Kanthony Imagines

Someone's Jealous...

note: This scene takes place during Anthony's courting of Kate. They aren't wed yet!  And thank you to @Yuhgetintoit29 for the suggestion/kind comments :) I was more than happy to revisit jealous, angsty Anthony.

----------------------------

"Oh, for god's sake." Anthony cursed under his breath upon entering the ballroom with Benedict.

From their vantage point, he could spy Kate on the other side of the room, engaging in conversation with Thomas Dorset. He was talking, leaning in a little whilst saying something. And she was laughing. 

Anthony narrowed his eyes.

Benedict eyed him with amusement. "You're not going to throttle Dorset, are you?"

"Not right now."

Benedict smiled. Anthony had only announced his official 'interest' in Kate two days prior, but in his mind, they were practically married. Benedict had acted surprised, but inside, he had been more relieved than anything else. 

Finally having Kate, he thought, would tame his brother. But apparently not whilst Thomas Dorset was making her laugh.

Anthony grimaced. "Is it too obvious if I go over there and interrupt?"

He hadn't taken his eyes off the pair, and each passing second was making it more difficult to watch. Kate had declared her love for him - by all rights, they were each other's - but until he officially announced the proposal and wed her, Dorset had no idea. 

He could still try and make advances toward her. The thought made him physically sick with envy. 

"She is yours, brother," Benedict said, softly. "Stop pretending you're threatened. Kate can handle herself. She doesn't need your protection."

"But I want to-"

"I know," he interrupted. "Frankly, I've never seen you so eager to talk to someone. You were exactly like this at the races."

"I was not!" Anthony exclaimed.

Benedict gave him a pointed look. "You were. You were supposed to be accompanying someone else, and your head was entirely elsewhere."

Anthony shook his head. "Nonsense."

If anyone was witness to that day at the races, they would agree with Benedict. Anthony's eyes had been on Edwina Sharma for all of three seconds. The entire time, they had been boring into the same woman they were now. Except, Benedict supposed, now was different. Now, Anthony had stopped being a stubborn fool, and expressed his love for Kate out loud.

Maybe that was why the jealousy had worsened. Because he knew the feelings were reciprocated. 

Now, Anthony knew what she tasted like, what she felt like beneath him, and wrapped around him. He wanted nothing more than to tear her away from Mr Dorset and pull her into whatever free room they stumbled upon first.

Without realising it, Anthony had begun walking, towards where they were standing.

The first notes of music began to play.

"Ask her to dance," Benedict hissed. 

"I am, if you give me a bloody chance."

Anthony practically ran the last few meters, and came to a halt beside Kate. She glanced up in surprise, and a wry smile formed on her lips.

"Lord Bridgerton."

"Miss Sharma," he murmured. "May I have this dance?"

"You may, my lord." She slipped her gloved hand into his, and turned back to Dorset. "It was lovely talking to you again."