his sapphire • anthony bridgerton

six • how could I ever know?

•••
"All I need is you."
•••

Grosvenor Square, 1813.

"I am confused, Anthony. What does this mean?" Anthony ran his hand through his hair, unsure of what to say now.

"It means... I am asking for you to say yes. To say yes to me, to be my wife." Nola's eyes widened as she quickly pulled away from Anthony's grasp. "Please, don't be afraid."

"How am I not to be, Anthony? I mention how I'm afraid of being alone, and you magically decide to propose? How am I not to be afraid of that?" She exclaimed, beginning to pace the pond area.

"My dear, please remain calm, it's not safe to do that with the damp grass." He stressed watching anxiously as she edged closer to the water. "Nola. Listen to me! Get away from the water!" Seeing she wouldn't budge, Anthony grabbed a hold of her waist, moments before her foot slipped on the wet substance. "You must learn to listen to me, my dear."

"You don't know me, Anthony." Nola tried to reason, pulling away from him. "You don't know my life."

"I don't know your life? Nola, I know I want to be with you. We will have years to learn all about each other. I can give you a happy life, Nola. I promise you that. As many children as you want, a healthy home. I will care for you, Nola. Please. Just say yes." He begged, stalking to her once again.

Nola's only response was hesitation. She looked back to Anthony, before rushing back to the estate, leaving him in the deepest state of shock.

•••
Where else would Lord Bridgerton go after that... painful rejection, then to call out the Duke of Hasting's for the game pulled at the ball?
•••

"Might I have a word?" Anthony questioned, interrupting Will and Simon's little tussle.

"Have as many as you would like, Bridgerton. Shouldn't you be with my cousin?" Anthony glared at him. Of course he didn't know, but it still stung Anthony's open wound.

"You'll come down here, or must I come up there?" Anthony questioned, beginning to pull up his own sleeves. A look of amusement growing on the Duke's face.

"Well? What seems to be so urgent?"

"I'd like to know what was going through your head last night and this morning." Anthony stated, beginning to block punches thrown by the Duke.

"You have to be more precise." The duke attempted to strike. "A great deal goes on in a mind as quick as mine."

"Are you courting my sister?" Simon nearly choked by his longest friends bluntness.

"Should I not be courting your sister?"

Anthony stared in bewilderment, "no! And I can think of... dozens of reasons why! Starting with she's my sister, and ending with she is already engaged to be married, and then perhaps circling back to she is my sister!"

"I was... unaware of an engagement." Simon narrowed his eyes, and stepped away from the Viscount. "Have the banns been read then?"

"I assure you," Anthony glared, "all the formal preparations are underway. I arranged everything... with Nigel Berbrooke, and have given him my word." Anthony looks disgusted by his own words.

The fight goes on. The argument of president who can deem who more of a rake, or even who was more likely to be trusted, and relied on. But when the attention shined on Simon's cousin.

"Nola. Where have you gotten with that ordeal?" Anthony glared at the Duke. "Ooh. So I'm assuming it did not go well?"

Anthony latched on to his shoulders. "I gave it all up for her, Hastings. I let Sienna go, like I promised. She will agree in time."

•••
"What do you mean, sister?" Sloan asked, catching up to her younger sister on the stairs. "You mean to tell me you ran to the ponds, stumbled upon the Viscount, and he just happened to propose!" Nola paused on the final step.

"Yes, Sloan. That is exactly what happened." Sloan released a low grunt, beginning to laugh at her sisters predicament, "I don't see what is funny, sister."

"It's just that you mean to tell me Anthony Bridgerton proposed, and you... told him no?"

"I did not say no, I just simply... walked away?"

"You what?" Sloan exclaimed. "You ran away from him?"

"I was shocked, Sloan. It was unexpected." Nola tried to reason.

"My dear, that is how this works. He sees you being a promising wife, and a perfect candidate for the next viscountess. It's a compliment, sister. You must go to him and accept."

"I- I don't know if I'm ready, Sloan." Nola sighed, sitting at the couch. Eyes glued to her nails. "I feel this is all happening so fast."

"It all does, sister. But I assure you, the end result is worth it." Sloan claimed, her hands reaching up to her stomach. A look of confusion etched onto the younger girls face. "I am with child, sister."

Nola's eyes widened, yet her curiosity only grew. She knew she could not ask questions, no matter how badly she wished to. "Does Oliver know?"

"No, dear. You are the first. I found out this morning. I had to let it off my chest. Just please, promise me, Nola. You will give the Viscount your answer. You've probably driven the man mad." Sloan giggled, pulling Nola into her arms. "You will make a fine wife." Nola smiled up to her. Still unsure of what the future would hold for her and Anthony Bridgerton.