Kanthony Imagines

A is unwell

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Sunlight began to filter through the windows of the bedroom which the viscount and viscountess Bridgerton shared. 

Kate stirred, and lay contentedly on her back for a few seconds before turning to look at her husband. Usually he would be first to wake, and would wrap an arm around her middle and pull her towards him, so it was strange for him to still be on his side of the bed. 

She rolled onto her side. Anthony was restless; he was asleep, but trembling slightly, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. Kate had overheard him complaining of a headache to Benedict the night before. He had not mentioned it to her, but he never liked admitting to anything like that for fear of worrying her. Now however, it was clear that he was ill. It made Kate's heart drop to her stomach. 

"Anthony, my love," she whispered, gently brushing away the few strands of hair which were hanging over his brows.  

His eyelids fluttered, and he groaned, as if it was too difficult for him to speak. 

"You are staying right here," said Kate, pushing herself up off the mattress. Anthony's hand reached to grasp her arm. 

"I'm fine." 

"Don't be so ridiculous. You can't even open your eyes."

At this, his eyelids flew open, but she knew it was just to try and prove her wrong. He stared at her for a few seconds, with an expression so stern that it almost made her laugh out loud. Then, finally, he accepted his fate and lay his head back on the pillow. 

"Let me look after you," she said, softly. "Stay here, and I'll be back shortly."

"I do not wish for you to give up your entire day looking after me," he mumbled. 

Her stomach fluttered. She knew he would object to her staying with him; he despised being ill, being weak, not being able to go about his usual duties. He hated when Kate felt obliged to look after him instead of just doing whatever she would want to do. What he did not realise is that Kate wanted to spend the day with him, looking after him.

Kate leaned down to brush a kiss on his forehead. "There is nothing I would rather be doing today."

As she stood to leave their bedroom, she noticed the corners of his mouth curl up into a small smile. 

Kate got dressed quickly and hurried down the stairs, eager to return to Anthony before he took a turn for the worse. She was sure it was nothing serious - when she was a child, Edwina had the flu, and she was sprightly after a few days. Anthony was strong and unyielding, and she had heard that the Bridgerton siblings seemed to be in good health for the majority of the year even if the household staff picked up a cold. 

She collected the herbal tea which had soothed Edwina and herself whenever they had been ill in the past, and tried to calm down. She panicked when somebody close to her felt under the weather. It was silly, she knew, because there was only a very slim chance that they would not be back to themselves within a week, but still she worried.

She pushed open the bedroom door. Anthony was still propped up against the pillows, his eyes shut. His chestnut brown hair was still mussed from his restless night's sleep. She loved it when his hair was like that. She loved that she was the only person to see him in that state, when he wasn't 'perfect' by the ton's accounts. His morning scruffiness was the most perfect he could look to her.