her up.

“Hi,” She murmured back, pulling the covers around her. The thunder was so loud it felt like it could strike the apartment, and she jumped in his arms.

“Hey, hey,” He murmured soothingly, running his hand slowly up and down her back. “You’re okay. I’m here, okay? Newton’s here. You’re going to be okay.”

He felt something damp on his cotton t-shirt and he knew Kate was crying. “I’m sorry, it’s so stupid. I should be over this by now-”

“It’s not stupid,” He shook his head vehemently. “You’re talking to a man who is still scared of bees. You don’t have to be over anything. Okay?”

“Okay.” She replied, her voice incredibly small it made his heart ache.

They lay there for a while, Anthony doing most of the talking as he tried to distract her from the loud clashes of thunder outside. Anthony couldn’t fall asleep until he was sure Kate was, with her head on his chest as she lightly snored.

When he woke up the next morning with her face buried in his neck, and his arms completely around her, he didn’t do anything.

He didn’t want to do anything.

He wanted to stay there forever.

It just felt right.

It felt like it was the place he was meant to be.

He fell straight back asleep.

[sirphillipcranestanaccount]

Men of Taste

Gregory asks his brothers-in-law for some advice

OR

Phillip gets embarrassed

OR

Micheal has fun in the peanut gallery

For Bridgerton Appreciation week Day 1 prompt: "Do it, be bold"

Rated T

Read on Ao3

[newtonsheffield]

Can I just say you are amazing for writing about Gregory and Lucy. It is so hard to find any FF about them. Also love your soft kink stories for Gregory and Lucky. Please keep them coming ❤. You are a great writer

Oh I know how hard it is to find Greg and Lucy fic!

There’s basically none! And we all know how much I love Greg and Lucy at this point right??

I named my dog after Gregory Bridgerton.

Huh. I guess it is soft kink? I haven’t super thought about it that way 🤷🏻‍♀️

Super glad you like them though!

And I’m really excited to write about Lucy this week!

I really wanted to write Unexpected from Lucy’s POV but it just seemed to work better from Gregory’s unfortunately

[butterflybuckethat]

Blotter

Notes: (grown) Gregory x Reader - Michaelmas in July?

Summary: Hyacinth always told you her brother, Gregory, was annoying and not to talk to him; so, as her best friend, you thought he was annoying and didn't talk to him. But then he returned from Oxford, all tall, handsome, and quite insistent on marrying you. You told yourself he was kidding, but at what point do you admit to yourself that you kind of liked him too?

Warnings: Making out, nothing major.

🦋masterlist 🦋

“I received another offer, Lord Windermere.” “You do not want to marry him.” Gregory responded, kicking his feet up on the table before his mother glared at him. He was visiting home from Oxford. ‘Tired of the food,’ apparently. “Why not?” You took a sip of your tea, “He has been perfectly kind and quite nice looking.” Gregory gave you a look. “He prefers the company of men.” “Yes, I am aware he has many friends. But what-“ “Close friends.” He quipped. “Inseparable.” Hyacinth added. “What of it?” Violet, who had been previously hiding behind her embroidery, leaned forward to color you in. “Oh,” you bit your fingernail, “ I suppose I should be paying more attention.” “It is only the remainder of your life.” You swatted at Hyacinth, eliciting a giggle from her. “You could always marry me.”

“You are shameless. Do you always flirt in front of your mother?” “You, my dear, are the exception.” Hyacinth and you had been best friends since before you could remember and Gregory was this little bee, occasionally buzzing around. But he had grown tall and handsome with prominent cheekbones and floppy brown hair. There was no denying you felt some sort of way toward him. That is what happens when you spend enough time around someone, you care. He cared too. All the Bridgeton’s knew that holidays were hard for you, with a dead mother and absentee father, but he was the only one to slip a present into your coat pocket every year around Michaelmas, without fail. The only reason you knew it was from him was because of the ink smudged on the wrapping paper- his hands were constantly covered in it. Some of your best ribbons were from Gregory. "Is that not your third offer this season?"Hyacinth asked, her face turning all squinty. "Fourth." Violet patted your hand, "Quite an accomplishment for your first season." "You must be careful or you might get the reputation of being a jilt." Hyacinth looked almost excited at the prospect. If you had just met her you probably would have thought she was rooting for your demise, but you knew that she had yet to see a reputation crumble in this manner and was simply beyond curious to witness it. "I am not concerned, my dowry is quite large." You groaned a little. That was not an appropriate thing to say but you said it anyway, like always. "Wonderful, you will be surrounded by vultures." Gregory scoffed. "Violet?" Kate shuffled into the drawing-room looking very nervous, an expression that she did not wear often. "This will be good." Hyacinth whispered. You typically took tea at 5 Bruton, Violet's residence, but today you were all at Aubrey Hall. Kate was throwing the Bridgerton's annual Michaelmas Ball and she needed her mother-in-law for moral support, and actual support. She explained that she was not quite sure what she did and brought her to the site of the disaster, Hyacinth nipping at their heels. "I was being sincere, you know." Gregory crossed the table to sit next to you. "About what?" You asked, feigning ignorance. You knew exactly what he was referring to but you wanted to hear him say it again. "About marrying you." "How am I supposed to properly answer a question that was not asked properly?" You teased. "You have not been proper since the day you were born." But he got down on his knees anyways. "Says, mister throws peas across the dinner table." "I was a child!" He exasperated. "There is no excuse for poor table manners." You wagged your finger, imitating Hyacinth's old governess. "She was horrid." Gregory made a face, making you laugh. He then got very serious, "Y/N L/N, will you-" "Greg," you touched his cheek, "I would like to marry for love." "But I do-" "Like a sister." "That's no-" "Gregory?" Violet questioned, back from the crisis, "What on earth are you doing on the floor?" "Nothing, Mother." He grumbled, returning to his seat across from you. Moments later Hyacinth reentered laughing hysterically, recounting Kate's blunder in detail. You were not listening, too focused on biting your cheek hard enough to keep the tears at bay. Violet knew exactly what he was doing, how could she not? What conclusion could you come to but she did not want you in her family? Or perhaps she thought you the jilt that you probably were and did not want that for her son. "Excuse me." You had to get away from there. "Are you alright, dear?" Violet asked, looking so concerned it made the tears want to spill faster. "Yes, I should prepare for this evening." You offered the best smile you could then stepped into the hallway to ask the butler to fetch your maid, Marion. "Y/N?" Gregory asked softly, hands clasped behind his back. "What is wrong? "Nothing, really. It takes ages to do my hair." You joked. He didn't buy it. "Are you ready to go, milady?" You took Marion's elbow and walked out the door. "I will see you tonight! At the party!" He called after you.

You told Marion everything as she helped you get ready for the ball. "He offered his hand in marriage?" "Nearly, I stopped him." "Why? You adore the Bridgerton's." "Yes, but-" "And you have had a crush on him for ages." "W-what?" You stammered. "Remember all those letters you wrote to him when he was at Eton?" "We are friends." "And he flirts with you constantly." "I am not in love with him, Marion." And you ended the conversation there. You were not in love with Gregory Bridgerton. No way. You wore your new emerald green dress, bought specially for the occasion. You had been looking forward to wearing it all month and it felt even better than you had imagined. "Are you certain you do not want me to stay?" "Absolutely, go see your grandmother. I will be at the ball until morning, anyway." Marion did not have much family either, except her grandmother living in hospice. It was tradition for her to spend Michaelmas eve with her. "Please, give her my best." "I will see you early tomorrow." She kissed your cheek and ushered you into the carriage.

The ball was in full swing and your feet already hurt from dancing. You had been avoiding Gregory all evening, dancing with every man who asked you before he even got a chance. "Would you care to dance?" You reached out your hand to take the man's. "No." Gregory intercepted and dragged you out to the floor. He pulled you close, closer than was probably acceptable, his arm snaked across the back of your waist. "You have been avoiding me." You looked up at him and your breath caught in your throat. He looked such the man. A new fire flickering behind his eyes, suddenly no longer the puppy you knew him as. The music started up. "Sorry." "Don't apologize. Tell me why." You bit your lip, unsure of what to answer. He groaned. Gregory was a wonderful dancer, how you never noticed this before you did not know. Your hand floated from his shoulder to his neck and you giggled when he dipped you, a smirk on his face. You danced the following number with him, as well. It was a Quadrille which you were terrible at. It was too fast and you never learned all of the steps. "That was my foot." Gregory winced. "Are you certain?" "Quite. It is throbbing now." "Prove it." He stepped on your foot. "Is your foot throbbing?" "Yes." You ground out. "There you have it." You laughed heartily. He accompanied you off the dance floor toward the lemonade table. "Do you have the time?" Gregory checked his pocket watch. "Quarter to midnight." Your heart stopped. "I must leave." You walked as briskly as you could, without drawing attention to yourself, toward the exit. Gregory tried to follow but was intercepted by Lady Danbury's cane. You waited impatiently in the hall as the butler searched for your coat and called your carriage. There was laughter coming from a little room off the side, you walked tentatively over. Anthony's study, the door was open. You peered inside; Anthony, Benedict, and Colin were sitting around a table playing cards, speaking very seriously about, seemingly, nothing at all. “Ah yes, a meeting of the minds.” You couldn't resist. All three turned to you. “The mouth has grown.” Anthony commented, recovering from his surprise the quickest. “We are your elders. Have you not learned to respect us?” Benedict teased, giving you his signature lopsided grin. “My apologies! Sometimes I do not th-" “Save your apologies. They are not offended.” Gregory was next to you now. “No Greg, let your girl apologize.” Colin shoved a biscuit in his mouth. “For an accurate assessment of you three? I think not.” Gregory shot back. Benedict groaned and passed Colin a bill. “You were right, she is his girl.” “All you Bridgertons. Shameless.” “I thought you would be used to it by now, Y/N.” Kate moved past you to wrap her arms around Anthony’s shoulders. “I should go.” You said again, remembering the time. “Pay them no mind.” “Breathe, Gregory. I know they were only teasing. But I must leave, nonetheless.” You were saying your goodbyes as quickly as you could. “I wish you would stay with us.” Hyacinth pleaded. “Marion is expecting me. I will return tomorrow.” You promised and let the footman help you into the carriage.

You arrived home in the nick of time. Rushing through the door, throwing off your coat, and gathering all your supplies from where you stashed them in the closet. It was your mother's tradition to light all the candles in the windows at midnight. You almost didn't make it. You breathed a sigh of relief when they were all lit. The house was dark and you were all alone. It terrified you the first time. It was right after Marion's grandmother got sick and could not come over, so you lit the candles early with Marion. She went to see her grandmother and you went over to the Bridgertons, but it wasn't the same. So the next year you lied: made up some excuse not to light the candles early, promised you would go to Bridgerton's, but stayed home. As night drew near, you became wary so you ran upstairs searching through closets to find something with which to defend yourself. Tucked in some corner, you found an old pall-mall set. You took the black one, your own Death Mallet, and kept it with you ever since. There was a knock on the door. You rose slowly, creeping towards it with the mallet raised above your head. They knocked again. You hugged the walls until you reached the front door. Carefully undoing the latch and turning the knob. Maybe it was Marion? You forced your breathing to slow. It was most likely Marion. You pulled the door open just a crack, peering out to get a glimpse, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Gregory." You opened the door the whole way, stepping aside so he could enter. "Were you planning on bludgeoning me?" He looked around, taking in the emptiness of the place. "Are you by yourself?" The door slammed shut. It was just you and he, in the dark. "What are you doing here? Why aren't you with your family?" You followed him into the sitting room. “They will not miss me.” He dismissed. “Greg..." “I told Colin.” You smiled at that. "Although, I did not know you would be by yourself." "You're right." You brought your hand to your mouth, "This is all very improper." "Fuck propriety." "Gregory!" You gasped. He said his apology with a little grin on his face. "I only meant that I would have come sooner, regardless of Colin." He pushed the table out of the way and sat on the floor with his back against the couch. He patted the spot next to you. You hesitated. "Come on" he egged and you obliged. "This wouldn't all be some ruse to get me to marry you, would it?" "No. But that would be rather clever, don't you think?" You sat in comfortable silence for a moment. “Thank you for all the presents over the years.” He turned to face you, resting his elbow on the plush seat of the couch. “How did you know they were from me?” You took his hand and tugged on each finger of his gloves till it gave way. The moon shone through the windows just bright enough for you to see the little blots of black ink around his fingertips. “The ink." You said, showing him. "Not much has changed, I see.” “A lot has changed.” "Oh?" He rose to his knees and cupped your face with both his hands, gloved and ungloved. "Look at me Y/N. Look at me!" He released you and backed away a little, registering the startled look on your face. "I am not a child anymore. Can't you see that?" You could do nothing but stare, taken completely by surprise by his outburst. He sat back down with a sigh and looked up at the ceiling, "I read your letters." "You never wrote back." Gregory's first year at Eton, you were over at Aubrey Hall having tea. Violet offhandedly mentioned that he was feeling homesick, so you decided to write him a letter. It was short, describing one of your and Hyacinth's recent hijinks. But you found that you enjoyed writing him and kept at it. They got more intimate over the years, telling him things that wouldn't even dare tell Hyacinth. It did not matter that he did not write back, you knew you could trust him. You knew he would understand and that instinct was only solidified when he's come home summers and answer all your questions. Gregory laughed. "I was so in love with you, I didn't know what to say. It was too easy to let it

all come pouring out." "You loved me?" It came out barely a whisper. "Always." "Why didn't you say something?" "I tried." He looked at you, a little pained, "I tried this morning." Then occupied himself removing his other glove. "Not like a sister. Never like a sister." You twisted yourself to face him, tugging on the sleeve of his shirt, dragging his body towards yours. Your mind was racing but you couldn't pick out a single thought. Tingles rushed through your entire being, every limb anticipating what was about to happen. You watched his lips part and brought them down to yours. His hands were around your waist, and yours at the back of his neck and threaded in his hair. He groaned when you tugged and pushed you down to the carpet. You relished in his weight above you. Never in your life did you think you would end up here: kissing Gregory Bridgerton- and enjoying it more than you may have anything ever. You whined when he left your mouth. He dragged his tongue along your jaw and settled at your neck. He sucked at your pulse point and you let out a moan. You tugged at his shirt, untucking it from his breeches. You moaned again, his hand squeezing at your breast. "Y/N." He spoke deep and husky. "Yes?" You barely recognized your own voice. He fell to the floor next to you, keeping your chests together. He kissed you again. "Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

The Bridgerton's cheered when you told them the news, except Hyacinth. "Are you certain you want to marry him?" "Absolutely." You laughed. "Then I am happy for you, sister." she squealed. You joined Gregory next to his mother, she had tears in her eyes. "I am so happy for you both." Violet took your hand. "Are you certain?" You were nervous, anticipating her answer. She was your second mother and you so badly wanted her to see you as one of her daughters. "Of course, I am. Why would you think otherwise?" "This morning-" Violet leaned in and placing her hand on your cheek and whispered, "You were not ready. Are you in love with him?" "Yes," a bright smiled gracing your features, "for longer than I realized."

[butterflybuckethat]

 Wildflower - Gregory Bridgerton x Reader 

Summary: You’ve been exchanging letters with a man you have yet to meet but the moment he mentions potentially coming to London, the letters dry up. While you were digging through your best friend, Gregory Bridgerton’s, wardrobe to find him a shirt without a stain or a tear you find them.

🦋 Masterlist 🦋

[irishseeeker]

                                                the story of us

summary:  Five times Kate Sheffield and Anthony Bridgeton were just friends and one time they were more.

find chapter 1 here or here 

------

chapter 2:  I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?

Anthony Bridgerton’s summer gets significantly better the minute Kate Sheffield steps off the train.

He’d been abroad for the first two weeks of the summer with friends from university, Kate had only come for a few days before she went away with Mary and her sister, and he returned to England to wait out the rest of the summer with his family. He couldn’t stay away for too long, the guilt of leaving his mother and siblings alone would nag at him until he couldn’t focus on anything else. They needed him.

When they hugged on the platform, the familiar, comforting scent of lilies and soap filled his nostrils and he felt this calm feeling seep deep into his bones.

He’d missed her.

When they broke apart, he took her suitcase and he raised an eyebrow at the bouquet of red roses tied up with brown paper and a ribbon.

“Aw, did you get me flowers?” He teased, and she stuck her tongue out at him. He snorted loudly.

“They’re for your mum, dipshit.”

He pulled up her suitcase’s handle, beginning to wheel it and walk with her off the platform. “Charming. What did you get me?”

“Oh, this.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out her middle finger, smirking as she waved it at him.

They walked out of the train station and towards his car. It was a quiet station, right in the middle of the countryside. The main station was in the middle of town, which was a twenty minute drive.

He pressed a button on his car keys and the boot automatically opened. He was driving their Range Rover, one of their bigger cars for the country. They always spent the summer at their country home Aubrey Hall in Kent, leaving London for most of the summer.

The countryside used to be his favourite place.

Now, it just reminded him of his father. Every room and the long hallways were plagued with memories. Memories that would only grow older. His father wouldn’t. His father would never be a part of another memory.

“Jesus, did you pack your entire wardrobe in here?” He huffed as he bent down, putting his weight onto his knees as he hauled her suitcase into the boot.

She scoffed. "You brought at least six suitcases to university.”

They climbed into the car, Anthony clicked in his seatbelt. He turned to glance at Kate, who was tying her hair back in a plait. The golden sun shone through the window, lighting up Kate’s face and dotting it with subtle sparkles.

It suddenly became quite hard to breathe.

“Anthony?”

Her timid voice snapped him out of his daze, turning to her. “Yeah?”

Kate was frowning at him, her nose wrinkling like it always did. “You’re staring. Is there something on my face?”

“I wasn’t staring,” He mumbled, turning on the car and avoiding her eyes. “We better get back. Mum will kill me if we’re late for lunch.”

“I hope your mum hasn’t gone to too much trouble,” Kate murmured, fiddling with her hands with a nervous expression on her face. He knew that look, he had seen it a lot over the past two years. She was biting her bottom lip, which was an unwelcome distraction while he was driving. “It’s so nice of her to let me stay.”

He had been with Kate for five minutes and his mind was already drifting there.

It started a few weeks ago.

He had a dream.

It had started out relatively normal. He was laying on his bed, naked, wrapped in a white sheet. He wasn’t alone.

A woman was with him. A naked woman, her long legs covered by the white sheet. He couldn’t tell who she was at first, laying flat on her stomach tucked against his side.

He notices the dark curls first.

Anthony wraps a thick strand around his hand, watching it slowly twirl around his fingers and wrist. He can see the sharp edge of her jawline, the flutter of her long eyelashes and the fullness of her rose tinted lips.

All of her features form a face.

Kate.

Her face is carved into his memory. He can’t stop thinking about the sprinkle of dark freckles across her nose, the slight pink tint to her cheeks and the delicate leanness of her fingers as they stroked his cheek.

It’s like he never truly saw her before and now she’s all he can see.

The dream always ended the same way. Kate slowly moves on top of him, her hands on either side of his face as her body pressed against his, chest against chest. She leans down slowly, their lips inches apart-

He always wakes up the same way-panting and sweating.

At first, he thought it didn’t mean anything. Kate may be the first woman he had a platonic relationship with that he wasn’t related to and having a sexual dream about her didn’t mean anything.

It couldn’t mean anything.

But-

He kept having the same dream.

The woman was always Kate.

It was ruining his life.

It’s not like he had never noticed Kate. He wasn’t blind. She had always been beautiful. Anthony had just never thought of her that way. He had never allowed himself too.

Kate was his best friend. Kate had sat down in the same tutorial as him and quickly began to argue with him and he had been stuck ever since.

He wouldn’t lose her because of his behavior. His track record with women had been treacherous and Anthony knew it was mostly his fault.

Something had died inside of him when his father did and he had accepted that. It wasn’t fair to expect others to as well. He was emotionally unavailable and he wasn’t ready for a relationship. Siena had proven that.

That painful disaster wasn't something he planned to repeat.

He couldn’t fix himself. There was a part of him that would always be broken.

Anthony realized he hadn’t responded to Kate, so he asked her about her trip. He knew most of the details, they had facetimed nearly every day since they had been apart.

Kate had suddenly appeared in his life and she had remained there ever since. It still frightened him, how in two years she had become so vital. Kate had become his anchor. He never intended for her to happen but it was out of his control. Kate had fit into his life in a way no one else had since his father had.

She was the first person in a long time Anthony felt understood him. There had only been one other person who ever could and he had died.

Kate had lost her dad too. It wasn’t a taboo topic between them. They could speak openly about who they had lost and they understood each other.

He didn’t have to be anything for her. He didn’t have to be her emotional support person like he had to for his mother. He didn’t have to be a surrogate father like he did for his siblings. He didn’t have any pressurizing responsibilities like he did in every other part of his life and he didn’t have to put on a false façade that he was fine and everything was fine.

Anthony would do anything for Kate, he just didn’t have to. It was a comforting thought that lifted the heavy weight off his shoulders just a little.

He had survived two years without crossing that line with Kate.

His subconscious had decided to take it upon itself and do it for him. It was as if a switch inside of his brain had flicked and it was all he could think about. Thinking of Kate in that way.

Lately, Kate was all he could think about.

He was convinced his subconscious was playing tricks on him-if something was meant to happen between them, it would have.

It didn’t matter, in the end.

Kate would never see him in that way. Kate had always been hard to read but he had become accustomed to seeing through the cracks in her built up walls and he was certain she would never feel anything for him but friendship.

He could live with that.

He just couldn’t live without her.

“Here we are,” He said, nodding his head towards the house as they pulled up at the two black iron gates guarding the property. He pushed on the break, reaching out the window to type in the key code to open the gates. “Aubrey Hall.”

“Wow,” Kate said, leaning forward towards the dashboard as they drove up the long pebbled driveway towards the house. “It’s beautiful. It’s finally time to meet the Bridgertons.”

Anthony let out a low chuckle, nodding his head. He didn’t doubt for a second Kate knew every little detail he had told her about all of his siblings, he did talk about them a lot. She had met Benedict and Colin a few times when they visited Oxford and had seen Benedict quite a bit once he became a student himself but she had never met his younger siblings or his mother.

He had never brought anyone to Aubrey Hall before.

His mother, of course, appeared at the front door as soon as the car came to a stop. He didn’t doubt she had been waiting at the window, peeking behind their curtains for them to arrive. Violet Bridgerton had been asking a lot of questions about Kate since Anthony had asked if she could come to stay.

His mother didn’t ask questions without insinuations behind them.

Benedict and Colin had found it particularly amusing, taking every opportunity to take the piss out of Anthony. They gleefully egged on their mother’s eagerness of meeting Anthony’s potential girlfriend despite Anthony reminding his family daily Kate was his friend.

Apparently, he talked about Kate a lot. He obviously disagreed, which made Ben and Colin tease him further. What fun things do you have planned for you and Kate when she comes, Anthony? A romantic picnic in the gardens? What would Kate say about that, Anthony? Aw, didn’t you and Kate do that Anthony? Anthony, are you feeling okay? You haven’t talked about Kate in five minutes. The girls had even joined in. Even Frannie, his sworn ally, had teased him a little.

Traitor.

He was adamant he did not talk about Kate that much.

It was a perfectly normal amount.

They got out of the car and Violet walked towards them, ignoring Anthony as she pulled Kate into a hug. “Kate, it’s so wonderful to finally meet you. Please, come in! Anthony, get her bags darling.”

“Miss Bridgerton, it is so nice to meet you. Thank you so much for having me,” Kate said, handing her the bouquet of tulips and a gift bag. “It’s not much, but I hope you like them.”

“Kate, we have heard so much about you.” Violet Bridgerton smiled at her and gasped at the gifts, ignoring Anthony’s glare at her jibe and Benedict’s snort from the doorway. “Oh! You shouldn’t have. Thank you so much. These are gorgeous, I’ll have to get a vase-girls, stop that right now! Excuse me, dear.”

Daphne and Eloise were on their third argument of the day, right on schedule. They quickly shut up and ran away from their scowling mother who was charging towards them.

They all watched Violet in amusement before turning back to each other, and Benedict grinned at Kate and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

“Katharine.”

“Benedict.” Kate chimed back at him, reaching up to squeeze his cheek. “You’re so grown up.”

Benedict turned to smirk at Anthony, his eyes sparking with amusement. “Anthony has been counting down the days until you arrive. Marking them off that little corgi calendar you gave him, bless his little heart-”

Kate gasped, turning to Anthony delighted. It made something inside of his chest flutter a little. “You’re using the calendar?”

Anthony shrugged, trying to appear unbothered. “It’s practical. The girls liked the pictures.”

“Ben, I hope you’re not taking the piss out of our brother without me.”

Lord give him strength.

Colin, his 18 year old brother who was about to set off travelling on his gap year in a few weeks, strolled into the room. His brown hair was sticking up in all directions and he probably just woke up.

Benedict, smug as ever, turned to smirk at his younger brother. “I was only warming up.”

“Hey, Kate.” Colin grinned easily at her, crossing his arms as he joined them. “Don’t lie, Anthony. The girls liked looking at it for a few minutes. I drew a penis on it one time and you got all moody-”

Anthony narrowed his eyes at his brothers.“I will murder you, you know that right?”

Kate glanced between the three brothers, looking highly amused. “This is going to be fun.”

Deciding he had had enough of his brothers for the afternoon and validly cautious of what else was going to come out of their mouths, he gestured towards the staircases. He nudged Kate along. “As delightful as this little catchup is, I’m going to show Kate her room.”

“Can we get you guys anything? A snack? A condom?” Colin called after them, Benedict and his snickering filling the hallway. Kate snorted from beside him, jogging up the steps.

Anthony threw the first thing he could grab, which happened to be one of Hyacinth’s tiny pink uggs. It narrowly avoided his great aunt’s blue clay pot on the hall table as it hit Colin smack on the head.

“I’d ask for one but then you’d actually have to be having some to need them, right Col?” Anthony winked at his brother who was rubbing his head, glaring at Anthony from across the hall. “Hang in there, mate.”

“I have plenty of sex, thank you very-”

“Colin Bridgerton!”

His mother had walked into the hallway just as her third youngest opened his mouth and landed himself right in it. Her jaw dropped open and Anthony took the opportunity, laughing at his squirming brother, to nudge Kate upstairs just as his mother started giving out to Colin.

“They’re idiots,” Anthony said, rolling his eyes as they walked along the first floor’s maroon carpet towards her bedroom. His eyes anxiously flicked towards Kate, hoping they could ignore the awkward mention of condoms.

He was going to kill Colin later.

“Funny idiots,” Kate agreed, smiling at him as her eyes moved around the hallway and the painting and pictures on the walls. All of the siblings were on the first floor, except for Gregory and Hyacinth who were on the second floor with their mother.

“I’ll give you a tour later, let's just drop off your stuff first.” He opened the door to the guest room, that would someday be Gregory’s room-it was right opposite his bedroom. “Here we are. I’m just across the hall.”

“This place is incredible. It’s so beautiful,” Kate said, turning to him with a teasing smile. She dramatically bowed, her long dark hair flipping over her head and back as she stood up. “Lord Bridgerton.”

“Fuck right off,” Anthony said, collapsing on the bed and Kate joined him. The familiar memorizing scent of lilies and soap filled his nostrils. Kate had looked up their families on an ancestry website last year and had found out Anthony was from a long line of nobility and had called him Lord Bridgerton for a solid month.

God, he had missed her.

He turned to her, flexing his biceps as he stretched his stiff arms over his head. “Are you happy to be home?”

She nodded, her chest moving up and down slowly as she relaxed on the bed. “I loved being away, but it’s so nice to be back and to be home. Did you get my postcards?”

The last person he had gotten a postcard from had been his grandmother when he was younger until Kate. She’d sent him a few from around Europe, from Rome to Paris, and he kept them all in the drawer beside his bed. He’d started eagerly checking the postbox everytime post had come once she had started sending them. “I did. They were great. They’re in my room. Otherwise, Gregory or Hyacinth would find them and colour them in. I loved the Amsterdam one.”

“I thought you would. Oh! I got you presents,” Kate said gleefully, pulling neatly wrapped bundles out of her bag as she sat up on the bed and crossed her legs. “They’re not much, but I thought you might like them.”

“You didn’t need to get me anything,” Anthony said, completely stunned as he took the presents Kate eagerly handed him. She looked so excited and it made his stomach flutter uncomfortably.

It wasn’t butterflies. Anthony didn’t get butterflies. It was probably a digestion issue or something.

He unwrapped the first present, grinning at the perfectly neat wrapping. It was so Kate. Each corner was perfectly taped and folded properly. He unwrapped a small shot glass wrapped in bubble wrap.

“A shot glass, of course.”

He let out a low chuckle, “I wouldn’t expect anything less, Sheffield. Thank you, this is brilliant.”

The next present was a big box of foreign sweets and crisps, ones that reminded him of being on holiday. There was a mixture of haribos, chewy sweets from Spain and exotic crisp flavors that you could never get in England.

His mouth watered. He had an extreme sweet tooth and Kate was always pestering him to eat some fruit or vegetables. He’d smugly remind her he’d never had a cavity. “This is amazing. I’ll be hiding these from everyone or they’ll be gone in an hour.”

He unwrapped the next package which was an assortment of jams, of different colours and varieties.

She grinned as she pointed out the different flavors. “I thought you’d like them for when we go back to university. I know how much you love jam, I wouldn’t want you to starve. I got them in Normandy, at a farmer’s market. The pear one is unbelievable.”

Anthony had never been gifted in the kitchen. They’d been lucky to grow up with nannies and cooks, and both his parents had been talented in the kitchen-something that was not passed onto Anthony. Besides meals in the catering hall at university, Anthony had solely survived on toast with butter or jam before Kate took pity on him and started feeding him.

“This is the last and my favourite one.”

The package felt soft and he carefully unwrapped it, curiously pulling the little bag out of the paper. It was a brown leather case with a fine detail of stitching around the edge.

“It’s made out of Italian leather,” Kate explained, gesturing to the case. “It’s a case for your pocket watch, so you don’t break it. It can clip onto anything, so you’ll always have it.”

“Thank you,” He mumbled, looking oddly dazed. He reached into his pocket, slowly pulling out the silver chained pocket watch his father had passed onto him. It didn’t really make sense, having a pocket watch when watches and iPhones existed. It was old fashioned.

The watch had been passed through the Bridgertons for years and his father had loved it. He’d let Anthony play with it when he was younger until he had been given it on his eight birthday. It was one of the last things Anthony had of Edmund Bridgerton before he died.

He opened his mouth to say something, failing to find any words that could explain how grateful he was. The pocket watch slid into the case perfectly. “Kate. This is..this is amazing. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Kate said, smiling softly at him and lightly squeezing his arm. He was staring right into her soft brown eyes, full of warmth and kindness. She knew how much it meant to him and she had thought about him and got him this.

He wasn’t used to people thinking about him like that.

He felt something stirring inside of him, a tight feeling in his chest about to burst as he looked at her. She was looking right at him and he swore he saw her eyes flicker between his eyes and lips. “Kate-”

They both jumped startled as their eye contact broke, the moment fading, when there was a loud knock on the door, followed by a voice. “Anthony? Kate? Lunch is ready.”

They stood up slowly, Anthony sliding the protected pocket watch into his pocket and clipping it to the inside of his pocket’s material and headed to the door.

Benedict had been the one sent to fetch them, Colin was nowhere in sight. “Colin is trying to convince Mum to let him eat lunch. His comment didn’t go down well earlier and he’s apparently corrupting our younger siblings.”

Anthony let out a deep chuckle, turning to Kate with a smirk. “If you want to punish Colin, take away his food. He inhales anything in sight.”

Once they sat down for lunch, Kate was an immediate big hit with the Bridgertons. Hyacinth threw a fit until she was allowed to eat lunch on Anthony’s lap, quite suspicious about his new friend. Kate quickly got into her good graces when she put two carrot sticks in her mouth to look like a walrus, making walrus noises until Hyacinth laughed so hard she spat out some of her juice.

Daphne chats away to Kate about her plans to study architecture in Cambridge after her final year in school, which Anthony had spent the last few weeks helping her prepare for her applications and for her interviews. Daph announced she was pleased there was finally another female in the house to combat the massive levels of testosterone, as Eloise apparently didn’t count (who gives her the finger which their mother quickly scolds her for) and Frannie is always disappearing.

Anthony knows he shouldn’t have favourites. He loves all of his siblings, he really does-but Francesca is his favourite.

His brothers are his best friends, Daph is the person he shares a lot of the same hobbies with-riding, swimming and Eloise is the person he debates and watches documentaries with. At six and three, Gregory and Hyacinth are still babies. It’s different with them, they don’t remember their father. Anthony desperately tried to be that for them. He had to take care of them after their father died and Hyacinth was born a month after and their mother didn’t leave bed for weeks. Anthony is definitely their favourite sibling and it does wonders for his ego.

Francesca, however, is Anthony.

They both aren’t the loud ones-they leave that to Colin and Eloise. They’re not the artistic ones either-Daphne and Benedict were the ones who had art shows and were stars in their school plays.

Anthony is pretty sure Francesca is the only other sibling who will join the family business in the future. He can’t say for sure because Gregory and Hyacinth are so young, but he doesn’t doubt if for a second for Francesca. They read the newspaper most mornings together, they send each other articles and book recommendations when she’s at home and he’s at university. They’re both fiercely competitive and play on any sports team they can.

Frannie is very serious for a twelve year old with an incredible emotional intelligence, something Anthony was always told he was like, except for the emotional intelligence part-he’s been told he’s rather lacking in that area-and he knows she worries about him. Their father’s death had given him a responsibility that he didn’t want her to have. Francesca didn’t agree. She had been nine when he passed. Yet, she had always been at this side-helping with the babies, insisting he ate if he had forgotten and talking to Colin when he acted out in grief and fought against Anthony helping him.

They had all helped each other in their grief but Francesca was the one who saved Anthony from drowning.

They understood each other and Anthony wouldn’t have survived that first year after Edmund’s death without her. Their mother had been recovering from a traumatic birth and was still grieving, he had cancelled his gap year plans to take care of the family before university and was trying to stop them from falling apart.

Whenever she needed time alone, she disappeared in the house, usually to her bedroom, the library or the treehouse. Anthony had always retreated when he needed some time to breathe. Her spots had become Anthony’s spots, whether it was in Kent or in London, and they would sit in silence doing whatever.

Frannie turns to him one morning at breakfast, handing him the finance part of the paper and taking a sip of her orange juice. “I like her.”

“Kate?” The topic of their conversation was cooking pancakes with Eloise and Daphne, the three of them laughing about something. She catches his eye, grinning at him before turning to listen to what Eloise was saying.

“So do you,” Francesca said, as if it was a casual thing to say. “I think you should, you know. It would be nice, to be happy.”

Anthony actually stutters. “I-I am happy.”

Francesca sighs, shaking her head. “Of course you are. You have been since Kate arrived. I wonder why?”

Everyone else joins the table, cutting off their conversation as they hand out the pancakes. Anthony stares at Frannie in bewilderment before turning back to his food. If his internal battle and feelings were that obvious, he needed to work on being more subtle.

That summer is the best Anthony has ever had.

One warm August afternoon, Anthony takes Kate away from the house so he can get her to himself for a bit. He decides to take her horse riding to the nearby stables where they used to take lessons and go riding.

Anthony hadn’t ridden since the summer of his father’s death. They had spent every summer in Kent before their father died and before that, they had lived there until Anthony was five before permanently moving to London. Their father had always loved riding and had taken them out for rides and lessons, but their mother was never that fussed. Anthony had been shocked when his mother announced she wanted to go back to Aubrey Hall this summer, having been so insistent on staying in London for three years straight. He didn’t think she would ever be able to go back, but she seemed to be coping well so far or he just hadn’t seen her break down.

His siblings could just go to the stables if they wanted to go for a ride, but none of them were that fussed except for Daphne. She had always loved riding and she had competed in competitions for years before quitting to focus on school. It wasn’t the same after their father died, he had always been at every single one of her competitions. It had usually been the two of them and their father going out for rides together during the summer.

Anthony and Daphne had gone for daily rides since their arrival in Kent, deciding to continue the tradition they had always loved. Convincing Kate to, on the other hand, was not looking likely.

Kate was biting her bottom lip, looking at the horse in front of her. “I don’t know.”

“You’ll be fine.”

She was still hesitant. “Is there like a pony or something? Something smaller?”

“This is the smallest mare they have. She’s very calm. Eloise rode her last week and she’s never been fond of riding.”

“I don’t trust it,” Kate whispered, stepping closer to Anthony as if she was afraid the horse could hear her.

Anthony let out an amused, slightly frustrated huff. He was trying to be patient, but it was wearing thin. “It’s a horse, Kate.”

Kate turned to glare at him, narrowing her eyes. “Not all of us came out of the womb and onto a saddle, Anthony. Horses are large and intelligent creatures. What if it doesn’t want me to ride it and throws me off?

“Do you trust me?”

Kate sighed, rolling her eyes. “Yes,” She said, begrudgingly.

He extended his hand to her. “I promise you’re not going to fall off. I’m going to walk you around before we go for a ride. She’s a good horse, she won’t throw you off. Just get up and shut up.”

“Wow. You’re so kind. With an attitude like that, it’s a mystery to why you’re single.”

He mimicked her, and she mimicked him back, and they stood there mocking each other for a few minutes until she shoved him into the muck.

He wouldn’t talk to her for ten minutes, covered in dirt, and she nearly wet herself she was laughing so hard, and he eventually joined in.

He eventually helped her onto the horse, a gentle brown mare called Iris. Kate clutched at his hand as he helped her up and the electricity sent jolts down his spine. He walked her around for a bit before leading her for a ride across the fields, which Kate seemed to love.

They trotted for most of it and Kate made him take a picture with her with the blooming fields in the background to send to Mary and Edwina.

He definitely doesn’t send it to himself later and keep it on his phone.

It was one of the best afternoons of his life.

Things tended to be amazing whenever Kate was around.

It was becoming quite the problem, especially whenever she smiled or laughed, causing him to get this uncomfortable, warm feeling in his chest.

Kate even gets up with him in the mornings with the babies when he gave his Mum a break, watching cartoons with Greg and Hyacinth who wake up at illegal hours most mornings.

The rest of his siblings slowly join them, everyone tired and weary as they sit on the couch. The early morning silence slowly begins to fade with the chatter in the room.

“I love this.”

“Mm?” He hums, turning his attention away from the cartoon to look at Kate.

“How noisy it is here. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family so much. It could just get quiet at times, you know? I’ve always wanted a big family.”

“Oh,” says Kate softly, looking down at a sleeping Hyacinth against his chest. “She’s adorable.”

“Yeah,” said Anthony, smiling down at his sister. “Until she’s screaming her lungs out after you turn off Peppa Pig after four hours of watching it.”

Kate chuckled softly, “She's quite the character. She looks like you, you know.”

“You think?” said Anthony, his voice softer.

She nodded, smiling warmly at him. “You’re doing an amazing job, you know that right?”

It wasn’t anything like his father would be doing if he was still here. Anthony had made his peace with the fact he could never be the man his father was. However, hearing it from Kate made it feel like he was doing something right.

“Alright, Greg,” Anthony was kneeling down to his little brother’s height, holding him steady. “I’m going to take these stabilizers off, and you’re going to pedal towards Kate. Just like we practiced on Eloise’s old bike.”

Gregory blinked up at him, eyes wide and terrified. “What if I fall?”

“You get back up,” said Anthony, brushing his thumb over his cheek slowly. “Besides, I’m going to be right beside you. I’d never let you fall.”

After a few tries, a few near falls and some tears, Gregory successfully cycles around the front garden all by himself.

He swung Gregory around, grinning at her laughter as the rest of the Bridgertons clapped.

Kate was smiling at him, and the sun made her face glow, and he knew in that moment he would do anything just to see her smile like that at him for the rest of his life.

They sat around the fire on the patio later that evening, roasting marshmallows on metal rods.

“I’m sorry if this is boring,” said Anthony, biting his lip as he glanced around at his family. “I know it’s not the most exciting summer.”

“Are you kidding?” said Kate, grinning at him as she shifted Hyacinth on her lap. She had refused to sit anywhere else, and Kate didn’t seem to mind at all. Anthony was eternally grateful, as he didn’t have it in him to deal with a Hyacinth Bridgerton tantrum that evening. “This is amazing. Thank you for inviting me.”

She’s smiling at him again and it’s getting very hard to ignore the hammering inside of his chest.

“She fits in well, don’t you think?” Violet Bridgerton says to Anthony in the kitchen, one evening after dinner when they’re both cleaning up. “As if she belongs here.”

“Mum,” Anthony says sternly, in a tone usually reserved for a parent scolding a child, but he knew exactly what she was insinuating. His mother’s favourite hobby was meddling in his love life. “Don’t go there.”

He wouldn’t let himself go there.

He had been internally debating it with himself for a while now, but he always came to the same conclusion. His reputation wasn’t stellar. His relationships never worked out.

He wouldn’t risk losing Kate.

It almost felt normal, her teasing him over a girl-as if the last few years hadn’t happened. As if his father’s death and Anthony’s role in the family hadn’t drastically changed everything. As if his relationship with his mother wasn't broken.

“Where, dearest?” Violet said, smirking at her son before walking back into the dining room.

Anthony sighed, leaning against the counter. He pushed the thoughts spiraling in his head and his recurring dream to the back of his head.

The women in his life were going to kill him.

They get the train to London on a Saturday for their friend Rob’s 21st birthday, and they stay for the night. They spend the day wandering around London, grabbing lunch at Camden market before getting ready at his house.

Kate’s dress is black and clings to her curves in a way that forces Anthony to remember to breathe.

Rob’s parents are divorced and his dad spends a lot of his time abroad, so the party is in his dad’s empty townhouse in Kensington. The party is in full swing by the time they arrive and they’re both drunk and laughing within an hour. They haven’t seen their university friends in a few weeks and when Anna sees them, she screams and jumps into their arms.

They eventually get separated, Anthony plays beer pong with some of Rob’s school friends and Rob, Luke and Ethan from uni. His head is buzzing, he feels slightly dizzy but the party is packed, he’s having a good time and he keeps on drinking.

When he eventually spots Kate, she’s leaning against the wall of the kitchen talking to a tall guy. Anthony doesn’t recognize him and the feeling in his chest isn’t warm or fuzzy.

He can’t help himself. “Who is Kate talking to?”

Rob turns his head around, looking in the direction Anthony nodded. “Oh, that’s David. We’ve played football together a few times in uni. He’s decent.”

Anthony takes a long swig of his beer.

Kate eventually finds him outside with the rest of their friends, Anna beside her as they join the group. It had taken everything in him to not interrupt her conversation with David, or whatever the fuck his name was. Kate was far too good for him. He had distracted himself with a blonde girl called Ella instead, who had left the party over an hour ago.

It didn’t work.

“Hey,” said Kate, yawning softly as she climbed onto his lap, pulling his blanket over herself. Anthony tries to look unaffected, but his heart is hammering inside of his chest. She's all he can smell-lilies and soap. The scent is overwhelming. They were all sitting in camper chairs around a firepit, and they stayed there until 5am before Rob told people they could stay over in any bedroom that they wanted.

He carries a drunk Kate to bed, finding an empty bedroom and laying her carefully on the bed.

He takes off her heels, wipes her makeup carefully off with the wipes she had brought in her bag and he leaves a glass of water beside her bed. “G’night.”

“Where are you going?” Kate asked, frowning slightly as lifted her head off the pillow. She looked so adorable, her eyes half closed as she looked at him.

“I’m going to sleep on the sofa.”

“I’m pretty sure someone is having sex on the sofa. Just sleep here.” Kate mumbled, yanking at his shirt to get him onto the bed.

Anthony hesitated, biting his lip. This was definitely crossing a boundary. The rest of the rooms were taken, the couch was currently in use and he didn’t fancy sleeping on the floor. He also knew he wouldn’t sleep at all, knowing Kate was right beside him.

He convinces himself he’s staying to make sure she’s alright, in case she needs to get sick or needs something. Kate is already asleep by the time he climbs into bed, determined to stick to his side. He’s practically falling over the edge of the bed when he falls asleep.

They wake up in each other’s arms the next morning.

“Do you ever think about the future?” Anthony asks Kate one evening, after a long day of eating food in the living room and having a Friends marathon.

Kate’s lying on her back, attempting to throw popcorn in the air and catch it with her mouth. “My only plans are becoming a solicitor and getting a corgi.”

Anthony snorted. “I don’t get your obsession with those dogs.”

“Insult corgis and see how it works out for you.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a threat, Sheffield?”

“No, it’s a warning.”

They’re sitting on opposite ends of the long sofa. She kicks his foot, and he grabs her foot and pulls her towards him. He knows exactly what he’s going to do, and so does she-he ignores her protests.

“Anthony, I swear to god-”

He grabs her easily, leaning over her as he tickles her sides. She’s incredibly ticklish at the age of twenty one-and there’s a loud cough.

Anthony springs off Kate like a cat touching water.

“I just came to see if you guys wanted pizza,” Eloise says slowly, a mixture of amusement and shock plastered on her face. “We’re ordering some for dinner.”

“Pineapple, please.” Kate squeaks, avoiding Eloise’s gaze and instead focusing on the screen.

“Pepperoni,” Anthony says, trying to keep his facial expression impassive as he held his sister’s gaze. Eloise leaves after that, an amused hum leaving her lips before she wandered off.

They stay on opposite sides of the couch for the rest of the night.

They go for a swim in the lake the evening before Kate goes home. The sky looks like cotton candy, the sun setting in the distance and the warm air makes the cold lake bearable.

“Why do we have to swim in the lake when there’s a perfectly good pool?” Kate asked, glancing back at the house and back at the lake. “There’s nothing in it, is there?”

“Adventure, Katherine.” He took off his t-shirt, stepping into the lake before feeling his feet sink lower and eventually lose their grounding. “There isn’t anything. Come on.”

Kate hesitantly follows him in at a snail pace, which forces Anthony to stare at the water instead of her yellow bikini.

“What was that?” She squeaked, splashing the water as she jumped up in the air, feeling something brush against her feet. She grabbed him, launching herself into his arms.

“Don’t be such a baby,” He teased, trying desperately to ignore the fact she fit perfectly into his arms.

Kate always fit.

His hands were wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. This was breaking every boundary and rule he had put in place, but he just couldn’t find it in himself to care.

He could feel her soft skin under his fingertips, drawing patterns against her skin.

He felt her body relax, but she didn’t let go of him. She looked at him, pouting slightly. “I’m not a baby.”

“Kate?”

“Mm?”

Their faces are very close.

He lets out a shaky breath. “I’m glad you came here.”

She blinks at him, nodding her head slowly as a small smile erupts on her lips. “Me too.”

He’s going to kiss her. He’s going to kiss her. There’s no way he can’t kiss her. He has to kiss her. He’s going to ki-

There was a scream, and both of their heads flicked towards the two children running towards them, Colin and Benedict behind them.

They quickly broke apart, Anthony swimming towards the edge of the lake in case Gregory or Hyacinth rushed in. He nodded at his brothers apologetic stares, who clearly hadn’t meant for their younger siblings to disturb Anthony and Kate.

He doesn’t kiss her.

“Thanks for having me.”

“Thanks for coming.”

They’re both standing on the train platform, Kate’s train pulled into the station a minute ago. She’s going back to Somerset for two weeks before university starts, and then they’ll be together again.

He tries not to look as disappointed as he feels.

“I’ll see you in two weeks?”

“Not if I see you first,” She said, grinning at him as she slowly pulled him into a hug. She can never reach his neck, so she wraps her arms around his waist instead and leans her head against his chest.

Anthony holds her tightly. Anthony had needed her here this summer. It had been their first time at Aubrey Hall since their father died. Kate had made it easier. She’d made it fun.

As her train pulls out of the station and a waving Kate through the window disappears, he can’t help the pang of regret he feels as he watches her go.

He can’t help but think of everything he should have said, but didn’t.

He has a bitter taste in his mouth for the rest of the day.

“I think everyone’s going to the pub in an hour. Do you want to go?”

They’re finally back for their final year of university, and they’re busier than ever. Before they know it, the leaves have fallen off the trees and the cool November weather has taken over Oxford. The workload, readings and assignments are piling up and they had spent the evening reviewing each other’s thesis proposals and giving feedback to each other.

Kate looks up from her laptop, typing for a few seconds before shaking her head. “I can’t. I have a meeting.”

Anthony looks up from his laptop, raising an eyebrow. “A meeting?”

Kate takes a deep breath, staring at Anthony with a “If I tell you this, you have to promise you won’t make fun of me.”

That catches Anthony’s full attention, “I promise.”

“It’s our last year here,” Kate begins, closing her laptop and standing up. “I want to make the most of it, get more involved. So, I’ve joined the botanist society.”

Anthony blinks. “The what?”

“It’s a science society, about gardening and plants. I always use to garden with dad. It’s actually really fun and interesting. We just drink and chat and they organize trips to museums and botanical gardens. There’s a trip to the Netherlands later just before Christmas, I’m going to go.”

His face softened. He knew what it was like, avoiding things if they reminded you of someone you lost or clinging to them for dear life. He could take the piss out of her, but he doesn’t. “I think it’s great. I didn’t know we had a botanist society.”

“David told me about it, actually.”

“David?” Anthony asks as if he doesn’t know, but he knew exactly who David was. He can hear his hammering pulse in his ears.

“I met him at Rob’s party. He’s in his final year of biology. He’s nice.” Anthony doesn't know what to say, so he doesn't say anything. He just feels sick. Was David going to be there?

“That reminds me,” Anthony says, swiftly changing the subject before he said something stupid. “I got us tickets to the law ball. We should go together.”

Kate blinks at him through her reflection in the mirror. “Together?”

Anthony shrugs, blushing slightly at his impulsivity. “Everyone else is bringing dates. Anna and Luke are going as friends. We’re both single. Unless you’re bringing someone else?”

Kate shakes her head quickly and Anthony has to stop himself sighing in relief. “No, no. That’s a great idea. I’d love to.”

It was getting extremely difficult to fight his feelings.

Kate looked beautiful.

He can’t stop the words coming out of his mouth and tries to hold in his grin when Kate blushes and rolls her eyes at him.

It’s the night of the Law Ball and their entire friend group is having pre-drinks in the common room before they headed to the college where the ball was being held.

Kate’s wearing a long lavender dress, with a V-neck cut and straps that hang loosely on her shoulders. Her hair is long and wavy down her back and he has to count slowly in his head to stop himself from staring at her.

Anthony didn’t like taking pictures but if they involved wrapping his hand around her waist, pulling her close to him-he’d never complain again taking them for the rest of his life.

Anna insists on getting multiple shots of them together, which takes a few minutes. Anthony swore he saw her wink at him at one point or he was just drunker than he thought.

The ball is brilliant, their entire friend group sits at the same table and he doesn’t remember the last time he laughed so much. They’re all drunk and sloppy, confessing their love for each other and how much they’ll miss each other when they graduate. Anthony spins Kate around the dancefloor and her arms are around his neck, and he wants to stay in that moment forever.

That voice rings in his head.

Kiss her, kiss her, kiss her.

He doesn't kiss her.

“I’ll see you when you get back.”

It was around 4am when they all walked back to their rooms, after a quick stop at McDonalds for some food. Kate had a flight in about five hours and Anthony left their friends to walk her to their room.

Kate’s smile is playful as she hands him back his suit jacket . “Not if I see you first.”

Kate flies to the Netherlands with the botanist society the next morning and Anthony goes home to London. He desperately needed a distraction and his family were the perfect fit. He brought Gregory to football, Hyacinth to swimming and spent the night with all of them while their mother went out with some of her friends.

He couldn’t focus on any of his readings for his lectures.

He couldn't stop thinking about her.

Nothing could distract him from his thoughts. The more he thought about her, the more he realized what an idiot he’d been.

He should have kissed her. He should have kissed at the ball, he should have kissed her in Kent, there were a thousand different times he should have kissed her.

It suddenly clicked. He couldn’t deny it anymore. The final piece of the puzzle.

He was in love with Kate Sheffield.

After the long weekend, he arrived in Oxford after Kate did. He had spent the day having a Sunday roast with his family before driving back to university.

His hands were shaking as he heard of his phone buzz, seeing Kate’s name appearing on his screen.

Kate: i’m back! Where are you?

Anthony: Just parked. Where are you? I’ll come to you

Kate: i’m at the pub! come!

He was going to tell her.

He had to tell her how he felt.

They could make it work.

They had wasted nearly three years not being together.

He didn’t bother going back to his room as he sprinted to their local pub, which was only a five minute walk from their accommodation.

It wasn’t just him. He was sure of it. Right? They had a moment over the summer at Aubrey Hall. There had been so many moments over the years. Kate had always been there for him. They had nearly kissed, they would have kissed if he hadn’t been interrupted. His younger siblings had asked if Kate was coming to visit soon while he went home over the weekend. His family loved her.

He lo-

“Anthony!”

His head flicked around the pub, focusing on the voice that called his name. It belonged to Anna, who was sitting at a table with Rob and Luke. He rushed towards them.

“Hey. Have you seen Kate?”

“She’s busy,” said Anna, the frown on her face evident as she nodded her head towards the bar. Anthony raised a curious eyebrow at her expression before turning around to follow her nod.

Kate was standing with her arms around David, who leans down and kisses her.

He felt something inside of him break.

Kate’s face lights up when she spots him and Anthony manages a smile, ignoring the pain in his chest.

“Anthony!” Kate said, walking towards him with a grin as she wrapped her arms around him to pull him in for a hug. “This is David.”

“I really like him. Please be nice,” Kate whispered in his ear, smiling up at him before taking a step back.

Kate looked so happy.

David grins at Anthony, placing two pints on the table before extending his hand. “Hey mate, nice to meet you.”

He had to remind himself, having Kate was better than not having her at all.

He couldn’t be a dick. He couldn’t push her away.

He swallows the vile taste in his mouth, mustering a smile as he shook his hand. “Hi. Nice to meet you. So, how was the trip?”

He sits there and he listens as they talk about their trip. David is a biologist.

It becomes clear quite quickly David is everything Anthony isn’t.

Anthony hated flowers. Flowers and plants usually meant bees.

“I’ll be right back,” Anthony said, standing up and grabbing his coat as he walked out of the pub. He walks around the side, where there’s no smokers or people chatting. He leans his head against the brick wall and tries to breathe.

He reaches for his phone, sending a text Benedict. He needed his brother. He needs someone. He couldn’t have Kate. His chest was so tight, he was finding is hard to breathe.

“I was wondering where you got off to.”

Anthony’s head snapped up as he saw Kate standing a few inches from him, looking at him curiously. He tries to control his breathing. She looks concerned, walking towards him. “Is everything okay?”

Anthony nodded, trying to relax and he stood up straighter. “Long day with the family. I’m just exhausted.”

He didn’t want to ask, but he did. He had to. “So, how did you two happen?”

The soft smile that breaks out on her face nearly destroys him, but he tries to smile back. “We met at the party, but I didn’t think anything would actually happen. We’ve seen each other at events and meetings for the past few weeks. He’s nice, you know? We have a lot in common. He told me he liked me during the trip and asked me to go to dinner. He bought me flowers. It was sweet.”

Kate had once told Anthony that she was the only person to ever buy her flowers. He had sent them to her every birthday and Christmas since then.

Now he wasn’t.

That was another thing David had taken from him.

“Do you like him?” Kate asked, taking a sip of her glass of water. She looks hesitant as she asks the question and Anthony knows he has to be careful. He doesn’t want to hurt her, none of this is her fault.

He had been wrong about everything.

No. “I suppose. I don’t really know him.”

“Anthony.”

“He seems nice.”

“Why do I bother asking?” Kate teased, taking a sip of her drink. “You don’t like anyone.”

Anthony didn’t miss a beat. “I like you.”

Anthony wanted to bitterly laugh at the irony of it all, but he stopped himself. This wasn’t about him.

Kate rolled her eyes. “I like you too. Seriously, though. It’s important to me that you like him.”

He pretends to look at the group of people ahead of them, just to avoid looking at her. “I want you to be happy. If he makes you happy, that’s all that matters.”

Even if it makes him feel like this.

Kate hesitates, before giving him an affirming nod. “I am.”

He swallows hard. “Good.”

She leans her head against his shoulder, and they stand there in silence. It’s not uncomfortable, it’s just silence.

“We’ll always be friends, right?” Kate breaks it eventually, shaking her head. “God, I sound so childish. I just mean-we’re graduating soon. I know we’re both moving to London. I just-I don’t want us to drift apart.”

Anthony swallows his feelings and shakes his head, smiling playfully at her. “Do you think you can get rid of me, Sheffield?”

“Never, Bridgerton,” She said, laughing at him. It was ridiculous how her smile and laugh made him feel so light and free. He didn’t have the right to feel like that with her. Not like this. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Let's go back inside.”

He can’t sit in there for the next hour and watch them. The thought alone makes him nauseous. “I’m going to head back. I’m shattered and I have some reading to do for the seminar tomorrow.”

Kate looks slightly disappointed, but she musters a smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” They walked to the font of the pub and he smiled as she walked in, turning around to shoot him a smile over her shoulder as she walked in.

He watched her through the window, joining the table where their friends sat. He watched David’s arm wrap around her shoulders and Kate’s head fall back as she laughed at something he whispered into her ear.

She looked happy.

It isn’t because of him.

That’s a particularly hard pill to swallow.