Unwanted|| Simon Basset

6

Simons pov
I furrow my eyebrows seeing lord Berbrooke with her who looks very uncomfortable. He says "I don't care that you cannot have children I want you. One dance. Honor me" she shakes her head "I can tell that was a lie. My sister isn't interested so you think it to be okay to try and come to me?" He says "I realize that you are still the diamond you always were" she says "I'm sure you already know I'm courting with the Duke of Hastings. Not only that but I'm not interested in being your second choice, or anyones for that matter" he grabs her arm "one bloody dance! Just one!" I react, I push him away from her "she said she wasn't bloody interested Berbrooke. How dare you treat a lady like you just did!" Glaring.

He says "I was just asking her for a dance" I glare more "no you were trying to force her to do such. She's spoken for, you're free to leave our presence and to never look her way again" he cowers and leaves. I turn to her and ask "are you alright?" She nods "I'm fine, thank you" finishing her drink and I see a bruise forming on her arm. I ought to kill that asshole.

I ask her holding my hand out "want to indulge me in a dance" she puts her hand on her heart batting her eyes exaggerating "why of course my fairest hero, the Duke of Hastings" I chuckle "only if it pleases you my fair duchess" she opens her mouth and I say "come" leading her to the dance floor and we dance and goof off and make one another laugh.

We head off the dance floor and Anthony comes over "care for a dance sister?" "Only if you can keep up brother" she teases and with that they're gone. A voice says "your Grace" "Lady Bridgerton" I nod to the older woman. She says "I came to apologize for my behavior with you" I shake my head "you should not be apologizing to me lady Bridgerton, but to your daughter"

"She won't talk to me" she states. I wonder what else happened. I shrug "still I'm sure she'd like to hear a honest and true apology. You are her mother after all" Anna and Anthony come back and I take her arm in mine again and lady Bridgerton says "Annalise" Anna looks at her mother and says "I have nothing to say to you. After all a whore shouldn't speak to someone of your status" she called Anna a whore? I feel there's more to it, there probably is. "You're my child-" Anna laughs "am I? I couldn't tell when you were belittling me for my inability, calling me a whore because I managed to catch the eye of a Duke despite your words. You haven't been a mother to me since that night" taking my arm and walking us outside to a bench.

I ask her "are you alright?" She looks at me "I don't even know anymore Simon" I hug her to me and rub her back "you don't have to be strong all the time you know?" She sighs "yeah"