True love didn't exist before you || Anthony Bridgerton

~ 𝑇𝑢𝑙𝑖𝑝𝑠 ~

"Anthony, your going to horse riding today, with Miss Cordelia Anderton." Lady Bridgerton said while she did her handiwork.

"What? When?" He asked confused.

"At one o'clock." She continued her handiwork peacefully even when Anthony started her still confused. why no one had told him that she and Miss Cordelia Anderton would be going horse riding together.

"What is this, mother?"

"What?" She tried to pretend she didn't know any of this.

"Why, you are doing this again? You did with Daphne, trying to couple her with any gentleman that seemed good enough, even when they were not, luckily, I was there for her, watching over her." Anthony was being truthful.

"Anthony, I want you to be happy.. and wishing you to find wife for yourself. I thought you said, you will marry season's diamond and here you have her now."

"I am sure, I can do this myself, mother." Ge said and left.

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"Mama, please say today is no ball. I'm exhausted, and these suitors that come and go." I was sitting on a sofa, eating biscuits.

"No, but.. You will go horse riding today with Viscount Bridgerton."

"What? Who decided that? Am I not able to make my own decision, who I see and who I will marry?"

"I did not mean that, dear. It would be good opportunity to get known better the Viscount. Think , dear, this will be greta opportunity to you." I do not know what my mom was thinking, neither what she had planned.

"Mama, I can make my own decision. Thank you." And I quickly rose and left.

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I headed to the park, on my horse. My horse was called Blanche, it meant white in french, my horse was white as stars. I was excellent rider, my horse riding started in age of five and since that I have ride horses.

Once I arrived to the park, Viscount Bridgerton was already there with his dark brown horse.

"Lord Bridgerton."

"Miss Anderton, good day. Should we go?" I only nodded him. I saw him looking down my legs, criticise my riding style. I did not ride how lady usually did, both legs together on one side on the saddle. However I could not care any less about it, I ride how every man rides.

After little quiet moment I opened my mouth to say something." What is that you seek, my lord?" He straight up looks at me.

"Suitable wife for myself, who can take care of my children and.. and-"

"Do you know truly what you want, my lord?" I questioned him.

"Of course I know, what is it that I'm seeking for. Why ever I would be here if not that?" That made me feel angry and disrespected.

"Is that why, I am here? Am I good enough to be your wife? Take care of your children when you are having fun with other gentlemen?" At this point, my blood was boiling. It could have burn a hole in my heart, if it could do such thing.

"No, I did-" He could not finish his words before I was already galloping away from him, and fast.

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"Oh, you already came! How was your time with the Viscount?" Good I even got one step taken before mama was already all over asking.

"Has total fake, he only seeks for a wife, who can take care of his children when he is somewhere else!" My anger still over taking me. I wanted to be alone, far away from those 'gentlemen' who we call for nothing.

"Did something happen, dear?" Mama asked but I was already on my way to my bedchamber.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Anthony your back, how was your time with Miss Cordelia?" Lady Bridgerton asked her son.

"I cannot say nothing good, she understood me totalling wrong which escalated into her leaving." I was amazed how she just left me there, not a single word after it.

"That does not sound what I expected, maybe she will appease sooner or later." She said.

"I hope that too. But if you excuse me, I must go now, mother." Anthony said and left her mother. He headed to his study immediately.

Maybe he should apologise, his too harsh and little disrespectful behaviour. Before he could go anywhere he would have to do couple things before that.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Brimsley, is there any news about my diamond? Scandal yet?" Queen asked.

"I heard that Miss Cordelia has been with Viscount Bridgerton."

"Viscount Bridgerton? He would be excellent choice for her."

"Indeed, your majesty." Brimsley said and chuckled little.

Queen looked him," I think I chose the best options in this season. Hopefully no scandal will take her down like happened with Duchess at first, but she rose up down there like true diamond." Queen said and took bite from her biscuit.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was reading my book when Emma knocked on my door. "Miss, you have gentleman asking you."

"Thank you, Emma. I will be there soon." I said and placed my book down and rushed to downstairs.

The gentleman who was asking me was, Viscount Bridgerton, himself. I was on my way to turn around and say 'I do not take guest in today,' when he already spoke.

"Miss Cordelia, I came to apologise my little bit too harsh and disrespectful behaviour in the park." He offered apology, what a gentleman, somebody could have thought. But not me, I would not fall for something like this.

"And..?"

"Will you accept my apology? We both could be light hearted, if you would accept my offer." His brown eyes looking into mine's with soft gaze.

I wanted to protest, but after seeing my mother in staircase, I gave up on him. "Your apology accepted, my lord." I said and showed smile at the end.

"Well, now we can continue with no harmful thoughts on our way." And gave me tulips, that's what he had hid behind his back. I could not stop my cheeks blushing little. Tulips are one of my favourites flowers.

"Thank you, my lord." I said and he nodded and left back to his carriage.

I smelled the flowers he had gave me, they smelled wonderful.

J was about to turn, to go upstairs when mama stood on stairs with big happy smile on her face. "He gave you flowers! And what a gentleman, he apologised after what he had done. How lovely." She said and smiled brightly.

"I assume..." I muttered so she could not hear my sayings. Flowers were nice surprise, but you could need put little bit more effort than giving me flowers. You could not win me with flowers, not today, Viscount Bridgerton.