Chapter Text
“You know, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”
At Francesca’s less than amused frown, Anthony knew whatever assurances and excuses he suggested to her would fall upon deaf ears.
His younger sister was determined to be married. She wouldn’t be a runaway bride, nor get cold feet. Francesca made plans and followed through, her engagement and subsequent wedding were no different.
Her satin gloved hand resting in the crook of his elbow tightened. “I know, Anthony. I want to do this.”
Together they stood in front of the closed chapel doors, awaiting their cue to walk down the aisle. With a heavy chest, Anthony glanced down at his younger sister, one he could recall holding in his arms as an infant and child. Many times Francesca would crawl into her lap, quieter and less aggressive than her older sisters, and hold out a boar bristled hairbrush to him. With care, he’d brush her hair.
Mama was busy with Hyacinth and Gregory. Daphne had taken it upon herself to brush Eloise’s moppy brown curls while Francesca…well Francesca figured out things on her own, and when she could not, she had an older brother to brush her hair for her.
Now her chestnut locks had been coiffed into a painstaking twist, and long bangs pinned into a gentle curtain, brushed to the side.
Anthony laid his free hand over hers clutched at his elbow. “I’m going to tell you what I told Daphne on her wedding day, and what I will tell both Eloise and Hyacinth when this day comes for them—”
“Brother—” Francesca began, yet he did not listen. He needed his little sister to know this; to know where her trust could lay in times of need.
“You may be marrying a kind man, one who will care for you and you for him,” he said, keeping his voice low for only her to hear, “but you will always be a Bridgerton.” The chapel doors creaked open, wide enough for Anthony and Francesca to enter through the foyer, steps closer to the main sanctuary. “No matter what happens, know you will always have a home with me. You can come to me for anything, no questions asked. I will always be your family, always be your first protector, and always care for you. You getting married will never change that.” He gently squeezed the hand nestled in his elbow. “If he treats you wrong, if you need to leave him for any reason, if you are in trouble—call me, come to me. I will help in any way I can. I promise.”
Francesca’s bright blue eyes met his, wide and frightened. “Do you really promise?”
Anthony blinked, concerned blooming. “Of course, Francesca. You have my word.”
“Okay,” a shuddery breathe heaved through her, “okay. That…that makes me feel a lot better.”
His lips quirked up in an almost smile. “Good. That’s what I wanted.”
The final set of doors opened, the drone of the ancient organ playing the wedding march vibrating the building.
Francesca took a deep breath. “I’m ready to do this.”
Anthony kept a firm grip on her, keeping his sister from falling over her shaky legs the entire walk. As they reached John she seemed to clutch Anthony tighter, before letting go all together at the end of their march.
He pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered, “Remember what I said.”
She nodded once. Francesca did not need her brother to soothe her worries. A woman of her own mind and strength, she was ready to start the next chapter of her life.
Anthony hoped for her sake his promise would never need to be followed through.
THREE WEEKS EARLIER…
December 15th
When Gregory agreed to be his eldest brother, Anthony’s, personal assistant for the time being—aka until he figured out what the hell he wanted to do with his life—he did not expect the job to involve waiting outside in the freezing, wet winter air.
Behind him the car ran low, the heater on and waiting for them. In the front, his brother’s driver for over a decade, Milton, raised an eyebrow. “Boss knows we are going to be late, right? At least by fifteen minutes. No way I can get him from out here to the office in time.” Not that it mattered. Anthony could step into Bridgerton Media Publications at half past noon and no one would care unless he had a meeting. He was the head of the company; when it came down to it, he made his own hours.
Gregory kept a pleasant smile, hugging his coat tighter around him. “Anthony probably knows. But he’s usually not this tardy,” he half grumbled. “It’s probably Kate making him drag his feet. Or Newton.”
Milton chuckled. “He’s a newlywed with a kind and pretty wife, son. I don’t blame him.” He leaned back in his seat, hands braced lazily on the wheel. “I remember when I got married, I’d try to get home early as soon as I could so I could see my wife. You’ll understand when you have your own lady or lad.”
Just as Gregory was about to argue otherwise—as much as he loved romance, and desired a grand romance like his siblings, he wasn’t going to be like Anthony—his brother stepped out of the building, Kate trailing after him. Both were thankfully dressed for the day, though Kate looking more frazzled than usual. Her hair was tossed up in a messy bun and she was speaking rapidly to Anthony—
“—and make sure to pick up the gift!”
“Like I would forget the gift,” Anthony shot back. “It was my idea!”
A small mound of fur and heavy pants dashed down the steps to Gregory, jumping on his legs.
“Newton!” he cried out. It was then Gregory noticed the leash Anthony had tightly wound around his hand. His brother wordlessly held the leash out to him, still in deep conversation with Kate.
“I am reminding you because the shelter closes at four, so you cannot just pop by after work—”
“I’ll remember to pick up the gift,” Anthony told her. He kissed her soundly on the cheek and grinned down at her. “You do not worry about anything else, but getting to work—”
“I already missed my train,” she ground out. “No thanks to you—”
“I’ll happily take a detour and drive the missus to her school,” Milton chimed in cheekily.
Anthony turned to Kate, proud. “See? Problem solved!”
“Problem not solved,” she gritted out, before turning to Milton with the disposition of sunshine. She adored the older man, mostly for putting up with Anthony for all these years. “Milton, you don’t have to do that. I know you have a crazy schedule with driving Anthony and Gregory everywhere. I don’t want to add another stop to your plate.”
“Nonsense,” Milton waved off. “I go wherever boss tells me,” he jested. “If he says I have to drive his lovely wife to work, then so be it.”
Kate sighed, her admonish stare sliding and latching on to her husband. “You are blessed with people who adore you and are incredibly loyal. How? I will never know.” Without further argument, she opened the front seat door—
“You aren’t going to sit in the back with me?” came Anthony’s childish whine.
“No,” she shook her head, “I’m going to be the first stop and it would be pointless for me to sit in the back and battle Newton when I leave,” she reasoned, before giving a taunting shrug. “Besides, I want to chat with Milton. It’s been some time since caught up, isn’t that right?” she turned towards the driver expectantly.
Milton’s eyes darted between Anthony and Kate. Both their stares stubborn and daring him to contradict the other.
Then his eyes flashed to Gregory, who simply stared up at the heavens begging for help.
Every morning was a new banter between the two and he had to have a front row seat to all of it. Sure, it was cute and humorous at first—especially when Anthony was still in his ‘I shall worship the ground you walk on, I will grovel to the ends of the earth’ phase of their mended relationship. But then a month and half in Anthony moved into Kate’s place; the groveling and sickeningly sweet mutters of sweet nothings morphed into banter—banter of all kinds. Gregory had an inkling they found their witty battles fun and as a form of foreplay (ew, gag), but they were honestly hell from the outside looking in when he didn’t have another Bridgerton to grumble and poke fun with over the scene.
“Happy wife, happy life?” Milton offered to the two.
Kate beamed and shut the door behind her.
Anthony scowled.
The first scowl of the day, Gregory noted. He agreed with Hyacinth’s sentiment; how their brother didn’t have a permanent frown, the world would never know. Perhaps his sister-in-law was preventing his brother of such an ailment these days.
Bypassing Gregory, Anthony climbed into the backseat of the car. Newton followed his master, hopping into the car without any help (Anthony switched cars once he realized the corgi could not easily follow him into a Range Rover). Gregory slid in after the two, Milton driving off before he could buckle up.
“I emailed you the revised schedule. Your two-fifteen had to be moved back to three…” Tablet out and ready, Gregory began going over Anthony’s schedule, though with little luck. His brother was distracted by Newton, who continued to nuzzle into his leg for pets.
“No need to rehash. I already glanced over it,” Anthony said, clearly not wanting to discuss his day. All meetings. Meeting after meeting after meeting. As expected. Anthony and Gregory would both be out of the office by the end of the week for winter holiday. The entire family was heading out to Aubrey Hall for Christmas and then would be staying in the area for Francesca’s wedding the following week. All the departments wanted to get their say and word before he left, and more so before the end of the year.
Anthony, while not enthusiastic, did what needed to be done. As always.
“…next time I make sourdough, I’ll make sure to save you a loaf,” Kate declared from the passenger seat with an air of finality, Milton pulling up into the parking lot of her school. Students milled about, several locking up their bikes or walking on to campus.
Of course, many stopped once they noticed the luxury town car.
From the rearview mirror Gregory could see Kate’s mouth pinch into a sour line.
Apparently Anthony did too. “Let me get the door for you—”
“It’s fine,” Kate called out, door already open and she climbing out. Students gathered in small clusters trying to get a peek at the car, or at the very least see who their art teacher arrived with. “We both have busy days!” Kate shrugged her satchel over her shoulder, giving both Anthony and Gregory a blinding, good-natured smile. “I’ll see you tonight for dinner with Eddie—and don’t forget the gift!”
“I won’t!” Anthony called out.
Kate shut the door before she could hear him.
Milton did not immediately pull away, knowing Anthony liked to watch Kate leave and make sure she reached her destination whenever they dropped her off anywhere. Several bothersome students called out to her, asking questions; she ignored them, and entered her building.
Anthony sighed, slumping back in his seat. Without prompting, Milton drove off, resuming their usual schedule. Doggie daycare was their next stop.
Uncomfortable with the silence (moody silence in Anthony’s case) in the car, Gregory double checked his wristwatch and huffed. They were going to be late to Anthony’s first meeting; ever since his brother moved in with his wife, scheduling had been all over the place, Gregory scrambling to learn the ropes of his job in real time. Anthony’s flat was closer to the office, while Kate’s was decidedly not. Logistically they should have just moved into his place, as if was closer for both of them, but Anthony was adamant of living at Kate’s as he’d passed over his flat to Colin. And while Gregory hated to sound like the rest of their family when he asked the looming question, he could not help but feel he had the right to know, especially since he had to trek out to their flat daily. “Can you please explain to me again why on earth you and Kate are still living in her tiny flat? Wouldn’t it be easier if you two just moved elsewhere?”
His brother’s mouth twisted at the question; it’d been one their mother and siblings asked on the regular. “Kate and I are actually planning on looking at places before we head out to Aubrey Hall at the end of the week,” he confessed, hands buried in Newton’s fur. “Her lease is up in January, then it’s month to month.”
Gregory winced. “Cutting it close there, aren’t you?”
“She and I haven’t liked anything we’ve seen online.” He gave a half shrug. “But we called a couple of places and have a few walkthroughs set, hoping we like at least one of them for the time being.”
“Time being? As…?”
“As when we eventually move to somewhere bigger, more suited for a family,” Anthony answered. “Or find something better.” His face scrunched. “Don’t mention the family thing to her. I know you two talk. We’ve talked about kids a bit but…but that’s not happening any time soon,” he rushed out, seemingly embarrassed for bring it up in the first place.
Gregory, being the courteous younger brother he was, ignored the comment all together. He picked up his tablet again, scrolling through the list of tasks he had to complete—more were added throughout the night, Anthony never one to sleep.
“Why do I have to go to a dog shelter?” he asked.
“Edwina’s Christmas gift,” Anthony answered as they came up to Newton’s doggie daycare; Gregory never knew there was such a thing until Anthony gleefully showed him the website one afternoon, claiming he now had a saving grace from Newton destroying his belongings during the day. Needless to say as much as the corgi loved his master, he loved gnawing on Anthony’s shoes more. “The one I am not supposed to forget.” He met Gregory’s dumbfounded expression with a smug grin. “I won’t forget because you’ll be taking care of it. Once I’m dropped off at the office, I need you to pick up the dog. All the paperwork is taken care of; all you need to do is tell them who you are and take care of the puppy until me or Kate gets home.”
This wasn’t in his job description. He was positive Anthony was once again abusing his power, blurring the lines between personal assistant and brother.
“Why do I have to—”
“Because I said so,” Anthony shot back, pushing open the backseat door. He stood up from the car, leading Newton along. “I’m basically giving you a free day to play with a puppy! You should be thanking me.”
“But who will help you in the office if I’m not there?”
Anthony looked like he wanted to laugh at the question. “Francesca. Who else?”
Of course—Franny. She’d personally assigned herself to be Anthony’s intern, working part-time while she finished her last year of university—and somehow planned a wedding during all of this as well (freak of nature, that one). She did all the office work, attended meetings with Anthony and more than once sent Gregory on errands for her with Anthony not batting an eye. Not that Gregory expected him to; Francesca was the protégé, the next Bridgerton to be head of the company if Anthony and her had their way. His brother was cultivating their sister, mentoring and teaching her.
Gregory was just the personal assistant. His job was to make sure his brother showed up where he needed to be, ate, and his life didn’t fall apart while he worked.
An important job, his mother would argue whenever he lamented to her.
An indentured servant, Colin would cackle when he popped by Anthony’s office.
A thankless and virtuous vocation, Kate would assure him when it was just the two of them, Anthony would be lost without you, I know it.
His sister-in-law’s words were enough for Gregory to keep his mouth shut and butt in the car.
Anthony appreciated him, Gregory was sure of it. His brother simply wasn’t the best at showing his gratitude. He’d eventually accept this about Anthony and get over this feeling of uselessness…right?
| @ladywhistledown
A school teacher showing up in style!
Kate Sheffield @katethedaffodil was seen arriving at her place of work in what we know as the Bridgerton-mobile. Rumor has it, she and fiancé Anthony Bridgerton @anthonybridge have been living together for months!
But the real question is—when will these two tie the knot?
“Already did that Whistledown,” Kate taunted to her phone screen. “Months ago.”
“You did what months ago?”
Kate fumbled with her phone, the device landing on her desk in a loud thud. She smiled up at her teaching assistant, Lucy. “Nothing. Just Whistledown being nosey.” She rolled her eyes; when wasn’t Whistledown being nosey? The lord must have been hashing out extra blessings to her and Anthony considering the gossip-monger had yet to find out they’d been married for some months. They planned to keep it that way, only those closets to them knowing about the wedding and marriage. Life was considerably easier when the gossip ran with a narrative of its own making. “You’re early today.”
Lucy plopped down in the closest chair to Kate’s desk. She leaned over and straightened the stapler on Kate's desk, then the tape dispenser. “Last class of the day was cancelled, thought I’d pop by sooner, see if you need help on anything. Or wanted to take an early lunch…?” she drawled out, grinning giddily. Her hands clasped under her chin, the perfectly in place bun on her head bobbing up and down. “I figured your prep period is almost over and there is this new place that opened up a couple of streets over—”
“You won me over with an early lunch.” Kate stood up from her chair, already shrugging on her coat in haste. “Today has been a nonstop ride, I need food.”
As she gathered her satchel and wallet, her mobile phone went off. “Give me a sec,” she muttered to Lucy, the girl unbothered. Over the last months as her teaching assistant, Lucy learned Kate’s phone almost always went off when she wasn’t teaching.
Michael Stirling
Kate yelped at the name, startling Lucy. In a flourish she swiped her screen. “Is the great elusive Knight in Stirling armor back in the country?”
“He is,” Michael said in leu of greeting with just as much excitement, “and he is asking if Lord and Lady Bridgerton are free for dinner and drinks tonight in celebration?”
She chuckled at the name. Michael has taken to calling her and Anthony ‘Lord and Lady Bridgerton;’ he said it once as a joke, however it stuck around months later. “As much as I would love to go out, Anthony and I are actually having dinner with Edwina tonight at our place—”
“Perfect! Home cooked meal and good friends,” Michael interjected, sounding joyful and giddy for once. He sounded a bit off in his last few calls, enough for both Kate and Anthony to notice. “I can’t wait to meet Edwina. See you tonight!”
“Oh, Michael that’s wasn’t—”
He hung up.
“—and invitation,” Kate finished lamely.
“Which one is Michael again?” Lucy asked, quirking at eyebrow. “Is he one of the brothers?”
“No,” Kate tossed her phone into her satchel and clasped the bag closed, “he’s the cousin of my sister-in-law’s fiancé.” Upon seeing Lucy’s furrowed eyebrows, Kate elaborated. “John, Francesca’s fiancé, is his cousin. They were raised together like brothers. But it’s simpler to say he’s a family friend. Because he is—technically. But he’s also going to be family too—technically.” She shook her head and came round her desk towards the door. “Honestly, it is confusing from the outside looking in and from the inside as well. Whatever you do, best not get involved with a Bridgerton; their connections are ridiculous,” Kate joked, opening the classroom door for Lucy.
“Sounds like it,” Lucy remarked, falling in step with Kate. Walking through the empty corridor, the two quickly made it out of the building and began their trek for lunch in earnest. “That must be exciting,” Lucy mused, “another wedding in the family.”
“It’s…something.” Kate did not have the right words to adequately describe the experience. She’d been pushed into the wedding party, at Francesca’s insistence, despite only being in the family for less than half a year. If one could even call it ‘being part of the family;’ she and Anthony had only been legally married for a couple of months. Before the marriage was finalized they were trying to move slow…except taking their relationship at snail pace apparently wasn’t their speed. They spent so much time with each other in close quarters at Aubrey Hall, it was odd to not do so when they came back into town. More so, it felt wrong to sleep without him by her side.
Not that she’d ever tell that arrogant, smug bastard she called a husband that.
“Something good? Something bad?”
“Just something,” Kate settled on. “I’ve never been in a wedding party.”
Lucy blinked, stunned. “Really?”
“I don’t have many female friends,” she confessed. She didn’t have many friends period; not that she wasn’t personable or friendly. Kate had been told on numerous occasions she was; she simply never formed many close friendships in her life. Until now. “So I never had the reason to be in one. I always figured I’d be in Edwina’s and that’s that.” They waited at the crossing, walking once it was their turn. “Now I have several sisters’ wedding parties I’ll be part of. Weird to think about.”
“It think that’s the fun of it though,” Lucy reasoned. “Big family means you get to enjoy extra the birthdays and events,” she declared wistfully. “The true definition of ‘the more, the merrier’.”
“Ah,” Kate nodded sagely, “you’re the type to want a big family one day, aren’t you?”
“A big family would be nice,” she giggled at the thought, “but I doubt it will happen. My boyfriend wants a small family. Two kids at most.” Her disappointment was evident.
Kate couldn’t imagine her and Anthony with just two kids. He came from such a large family…she expected they’d have at least three. Not that they were thinking children any time soon. They still had time; they still needed time.
Upon reaching the new little café, Lucy perked. “Oh I’m so excited! I’m going to have to put this on my food blog.” Seeing Lucy’s gleeful smile, Kate was happy to indulge the girl.
Balancing the boxes of pizza in his arms and pack of beer in his hand, Benedict knocked on the deep blue town house door. “Open up, El! Got a surprise—”
The door flung open, but it wasn’t his sister Eloise. Instead a child stood in her place: Amanda Crane.
Impish and arrogantly suspicious (Benedict came to the conclusion her favorite Bridgerton was Anthony—why was if always Anthony kids liked, Benedict would never know—and merely saw the rest of them as a nuisance), Amanda kept the door a crack open.
“Eloise is busy,” she said simply.
A scuffle of a chair and papers echoed from further in the house. “Amanda, I told you not to open the door! I was going to get it!” Eloise’s distinct holler traveled down the right corridor, his sister’s moppy chestnut head popping by the door two seconds later. “Benedict!” she cried out, relieved to see him.
His poor sister looked like she was about to combust into tears then and there at the sight of him.
“I come with a surprise pizza dinner!” Benedict cheered, hoping to see the little family’s frowns turn right side up.
“Oh, you didn’t have to! Thank you, Ben.” Opening the door wider for him, she hurried Amanda back up the stairs. “I’ll call you and Ollie down when I have dinner set out,” Eloise called after the girl.
Amanda ignored her.
Eloise deflated. “It’s like that all the time,” she mumbled, shutting the door after him. Leading him further into the house, she hastily kicked away forgotten shoes, toys, and coats. “Sorry about that—please disregard the mess,” she half chuckled, half begged, “the kids are shit at cleaning up after themselves,” she muttered under her breath.
Benedict didn’t say a word on the matter. Who was he to judge the state of Eloise and Phillip’s town house? He could barely keep his flat and studio walkable, let alone livable.
Making a left she led him into the main living and dinning area of the house. Or what Benedict assumed was the main living and dining area (he’d only been to the house twice, never entering the living spaces and sent directly towards El’s study-work area); it’d been turned into a massive, budding greenhouse with sparse sitting room furniture. A sofa was tucked into the corner, along with a telly on a swinging axis mounted on the wall conjoining the living and dinning areas.
“You can just set the pizza—erm—hold on.” Eloise paused in front of the dinning table, frowning. Books and papers covered every inch of the table’s surface. Considering her options, Eloise began to hesitantly move one of the stacks.
“We can picnic in your greenhouse,” Benedict offered before she could continue her undesired task. El paused, lifting her head to him in confusion.
“My greenhouse? What are you—”
Benedict waved to the array of plants behind him.
“Oh, yeah. That.” She rolled her eyes. Hands flying up in the air, Eloise stepped away from the table, sold on the idea. “Let’s do that. Anything to not move any of this organized chaos.” She led him back to the living area, snatching a throw blanket from the back of an overflowing armchair. With half-hearted flourish she shook out the blanket and laid it out on the floor. Once that was set, she was quick to grab plates from the kitchen and plop herself on the floor across from him. “Ollie, ‘Manda!”
In a matter of moments, the twins appeared downstairs, Amanda at the helm. They snatched up plates without prompting and piled up on the pizza. Benedict chuckled lightly at their antics, glad he made the choice to order extra.
Amanda glared at him.
He swallowed down any other sounds. Poorly.
“Thank you,” Amanda muttered, remembering her manners last minute before running up the stairs.
Oliver lingered back. He set down his plate and wrapped his tiny arms around Benedict’s side in an attempt of a side hug. He let go as quickly as he began. “Thank you, Ben,” he said, much kinder than his sister, and followed after, taking two steps at a time to catch up.
Benedict watched as they went, suddenly glad he was an oldest siblings and not a twin, or even a younger brother to a sister. He’d never survive the clutches of an older Daphne or worse, an older Eloise or Francesca.
Across from him, Eloise shoved a slice of pepperoni and mushroom into her mouth. She moaned, chomping loudly, mouth open. “Oh my god, either I haven’t had pizza in forever or this is the best damn pizza in the world. You’ve made a brilliant discovery, brother. You are a godsend.”
He gave a crooked smile, snatching a slice of his own. “Thanks. Glad to know my presence is welcomed.”
“Always welcomed, always,” she insisted. Her eyes then screwed shut, groaning—a memory had crashed upon her. A closed fist thumped at her forehead. “I missed lunch yesterday, didn’t I?” she winced out. “The one we planned weeks ago?”
Taking pity on her, Benedict did not answer, only taking a large bite of his pizza.
“God, I’m an idiot,” she continued to bemoan. “I didn’t realize—you should have called me—or, or, I should have called you—gah!” Huffing, she nibbled pathetically on her food. “Honestly my excuse is absentmindedness due to children wreaking havoc, but I feel like that excuse is such a cop-out.”
While it had been part of Benedict’s intention that afternoon to guilt trip his sister, believing she simply forgot about the lunch, he found himself growing concerned.
Especially due to the lack of a certain grumpy botanist.
“Where’s Phillip?” he asked, eyes scanning the room.
“Weeklong conference,” she ground out. She picked off a stray black olive from her pizza. “In Paris.”
“What?” Benedict blinked, bewildered. “A conference? So close to Christmas?”
“I know,” she droned back. “That’s what I said! But this one’s important; he has an interview for a couple of research teams while he’s there, so it’s kind of big deal for him.” He could tell his sister was trying to sound excited for her partner, but the joy did not quite reach the raspy trills of her voice or the gray light in her eyes.
Eloise was exhausted. Benedict didn’t need to ask her how she felt, his little sister an open book.
“And what about your work?” he asked, careful to not press too hard. El either closed up or lashed out whenever she felt she was being scolded or yelled at; there was never an in between in reactions. “Your Masters—”
“Still working on it,” she assured him, “still TA-ing, still slogging through with my thesis.” With her first sliced finished, she picked up another. “And keeping them,” she nodded her head back to the stairs, “alive and to school on time.”
Benedict winced. “And you’re okay?” he asked. “With all of this…the conferences, taking care of the kids, working yourself to the bone?”
“Of course!” Eloise cried out, a pizza crust shoved into her mouth like a chipmunk. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Not so subtly Benedict’s eyes roved around the disastrous room. Laundry sat piled high in one corner of the room, while the front windows were practically nonexistent, potted plants consuming all available space for the strip of possible sunlight. Books upon books were stacked by the dinning table where stacks of research papers remained. Then there was the wall of storage totes, untouched with a layer of dust resting on top.
There was no rhyme or reason to the house. No organization. No order in the slightest. And while Benedict wasn’t one to boast about order or cleanliness…
This wasn’t Eloise.
His sister, while scatterbrained, was fairly organized. She liked knowing where all her belongings were and went as far as labeling her clothes, books, and toys when she was in her youth because she hated the thought of sharing. With seven siblings, who could blame her?
“Just a thought,” Benedict said, unable to conceal his deep, worried frown. “Just a little, little thought. Nothing to be concerned about.”
Her deadpanned stare terrified him.
“Really, I am okay with this—”
“I really don’t think you are,” Benedict shot back indelicately. “Ever heard the phrase, the state of one’s home is the state of their mind?”
“Shut. Up,” she gritted. She snatched the entire pizza box, balancing the cardboard shakily on her lap. “No more pizza for you.”
He shook his head in disbelief, leaning back against the base of the sofa. “I bought it.”
“And we are eating it on my blanket, in my home,” she said before folding another slice of pizza into her mouth. “I win.”
They weren’t playing a game, however he wasn’t going to argue with her there. “So good old Phil has interviews?” he asked instead. He pulled a beer from the case beside him, popping open the bottle with the edge of his keys. “Anywhere exciting?”
“All research based projects. Most are only month long excursions on remote islands I did not really care to learn,” she shrugged, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “Except for one, but I doubt he’ll get the big one with in the Galapagos. That’s five fucking months long.”
“Shit,” Benedict whistled lowly. “Five months without him would be intense.”
Eloise snorted. “Yeah. That’s if he got it. Which he won’t,” she said, far too sure on the matter. “Phillip only applied so these institutes and scientists remembered his name in the long run and had him on file.”
“Good,” Benedict muttered. While he wanted Phillip to be successful in his career and endeavors, he didn’t like the idea of Eloise left alone. His sister thrived in company, a talkative sort; she couldn’t be cooped up in the house all the time taking care of the twins. She’d go mad. “I like him being around. He adds an air of…gravity and sense. You need that El.”
She flicked an olive at his face.
The tiny black spot bounced off his forehead, Benedict not reacting at all at the assault. He passed her an open beer, Eloise’s taking the beverage in an instant. She took a large gulp, exhaling loudly after. “God, I needed that.” She nodded to him, raising an eyebrow. “What about you? I know you didn’t just come here to guilt me with pizza. You could have waited until Sunday brunch to annoy me. Or even send a text. Or a phone call.” She sipped her beer sagely. “Something happened. I can sense it.”
“Ethan took the San Francisco job.”
Beer sputtered out all over him.
“El!” Benedict jumped up. His shirt and part of his denim jeans were splattered with spit and beer.
“Are you shitting me?” She roared, disregarding her dripping chin. “Are you fucking shitting me?” She set down her beer and climbed up to her feet at a frightening speed. “I am going to send that motherfucker the longest fucking text message on the face of the planet as to why he is a colossal idiot for leaving you for fucking San Francisco!” She made a mad dash for the opposite side of the house, towards her and Phillip’s shared study.
“El! No!” Benedict leapt after her, kicking the pizza box in the process. “Don’t text him!”
When he reached her, he found her cursing up a storm. But luckily, no mobile phone in hand.
“Those little demons snatched my phone,” she grumbled, her laptop bag turned over on her desk. “Again,” she seethed.
Just as she began her warpath to the twins, Benedict caught her by the arms and swung her back around into the room. With a less than gentle push, he shoved her into her desk chair.
“You are not going to get you phone yet because it is never wise to text anyone in the state you are currently in.”
“And what kind of fucking state is that?” she shouted, hands gripped on the armrests.
“Kind of a manic and rage state,” Benedict told her. “Enough to cause nightmares!”
An indignant scoff pitched from her. “I’m not—!”
“Do you not hear yourself?”
Eloise clamped her mouth shut.
Running a hand down his face, Benedict sighed. He knew he’d have to tell her soon anyways. “I told him to take it.”
She gapped at him. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“Because…” His tongue swept the inside of his mouth, teeth gritting after the fact. “Because Ethan and I are taking a break.”
His little sister’s eyes grew into impossibly wide grey orbs, welling with overwhelmed tears. “No. No don’t say that.”
“Just a small one,” he insisted, feeling stupid explaining the situation. His entire family would hit him upside the head if he told them, telling him he was letting the best thing in his life get away, but El? Eloise was different. She was always different than the rest; oddballs and black sheep’s stuck together. Not to mention as second son, he felt it was his duty to look after the second daughter, always had been. “A break during the time he’s over there,” he elaborated, the details of the previous night flooding back to him. “He’s never left the country. Never been to the States and this isn’t an opportunity he should pass up.”
“He’s an accountant,” Eloise reminded him. “He can literally work anywhere.”
“Doesn’t matter, he deserves to live his life and travel and do all the things he’s dreamed of doing,” Benedict argued. “I’m not going to stop the man I love from experiencing life.”
“Then you should go with him,” Eloise declared, arms crossed stubbornly over her chest.
He was quick to shake his head. “No. We need…we need space. To think. To think about what we both want and this job opportunity provides that. He’ll only be gone for six months. Starts in January.” He tried to be optimistic; not necessarily his forte, but Benedict would try for both his sake and Ethan’s.
“I don’t like this.” Eloise spun left to right in her chair, mouth twisting and pursing as she ruminated over the news. “I don’t like this at all.” Her feet stomped down, stopping her spinning. “Are you going to tell the rest of the family? That you and him are, how did you put it, ‘taking a break’?”
“Uh, no.” Benedict blinked, the reality shot back at him. He leaned against the edge of her desk, face scrunching. “We decided to keep it on a need to know basis. Right now only you know.”
Eloise blew a raspberry. “Knowing Ethan, he probably already told either Michael or Kate.”
Benedict shrugged, not wanting to think on the matter too deeply. “Maybe.”
“I feel like a child who’s just been told her parents are separating,” she mumbled, picking at her finger nails. Her then lifted, hope shining in her eyes. “Is he gonna still come for Christmas?”
He shook his head. “Ethan’s spending the holiday with Posy.”
“Damn,” Eloise hissed between gritted teeth. “Well brother, if you ever get lonely these next few months, know you can always stop here,” she told him, offering a comforting smile. “With food of course. Nothing in this life is for free.”
“I’d never dare to show up here empty handed,” he teased.
“Good. Glad we have discussed the terms and conditions to this agreement.”
El’s grin eased Benedict; a first in days.
“Oh Eddie, I’m so glad we were able to do this,” Kate gushed, sitting across from her sister at the small dining table. Anthony smiled at the affection radiating from his wife. “I was so worried we wouldn’t be able to squeeze in a little celebration this year. We’ve never spent Christmas apart.”
“I wouldn’t have missed this for the world, Katie,” Edwina assured her. With both their lives so busy, Edwina with her graduate studies and her relationship with Josie then Kate with work and the new changes in her life with marriage, the once close sisters found it harder to meet up than before. The dinner had been thrown together last minute once the two realize how soon Edwina would be leaving town, she planning on spending the holidays with Josie and her relatives. “Maybe this can be a fun new tradition we can start! Having our own little Christmas dinner before we head our separate ways.” She grinned, giddy at the possibility.
Kate’s smiled, brightened by the idea.
While Kate never out right expressed her concerns regarding future holidays, Anthony knew Edwina’s suggestion brought an abundance of relief for his wife. So much was changing so fast, to know her sister looked forward to more dinners and celebrations with her was the assurance Kate needed.
From the kitchen the oven pinged.
Kate leapt out of her chair, nearly knocking over her wine. Anthony caught the glass before it could completely tip over. “That’s the biscuits. I’ll be back in a moment.” She slipped away from Anthony and Edwina, her smile not once falling away.
His heart lifted at his wife’s newfound joy, a rare lightness in her step.
“Did you make the appointment?” Edwina asked the moment Kate was out of an earshot.
All lovesick happiness he felt was snuffed out in a flick. Anthony tried his best to be reasonable. “Eddie—”
“Oh my god, you haven’t have you?” She gasped out, falling back in her seat.
“I’ve been busy—”
“Doing what?” she shot back.
Anthony gapped at her. The gall of this girl. “Bridgerton Media Publications—”
“You have people who run the company for you! It’s not some start-up,” she shrewdly told him. Her arms crossed stubbornly over her chest, she outright glaring at Anthony.
Edwina wasn’t one to glare, but Anthony knew her mother and sister taught her well.
“What the hell have you been doing the times Kate thinks you are at therapy?” she hissed.
“Go to the cinema,” he answered honestly. He’d seen the latest Disney film four times. Of course he made sure to rotate the theatres he attended; he didn’t need anyone to think he was a creep or oddball watching the same movie again and again at the same time every week for the last month.
“What are you going to do when she finds out—”
“You’re not going to tell her,” Anthony pleaded.
“Of course not.” Edwina stabbed at the roast on her plate. “I’ll wait for the inevitable implosion. Work smarter not harder, Anthony.”
Naturally Anthony winced at the implication. For some reason everyone in his family believed his missteps would ‘implode’ as his sister-in-law put.
“I wanted to make the appointment.” Anthony did not know how to convince Edwina he did or why he found it difficult to do so. “If you haven’t noticed I am not great at opening up—”
She chomped hard on her asparagus. “I’ve noticed.”
He winced again.
“I feel uncomfortable opening up to someone I don’t know.”
“Well Kate cannot be your therapist,” Edwina told him pointedly. “She can be your wife and confidant, but she cannot fix you. You got to do that yourself.”
“I know,” he ground out. He rubbed the back of his neck, the room feeling too warm. The logical part of his brain told him this was a sign of anxiety and he simply needed to calmly explain himself. Better to calmly explain himself then fall into the trappings of an anxiety attack in the middle of dinner. “I hated the last therapist I saw.”
“Why?”
“She reminded me too much of my mother.”
It was Edwina’s turn to wince. Violet and Anthony were on better terms, but everyone in the family (in-laws included) knew they still had their moments.
“But you said you don’t feel comfortable opening up to a male therapist,” she reminded him. “Remember the first one?”
The first therapist reminded Anthony of his father.
Tall, warm, jovial.
He didn’t make a second appointment, too disturbed.
“You need to find someone,” Edwina declared, leaving no room for argument. “Or I will find someone for you.” She stabbed her potato, eyes never leaving Anthony.
He never feared his sweet sister-in-law until that moment. Edwina could probably murder him and make it look like an accident.
“You have a list of therapist you are waiting to call,” he snarked back.
“Yes, I do,” came her plain answer. “Josie and I complied a list a few months back.”
Anthony swallowed an petulant groan. “You told Josie?”
Edwina was appalled by his upset. “I tell Josie everything.” Her nose wrinkled. “Don’t you tell Kate everything?”
“Yes, but—”
“But?” Edwina pressed, raising an eyebrow.
Anthony did not have an adequate argument and dropped the matter altogether. “Do you and Josie have your tickets all sorted and passports up to date for your trip to the States?” he asked, going through his mental travel checklist.
His sister-in-law softened. “Yes. I even printed out the checklist you made for us,” she said, a genuine smile sent his way. “Josie thought it was a bit much, but I told her being overprotective was your love-language.”
“Someone has to make sure you have everything in order,” he said, unbothered by Josie’s apparent remark. He and Edwina’s girlfriend tried their best to be friends, or at least affable for Kate and Edwina’s sake, yet more often than not their connection was a hit or miss. Josie found him overbearing, while Anthony found her too studious. The woman lived, ate, and breathed her field and he could barely find any topic to speak with her about. The rare dinner or lunch between the four led to long bouts of silence between the two, Kate and Edwina carrying out the conversations. Anthony hadn’t been the least bit surprised when Josie could not make it to dinner, claiming she had a paper due. The only positive at the moment was she knew about Eddie’s gift and even supported the idea.
“I appreciate it,” Edwina assured him, “and I’m sure Josie does too.”
Anthony refrained an eyeroll.
“I’m glad. If you need any help with anything at all, just—”
“Call you,” Edwina finished, this not the first time he uttered the phrase. “I know.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’re starting to sound like my sisters.”
She beamed at the comparison. As she opened her mouth, perhaps to remind him he did indeed gain her as a sister when he married Kate, a knock sounded on the door.
Kate popped her head out from the kitchen. “I’ll get it!”
But Anthony was already up and at the door before her. “No, it’s fine. Go back and finish whatever it was you were doing—”
“Pulling biscuits out of the oven.” She bumped him away from the door.
Another knock rapped rapidly against the door.
Anthony grasped the doorknob, Kate tried to wedge her way between him and the opening. “What the hell are you doing Kate?” he grumbled. “Let me open the door—”
“I’ll get it.” They continued to nudge and bump each other’s arms and hands away. After less than two minutes of shoving ridiculousness he wrapped one arm around Kate and pulled her way from the door, into his chest. With his free hand he opened the door.
“Ma, Da!” Michael Stirling cried out. “I’m home!”
Anthony wanted to curse to the heavens. “Dear god, what are you doing here?”
“Kate invited me,” Michael grinned at Kate.
His wife’s mouth remained clamped shut and large eyes darted between the two, she assessing her options; Anthony could at least say he married a wise woman. She still securely pulled into Anthony’s side, but did not fight him like she had before. Nothing about her was regretful or sheepish, only the slightest bit embarrassed. However, Kate knew how to roll with embarrassment, she more than once on the end of the torture and torment.
“Michael called me early today,” she began to explain, shrugging his hold away. “Said he was back in town and wanted to catch up with us. I told him we couldn’t go out because of dinner with Edwina.”
“So I decided to drop by,” Michael added, adjusting his satchel strap higher on his shoulder.
Anthony’s eyes zeroed in on the suitcase and backpack beside Michael. Oh, god, he knew where this night was going.
“Come on,” Kate waved him into the flat, nudging Anthony away to open the door wider, “we are still eating. I’ll fix you up a plate. I can finally introduce you to Edwina!” She waved him in, Michael following along, dragging his luggage with him.
Anthony remained rooted by the door, willing himself to not scream. Counting down from ten, he finally shut the door after Michael, making due diligence to lock the locks and double check they were indeed locked. A task also known as busying himself before he had to join the laughter and chatter of the flat.
There was one thing about his wife Anthony never noticed, or perhaps never had the opportunity to while out in Aubrey Hall.
Kate liked to collect strays.
Of all kinds.
Within the first week of living together she had found a stray kitten around the building, halving half the mind to keep the little creature. Unfortunately it had to be taken to shelter—Anthony was allergic. But the kitten was merely the first sign of a massive trait he seemingly overlooked…
Whenever one of their friends or family needed somewhere to stay, someone to vent to, somewhere to be other than home for whatever reason, Kate was quick to open their home without second thought. Over the last few months the list of instances was insane—Penelope when she got locked out of the flat when Colin was out of the country, Hyacinth when she randomly came to town for a visit, Ethan when he and Benedict had a fight (that one was difficult to explain to his brother), Edwina and Josie when they were between flats for one week back in September, Michael’s monthly stops after projects out of town…there were more, so much more, that just the tip of the iceberg.
While Anthony liked to believe he was generous and knew for a fact his wife was too, he felt like there was always someone else in the flat. Normally, he’d be fine with guests, after all he had his fair share of siblings crashing at his place when he lived on his own.
The problem was the flat. There was no room. At all.
Kate’s flat worked for her. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, a kitchen, and a dinning-living area. The space worked for her and Newton perfectly. And even for Anthony a little too…at first.
But now…
“You can sit next to Eddie,” Kate shuffled Michael along into the open seat beside her sister. His luggage was already put in the corner closest to the sofa. Newton kept on tangling between all their legs, mouth open and waiting for a piece of food to drop like a little fury vulture.
Shuffling of chairs and muttered excuse did not stop anyone from bumping into each other.
Shaking his head, Anthony passed the scene, mumbling about needing to use the loo. Once he turned down the hall out of sight of Kate and their guests, he enter Kate’s art room.
“Just popping in to check on ya,” he whispered, inching closer to the box under beside the wardrobe.
Curled inside laid a puppy, a corgi, only a few months old and awfully tried. Anthony expected no less. Gregory informed him of his and the puppy’s adventures from the day; playing, eating, exploring the flat. A purposeful strategy to tucker the little sucker out so he would be yapping throughout the evening.
Anthony smiled down at the fur ball.
If he and Kate moved elsewhere, they’d be able to get another dog. A friend for Newton.
Satisfied to find Edwina’s gift sleeping soundly and comfortably, Anthony left the room and rejoined dinner.
“—my goodness, you need to send me all the shots you took in Rome,” Edwina insisted to Michael. “To be where the philosophers once stood must be magical.”
Michael had charmed Eddie, as he did with everyone. “Anywhere outside of what we know, outside of our normal, is magical because it is the unknown. So yes, it was magical.”
Taking his seat beside his wife, Anthony muffled snort. Kate looked like she was ready to scoff and roll her eyes at Michael’s blatant flirting. And his sister-in-law being sweet and oblivious as she was, did not notice this. Instead she asked more about Rome.
“Did you check on the gift?” Kate asked, hushed to not interrupt the raptor building between Eddie and Michael.
“Angelic,” Anthony answered. “After dinner?”
She nodded, bubbling with excitement.
Seeing Kate happy was enough for Anthony to swallow any qualms about strays. His wife simply had too big of a heart, and he loved her for it.
Michael had no idea he was crashing a Christmas dinner. Not until Kate and Anthony presented Edwina with a puppy as their gift to her.
He’d never seen a girl lose her mind, giggle, and cry all in one instance.
“He’s adorable!” she cried out, hugging the corgi to her chest like he was an infant. “He’s amazing, and cute, and everything I have ever wanted!” She pressed her nose to puppy, nuzzling him. “I can’t believe he’s mine.”
Beside their feet Newton watched on in bafflement. Michael felt for the poor dog; he was getting replaced in Edwina’s heart by younger version. He patted and scratched the older corgi’s head, giving him the attention he deserved.
“But I can’t!” Edwina started to blubber, much to Kate and Anthony’s horror. The two hurried to calm down her, like a ma and da. “I can’t just have a dog, I’d have to talk to Josie and see if our building even allows pets and—”
“Do you really think Kate and I would get you a puppy Ed without double checking if you can even have one in the first place?” Anthony asked.
The girl paused, considering the rhetorical question in earnest. “I guess not…”
“Josie knows!” Kate crowed out. “She’s known for months! Mama has known for months, even your landlady has known for months.”
All tears dried, a loud ‘aw’ escaped Edwina. She hugged her new fur baby closer. “You two are the best family a girl can ask for.” Standing up she leaned into Kate for a hug, the older sister wrapping her arms around her. “You too, Anthony!” With a free arm, she pulled him into the hug, the brother-in-law begrudgingly accepting the gesture.
From the dinning table, Michael watched them with admiration. There was something sweet to know love of all forms existed. Maybe that was why he often found himself dropping by Kate and Anthony’s; they cared so deeply for everyone in their lives, no one able to escape the unconditional love they shared with their family and friends.
With more crying and cuddling and thank yous, Edwina soon made her hasty leave, all too excited to bring the corgi home to her girlfriend.
Which left him alone with Lord and Lady Bridgerton. He grinned cheekily at them when they turned his way. “That was fun.”
Anthony clucked his tongue and walked away, muttering about washing the dishes. Newton was hot on his tail, the doggo still hoping for a bit of scraps.
Kate dropped into the seat across from Michael, a scary knowing glint in her eyes. She clasped her hands under her chin, waiting. “Not that we don’t love you and like your company, but want to tell me why you invited yourself over?”
This was not the first time (nor would be the last time) Michael invited himself over to their place.
He leaned back in his chair, picking up his glass of wine. Sipping he shrugged. “Thought I’d see my favorite people now that I am back in town.”
“We know you are here avoiding Franny and John!”
Kate’s face scrunched at her husband’s holler.
Michael groaned. His head lulled back then to the side, pleading at Kate with his eyes. The last thing he wanted was a scolding from Anthony.
She didn’t say anything, lips chewed together. God, she wasn’t going to save him.
Anthony footsteps thundered over to the dinning table. Newton, once again, followed his master happily. “You cannot avoid them forever, Stirling,” he said, wet sponge dripping in his hand. Newton tried to catch the droplets into his mouth. “You and John live in the same flat. Franny lives there now too. She has for months. You need to get over yourself.”
“Anthony,” Kate admonish. She turned to Michael, thoroughly miffed with her husband. “I understand it must be hard living in the same space with…well, with the woman you love and her fiancé, who also happens to be your cousin, but you cannot stay here all the way through Christmas,” she said, hitting his next question on the head before he could even utter a word. “You gotta think they must be wondering where you are at.”
“I didn’t tell them I was back,” Michael confessed.
Anthony’s hands dropped to his hips, head craning up to the heavens, blinking for salvation. “My god, it’s like dealing with a child,” he muttered.
Michael didn’t argue, merely sipping more wine. His friend wasn’t wrong; he was being childish. Michael knew this and did not regret his actions an ounce.
“You are going to have to tell them,” Kate insisted. “The wedding is in three weeks. You are the best man. They kind of expect you to be there.”
“And I’ll be there,” Michael said. “But I will not see them until I absolutely need to see them.”
A matching set of sighs came from pseudo mother and father. Anthony looked done with the conversation, while Kate’s brows pinched together tight, concern setting deep within her. “Michael, I don’t want to sound insensitive,” Kate began, “but this is a situation where you need to put aside your feelings—”
“I’ve been putting aside my feelings for years,” he bemoaned, letting the pain out for once. “I haven’t told anyone how I feel about Franny except you two.” And even then it had been accident, a drunk phone call. “I’d never want to come between her and John. I refuse—”
“We aren’t saying you stop the wedding, or tell her how you feel,” Anthony told him, exasperated. “We are telling you to stop running away. This isn’t going to change any time soon. Franny and John are getting married. As a friend and cousin, you need to be there for them. That’s what a good and honorable man does, and you know it.”
Michael nodded. This was why he needed to see Kate and Anthony first. They knock some sense into him. And Michael needed some sense knocked into him from time to time.
“Okay,” he huffed. “Okay. I’ll see them tomorrow. I will go back to the flat tomorrow.” He then turned to Kate pleading once more. “But can I crash here tonight?”
“Of course.” She patted his hand. “You are always welcomed.”
Anthony groaned, shaking his head. He marched back into the kitchen, glaring at the two from the sink. “You are coddling him, Kate!”
She rolled her eyes. “Ignore him.”
Michael snorted. “Have you noticed your husband is a bit of a grump?”
“All the time,” she said with a lovesick smile, peeking over at Anthony over her shoulder. “But I kind of like it.”
Now that was true love.