emeralds and diamonds ♔ bridgerton

Part 20

i walked into the room in the dead of night. i had only walked through the palace without something on my feet, but i had to be as quiet as possible. i had passed him a small note at the celebrations that happened that morning. he had known i was coming.

his door was opened the slightest bit, he had been waiting. "my lord" i stepped in with a curtsey.

i blew out the candle as i walked towards the chairs set by the fireplace. "there's no need for the formalities katherine." he had known me since i was just a babe, but i barely had a memory of him.

i sat down opposite to himself, setting the candle and the bottle i had brought along with me. he was already either drinking or eaten a large meal. the court did not have a dinner tonight like usual so all the lords and ladies were required to have their food sent to their rooms. the king's niece was just married so it was a time for family, not of celebration with the court.

"i wanted to speak with you." we both watched as the fire crackled, over and over.

"i don't believe your newest husband would appreciate you being here, alone with another man."

"lord sansar, if you may excuse me, my husband understands that i love him and will not leave him for my prior betrothed's father." it was rude, sure. but it was absurd. lord sansar would never do anything to break the family after what his son did.

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time passed, faster than it normally did. my nerves became so large i could not sit still. he still had not taken a sip from the cup i had poured him.

this was becoming too hard.

he was talking about his son, again. going on and on about how our kids would be some of the most powerful in all of france. but it wasn't my fault that we didn't.

he would yawn every few minutes, a cough here and there. that is why he wasn't drinking, he was tired. a flaw in my plan. i had down it all too late.

his coughs got worse over time. yes he was old, but not as old as the other lords in court. they had wrinkles creasing every part of their skin. their bellies could hold three of my dresses.

"what are the brit's like katherine?" he started, "are they just as miserable as the americas portrayed with their horrifying war?" lord sansar sent a portion of his own personal army to fight in the colonies. not many of them returned, and the ones who made it out alive didn't have many positive words to say.

i looked over at him, "they love to gossip and make everything a million times harder." and i was going back soon too, but i would never tell him that. it didn't matter to him.

he opened his mouth, ready to speak again; but he couldn't. loud coughs fill in the room. it was like something was stuck in him and he couldn't get it out. bits of crimson ended up on his darkened handkerchief. "are you alright lord sansar?" i took a step towards him. he grabbed my arm and that's when i saw it.

the foam.

there was this large amount of white foam coming from his mouth, then his nose. i was horrified.

his skin went pale, his eyes didn't even look real. like they were actors, adding to the story. i threw the bottle into the fire. if anyone had seen that i would be gone within minutes.

i screamed. an ear piercing scream that would even cause the hounds to come running. i heard the footsteps get louder and quicker as the moments passed. the doors swung open, the guards in their red uniforms came in first. this was the first fine that night i looked down at myself. there was blood staining my hands.

the court began to run in after that but there was only one face i was looking for. benedict. he didn't sleep well with loud noises so he was one of the first men to appear. we locked eye for the smallest of seconds before he came running to my aid.

i heard the whispers as my red hands stained his white attire. why wouldn't they? i looked as if i murder lord sansar.

but i didn't.

benedict wrapped his arms around me and muttered something in my ear. sweet nothings to make me feel better. but i barely heard them.

lord sansar barely had any family left at court. after his son left, his wife died two years later. his daughter was married just before her passing. catalina, the daughter, had both a son and a daughter who were raised perfectly; but not by their mother. she ran to her fathers side. she cried and cried for someone to do something. to bring him back, but he would never see the light again.