Letting You In [Bridgerton]

Chapter 5

5

After cleaning up, they were soon ensconced on the couch in the main room, wrapped in their robes and enjoying the warm milk and biscuits the innkeeper's wife had left out in the hall.

Kate munched on her biscuit, watching the sea wind gently billow the grey-white curtains that separated the main room from the balcony. The city had quieted somewhat and the distant rolling of the ocean waves was more discernible now than it had been at the height of the day.

The sun had also dropped below the horizon, leaving the room more shadow than light. Anthony padded out into the hallway and returned a minute later shielding a taper as he walked. He lit two of the nearby candlesticks, blew out the taper, then left it on the tray on the shelf beside the door.

When he rejoined her on the couch, he turned so he was leaning against the high arm and, stretching out his long legs over the seat cushions, he encouraged her to sit in the space between and rest her back against his chest.

She acquiesced, shifting within his embrace until he could wrap his arms around her and her head was tucked in the hollow of his shoulder. Then she put her hand on his raised knee, which was resting against the back of the couch, and ran her palm along his thigh, stroking to calm, not arouse. He sighed, sounding content.

They sat quietly together for a little while, and then he interlaced his fingers with hers.

"Kathani," he murmured, sounding thoughtful. She loved the way he said her name, as if he were treasuring the syllables.

"Mm?"

"What does it mean? Your name?"

She lifted her chin. "I have a confession to make."

"Oh?"

"Yes. My full name is not Kathani. Even that is a nickname of sorts."

"What is your full name?" he breathed, his lips close to her ear.

She closed her eyes. "Kathyayani."

"'Kathyayani'," Anthony repeated, attempting the syllables. "What does it mean?"

"It is the name of an avatar—an incarnated embodiment—of Durga, a warrior goddess."

Anthony chuckled. "That sounds about right."

"Mm." Kate grinned, opening her eyes. "But I prefer 'Kathani', because that was what Amma and Appa called me at home."

"And what does that name mean?"

She smiled. "In Hindi, it means 'statement'. Something confidently spoken aloud."

He chuckled softly. "You certainly are that."

"I don't always feel confident."

"Who does?" he replied. "You just do a better job than most of hiding it."

"How did you learn my name, to begin with?" Kate asked, frowning slightly. "I used 'Kate' in all of my correspondence here." She frowned. "Did Mama or Edwina tell you...?"

"No," Anthony said. "It was... I saw it when I brought you back to your room, after your fall from the horse." She heard him swallow, and his voice grew quiet. "When you wouldn't wake up, and I couldn't stop the bleeding, I looked around for a bath sheet, a piece of discarded clothing, anything to absorb the flow... and I saw your trunk. I didn't think much of it at the time, but later..." He swallowed again. "It was a long week, waiting for news, not knowing if you would ever awaken again. The events of that awful morning replayed themselves in my mind endlessly, every time I closed my eyes."