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Kate didn't realise what had happened until it was time for supper.
In her defence none of this was her fault. She had warned Anthony to stay away from her unlabeled potions. Only she knew what they were for and how to counteract them before they set in. As a cursebreaker from a long line of cursebreakers he reacted more heavily to her alchemy than any other mage would. That was why her apothecary room was off-limits to him and to everyone in the home.
The person, or rather the creature, to blame was Newton. According to Anthony he had run into her apothecary room and spilled three of her potions. Anthony, instead of calling her to help as he should have, decided to clean up the potions on his own while Newton ran in circles around him.
That was where the trouble started.
Her husband, of course, refusing to share the blame only with Newton, said that she should have known that something was wrong from the moment she awoke that morning. Kate did not agree with that. How was she to blame for the startling similarities between her husband and her dog? If anything the fault she ought to have accepted was in not realising she had wed the human version of Newton.
For example:
1. Anthony sniffed her quite a lot.
Waking up to her husband nosing at her neck and taking long, deep sniffs was a regular occurrence in their home. The licks to said neck were a little strange but Anthony was often strange and so she did not give it a second thought except to say—
“There is no time for that this morning, jaanu. I am still finalising the plans for Gregory's birthday celebration.”
Anthony growled into her neck, which was also normal for him, before shaking his head a little. Regardless of his dissent he put up very little fight as Kate slipped out of bed. That was not his usual way. He often pulled her right back into his arms when she tried to leave their marriage bed. Then again her husband had the softest of spots for the littlest of his siblings.
It was really quite sweet.
Kate was so overcome with affection for her husband she did not notice Newton clambering at the foot of their bed. She very nearly stepped on him.
Kate winced. She always hated any accidental mishaps with Newton. He was so precious to her. She bent over to ruffle his ears. He preened under her attention, trying to climb up her nightgown.
“Anthony,” said Kate, looking up at her husband. Newton barked and Kate resumed petting him. “Make haste. You have an early meeting with your solicitor.”
Her husband groaned in response.
2. Anthony did not like Newton—
Except for the fact that her husband did not usually give his valet this much trouble to dress, the day passed by quite typically as they entered the morning room to break their fast.
Anthony stood next to her as she took her seat. He did not pull out her chair for her as was his wont but he seemed mesmerised by the sight of her face. No more so than usual. In their many months of marriage Kate had grown used to being constantly looked upon.
“Good heavens can you two spend one morning apart?” asked Colin, uncharacteristically grumpy.
“I don't believe we can,” said Kate. She was not sure what was wrong with Colin but it was not in his nature to be so surly. She would have to ask Anthony to speak to him later. “Not unless forced.”
“That is the nature of love, dearest,” said Violet with a gentle smile. “Very soon it will be your wife from whom you never wish to part.”
Colin looked conflicted.
Her mother-in-law had been waxing poetic about love and marriage for months now. At least according to Benedict. Having two children successfully settled in a love match had bolstered her desire to see it happen for every last one of her children.
Benedict groaned as he relayed this news to Kate and Anthony but Kate felt yoked to her mother-in-law in that regard. It was only last season that she was making potions and casting spells in the hope that true love would fall in her sister's lap. Of course poor wording led to the unforseen turn of events where said love fell into her lap instead.
Love aside, it still did not follow that her husband was standing at her side rather than sitting to break his fast.
“Anthony, aren't you going to sit?” Kate asked, confused.
Newton barked. Kate looked to the side and saw Newton sitting at the head of the table. Kate was so astonished she almost could not speak. Newton had his moments of mischief but he was never so bold as to sit at the head of the table in full view of the family.
“Newton!” said Kate, sharply. Anthony bent down to nudge his nose on her shoulder. She looked up at him. “Not now, jaanu,” she turned back to Newton. “Newton! Down!”
In a puzzling display Anthony sat on his chair only narrowly missing Newton who yelped as he jumped down. Hyacinth and Gregory giggled as their brother almost toppled over the chair in his haste to sit.
Kate looked at him chidingly, “You ought to have waited. You could have hurt him.”
Anthony shrugged. Kate almost threw her boiled egg at him. Really. She knew her husband and her dog had some preposterous rivalry she could not bother to untangle but that was beyond the pale. She vowed not to speak to him until for the rest of the morning unless he apologised to Newton who had taken his usual place at her foot.
Kate took a sausage from her plate and fed it to her dog in apology. Newton nipped at her fingers, slobbering all over them. Kate giggled before feeding him another piece of sausage.
He really was the sweetest dog. She could not see why Anthony did not agree.
3. —the feeling was mutual.
Kate only forgave her husband his mishap when he apologised to her.
Well he did not apologise, per se. He merely came up behind her and folded her in an embrace. Grabbed her really. It would have stirred her blood if it wasn't such a clumsy embrace. It was only then that Kate remembered how he tossed and turned in bed last night waking her up on three different occasions.
Most nights Kate slept in her husband's arms. It was one reason, amongst many, that she had grown accustomed to waking up with a smile.
Whenever he slept poorly he became irritable, quiet and unsteady on his feet. She found that she could not fault him for being ungracious in such a state.
She turned around to kiss him lightly when she heard a loud growl followed by aggressive barking.
Newton was in some sort of frenzy. Kate's eyes widened. She had never seen him like this before. She was about to untangle herself from Anthony to see what was wrong when she saw something she could not believe.
Newton was hanging off of Anthony's breeches snapping at him. It was only when she saw him take a big chomp of his leg that she was able to shake herself into action, stomping her feet and shooing Newton away.
“Are you well?” she sank to her knees before he could respond. She rolled his pants up and was thankful to see that his stockings, though wet with spit, was not completely torn through.
Tearing through his stockings to inspect his leg she saw that there was only a mild scratch and very little blood. Kate was no necromancer who could stitch together wounds with their magic and bring people back from the brink of death but her spellwork was good enough to deal with minor scratches and her potions even better with larger wounds.
She whispered her magic into his flesh and breathed a sigh of relief to see the scratch fade. There would be no scar. She pressed a kiss to his leg.
Newton's snarling was impossible to ignore as she checked her husband over. Kate scrambled to her feet and glared at Newton. What on earth was the matter with him? He was behaving so unlike himself.
“Newton! What has gotten into you today? This is most irregular!”
Just as she was about to send Newton outside Anthony growled and he seemed almost ready to chase Newton and give him a solid thrashing. For once Kate could not defend her canine. She knew he did not like her husband but he had never bitten him before. It was so bizzare. Despite being her staunch defender Newton was not particularly violent. And more to the point she did not need to be defended from her husband's embrace or his kiss.
Holding onto his shirtsleeves so he would not move was the only thing that restrained him.
“He is having a bad day, jaanu,” said Kate, calmer than she would have been had Newton truly injured him. Kate was inordinately fond of Anthony's legs, especially his strong calves. “And you did sit on him this morning. Can't you two just call it even?”
Anthony gazed at her with a glum look in his eye but he did not move from her side.
Kate removed herself from his arms and returned to her seat as she peered down at Newton. For some reason he seemed more animalistic than usual, almost feral as he growled at her husband. Perhaps she needed to make him a calming potion.
Looking up at Anthony in apology she saw him staring at Newton with an almost smug look on his face.
Kate rolled her eyes. He could be so ridiculous sometimes.
“Leave me to my work, darling.” Kate said, already exasperated by their nonsense. Anthony did not listen—of course he did not listen. He always took her orders to stop pestering her as she worked as suggestions rather than orders.
“I am busy,” she insisted. And this time, pointing at the door she said, “Out!”
Strangely enough that was the order Anthony listened to. Kate looked at him curiously as he left the room, leaving the door open. It threw her for a loop. Her husband was never this agreeable. And before she could question why he forgot to kiss her goodbye Newton clambered onto her lap.
Kate frowned. She was still cross with him.
“Why did you bite him? It is bad enough that you two don't get along. He insists that you sabotage him on purpose and now you are proving him right?”
Newton did his best to wag his tail as he looked up at her. Looking into his soulful eyes her heart softened.
“Do not give me those eyes, sir. Am I now not allowed to kiss my husband?”
Newton growled again.
“Oh enough of that! I know you do not get on with him but if—if you ever do that again I shall send you to the shambles.”
Newton huffed and well—she deserved that. They both knew that her threat was an empty one. But her displeasure held weight.
“I mean it. You must try to get on with him. Do it for me if nothing else. I love you but I also love him. So very much. You must know he means the world to me.”
Newton yiped before licking her fingers and Kate took that as an agreement. As she started petting his fur in gratitude he scrambled up her chest to place slobbering licks on her chin.
“You are the silliest dog in the world.” Kate laughed. “Now get down and let me work.”
Newton stared up at her before settling into her lap more comfortably. Kate shook her head. She would allow him this once, she decided, as she returned to her ledgers.
As much as she wished to cast him out for a day or so for biting her husband he did just apologise in his own way and agree to get along with him. Never let it be said that Kathani Bridgerton did not have a forgiving heart.
4. Anthony was very affectionate.
Mrs. Wilson whisked her away after luncheon to discuss Gregory's birthday dinner.
Kate had eaten on her own as Anthony's brother's took him to Mondrich's to drown their sorrows. Well truthfully it was Colin’s sorrows and they, none of them knew what caused him to be so sorrowful anyway.
After spending hours with Mrs. Wilson making sure that everything was going according to plan for tomorrow with the cake (lemon), the roast (lamb), the entertainment (a pianoforte performance from Francesca and a play that Hyacinth had them all learn lines for). All of this would be preceded by a trip to the zoo that Gregory had been asking for for over a week now. She was going to make certain that he had the most splendid day.
Now though she was focused on her other task for the day. Rest. It was the one thing Anthony insisted from her after she came to be with child. Everyone was aware of her condition so there was no reason for her to make excuses for her frequent need for rest.
Kate rubbed her palms together and tried to warm the room to no avail. Ah well. Extra blankets would have to do.
There were alchemists like her Appa who could centre the magic in their bodies and spring forth all sorts of things into reality. Make a cold room warm, reheat a cup of tea, make a rotten banana fresh again. There were even a rumoured few who instead of enhancing or worsening what already existed, could create things out of nothing at all. She had sporadic success with the former and none at all with the latter. Appa died before she could learn how far her power stretched but Kate was a quick study when it came to potions.
After his death she poured through all of his books and practised over and over until she perfected her craft. Potions were where her alchemy worked best.
There was a time when Kate thought it would be her life's work. She had meant to return to India and become a village alchemist. Revered, sought after, and solitary. She had resigned herself to that sad fate. If anything sages were at least respected among whatever community they chose to reside. Especially if that community consisted of mostly non-magical folk.
It was strange to think that that was now Edwina's role in Bombay where she now resided with Mary. Even stranger to think that, according to her letters, her sister was happier as a respected witch and scholar than as a nobleman's wife.
Newton lay at the foot of the bed as she crawled in. Kate could not find it in herself to argue with him. She would shoo him when Anthony came to check in on her but until then she needed someone to cuddle with. Before she knew Anthony and even when she did but his eyes were set on her sister, it was Newton who she turned to for affection.
He wiggled and wiggled until he was practically underneath her. Every time Kate tried to move to give him some breathing room he would burrow even further beneath her. To spare him from suffocation she decided to let him be and drifted off to sleep.
She blinked her eyes open at the sound of a scuffle.
“Boys,” she chided.
There was a brief silence before she felt Anthony crawl in behind her. He pulled her to his chest in that same odd, clumsy way. It was peculiar that he smelled neither like brandy or cigars after his afternoon at the club. She had grown to find that scent comforting. Perhaps after some rest he would be back to his normal self.
She did not even notice Newton fuming from the floor. Anthony nuzzled her neck and sighed, contentedly. In his arms she drifted off to sleep once more.
5. Anthony often needed to be convinced to leave the bed.
They woke just in time to prepare themselves for supper.
She sprung from the bed with the same urgency that she always did. Anthony gazed up at her with warm, besotted eyes as he always did.
“We must ready ourselves.”
Kate tried to drag her husband out of bed. He pouted, twisting and turning and trying to linger on the soft feather mattress until he was all tangled up in their sheets.
Grinning down at him Kate bent over and kissed the tip of his nose, ignoring the way it caused Newton to growl from the floor. She really needed to do something about that.
Anthony just stared at her, breathing in her face. That was, well, odd. Actually it was more than odd. Not Anthony breathing in the air she exhaled. That was so quintessentially Anthony Bridgerton that she did not need to question it. No. The oddness was that he had not kissed her yet.
In fact, now that she thought of it, she could not remember the last time her husband kissed her today.
Kate racked her brain trying to think. Did Anthony kiss her today at all? She kissed him once but other than that there was nothing. He did not pull her back to bed when she got out of it. He did not stay to pester her in her study. He did not further any of his embraces into more armourous activities.
Hurt clawed at her chest. For a brief moment she wondered if she did something wrong. If he had somehow tired of her without her noticing.
The moment the thought came she expelled it from her mind. It was only yesterday that he spent half the day attached to her plying her with kisses and touches that made her shiver at the memory of it. She was quite spoiled for affection with this husband of hers.
That was how she knew that something was wrong. As affectionate as he was today, that affection was missing something. It was missing that intense passionate fervour that often overtook their bodies making them useless to anyone outside of each other. The lack of passion was made worse by the realisation that he had barely spoken a word to her today. Even now after an afternoon nap.
It was one thing for him to behave oddly after not sleeping well but he had rested as long as she had and he was still behaving strangely.
Looking at her husband in consternation she tried to put a finger on what was wrong.
“Anthony?” she tried. Newton barked. Kate ignored him.
Anthony simply blinked at her.
Kate frowned.
“Anthony,” Kate tried again to which Newton barked again but her husband said not a word.
“Newton! Not now!” Kate sighed.
For some reason that caused Anthony to pout and roll onto the floor. Her husband usually had a flair for the dramatic but this was beyond anything she had seen from him before. He was behaving like a child.
“Anthony!” Kate snapped, more frustrated than angry. Newton barked once more. This was perhaps the most annoying habit for him to pick up now of all times. Kate was forced to ignore her beloved dog yet again. “I do not know what has gotten into you today but you're behaving like—like—”
Kate blinked. She blinked again. And once more for good measure.
Turning to look down at Newton who had been peering up at her with an intensity—a rather familiar sort of intensity—that startled her. Kate almost could not believe what she was about to ask:
“Anthony?”
Newton started barking incessantly as though he were arguing with her instead of—well, barking. Memories of both of their irregular behaviour throughout the day poured into her mind like a waterfall. Her mouth gaped open.
She crouched down next to him, “Please stop, jaanu. Dog is one of the few languages in which I am not fluent. Quarrel with me when I set this to rights.”
Newton—Anthony put his paw in her hand and Kate softened. She had not held his hand all day. Another oddity she missed in the midst of all the absurdity.
Kate looked up at her husband—her dog—her—this was all so confusing. Shaking her head and gathering her bearings she exhaled: “Follow me!”
+1 Anthony would never let an entire day pass without kissing her.
After an evening spent in her apothecary room Kate had sent Newton out in the gardens so that he could indulge in the frolicking he missed out on all day and called for them to take their supper in bed.
Despite spending most of her day with her husband in dog form and her dog in husband form she missed him—Anthony that was. She had not been kissed all day and she was starved for it.
Kate explored his mouth with a slow tenderness that belied the urgency she felt for him. There were other things they had not done all day. Frankly if she had tried she might have sorted this all out much sooner. Anthony might have qualities that were similar to her loyal pet but Anthony never rebuffed her advances. He always seemed to want her.
It was pure curiousity that made her ask, “Did you want me still? Even when you were in a dog's body?”
Anthony shifted a little awkwardly, “It is better that we don't speak of that.”
Kate wrinkled her nose. Based on his expression alone she already knew the answer and—there were some things that were better left unsaid.
“Is that why you licked my fingers so much?”
“Why shouldn't I?” asked Anthony, affronted, as he started nosing her neck. “I lick your fingers all the time!”
“Not when eating sausages.”
“That was quite nice,” Anthony whispered into the crook of her neck. “You ought to feed me more often.”
Kate took a piece of roast from their discarded tray and placed it in his mouth. Anthony's eyes darkened. He sucked the grease from her fingers making sure that every crease of her palm was clean.
Deciding to feed him the rest of the food by hand and let him clean up the residue after left her panting and squirming. Trying to tamp down her desire she moved away from him to set the tray on the bedside.
Anthony scowled at her absence. She inched closer towards him. He must have missed her all day too even if he did spend a good portion of that day in her lap. Which brought her to another point:
“You bit Newton.”
Anthony snarled, “That flearidden mongrel should be lucky I haven't turned him into a rug for holding you like that.”
Kate scoffed. “He's a dog. You were jealous of a dog.”
Anthony glared at her, unrepentant. “You kissed him!”
“I thought he was you!” Kate argued. “You're jealous of yourself!”
Anthony's experession grew belligerent. He pulled her into his chest and this was the familiarity she had missed all day. Anthony had a way of holding her that was gentle and urgent all at once. He tugged and grabbed her with an aggression that might be off-putting to others but the moment he had her in his arms he gentled.
“I don't care! That blasted dog had no right to put his filthy paws on you.”
Kate frowned. Anthony had always been territorial but this was a bit ludicrous. Then again he did spend most of the day in the body of a dog. She wondered if there was some latent animalistic quality that had yet to fade as the counterpotion worked its way through his body. Or if this was yet another way in which Newton was a kindred spirit to her husband.
“Yours are the only filthy paws I want on my body.”
“My paws aren't filthy,” he grumbled before swiftly correcting himself. “Hands! My hands aren't—”
Kate's smile grew sly, “Don't be jealous, Anthony. You're always going to be my favourite pup of tea.”
Anthony's jaw dropped at her dreadful pun and Kate burst into giggles. She could not help herself. This was the most absurd day of her entire life. It wasn't too long before Anthony joined her in her laughter. As Kate sat on the bed, half dressed and giggling with her husband over a magical mishap Kate realised she had truly never been happier.
In almost no time at all Anthony lightly tackled her to the bed and claimed her lips in a kiss that very nearly took her breath away. She grabbed onto him and held him tight to her body. She poured every bit of longing and passion that she felt for him into that kiss until he pulled away gasping.
“You are a menace!” he grinned down at her.
“Your menace,” she corrected him.
“And no one else's,” he declared before sealing his lips to hers once more.