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Anthony's not sure if his little talk with Gregory had done its job. His brothers famously listened to advice and chose to follow exactly the opposite of what was said. A little annoying voice in his head one that sounded suspiciously like his sister told him he was the exact same.
Emphasis on was.
Now, Anthony is the sort of man who follows the dotted 'i' and crossed 't' of every advice he receives-well subjectively speaking.
One changes when one is a husband and father.
Case in point : Anthony Bridgerton currently seen walking into a garden party hosted at his ancestral home during the off-season.
Twenty years ago, this would have been hysterical-he would have been holed up in his study and possibly hiding a brother.
Now, this party is his wife's doing, and Anthony would loathe to let anyone even whisper that Viscount Bridgerton was not seen hovering around the Viscountess at their very house.
He would grit his teeth, bear the empty niceties only if it means he got to see his wife dazzle the ton as she was meant to.
The party had been spared no expense; there were tables piled with food: samosas, chaats, cucumber sandwiches, and every type of cake imaginable. Butlers scurried with trays full of teacups-both English tea and chai. There was a band playing lively music and the guests dancing in merriment.
It wouldn’t be a Kate Bridgerton party without one.
Anthony smiled to himself as he watched the guests enjoying themselves,he rarely concerned himself with the well-being of his peerage, but something in the knowledge that it was his wife's planning that had brought everyone together gave him joy.
Lady Bridgerton was famous for her parties-they required little pomp and pretentious airs.
After pushing through an overwhelming crowd most of whom he thought should not be allowed into Kent he finally spots Kate having a conversation with none other than Gregory. He is too far away to properly hear what they are conversing about, but he would be willing to bet his best whiskey that Kate was trying her hand at matchmaking-partially due to his mother's recent qualms about her only unmarried's son eligibility.
As he nears the duo, he sees Gregory bow out and head for the feast, which leaves Kate alone in the middle of the spectacle she has organised.
To anyone else, Lady Bridgerton is reeling from the success of another grand soirée.
But Anthony can see her twisting her wrists and giving her head a light shake to compose herself.
Becoming a Viscountess had put Kate into a position she had never dreamed of occupying. Once, there was a girl who used to pull the strings from behind-now there was a woman who had been put into the spotlight.
He used to hate it -watching her put herself in front to be picked apart and showed off as if her worth end and began with being an object.
But he had learned that Kate relished the challenge to prove them wrong and she didn’t need him puffing his feathers and building a protective nest around her, no matter how much he wished.
She smiles when she sees him approach,her entire face glowing and those doe-brown eyes sparkling up at him.
“My, my, how the mighty bless us with their presence. Who would have thought that Lord Bridgerton would be joining us this afternoon?” she grins, teasing him.
Smiling, Anthony offers her his arm. “Well, I was told my beautiful wife was the one responsible for such a tasteful soirée. And as everyone knows, I need to be the first to compliment my wife.”
“I love you,” Kate mumbles, pretending to bashfully hide her face in his shoulder — but her hands come to grip his in a silent show of gratitude.
Although he would never voice it aloud a part of the reason why Anthony never misses these events is because he knows his wife would be reassured to have him by her side. And stubborn fool that Kate is, she would never tell him if she thought if would bother him. But he has known for years now nothing bothers him more than knowing that his wife would be left wanting.
“I love you,” he replies, pressing a kiss to her forehead.