Naamloos

Gregory joins them and they welcome him into their huddle easily. Another glance around finds Eloise chatting with Penelope and Colin.

Violet and Daphne have their arms hooked through Francesca’s as she steps outside, still dressed all in black, her first appearance out in society since the tragedy of her husband's death. Kate expects it to be her only appearance this season. 

“How are you so far?” Sophie asks, suddenly next to her. 

Kate takes a breath. “Things seem fine so far. I've been warned to keep an eye out for Hyacinth. She may try to sneak down now that she is the only sibling not out.”

“Poor girl “ Sophie smiles. “I can bring her some cake later.”

“Thank you, sister, that is kind,” Kate responds with a grin as she bows to new guests. 

“Lady Bridgerton, what a splendid job you have done,” the blonde woman says.

“Thank you…” Kate smiles helplessly. 

“Sister, this is the new Lady Penwood,” Sophie assists. “She debuted last year while you were out of town with what I was told to be a fine ball indeed.” 

Kate tries not to look too relieved. “Welcome, Lady Penwood. I am sad to have missed your fete last year. If you should hold another, we will do our best to attend.”

Lady Penwood beams. “Thank you, Lady Bridgerton. And Mrs. Bridgerton, I am told you are a relation of my husband! You must come as well. Sensational job last season, taming he who could not be tamed.”

Sophie looks surprised at the comment, but manages a smile. “My husband needed no taming, I assure you. Just a hand to hold.”

“He had many hands offered to him before yours,” the blonde comments. “But I suppose yours was the right fit.”

The woman nods as she walks off and Kate blows out a breath. 

“Thank you, Sophie,” she says quietly. “I should have studied more, clearly.” 

“Lady Penwood is quite the character,” Sophie mutters, looking around. 

Kate watches as she and Benedict make eye contact, and he gives her a look that clearly says the new Lady Penwood is ridiculous. 

Sophie purses her lips, attempting not to smile. 

“And how are things going so far, sisters?” 

Kate jumps a little at Simon's voice, turning and whacking him lightly on the arm. “Where have you been?”

“Upstairs, playing with Neddy and Elliot,” he tells her. “Who are far more entertaining company than most of your attendees.”

“If you did not want to come, you could have stayed home,” Kate chides lightly. 

“Daphne would not hear of it,” Simon tells them. “She is tired of missing family events. And with Francesca’s loss, and all that Benedict went through last season in order to simply get married, she, at least, will be staying for the season.” 

“We have all missed both of you,” Kate tells him. “And this way Sophie gets to know you better, yes?” She turns to the shorter woman, but her gaze is distracted as she watches the door. 

In has walked the Dowager Lady Penwood and one of her daughters. She looks around the garden ball critically, and as her eyes land on Sophie, Benedict appears next to them, taking his wife's hand and gently resting it in the crook of his elbow. 

“Hello, family,” he says quietly, his eyes still on Sophie. 

“She truly is a ghoul,” Simon comments quietly. “Whyever was she invited?”

“We must keep up appearances,” Kate mutters to him. “Sophie is only safe so long as we play along.”

Simon rolls his eyes. “Or I could request a letters patent from the queen, declaring her leg-”

“Lady Penwood,” Sophie greets her stepmother, bowing a little. 

Araminta struggles to even acknowledge her, instead turning to Kate and Simon. “Your Grace. Lady Bridgerton. What a charming theme.”

Kate nods. “Thank you.”

“Much less likely to cause…upset than last year's,” Araminta comments, her eyes boring into Sophie. 

Benedict's hand comes to rest on top of his wife's. “Whatever do you mean, Lady Penwood?” He asks, though it's more of a challenge. 

Araminta stares at all of them silently for a moment before turning away. “Come Rosamund.”

They watch the two of them go and Simon huffs out a breath. 

“I have changed my mind on waiting for her to die,” he mutters to Sophie. “Let's just have her killed.”

Sophie gives a startled laugh, burying her face against Benedict's arm. He snorts softly, and all of them sober up as Araminta whirls back to look at them. 

Kate shakes her head. “It is going to be a long season.” 

***** 

“Lord Bridgerton.”

Anthony hates society balls less than he used to, but still they are not his favorite thing. While he's grateful that the whole family is gathered, he still has to contend with other people. 

And more and more, as he gets older, he finds that other people are terrible. 

“Lady Penwood,” he nods. Respectful but cold. 

“I was just complimenting the Viscountess on your charming theme this year,” she says meaningfully. “As last year left room for…undesirables to slip in.” 

Anthony grins wryly. “Yes, my wife has done a splendid job. But she could not have pulled it off without the help of my brother's new wife.” He stares her in the eyes. “I believe you know her. A relation of your late husband.”

Araminta Gun tries not to glower. “Indeed.”

“Mm. She is quite the spirited addition to the Bridgerton name,” Anthony goes on. “Clever, beautiful, kind…my brother is a very, very lucky man.”

Araminta starts to go red. “Quite,” she grates out. 

“I expect they won't be childless very long, either, which is exciting,” Anthony adds. “I relish a new playmate for my son.” 

Araminta’s eye twitches. 

Anthony smiles slowly. He's about to bid her goodnight, but she has a retort. 

“If you wish for your son's playmate to be an abomination.”

His smile disappears completely, and he doesn't strangle the woman, which he feels is admirable on his part. “I wonder, Dowager Lady Penwood,” he snaps quickly, quietly. “You are so preoccupied -obsessed- with the legitimacy of others. If I were to go about inquiring about your own past, what is it I may find? Hm? One wonders.”

He's hit a nerve. The woman looks terrified. 

“I fear you do not know with whom you toy with,” Anthony says slowly. “My mother…my brother…reasonable. Kind-hearted. You will find that I am different from them. Sophie is family now. My brother loves her dearly. As such, she has my protection. And I do not play games.”

*****

Kate can almost feel the rage radiating off her husband from across the garden, and when she turns away from saying hello to Lady Danbury, she finds Araminta Gun scurrying away from him like a mouse flees from a stray cat. 

“Forgive me, Lady Danbury, I believe my husband requires my attention,” Kate says. 

The older woman nods slowly. “I believe he does, yes.”

She steps over to him casually, as he paces and takes his arm, leading him to a quiet corner of the garden, near the swings. “A word, Anthony?”

“Oh, I have many in regards to that woman,” he tells her quietly, though no less angrily. “She means to play games with our family; get some kind of upper hand. She meddles with the wrong brother.” 

“Does she play games, or did you toy with her and she bit back?” Kate asks knowingly. 

He stops, looking at her. “I- she- I…may have…played with her temper a little. But she is loathsome.” 

“Yes,” Kate agrees. “But we have an arrangement so Sophie may stay safe and she and Benedict may stay with us. Did you change the arrangement?”

“I merely pointed out that I could,” Anthony counters. “And she is hiding something. And if I can find out what, then perhaps we may win against her.”

“We will not gamble with Benedict's happiness,” Kate snaps. 

“We already do so by letting her stay in society!” Anthony cries. “She hates Sophie. She will never stop intimating her disapproval. The angry looks. The quick insults. Sophie does not deserve to live that way. Benedict does not deserve to always be on his guard that way. I-” he huffs out a breath. “I failed him so terribly last season. If I had only sat down with him. Welcomed his honesty; his heartfulness, I could have been more useful. I owe him a great many things. If I can help them to be rid of her…” 

Kate wraps her arms around him. “Benedict would be the first to disagree with you. You did not fail him. And going after Araminta Gun will trigger her to get the queen involved. She may not be so lighthearted on the matter a second time.”

“We…are…interrupting,” Benedict says from behind them. “But in fairness, you did say my name…”

Kate takes a breath and turns to Benedict and Sophie. “I think perhaps this is a conversation between brothers.” She takes Sophie's hand. “You and I should have our own conversation.”

Benedict looks about ready to protest, but one look at Anthony tells him Kate is right. As their wives walk away, he sits on a swing. 

“So?”

Anthony paces in front of him. “I…may have goaded Araminta Gun.”

Benedict nods slowly. “How badly?” 

Anthony shrugs. 

“Brother…”

“She called your and Sophie's child an abomination!”

Benedict looks confused. “We do not have a child yet.”

“But you will,” Anthony points out. 

Benedict smiles a little. “We hope so.” He shakes out his head. “But why should either of us care what that woman thinks? Why should you?” 

“I do not, but she is still part of society, and despite your agreement, she is still perfectly comfortable slandering Sophie in public.” Anthony paces again. “I wish to protect the both of you from her.” 

“And I love you for that,” Benedict tells him. 

“But?” Anthony asks, sitting on the other swing.

“But…” Benedict shrugs and gives his brother a sheepish grin. “I just want to be married. And happy. Like you. Like Colin. Like Daph. I do not want to focus on Araminta Gun. Let her say what she likes. Let her make all the faces she wants. I married the love of my life. I have better things to keep my attention. And so do you! You have a family. We all know this woman is infuriating, but sometimes, the cruelest thing you can do to someone so infuriating is ignore them.” 

Anthony nods slowly as he rocks back and forth on his swing. “It was satisfying to see her so terrified of me.” 

Benedict chuckles softly. “You should have seen her face when I told her she had to move out of Grosvenor Square. Absolutely stunned.” 

Anthony laughs softly. “And it bloody worked. Well done, brother.” 

“Yes, thank you, you are not the only one who can be intimidating,” Benedict teases.