The Ungodly Hour~Anthony Bridgerton

part XIX: eyes closed, hands on me

Songs:
Consideration- Rihanna ft. SZA
Know Better- Tinashe
Hazy- Chloe X Halle
No Drug Like Me- Carly Rae Jepsen
Baby in Blue- Madisenxoxo
Better- Zayn

"Take your hands off him, Anthony!"

"Did he kidnap you?" Anthony's shouts echoed along the wooded rafters of the room. 

Caroline scoffed.

"I knew you were immoral but I never thought you dastardly, Baylor," Anthony glared back at Sebastian, spit from his venomous word landing on the stubble of Sebastian's five o'clock shadow making him wince in return. 

"I wish I had. I should have come for her the day she left. Protect her from you!" Sebastian spat back before calmly turning to Caroline, "I should have never even let you leave." His voice croaked barely trembling as he hid his emotions, though his eyes and his expression staring back at Caroline were transparent. 

He looked away not wanting to give away or give into any more emotionality than he already had. He shoved Anthony off his collar, causing Anthony to stumble back nearly falling to the floor.

"Anthony, you need to leave!" Caroline shouted still not getting up from her seat. 

"I'm not leaving without you! I'm supposed to take you home!" Anthony protested turning to face Caroline, his eyes filled with earnest confusion. However, he was taken a back when Sebastian lunged at him toppling Anthony and him to the ground in a fit of rage. 

"She is going home and I'm taking her there." Sebastian pinned Anthony by his shoulders, thumping his head hard against the floor, which might've knocked him out if it weren't for the bearskin rug beneath his head. Nevertheless, it hurt a hell of a lot and he winced loudly in pain, trying to reach for the beginning bump before quickly remembering Sebastian was holding his arms firmly in place by his shoulders. Imitating Anthony's unfriendly arrival. 

"Sebastian! Not you too!" Caroline screamed back no longer caring about waking the entire inn.

"Once again you're completely unneeded and unwanted here, you fucking noble!" Sebastian screamed. Caroline knew she needed to intervene more effectively. She'd never in her life seen Sebastian so angry. 

"I'm serious stop it!" Caroline wrapped her arms underneath Sebastian's armpits pulling him off Anthony stumbling back onto the ground with Sebastian still restrained in her arms.

"I'm taking you back to Grosvenor Square, Caroline. I promised your cousin," Anthony began his tone much calmer. 

"I'm not going back! I need to see my father, this might be my last chance to," Caroline whimpered letting the startled Sebastian go from her arms as she buried her face in her hands. 

Anthony was silent. He couldn't possibly convince her to return now, his conscience wouldn't allow it. After losing his father suddenly nearly six years ago himself he couldn't possibly deny her the precious opportunity to say goodbye. He kneeled next to Caroline putting his hand on her bare knee in comfort, without even thinking. An act both so inappropriate but impulsive and unconscious as if he hadn't meant to. 

She shook slightly at his touch, unsure to shy away or crumble into him as she wished to. She raised her eyes to meet his before standing up and returning to the safety of the bed wrapping herself again under a blanket.

"I wouldn't take that away from you." Anthony cleared his throat awkwardly, standing up and dusting himself off.

Sebastian's frown continued to quiver though Anthony ignored his festering anger that ate at the entire atmosphere of the small room.