The Ungodly Hour~Anthony Bridgerton

part VII: ask her to dance pt II

Songs: 
Trick of the Light- The Villagers
Emerald Star- Lord Huron
Coming Down- Dum Dum Girls

"Oh good, your brother has decided to dance with Miss Kensington! What a kind young gentleman he is," Violet beamed at Colin dancing with Caroline. Anthony choked on his champagne as he reacted to Violet's words confirming them with his own eyes. That familiar sinking feeling of sadness came over Anthony before quickly being replaced with rage. 

"So many young ladies left idle..." She threw her boys a nasty look. "He is such a gentleman to dance so many numbers. Perhaps you would be wise to follow in his footsteps?"

"You're right Mother," Anthony mumbled in reply, but he could hardly hear her passive-aggressive remarks over the slow bubbling of anger within in him.

 'Why is she dancing with Colin? This must be to vex me!' Anthony thought. To bring Colin into their drama was unacceptable to him. He left his mother's side without a word leaving her puzzled, but pleased her remark had worked. 

Anthony walked the circumference of the dance floor gripping the stem of his glass in a tight fury, almost as if it would break in his hands. He watched Caroline and Colin laughing together as they weaved in out of other couples during the group dance. He hated watching but couldn't look away as her gloved hand touched Colin's, the way she smiled as he twirled her, and then God, he nearly wanted to scream when the back of his palm grazed the side of her hip as they turned arm in arm. 

Caroline was genuinely enjoying herself catching up with her old friend Colin. They had never been especially close but had still grown up together and somehow even though Grosvenor square was his home, something about him reminded her of home, or at least the memories in the countryside.  

"So, may I speak frankly, Miss Kensington?"

"I suppose you may, old friend, though I pray you, speak quickly, such ominous questions do frighten me," Caroline anxiously laughed knowing what he was about to ask her and wondering what she how would respond. 

"Why are you in Grosvenor square?" 

It was less foreboding than questions of Anthony but still, Caroline had no idea what the proper response would be. How should she respond to protect her and her family's honor? Would Colin be disturbed by her mother's grand scheme for Caroline to marry above her station?

"May I speak frankly, Mr. Bridgerton?" she asked with a nervous smile. 

Colin laughed, "Of course, you may, there have been far too many years spent together to be so concerned. I am just genuinely curious and in truth a bit concerned, I'm afraid my brother may think it was something to do with him. Would not be good for his indulgent ego," he laughed.

Caroline was a little shocked by the sentiment, so shocked it caused her to stop dancing for a couple of beats, leaving Colin to react with a suspicious eyebrow. She closed her reactive mouth, rolled her shoulder back while looking anywhere but Colin's eyes. 

"That is not the reason...." she trailed off as her eyes suddenly met a sullen Anthony who stood at the edge of the dance floor, looking incredibly angry. However, Caroline saw his anger fade near-instantly to sorrow as their gaze met. The look gnawed within her heart but self-control forced the impulse to run to him into a low shaky exhale. It was the first time they had really looked at each other since the presentation and for a brief half-second, the entire room faded from Caroline's vision. She forgot she had been dancing with Colin Bridgerton no less. She had forgotten his question and she had even forgotten that the reason she was in Grosvenor square was by her mother's force, not to be reunited with Anthony; because for those minuscule moments everything was for him, or at least she wished it to be.