Contrite & Convicted

Auld Lang Syne Part I

 Auld Lang Syne Part I

Christmas had come and gone, Colin had come and gone and Ester's pain had come and never went away. Her stomach and lower back had been bothering her for the last two days. At Christmas she felt some small pains but the longer they went, the more frequent they were. It left her in her tracks and immobile.

What made it even worse was Anthony was always...hovering...

She would reach over her stomach to get a sip of tea and he would hand her the glass. The hovering didn't bother Ester, it was the quiet that followed. He wouldn't say anything to her, ever. Which was very...un-Anthony of him.

Anthony normally always had a witty or hilarious comment to anything anyone said. For him to be silent was unusual. It was almost as if...he had changed. It was time to talk. That was all Ester could think of, despite the unimaginable pains that followed, she knew what was needed.

"Mar?" Ester said, as she laid in bed. Ester never liked to lay in bed all day as it left a person rather lonely but she knew it was for the health of her babies. Mar, like the angle she was, opened the door not a moment after.

"Yes, Es?" Ester slowly leaned up onto the headboard and adjusted her covers.

"Would you please be able to find the Viscount?" Mar nodded, then hesitated.

"The Viscount?" Mar stopped tucking Ester in and went to fix her unruly hair. "If you think you're ready then I will. If you're sure." Ester gave a slight frown but a quick comforting rub of her cheek from Mar, lifted her spirits.

It was a few minutes and about four pages worth of Jane Eyre before a knock on the door sounded. Ester straightened her appearance and hoped for the best.

"Come in." The door hesitated for a while and slowly but surely Anthony Bridgerton stood before her. He looked confused as to where to go and Ester nodded for him to come over.

"You can sit wherever you want, it's fine. Mar set out a chair if you are comfortable there." Anthony instead sat beside her legs on the bed, above the covers.

"It's been awhile since I've been in Mum's old room. It looks different with your touches in it. Makes it look happier." Ester tried not to smile but her body deceived her and let one out.

"It's a little big...but Mar fills it with a warm fire and it's not that bad." Anthony looked over to the opposite side of the bed then the room. Then finally, to a wardrobe on the side of the room.

"My father never kept his clothes here, he usually kept them in that trunk there. The Wardrobe was meant for books, trinkets and things." Anthony said, a glaze in his eyes as memories of him and his father came swarming back to him.

"I understand. I'm sorry he's gone. He was a wonderful man." Anthony waited a moment longer and then looked to Ester. It was then that Ester saw it...how sad he looked. Anthony was simply miserable. His eyes were sunken in and his hair was flat. Lackluster.

Anthony Bridgerton was worn out.

He was always traveling, sleeping in taverns filled with drink and whores, reminding him of his own poor drunken (sadly also sober) actions. He had ruined everything in his life that was good. Ester, his own family, his family. His brothers and his best friend was utterly unamused with him.

So far, filling in his father's shoes he has a lot of room to fill. So when Anthony came in and saw his poor, bed stricken pregnant wife his heart ached something strong. How could he be so careless? So cruel?

Ester had done so much and so little. Ester lost so much. Much more than him. She lost her money, her head start in society, she was the head of the largest gossip column for weeks!

Not to mention she married a man who bullied her for her entire childhood, saved his family from ruin and only asked for trust and respect in return. She made a vow before God and the church, in front of their families and lost her family for it.

Not to mention her lying, backstabbing cheating husband minding his own business. Anthony, during his travels had come to realize that he was rather selfish. Was it something he struggled with? Absolutely!

So when he found out his wife had been writing letter after letter to enquire for more evidence and explanation of her mother's sudden passing after her dear father's--thanks to Benedict--he wrote to the Constable and explained that if he were to respond to his wife, there would be some compensation for his diligent work.

That of course led to him starting an actual investigation. Anthony hadn't told Ester, nor had he found out how he would tell her. Ester's sister, Mariana and her husband Charles Billingsly were currently WANTED for the murder of Ester's parents. Poison and Manslaughter.

Turns out Anthony's funding motivated the Constable and he set to work. A small maid had seen Mariana shove Mrs. Sloehigh into the oncoming carriage. A second young apprentice for an Apothecary down the street had sold to Charles Billingsly a concoction of Dream lock and Night lock flowers brewed.

Anthony told Benedict should Ester inquire after the affair, there were already answers. So when he sent the original letter to Benedict and had him write a modified version of the affairs, it pained him but knew for the sake of their children it was necessary.

"You wanted to speak to me?" Anthony asked, his arms resting on the bed behind him as he looked at his ill wife. He knew she was ill. Her cheeks were pale and her eyes didn't glow. Her hair didn't shine like it usually did and her face didn't hold a smile long.

Not to mention the sheets were crumpled around her fists from whatever it was causing her pain. He figured it better if she told him than if he asked her what was wrong.

Although, just when Anthony thought he understood women, or more focused, Ester. She would do something to prove he didn't know her as well as he thought.

"I've been keeping a rather large secret from you and I think it's time you know the truth."

OKAY! I had to stop it there? Where have all the dramatic cliff hangers gone? They haven't I've just been too nice! Next chapter should be up soon! I'm off work for awhile, the school I work for is closed for COVID...ugh. Happy for the off time (and to be paid still) but not happy that there is always the hovering potential exposure to COVID looming in the air.

Stay safe, warm and healthy everyone! Please like, vote commend, Yadda yadda you all are the best anyways!