Falling from Grace - Bridgerton

Chapter Fifteen

~Episode Three~

Past:

Grace sat patiently in the gazebo of the Hastings estate. A broken sealed letter from Oxford in her hand. She had missed him ever so much having put off her debut as a lady in London just so she could see him before he left once more.

The letter had told her that Simon would meet her in the gazebo as it was their favorite place to find sanctuary since they had been children, pretending to be knights and mermaids.

Suddenly she heard a voice but it was not one she recognized. Stepping out of the gazebo she caught sight of Simon. Paying no attention to the man beside him Grace stalked up to them, her bare feet padding across the grass as Simon caught sight of her opening his arms for an embrace.

But soon realized Grace's face was not overjoyed to see him but in fact angry and he could not fathom why.

She was quite close to them now but before Simon could open his mouth to speak she kneed him in the groin before walking away.

"Grace!" Simon yelled after her, face twisted in pain.

"So much for first impressions," The man beside him commented in which Simon ignored attempting to run after her.

"Grace, stop."

She stopped for a moment thinking of her next move as she had only thought of where to punch him once he showed up earlier.

She turned around slowly arms crossed, "You're late."

"I know."

He began to walk slowly towards her now as if afraid to step on any eggshells. She continued face still in a scowl, "You said you would be here in the morning, it's almost nightfall."

With her arms still crossed Simon embraced her, resting his chin on top of her hair, "I'm sorry I truly am. We had to stop in London on the way."

Grace pulled away from him, her hands on his biceps, "We?"

Simon swallowed before answering, "Grace, this is Anthony." The other man whom Grace had ignored earlier came up beside Simon, looking to Grace before taking her hand and kissing it.

"Pleasure," She replied statically before looking back to Simon as if to say, 'what were you thinking bringing someone else here?'

Anthony smiled standing back up, "The pleasure is all mine."

They look at each other for a moment and as most people were Anthony became mesmerized with her eyes. They were the brightest blue he had never seen on someone, he could now tell why Simon spent so much time around her, she was beautiful.

Simon cleared his throat, a smile trying to conceal itself present on his face and it was only then that Anthony realized he was still holding Grace's hand. Grace pulled away turning to Simon and linking his arm with her own.

"Tell me all about Oxford."

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Present:

They continued to drink tea in the parlor engaging in short conversations.

Violet turned to Grace putting her teacup back onto its saucer, "Grace dear, I expect your belongings will arrive soon but in the meantime, we have plenty of dresses of Daphnes for you to wear."

Anthony chocked on his tea, "I thought we agreed she wasn't staying long," He sputtered looking to his mother who ignored his gaze.

"If she's staying with us until The Count returns from Italy she is going to need clothes Anthony," Hyacinth told him a matter of factly, only a few Bridgertons truly knew why Grace was with them and it surely did not need to be as long as the Counts trip.

He stood up suddenly placing his cup so harshly on the table Grace was surprised it didn't crack in two.

"Grace, might I have a word?"

They stared at each other for a moment before Grace nodded smoothing out her dress and following him out into the hall.

"How dare you come into my home."

Grace rolled her eyes making him even angrier, "I thought we already went over this? I was invited to come into your mother's home."

"Well, you can leave my mother's home just as well then."

"Anthony, I have nowhere to go."

"And here I thought Count Kelly loved to spoil his wife." He poked a finger at the necklace still hanging around Grace's neck.

"Would you rather I take it off then? Prove to you that I am not taking your great sacrifice for granted."

"Actually yes I would like that very much." He held out his hand and Grace let out an annoyed sigh before unclasping it and dropping it into his hand.

"There's a good girl," Anthony mocked looking at the necklace and then back to her coking his head to the side, "That's what he says to you, isn't it?"

Grace clenched her fists at her sides piercing crescent moons into her palms, "Has becoming a Viscount truly made you so cruel?"

"Do not bring my rank into this, it is your own fault that I want nothing to do with you."

"My fault? I was trying to protect you, Anthony."

"Protect me?" He laughed making her grow even angrier, "Let's be honest, shall we? You were only thinking about yourself, Grace. You always have, and then you leave people in the dust to rot. And I will not have you hurt my family as you did me."

Grace thought over what he said, at first she thought maybe he was right but in her heart, she knew it was only defence to block out how much pain she had caused him.

"I know I hurt you and trust me if I could go back in time and change it I would."

Anthony scoffed, "No you wouldn't, and frankly I wouldn't either. Now I understand who you are and it disappoints me how much I romanticized you because, in reality, you are just a manipulating little girl who takes everything good in her life for granted."

Grace's eyes widened and her heart was pounding so loudly in her chest she was sure he could hear it, "And you are a stubborn cad, who can't accept change in his life unless it benefits him."

"I can live with that." He began to walk back to the parlor.

"You make me hate you, Anthony, more than I want to."

He turned on his heels looking back at her, shoulders and face sporting small bruises, her eyes glassy and she almost burning with the need to punch him square in the jaw. and he replied curtly spitting out the word that haunted him,

"It's better than despising me."

A/N

A hateful love what a troupe.

As you can see I have officially decided who the love interest is going to be. Or have I?

As always thank you for the incredible comments they encourage me to keep writing from seeing how much you enjoy the story so please leave me more wherever you like.

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Love you so so so much

XXX

WTP