26. Chapter 26

Kate was surprised to say the least when she received the invitation from Bridgerton House to join Miss Eloise Bridgerton for tea. The younger girl had been avoiding her since their argument, but Kate was hopeful that this indicated a thawing on the other girl's part.

When she arrived at the Bridgertons' home, she was directed not to the parlor, but to a balcony at the back of the house where Eloise waited for her.

"Thank you for coming." She told Kate as they sat. "Frankly, I wasn't sure you would after my behavior."

"Of course, I came." She told her, reaching over to squeeze her hand. "One argument will not ruin our friendship, I hope."

"Of course not." She agreed. "I also hope what Whistledown wrote hasn't hurt you."

"It has not." Kate confirmed. "Your brother and I are fine, do not worry."

The other girl relaxed, and Kate smiled.

"It was cruel, what she wrote about Anthony." Eloise said, clearly peeved. "The only one it could hurt is you. Why would she do that? Shouldn't she be trying to help other women?"

"I do not believe it was a personal attack." Kate soothed her. "If anything, she's been quite kind to me and my family until now. But, despite her willingness to use names, Lady Whistledown is a gossip sheet like all the rest. Yes, her barbs strike deep because she deidentifies her targets, but if you've done nothing wrong, she cannot hurt you. Comments about dresses and who spoke to who are annoying, but her true power is in revealing secrets. Your brother and I have none, so she cannot hurt us."

"You knew Miss Russo had been at his home?" Eloise asked, shocked, and Kate sighed. "Why was she there?"

"What happened that night is your brother's business and I will not break his confidence." She told her. "All that matters is he informed me that it happened and that I trust him. The things Whistledown insinuates in her paper do not."

"But doesn't it bother you?" she pushed. "The way they all gossip and laugh at other people's misfortune? All they do is judge."

"Society is like that no matter where you are." Kate replied. "I will admit that I have worried about the ton's opinion of me might do to your brother's reputation, to your family's standing. I am the penniless daughter of a clerk and your brother is the Viscount Bridgerton. It sounds like it belongs in a fairytale, not real life."

"But you are choosing to ignore your difference is status." Eloise said slowly.

"More like I am realizing there is no difference is status." She replied. "Your brother is a lord, but I am still the daughter of a gentleman and the great great granddaughter of a Maharaja. And beyond all that, your brother chose me and I him."

Eloise was quiet as she pondered her words.

"So, you believe two people from different worlds could be happy together."

"Not exactly." Kate replied, suspicion starting to creep into her mind. "I am saying the divide between Lord Bridgerton and myself is not as large as I once believed. That is not true of everyone. Some divides are just too large to cross."

Eloise was quite and Kate got up to move to sit next to her.

"Eloise." She said gently. "Is this about the apprentice?"

"Theo. His name is Theo." Kate sighed. "I haven't gone in the shop! I promise! It's just…" she picked up a pamphlet that was next to her. "He gave this to me. He wrote it."

Kate turned it over in her hands, reading the title: Appeal in Defense of Women's Rights.

"It's good, Kate." She said softly. "There are some errors, of course, but still. No man I have met amongst the ton thinks like this."

"I am sure he is an intelligent young man." Kate told her. "But, Eloise, you are the second born daughter of the 8th Viscount Bridgerton. Even if you were to shun society and your brother allowed it, how would you live? You would no more know how to navigate his world than he would know how to live in yours."

"I could learn." The younger girl protested.

"I have no doubt you could do anything you put your mind to." Kate placated her. "But you have never lived that kind of live: no servants, working for every scrap you have. Have you ever even cleaned your own room, much less cooked a meal? And while your family would continue to love you, I am sure, you would be abandoned by everyone else you know. Society would shut its door in your face and that would be that."

"Why should I care what society thinks?" Eloise demanded angrily.

"Think what you like of the ton, Eloise," she replied calmly, "but like them or not, you were raised to be one of their shinning jewels, not an apprentice's wife."

"So that is my only option? Become one of the simpering debutantes so I can become one of the gossiping wives and produce children to do the same in twenty years while nothing changes?"

"That is not what I am saying, and you know it." Kate sighed. "I am saying that, if you are to marry, you have a duty to marry well enough that your children have the same advantages you have had. An apprentice cannot do that, no matter how much you might believe you love him. It is a hard, cold truth, but an unescapable one. And as your brother is so fond of reminding me, you must play by the rules of the society you are in." She wrapped her arm around the girl and was thankful when she didn't pull away. "You cannot change the rules for yourself, but you may be able to change them for your daughter and her daughter after that. If you think the state of women needs to be improved, fight for it! You are an intelligent, well-educated, privileged young lady. You also have access to some of the most powerful, most important people in the country. If you want to change the way things are, make them listen to you. Write your own pamphlet. If you think so highly of Mr. Sharpe's words, elevate them. Work for what you believe in and maybe one day your daughter will be able to love whom ever she chooses, with no thought to station."

"But I will still have to give up Theo." Eloise said in a small voice.

"Yes, I am afraid you do." Kate said softly. "The world is unfair in that way, but maybe you can change it for the better." She pulled back to wipe away Eloise's tears. "You have a voice, Eloise. Use it."

"You really think I can?"

Kate smiled.

"As I said, I believe you can do anything you put your mind to."

After she calmed down, Eloise and Kate spent several hours in pleasant company, speaking of books and comparing India to England and all other manner of topic. After several hours, Kate decided she needed to return home. Eloise accompanied her to the front door to wait for the carriage and both women were surprised when the front door opened, admitting Lord Bridgerton.

"Good day, Miss Sharma."

Kate smiled brightly.

"Good day, Lord Bridgerton."

"And good day, Eloise." His sister said sarcastically. "I am going to go sit on the other side of the room. Try to not do anything that will upset my delicate sensibilities."

She strode over to a bench at the other end of the foyer and pulled out Mr. Sharpe's pamphlet to begin reading.

"You're saying I cannot lock her in her room?" Anthony asked dryly.

Kate just laughed.

"You are returning home?" he continued, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it.

"Yes, Lady Danbury has arranged a trip to the opera tonight."

"Did I know we were going to the opera?" he asked, his face adorably confused in Kate's opinion.

"You did not, because we are not going to the opera, I am going to the opera." She replied with a smile that quickly faded. "Miss Russo is performing tonight, and Lady Danbury believes it would be best if I were seen attending, to quell any rumors that might be circling."

A frown had etched itself on Anthony's face by the time she was finished speaking.

"I will go with you."

"You will not." She replied. She took a step forward, placing her hand on his chest, right above his heart. "If you go, at best it will look like you are protecting me from her. At worst, it will seem you are going to see her. But, if I go by myself, it shows I am not intimidated by her presence. No sane woman would put herself willingly into the presence of her husband's mistress so, if I am willing to see her, obviously she is not your mistress."

"Husband?" he repeated with a bright smile, making Kate sigh.

"You really do have selective hearing, do you not?"

Nothing she could say at that moment would dim his smile.

"I am just saying," he told her, "I do not recall a wedding having taken place, but I am willing to defer to your clearly superior memory and begin performing my duties as a husband right away."

"You are incorrigible."

"You enjoy it. Admit it."

He took her hand off his chest and pulled it up to press a kiss to her palm, causing her breath to grow ragged.

"I am still here."

Kate snatched her hand away, but Anthony just chuckled.

"I am very sorry for your brother's poor behavior." She called to the younger Bridgerton, who just waved at her and kept reading.

"You started it." He whispered, still grinning.

"I am ending it." She shot back, but a smile played around the corners of her lips. There was the sound of a carriage from outside and she sighed. "I must go."

"Are you sure you do not want me to accompany you tonight?"

The worry in his eyes made her glance back at Eloise, who seemed totally absorbed by her reading, before stretching up to press a quick kiss to his lips.

"I will be fine." She assured him. "I will see you tomorrow."

She squeezed his hand before slipping out the door.

"What will you give me to not mention any of this to mother?"

It was Anthony's turn to sigh.

Siena Russo was extremely talented. Kate had noticed it the last time she had seen her perform, of course, but she had also been focused on Anthony at the time. Without him next to her, she was free to study the other woman on the stage.

The opera tonight was Handel's Amadigi di Gaula and Miss Russo was excelling as the sorceress, Melissa, who was intent on separating the two lovers and taking Amadigi for herself. Kate watched, enraptured, as Melissa turned Dardano into his rival to deceive the princess, Oriana.

The second act ended as Melissa captured the lovers and Kate sat back with a sigh as the intermission began.

"Well, at least his good taste is consistent." Lady Danbury said dryly from Kate's right hand. "If he had to choose an opera singer, at least he chose a talented one."

"Lady Danbury!" Mary hissed, but the other matron waved her away as Kate smiled.

"At least we got to experience some good music this week, for I assure you the Smythe-Smith musicale will not qualify." She continued.

"It cannot be as bad as everyone is saying." Kate protested, having heard several minutes of complaints from Benedict the day before.

"It is." Lady Danbury confirmed. "They are sweet girls, but only one of them has a modicum of talent. It is a trial to get through."

Kate stood, brushing wrinkles from her gown. It was one of her new ones, made of a deep blue fabric and gold edging. Its vaguely sari style made her more comfortable than any of the gowns she had worn this Season and she appreciated the sense of comfort it gave her. Lady Whistledown had ensured that every eye of the ton was on her tonight.

"Lord Morrison and I are going to get drinks." Edwina announced.

Kate resisted the urge to grind her teeth.

Lord Morrison had been a late addition to their party and one Kate would have preferred to leave out. The man had been all that was proper all night and perfectly affable with her, but she couldn't shake her distrust. She felt the same looks of pity and judgement from him that she was receiving from the rest of the ton.

She wished Anthony was with her.

"Of course, dear." Mary told her youngest daughter.

"I believe I will accompany you." Lady Danbury announced, leading them out the door without waiting for an answer. "Tell me, Lord Morrison, what are your opinions of the performance tonight?"

Their voices faded as Mary shook her head fondly. She sighed and wrapped her arm around Kate.

"Are you alright, dearest?"

"I am fine, mama." Her eldest daughter assured her.

"If Lord Bridgerton really did have a relationship with that woman – "

"He did." Kate confirmed, wanting no misunderstandings. "He made sure I knew of his past before our courtship went too far."

She hated misleading Mary, but she didn't think the fact that he told her about Miss Russo after Miss Cowper accused her of being his mistress would go over very well with her stepmother.

"Does he know of yours?"

"Mama." Kate sighed.

"I know you like to pretend the Raja was nothing more than a friend, but we both know that isn't exactly true." She pushed.

"We were just friends." The younger woman protested. "And even if he had been so inclined, I would not have married him, mama. You know that."

"I know he asked you to be his wife, Kathani." Mary said, switching to Tamil. "I may not have been fully present after loosing your Appa, but I still know when a Raja offers to make my daughter his wife."

Kate sat down with a sigh.

"His second wife." She corrected in the same language. "And as much as he liked you and Edwina, a wife of the Raja cannot have an English mother or sister. They would have made me give you up. And beyond all of that, I did not love him."

"And do you love the Viscount?"

Kate nodded slightly, sitting down.

"I do, mama. I love him."

"Then you should tell him about the Raja." Mary sat next to Kate. "Why are you waiting, dearest? And, please, do not tell me of how he wants to give you a Season or how you want to see Edwina settled."

"I do want to see Edwina settled." Kate looked down, picking at her dress. "But…I will admit that I am afraid the ton will not accept me as his Viscountess and that he will grow to resent me for it. I see how the derision of the ton hurts you. How can I open him to the same?"

"Oh, my dearest." Mary said softly, taking Kate's hand in her own and holding it tightly. "I will not lie and say that my return home has been easy but seeing you happy has been worth it all. I imagine Lord Bridgerton feels the same. I watch him with you, and I see the same look I used to see on your Appa's face. And yes, the ton can be cruel, but they are also fickle. You may not be what they expected, but they will adapt. And besides, the Bridgertons are a powerful family. Society will accept you because they do."

"I do not care if Society ever accepts me." Kate told her. "I just want him to be happy."

"From what I understand, Lord Bridgerton is happiest when he is with you." Her stepmother replied with a smile. "And I know I have never seen you smile brighter than when you are with him. Please, dearest, let yourself be happy without worrying about me or your sister or the ton. You deserve it."

Kate threw herself into Mary's embrace, surprising her, but she quickly wrapped her arms around her daughter tightly.

"I am so afraid, mama." She whispered.

"Of what?"

"Letting you down." Kate sniffled and Mary held her tighter. "Of failing Edwina. Of hurting the ones I love because of my selfishness."

"You listen to me, Kathani Sharma." Mary told her fiercely. "It is not selfish to want to be happy."

"But Edwina – "

"You leave Edwina to me." She interrupted. "I allowed you to take on too much. It was not right that you were left to guide your sister on your own."

"You were grieving Appa." Kate protested.

"But so were you, and after you had already lost your own mother, too."

"You took me in as your own," she insisted over Mary, "and you never treated me any differently. Everything I have done; I owe it to you."

"You owe me nothing." Mary pulled back to make Kate look at her. "You never had to earn your place in this family. I have loved you from the moment I met you. You came into my life as a daughter and I never saw as anything else. It pains me to think you do not believe you deserve all the love in the world."

Kate took a shakey breath.

"He wants to marry me, mama." She said, switching back to English as she pulled the chain out from under her dress and revealing the ring. "He's not waiting because of the Season or because of Edwina but because I am afraid. I love him, mama, but I am so scared he will realize that I am not worth it."

"I never want to hear you say that ever again, am I understood?" Mary told her sharply. "You are worth everything. Do not for a second believe otherwise. If you love him, do not let the ton, or my mistakes, or your loyalty to your sister, or anything stand in your way. Despite everything that happened, I have not regretted one moment I have spent loving your Appa or you or Edwina. Love is worth it."

She pulled Kate to her and held her as she wept. It took a minute, but, eventually, Kate calmed. Mary released her, allowing her to gather herself, but stopped her before she could tuck the ring away.

"It is a beautiful ring." She said, holding it up as she inspected it.

"It was his mother's betrothal ring." Kate said, smiling softly.

"I hope to see you wearing it openly soon."

Kate nodded and Mary let her hide the ring once more.

"Are you alright to stay?"

Kate nodded.

"Honestly, Miss Russo does not bother me." She told her. "Anthony made his choice and I trust him."

"Anthony?"

Kate blushed, but she didn't take it back.

"Well," Mary shook her head, smiling, "as long as you are sure. She is quite talented."

"Yes, she is." Kate agreed easily as she stood once more. "But I am the one he is going to marry."

Her mother smiled brightly.

"Yes, you are."

Edwina could not believe they were at the opera. Couldn't Kate see how embarrassing this was? Everyone was watching them.

"Miss Edwina?"

She turned to see Lord Morrison holding out a glass of lemonade. She took it with a murmured thanks.

"I am surprised Lord Bridgerton did not join us tonight." He commented, taking a sip of his drink. "It seems odd to leave his intended to face this…situation alone."

Edwina blushed in embarrassment.

"I am sure he had his reasons." She demurred. "Kate seems to trust him, and I trust my sister's judgement."

"Yes, Lord Bridgerton has always been good at getting women to trust him." Morrison seemed to realize he had said that out loud and gave her a self-deprecating smile. "Forgive me, that was just a bit of old school jealousy slipping out. I am sure he is behaving in the most gentlemanly way with Miss Sharma, but I contend that I would not leave my intended to face my mistress alone."

Edwina sighed.

"I worry for my sister." She told him softly. "I fear she is vulnerable due to her lack of dowry and connections."

"Well, you must marry well and quickly." He told her matter-of-factly. "Then, perhaps, your husband would be willing to protect her."

She smiled at him.

"That was my thought as well, your Lordship."

"One minute! One minute!"

"Come." Morrison took her arm. "Let us return."

When they arrived at the box, Edwina was confused by her mother's soft smile as she watched Kate fidget with her necklace, but she was soon distracted by the reappearance of Miss Russo on the stage. Really, what kind of man let his intended face his mistress alone?

It didn't matter.

Edwina glanced at Lord Morrison and smiled.

She'd protect her sister, even if it was from Lord Bridgerton himself.

Kate now knew that nothing could detract from her enjoyment of the opera. Miss Russo had done an excellent job, moving Kate to tears as she lost Amadigi to his destined lover and she felt for Melissa even as she rejoiced for the lover's victory.

As the ton gathered in the lobby, she made sure to be heard complimenting Miss Russo's performance.

"Perhaps you'd like to tell Miss Russo how much you enjoyed her performance yourself?" one of the ladies suggested, nodding to something behind Kate as she smirked.

Kate turned and knew instantly that someone must have set this up. It was not uncommon for the cast of a performance to come and greet the theater goers, but Miss Russo had been separated and maneuvered closer and had a nervous look on her look as she found herself cut off from any allies.

Kate knew she had two choices: give Miss Russo the cut and risk a report in Whistledown on how she ran in the face of Lord Bridgerton's mistress or face the other woman head on and hope that would be enough to quell the rumors.

She squared her shoulders and started to turn, but she stopped as Edwina grabbed her arm.

"What do you think you are doing?" her sister hissed.

Kate started to respond, but Mary interceded.

"Come along, dear." She said, removing Edwina's hand gently. "Lord Morrison can escort us home while your sister and Lady Danbury follow."

"Of course, I'd be happy to do so, Lady Mary." The Earl agreed easily.

Edwina reluctantly allowed herself to be led away as Lady Danbury moved to Kate's side. She squeezed the younger woman's hand before linking her arm with Kate's. She took a deep breath, buoyed by Lady Danbury's support, and smiled.

"Miss Russo." She could tell the other woman wanted to be anywhere other than where she was, but she was even more trapped than Kate. "I just wanted to tell you how wonderful your performance was. You have a beautiful voice."

"Thank you, Miss." Siena replied. "I believe I've seen you here before?"

"Just once, unfortunately." Kate said. "I was at your performance of La vestale. You were wonderful as Julia. I enjoyed it immensely."

"Did your companion enjoy it as well?"

Kate smiled slightly.

"He did." She replied softly. "I believe it reminded him of the past."

"I hope he remembered it with pleasure." The other woman said blandly.

"I am sure he did." Kate said in the same tone. "But I believe he is learning to not live in the past. I am very much looking forward to our future and I believe he is as well."

"That sounds nice."

The brave look on the other woman's face touched Kate and she reached out to place a hand on her arm.

"I wish you well, Miss Russo." She told her softly. "Only the very best."

"I have lost the best, Miss Sharma." Siena said just as softly. "But I will endeavor to find someone as close as possible. Thank you for your compliments. You were very kind."

Kate nodded and, with one last smile, she turned and made her way through the crowd with her head held high.

"Very well done." Lady Danbury said lowly as they stepped outside. "Very well done, indeed."

Kate just nodded.

The next few days passed peacefully. Kate watched Lord Morrison's courting of her sister closely, but for all his manners and flowers, she couldn't shake her uneasiness.

"He's too perfect." She complained as she and Anthony promenaded through Hyde Park. "They never disagree on anything!"

"Not everyone enjoys arguing like we do." Anthony pointed out with a smirk.

"I will grant you that." She said with a smirk that quickly faded. "But still, I feel like he is playing a part: the role of the perfect suitor. No one is that perfect."

Gossip around Kate and Anthony had died down after the trip to the opera. Lady Whistledown had simply commented on how lovely her gown had been and that she had had a pleasant conversation with the star of the evening. Assuming there was nothing more to gossip about, the ton had turned their attention to the courtship of her sister and the Earl. It was considered to be a perfect match to Kate's supreme annoyance.

"Are you implying that I am not the perfect suitor?" Anthony asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I thought we agreed to not lie to one another." Kate shot back.

Anthony clutched his chest dramatically, making her laugh.

"You are perfect for me." She assured him, pulling him along before dropping her voice to a whisper. "Though, our mamas would not approve of our time in the woods."

"And here I was, believing our times in the woods were what made me a perfect suitor." He whispered back with a grin.

"What am I to do with you?" she asked with a sigh and a fond smile.

"I have a list, if you need suggestions."

She shoved him with her shoulder.

"Behave, Lord Bridgerton."

"But misbehavior is so much more fun, Miss Sharma."

"Kate," Mary called, making her daughter jump, "we need to return home to ready ourselves for the musicale."

"Of course, mama." Kate agreed as Anthony groaned.

"Must we really go?" he complained as they turned to head back home.

"Lady Danbury has declared it so." She replied. "Besides, it cannot possibly be that awful."

"It is." He replied fervently. "I will go this year because you have never been and do not know better, but I expect a reprieve next year once you realize I was right."

"Very well, but only if I agree with your assessment."

"You will." He told her with certainty. "No one with even a modicum of taste enjoys the Smythe-Smith musicale."

Kate just shook her head.

"I told you so."

Kate was staring at the poor girls in front of them.

"Why do they put themselves through this?" she hissed back to Anthony, who was sitting morosely next to her. "For that matter, why does their mother allow it?"

Lady Danbury had made them sit in the front row and Kate felt sure she would never forgive her for it.

"Who do you think did it before them?" he muttered back. "In their defense, only one of them is actually aware of their lack of talent. The poor girl on the cello is the only one with any real ability, which somehow makes it all that much worse."

"Shh."

Kate blushed as Lady Danbury shushed them and Anthony grumbled, but they did as asked. On the other side of the matron, Edwina sat next to Lord Morrison. Kate watched as the Earl leaned over and whispered something that made her sister giggle and she fought a scowl.

"Calm, my darling." She heard Anthony whisper in her own ear. "You cannot fault them for something we are often guilty of."

"I can when I know your intentions are honorable and I am less sure of his." She hissed back.

"Kate…" he sighed.

"He is not the one for her." She insisted softly. "I know it in my bones."

"Until you come up with a more convincing reason, she is not going to listen to you."

Kate sighed and slumped slightly in her seat as he quickly reached over to squeeze her hand before letting go. An intermission was called, and the audience breathed a sigh of relief. Anthony took Kate's hand and led her to the refreshments. They each grabbed a glass of lemonade before heading for a quieter corner of the room.

"You do know that you will eventually have to let Miss Edwina make her own choice on whether or not to marry him?" he asked softly.

"Even if I know it is the wrong choice?" she demanded, her voice sad.

"Even then, my darling. You cannot protect her forever."

Kate huffed.

"You would not be sanguine if it was your sister." She accused without any real heat.

"No," he agreed, "but my hope is that you will be there to help calm me when it is my turn again and that you can learn from my previous mistakes. Morrison seems significantly less worse than Hastings and he and Daphne are very happy."

Kate nodded and sighed.

"I told Mary about the ring." She said suddenly.

Anthony choked on the sip of lemonade he had just taken, making her smirk.

"You did?" he coughed, making her giggle.

"Yes, I did." She replied as he steadied himself. "She is very happy for us."

"My mother is as well." He told her. "She knew what I had given you immediately."

"We'll tell everyone else soon." She whispered. "I promise. I just…I need to make sure Edwina is safe."

"I understand." He told her, taking her hand to press a lingering kiss to the back of it.

"I hate making you wait." She said, frustration with herself leaking into her voice. "You deserve better."

"Any wait is worth it if you are at the end." He told her sincerely. "That's all that matters."

Kate smiled softly.

"I take it back. You are the perfect suitor."

"I know." He replied cockily. "I am sitting through the Smythe-Smith musicale after all. I believe I deserve some sort of reward."

"Would you like a medal or a chest to pin it on?" she snarked.

"Not exactly the reward I was think of, Miss Sharma." He replied with a lascivious look.

"You are ridiculous, Lord Bridgerton." She replied, rolling her eyes as he smiled. The poor Smythe-Smith girls began to reassemble, and she sighed. "Come, my Lord. Time to prove your consistency once more."

Anthony sighed but allowed her to drag him back their seats. His only comfort was her hand in his, hidden in the folds of her dress, and the fact that it remained there for the rest of the night.

Kate found herself breaking her fast at Hasting House the next morning. Her presence had been requested by the Duchess, who was interested in beginning the planning for her ball.

"My hope is that we will be able to repurpose it as your engagement ball." She told Kate bluntly. "But for the moment, we will continue as if it is just a regular Season's ball."

"Thank you." Kate replied sarcastically, but Daphne just ignored her.

"Now," she continued, efficient as ever, "I confess I know little of Indian culture, but I would like to include it in the theme. What would be most important?"

"Red." Kate told her instantly. "Our brides wear red. And fire is a very important part of our marriage ceremonies."

"What about flowers?"

"Jasmine." She was suddenly in the memory of the last wedding she had attended. "Roses. Marigolds, usually in yellow and orange. That was one of the things I found most odd when I arrived in England. Everything was so vibrant at home that it made this country seem pale in comparison, even your flowers. You must never tell your brother, but as much as I love the scent of lilies, I have loved the tulips he has given me the most. They were the first true color I had seen in months."

"Will you wear red when you marry?" the other woman asked curiously. "And perhaps you could have a bouquet of tulips!"

"I would like to wear red." Kate admitted. "My mother wore the most beautiful sari at her wedding. I used to dream of being married in it."

"Did you bring it with you?"

Kate shook her head.

"It was sold to fund our trip here." She told her. "But I do have the bangles she wore, so I will have at least one piece of her with me that day."

Daphne reached over and took her hand, holding it tightly in comfort.

"I am sure your mother would be so proud of you." She told her softly. "Even as I missed my father on my wedding day, I knew he would have been happy for me, that I had found love. I am sure your mother and father would feel the same."

"Thank you." Kate said. "And thank you for being so welcoming."

"Of course." Daphne smiled brightly. "Most of us like you better than Anthony anyway. We couldn't figure out a way to trade you, so we figured convincing you to marry him was the next best thing."

"What would you have done if I hated him?" she asked, amusement clear in her voice.

"Tried to convince you to marry Benedict." The Duchess replied easily. "If all else failed, I am sure Gregory would have volunteered if you were willing to wait a few years. He has a beautifully doomed infatuation with you."

"He is a dear sweet boy, but I believe five years might change his opinion." Kate said, laughing.

"Oh, do not tell him that!" Daphne exclaimed, joining her laughter. "You will crush him!"

"Well, we cannot have that." She agreed. "I suppose I will just have to marry Anthony and find him the perfect young lady to replace me in his affections."

"I would be prepared for trials." The eldest Bridgerton daughter said. "All evidence so far seems to indicate that we Bridgertons are not inclined to easy courtships."

Kate just laughed.

She spent a lovely morning with the Duchess of Hastings but returned to Danbury House to find it in uproar. She quickly made her way through the grumbling suitors exiting the house to the parlor where she found Lord Morrison still kneeling in front of a beaming Edwina.

"Isn't it wonderful, Didi?" she exclaimed. "The Earl and I are to be married!"

It was going to be a long day.