“Don’t be so blue Anthony, we all knew it was inevitable” Daphne laughed, bathing in her victory and gave her son a twirl in the air and a kiss. “Hold Auggie a moment would you brother, I must go to my quarters to get ready.” 

   “I’ve got him,” he replied, holding his nephew in an embrace as he approached the Duke. “Basset,” he said in a hushed shout, “Basset!” 

   “What is it Bridgerton?” he smirked, watching the sight of his son giggling in his uncle’s arms. 

   “I think Anthony would suit this little one much nicer don’t you think?” he quipped.

   “Certainly not Bridgerton, people would make presumptions about my son,” he laughed, taking Auggie into his own arms. “Anyway has Daphne informed you of our company tonight?”

   “Company?” he inquired, “I wasn’t expecting any company?” he was not in the mood after his crushing defeat to be forced to talk to guests. He’d rather sulk in his quarters honestly, but he wouldn’t let others know that.

   “Ah good I remembered then. Our friend ___ ____ will be joining us, maybe you can finally charm her?” the Duke suggested, raising his eyebrows at his brother-in-law. 

   “Charm her?” he answered, “why ever would I wish to do that?”

   “Oh come off it Bridgerton! We all see the way you look at her when she’s around, like a lost puppy.” great, everybody could see it too, no wonder you didn’t ever meet his gaze when he looked towards you. 

   “Very funny, thank you very much for making me put in further effort this evening.” he replied frustratedly, he didn’t want you to see him like this but rather an effortlessly dashing man of fiction, but with only a few minutes until supper that wasn’t possible. Once Simon had walked away, he hastily ran to his quarters to prepare himself for your arrival. 

                                                             ***

   With the spare minute he had allowed himself, Anthony sat waiting for a carriage to pull onto the drive; this taking thirty seconds to happen which felt like thirty minutes, Anthony rushed downstairs to greet you at the door, but his mother had got there first. 

   “Ah Miss ____! How lovely for you to join us!” he said nodding his head in her direction; he had made himself seem to just coincidently walk down the stairs as you had arrived. 

   “Good evening Lord Bridgerton, forgive my intrusion but I couldn’t reject such an offer from your wonderful mother and sister,” she smiled at him, oh god. So his mother was also in on this, clearly since she was smirking at him over her shoulder before returning to ___. 

   “This way my dear,” his mother said, pushing you into the dining room before turning back to Anthony. “Be pleasant dearest, you might find ___ to be very accepting of your intentions.” and with that she joined everyone in the dining room. What? Surely not? besides what intentions was she expecting him to act on. With his Mama’s last words running around in his head he felt himself flush red, he took himself to a nearby window to take a breath before joining his family for dinner.

   There you were; sat at his side, opposite Daphne with Colin on your right. He took his seat at the head of the table watching you as you made polite conversation with his younger brother. Intending to interrupt your conversation he stumbled “I hope-” he coughed, “I hope you find the meal satisfactory Miss ____”

   “You needn’t be so formal Lord Bridgerton, call me ___” she smiled, “The meal will be out delightful I am certain, you shouldn’t have had the cook prepare my favourite but I do appreciate the fact.” He flushed further, looking towards his Mama who simply nodded towards him.

   “It was no trouble honestly, so long as it’s satisfactory and call me Anthony, please.”

   “Of course, Anthony.” He didn’t think it possible but he felt as if he were about to melt, he wanted to hear you say his name again, in various circumstances, as a plea in his ear when you were alone together. 

   “Ow!” Daphne had just kicked him under the table.

   “You’re drooling brother,” she informed him making him wipe his mouth quickly, embarrassed he looked towards you who was chuckling softly. He couldn’t help but join in. 

   “Forgive me ___ I was distracted,” 

   “You weren’t drooling do not worry,” she laughed harder causing him to glare at his smirking sister. “Should you wish for a glass of water Anthony, you’ve gone as red as a tomato,” you quipped causing him to grow brighter. He wanted to lock himself in his quarters and never return, “I jest my Lord, Anthony. I apologise.”

   “You needn’t,” he replied relieved, “it’s my delightful sister who set you up to it.” You grinned even wider, an action impossible not to copy, and he refilled your wine glass you had been sipping idly. Your lips meeting the glass gratefully, softly parting as the liquid poured in. 

   The evening continued with jokes and pleasant conversation as the Viscount, more obviously than not, waited on your every word - something that certainly didn’t go unnoticed by the Duchess who simply smirked to herself at her brother’s infatuation. Now dinner had ended and people began retiring to their rooms, Daphne asked “___ would you like to help me put Auggie to bed before you retire?” to which you beamed.

   “Of course I shall, who I am to reject the offer of saying goodnight to the most handsome young man in this house!” 

   “You must not think me young then!” stated Colin, who had had a few drinks at the table that night. This comment undeniably angered the Viscount who, as soon as you followed the eldest sister upstairs to the nursery, gave his brother a smack round the head. “Ow! Brother!”

   “Be quiet Colin,” he ordered, resulting in Benedict paralysed with laughter as Colin massaged the back of his head.

   “Old Brute.”

   “What was that?” he snapped.

   “Nothing, nothing.” Benedict only laughed harder this time. 

   Tired of his brothers, as he was on many occasions, he set on retiring to his bed too. As he climbed the stairs of the manor he heard the sound of Auggie’s giggles along with someone else's, but he wasn’t sure if it was yours or Daphne’s. Determined to investigate, for the sole reason of glancing upon your face again, he followed the hallway down to his nephew’s nursery. Much to his delight he wasn’t disappointed, it was you; you gracefully spun with his nephew around the room causing him to squeal with delight. He remained in place, partially hidden by the door until you span at finally noticed his presence.

   “Anthony? Sorry if I was being too loud, did I disturb you?” you questioned. He immediately noticed Daphne was absent, leaving you two alone - bar his nephew.

   “On the contrary, please continue it’s lovely to see you like this -” the words left his mouth without thought, though they weren’t regretted as you blushed. He suddenly had the overwhelming feeling of adoration wave over him. He watched how you treated Auggie with such care, so much love and compassion that he wondered what you would be like as a wife to her husband. Would you treat your spouse with the same care, your future children, he imagined his future children with a mother as caring as you were exhibiting now. But strangely he couldn’t picture the face of his unborn child’s mother without it forming into - you.

   “I cannot wait for the day I have children of my own,” you confessed. The Viscount felt his heart begin to burst with joy but also a sense of sadness, your children would most likely be with a random gentleman he had no knowledge of. They could be of far higher ranking of himself due to your close friendship with the Duke and Duchess, but hope rose in his chest when you added, “But no gentleman I’ve met so far have shared my affinity to have children. How do you feel Anthony?”

   “About children?” he replied to which you nodded. “I have always feared the idea in a way but - but, the more time I have been able to spend with my dear nephew here, the more I feel a yearning for my own.” You seemed very pleased with this answer, he smiled gladly as he spoke no word of a lie.

   “Would you like to put him down to rest?”

   “Very much so,” he answered. He crossed the distance between the two of you to take Auggie from your arms, brushing his hand across your arm as he took his nephew slower than needed. He felt your eyes on him, your breath blowing on his disheveled hair at the closeness, he met your eyes; that was a mistake. He desperately wanted to kiss you in that moment. He imagined the life you’d share in your own nursery, with your own children, his children. 

   His nephew began to stir as you both grew closer to one another causing him to break away from his little bubble of fiction. He felt himself flushed under your eyes, which were most definitely still watching his every move. Never had a woman driven him to this much of a reaction before, he couldn’t even meet your eyes again fearing for besmirching your honour. Instead he leant over his nephew’s bassinet, cooing over him softly and you joined him.

  You placed your arm millimetres away from his, hoping you’d close the distance as he internally begged for any physical contact from you. To his surprise, he wasn’t disappointed; not only did you brush your arm against his but you took his hand in yours without a single word. But you were both aware of the feelings that had silently passed between the two of you. 

   He looked at you then, he allowed you to see exactly what he wanted to tell you but couldn’t. He tried to convey that you had him wrapped around your finger, he would worship at your feet if you desired him to do so. But he needn’t have done that as you boldly conveyed a similar notion but rather through action, you took his face in your free hand to stroke his jaw. You did so slowly, painfully slowly before you leaned towards him, placing a feather light kiss upon his lips. He didn’t dare open his eyes, he couldn’t ruin this moment - he was praying you weren’t giving in to a fleeting moment of passion but rather a deep desire. “I will take my leave now Anthony, I will see you in the morning.” you said softly, never letting go of his hand until your arm could reach no further that you were forced to let him go.

   Anthony only opened his eyes once he was sure you had gone, he wanted that image firmly imprinted on his mind, body and soul for eternity. “Are you quite alright Bridgerton?” it was the Duke. “Anthony?” he questioned, amused.

   “I’m going to marry that woman Basset.” he stated, unwavering as he held eye contact with the Duke.

   “About time you realised it brother.”