Kate X Anthony - Tumblr Posts - Page 2

Day 1: Midnight at the library

Anthony quite literally stumbled over her in the library. "Shit, sorry–" He realized who it was huddled in a ball. "Kate?"

"Bridgerton," she choked out. Her breathing was shallow and there were tears running down her face. It was obvious to Anthony that she was having a panic attack.

He crouched beside her, a hand reaching toward her before he froze. "Can I touch you?" He winced at how that sounded. "Nothing weird! Just– my sister Eloise found it comforting."

Eloise was the one with their father when he died of anaphylaxis almost five years earlier. She'd been five and nearly inconsolable for weeks. The panic attacks started a couple of months later and Anthony, dutiful older brother just trying to lessen his mom's burden, learned everything he could about how to support her.

Kate nodded shakily and Anthony dropped down next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and rubbing her arm in a comforting pattern. She leaned into him heavily, breathing ragged. After a moment, she spoke again, "Can you talk to me? Please?" Her voice was hesitant and so small– not right for her at all.

"I never wanted to date your sister," Anthony blurted out. In his defense, it was the first thing that came to mind. He dropped his head back against the bookshelves hard but kept talking. "You were acting so unaffected and ignoring me and I wanted–" What? Her attention? His neck and ears heated with embarrassment. "I don't know, to get a response, I guess, but I took it too far and I'm sorry.

There was a long moment between them where the only sound was her breathing. "I'm sorry too," Kate admitted, voice still quiet but stronger. "I know I overreacted. You're not even Eddy's type."

"Please, I'm everyone's type."

"Trust me, you're not." She snuggled a little closer. "Tell me about your family."

"Well, I have seven younger siblings. My mom has an event planning business we all help with on weekends."

"What about your dad?"

"He died when I was thirteen. It was really sudden."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"Mine died a couple years ago too. Cancer."

"Sucks."

"Yeah." The grief was palpable. Suffocating. Thankfully Kate broke it, "What was your dad like?"

"He was the best. He loved us all so much. He worked hard but also made time for each of us individually. I didn't mention but there's two sets of twins in the family and he would always make sure each got their own time and attention." Anthony closed his eyes. "I hate that Hyacinth, she's the youngest, never got to meet him. It's so unfair."

"It is," Kate agreed, "but at least she has the rest of you. When you never knew a parent… you don't miss them like we miss our dads. It's more like being told a story you can never truly understand. If they loved horses, you wonder if you would've done equestrian or if you might've vacationed at a dude ranch instead of the beach." It was as if she could sense the silent question Anthony didn't dare ask. "My mum died when I was three. Car accident during a storm– I was in the backseat. Mary, Eddy's mum, is my guardian now."

"I, uh… I didn't know that."

Kate shrugged a little self-consciously. "Why would you? Mary's the best, though. She's basically my mom."

Her breathing seemed to be back to normal, so Anthony untangled himself from her. "Here, let me just–" He went to the librarian desk and grabbed several tissues.

He handed them to Kate when he returned and she wiped her face. "How do I look?"

Her eyes were still red and her eyeliner was smeared but the only word that came to mind was striking and Anthony knew better than to say that. "Maybe wash your face before next period," he suggested with a lopsided smile. He offered her a hand to help her off the floor.

Kate accepted his help with a small thanks. He tried to shrug it off but she shook her head. "No, seriously– thank you. You didn't have to be so nice."

And all he could think was that it'd never occurred to him to do anything else.

Day 2: "I am a gentleman"

Lord Bridgerton was assessing her once more only this time his gaze seared her. "Some men will take regardless of what women allow." Kate froze and he immediately held his hands up in a placating movement. "It is not a threat, only a concern. A protector for you may not extend to your sister."

The stinging of tears made Kate blink quickly. "There must be a way…" She had to protect Edwina. It was the most important promise she'd ever made to herself.

"Perhaps…" Lord Bridgerton rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "a small tweak to your scheme is in order. If your protector appeared in public to be Edwina's protector, it would go a long way toward stopping the offers."

"And you believe such a man exists." He quirked an eyebrow at her just as he had in the milliner shop but this time a fission of heat raced through her. "You? You should wish to have me as a mistress?"

He smirked and that was infinitely more dangerous than his brows. "I find your dedication to your sister quite admirable," he admitted. "And your decolletage at the theater, as well."

Kate's jaw dropped open for a moment. She saw his eyes move to her mouth and licked her lips. When his gaze darkened, she did it again.

"Careful, Miss Sharma," he said, voice slightly more strained than before. "I made assurances that I only wished to speak which you are testing."

It struck her then that this man was good– or trying to be at least. Kate believed him that he would help protect Edwina because he admired her. It made her feel brave, powerful even.

Taking a step toward him, she placed a hand on his cheek. "Surely a deal such as this should be sealed with more than words, my lord."

Groaning, he let his forehead fall to hers. "You are testing me."

"No, my lord," Kate said, palming his hardness through his breeches, "I am thanking you."