XXI

" ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?!" Josephine yelled at her brother as soon as they where out of ear shot. She was beyond enraged, overwhelmed with anger and fear. Fear for Simon and Anthony. She could think of nothing worse than the two fighting to potential death.

"It is what is necessary. What Daphne and I did was inexcusable." Simon was the calm to his sisters storm, but that only made Josephine angrier.

"HOW ARE YOU SO CALM? YOU COULD DIE TOMORROW!" Josephine screamed at Simon, punching at his chest. But Simon stood still taking it all. "Fight back dammit!" Josephine cried but Simon only stood still.

"If this where to become known it would destroy the Bridgerton name. I cannot do that to them." Simon replied as he grabbed onto Josephine's fists, tired of the hitting. "And I am doing this for us just as much as I am for the Bridgertons. Anthony should fight for what you two have done as-well."

Josephine was unaware that her brother knew the extent of her relationship with the viscount. "How...." Josephine questioned and was cut of with a response.

"The fight Josephine, I saw you two leave. Not to mention you called him your lover in the gardens a mere ten minutes ago! I'm not stupid!" Simon was getting pissed, at everything. The idea he was hurting his sister so. The idea he was to fight his best friend. The idea he might lose.

"I'm coming with you." Josephine decided looking up at her brother properly since the whole fiasco with Daphne.

"Absolutely not. It is no place for a lady." Simon said firmly, but he knew he'd never talk Josephine out of this.

"Simon. If one of you dies you best believe it will be in my arms." Josephine whispered wrapping her arms tightly around Simon's waist.

Returning the gesture, he held his sister in his arms leaning slightly to whisper to her. "I swear to you Josephine I will shoot at the sky. I don't want you to live without him. You don't deserve the pain I choose for myself." Simon choked out the last part, beginning to cry on his sisters shoulder.

"You are an honourable man Simon, and the best brother anyone could ask for." Josephine squeezed him tighter as she too began to cry softly.

The two stood together for a few minutes in silence, saving the moment for later. "Let's go to Will's. I need a drink and a second." Simon said solemnly pulling away from his sister and grabbed her hand.

****

"Good God. Did someone die?" Will Mondrich exclaimed as he saw his favourite twins standing in his front room. "What are you doing?" He questions as Simon searched his cupboards. Josephine sat on a stool with her hand face down on the table. It really did look as though someone had died.

"We find myself in rather desperate need of a drink." Simon stated from inside the cupboard, and was supported by a grunt from Josephine.

"And this was the only place you could find one? Are you not supposed to be on a ship by now?" Will was confused and a little overwhelmed and the situation.

"Change of plans." Josephine responded, muffled by her hands and the table. Will stepped into the room and grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the top door.

"For brandy this good, you need to actually tell me what is going on." Will places the bottle on the table and reached over Josephine's head to pull her hands and face up.

"I am to meet Anthony Bridgerton at dawn." Simon said weakly reaching for the liquid courage.

"Wait Anthony, Josephine's Anthony? Whatever the insult, apologize, and he will surely be a forgiving man." Will understood now why Josephine downed the whole glass places in front of her.

"Tried that already. I have tried everything to talk him out of this." Josephine said trying to ignore the bitter taste in her mouth.

"Not when it comes to his sister." Simon exclaimed as if Daphne was the sole reason for the duel.

"Exactly how insulted was she?" Will questioned. Josephine scoffed as if the question asked didn't justify how insulted the Bridgertons where. "I shall need another if I am to be your second."

Will and Simon sat at the table discussing the best plan for the duel. Simon saying he would still stick to his promise and shoot the sky. Josephine was left with her thoughts realising she must go see the man she loved. For it may be the last time.

"I have to go." Josephine stood from the table abruptly.

"Yeah I figured you would need to at some point. I'll see you at dawn where we discussed." Simon tried not to look at Josephine for too long as he might begin to cry again.

Josephine left the two men behind and took their carriage to the Bridgerton house. It was dark and late but still she knocked on the front door.

"Josephine I... what are you..." Josephine stumbled back slightly when met with Benedict Bridgerton.

Quickly regaining balance she rushed in, "Where's Anthony? Ben?" Josephine swivelled to face her once close friend.

"He's gone." Benedict looked at the floor unable to meet the eyes on the girl in-front.

"Where? Are you not to be his second?" Josephine was frantic, emotionally charged as she rushed into Anthony's office where Colin Bridgerton sat.

"He left for a walk. To clear his head." Benedict lied looking past Josephine to his brother who had stood.

Josephine looked deep into Benedict's eyes, they bore into his soul. If looks could kill, Benedict was three feet under. "He's with that whore. He's with Siena." Josephine said scaring the two brothers, for she showed no emotion her face flat and empty. Benedict could see nothing but pure pain behind her eyes but that was all. "Why?" Josephine asked to neither brother in particular.

"Who knows a potentially dying mans actions. One cannot question what he does in the heat of the moment." Colin states breaking the silence.

"In the heat of the moment he went to someone else. He ran, like I run. I'm the one whose meant to run." Josephine stumbled back into the seat by Anthony's desk. She sat crying for a few hours in only the presence of Colin Bridgerton, whose emotions stayed stoic and reflective. After a while Josephine grew tired and leant back into the chair to fall asleep.

*******

Oop ok anyways it's about to happen :/

Let me know what you think :)