Secrets & Scandals •Anthony Bridgerton•

After the Rain Part II

After the Rain Part II

The final ball of any season is distinguished by one of two things, anticipation...or dread. For while those who have been successful in the year's marriage market look forward to flaunting their perfect, joyous unions...others shudder at the thought of spending one last night before the discerning eyes of the ton.

As they know, indeed, just what the evening signifies, that their time is officially up. And yet to those who may still find themselves out of both choices and hope, fear not. For who knows when and where one's fortunes may change?

Anthony was thrilled to go to yet another boxing competition. His and Hasting's friend wasn't doing well in the ring but Anthony was not here to watch more boxing. He was here for Sienna. His bad habit.

Seeing her once more after the concert exhilarated him in ways...oh he couldn't even explain it. Sienna made Anthony forget everything that didn't focus on her. Her seduction pooled into the room and he didn't even need to see her to know she was there.

So when he saw her with another man, he could enter the ring himself at the anger radiating off of him in ways. After their last conversation when he told Sienna he was going to duel and getting married--he thought he would never see her again.

Then there, in the climax of the concert her usual red dress was like a red rose in the bush of thistles. It was hard to look away, in fact he totally forgot where he was. Not thinking anything of it he was brought back once more to the dangerous world of 'Sienna' when she kept popping up in places he would frequent.

The Gentlemen's club, social events, concerts and even boxing rings. He thought perhaps it was deliberate but seeing the shock and confusion swelling in her dark brown orbs he knew it wasn't planned.

How did he end up under the bleachers shagging her uncontrollably? He didn't know. Did Anthony really care? Not in the slightest. Gone was a rational sense of his brain with Sienna around and welcome to Pleasure Island.

So that was where he often found himself once more--at Sienna's house, A Modieste provided event, which running into Benedict was rather high but he was willing to risk it and even dark alleyways.

So, while he would be at home in person--mentally...he was in the sheets tangled around a beautiful Olive skinned woman with dark brown hair. He hated to say it but Ester was the last thing on his mind.

That was until he was caught red handed at the Gentlemen's club. Hastings and him and began to speak to each other again--avoiding certain lifestyle topics, this time with Colin and Benedict in on it as well. A last hoorah before he was sent off to live with his desperate party loving sister for the rest of the cold seasons.

He honestly enjoyed the time with just the men as he couldn't handle Daphne, Violet, Lady Danbury, Eloise, Frannie and Ester in organization mode. Then, the worst happened. The gentlemen that seemed to accompany Sienna everywhere these days walked in and sat next to someone he was very familiar with...Lord Wimmick.

"Ugh, the sight of that man disgusts me." Hastings said, in reference to Lord Wimmick.

"At first I tolerated the man but now he is nothing more than a swine to me." Colin said, finally getting in the spirit of everything after the Miss. Thompson incident.

"Agreed--I never thought I could hate a man more than Lord Berbrooke but here we are. To think he insulted our dear Ester and brother at the same time." Anthony however was so engrossed in watching the man who had Sienna's eye than hearing whatever was to be talked about.