The Manor was silent and cold, without any sign of life, just as it has been since that horrible day 2 years ago. The day Kate Bridgerton, nee Sharma, died along with the heir to be the next viscount during childbirth.
He loved Kate very much, he thought she was the love of his life. After everything they had went through in 1814, all the scandals, he was lucky she decided to marry him at the end, what Anthony had with her was a real love, not a marriage of convenience. That’s why her death hit him hard, taking with her a piece of Anthony Bridgerton when she died. He felt as if a part of him died that fateful night. He completely shut himself off from everyone, he closed down the Manor and set away all but the minimal staff possible, he wasn’t able to look at them, watch them mourn his wife as he did, she was loved by all of them.
He did not spend time with his family anymore, he hid inside the Manor, inside his study all day, never came out except to sleep, eat and go to the bathroom.
Just as he was once again, buried in his study, working endlessly on some papers, a cold cup of tea next to him when banging on the front door brought him out of his work. He ignored it and went back to his work, thinking some of the few staff he still had will open it soon enough. That was not the case as a few minutes later the banging started once again.
“Mrs. Robbins will you get the door!” Anthony yelled to the butler that was somewhere around the house. The banging still continued “Mrs. Robbins! –“ he groaned annoyed, stood up from his chair and headed down to the door.
He opened the door and came face to face with a young lady shivering, wet head to toe from the rain pouring outside furiously. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.
“Lord Bridgerton?” You questioned, when he nodded you spoke once again “I was told you could help me, I came all the way from India and need some place to rest –“
He rolled his eyes “I think you are confused, My house is not some charity that helps the needed” He went to close the door, once again annoyed that his work was interrupted by some girl that was asking for housing.
“ Wait! I am Kate’s cousin!” You spoke desperately before he closed the door. He stopped and took another look at you, now that he looked closely, you looked a lot like Kate “I am Kate’s cousin, Y/n Sharma” ah so this is the famous Y/n, Kate always spoke to him about.
He sighed and opened the door again, gesturing for you to enter, he closed the door and led you to the drawing room “Mrs. Robbins!” he called out before he heard feet approaching to the drawing room quickly
“I am so sorry, my lord, I was helping Thomas in the Kitchen and then I went to the scullery to wash some pots and –“ the housekeeper spoke
“Just get the girl a towel, she is dripping water all over the room” he waved her off gesturing to you
“Of course, my lord, in a moment” the lady scurried off somewhere before Anthony turned back to you, looking you up and down before narrowing his eyes
“How did you know where I lived?” Anthony asked you
“Kate sent me a letter before she… she told me if I ever needed any help, to come to this location and she would help me” You answered looking down at the mention of her. She was practically your sister, that is why you were devastated when Aunt Mary sent you a letter informing you of what happened, of Kate’s death. “There were some complications back in India, some things happened and I could not live there any longer. Kate told me if I ever needed any place to live, she would gladly house me here in Aubrey Hall”
“Yes, well, she is not here, is she?” Anthony grumbled, clenching his jaw “I am afraid I cannot help you, you can stay here for the night since it is late, and it is pouring outside, but tomorrow I am afraid you will have to go somewhere else, as I said before, my house is not a charity that helps the needed ”
You furrowed your eyebrows, taken aback by his cold attitude, way different from how Kate told you Anthony was in her letters “Why are you such an asshole? You are very rude, way different from how she said you were, she would be disappointed to see the way you are acting with a member from her family, with me, her and I were very close” you scoffed, he glared at you angrily, opening his mouth to speak when the housekeeper entered the room once again
“Here it is dear,” Mrs. Robbins said putting the towel around your shoulders
“Mrs. Robbins, please show our guest to a bed chamber, she will be staying the night” Anthony announced
“Yes, of course” She nodded and led you to a room “Oh, we must make you a warm bath, otherwise you will get ill from the cold rain”
*****
You walked down the stairs, holding the few belongings you came with. You were crossing the dining room when you saw the viscount sitting down, eating his breakfast. You stopped and entered the room making him look up from his plate, raising an eyebrow at you.
“I am leaving now, I thank you for your hospitality and am sorry for any disturbances I may have caused, Farewell viscount Bridgerton” You bowed your head respectfully and walked away.
You were not sure where you would go now, you did not even know where your Aunt Mary resided now since it has been a long time since you have received any letter from the Sharma family, since Kate’s death more precisely.
“Miss Sharma” the viscount called out, you stopped as you heard him approach you behind you “May I know where you are headed now?”
You turned around to look at him “ Well… I… was going to my Aunt’s home, she would be more than happy to have me, I am sure” you nodded
“Oh really?” He raises an eyebrow “I was certain you would have known that Lady Mary was visiting Miss Edwina in Prussia, were you not told?” he stated, you looked at him shocked.
Prussia? What on earth would Edwina be doing in Prussia?
“I…” You looked down at the ground before looking up at him again “ Truth be told, I have not received a letter from them ever since….. Kate’s death…” you saw him clench his jaw at your comment “But worry not, I will find somewhere to reside in, I have been told Lady Danbury is a great friend of my family and they have told me she has offered to also take me in”
“Listen, Lady Danbury is visiting my sister Daphne and her husband at Clyvedown and she will not be back anytime soon, your aunt did not say when she would be back” he sighed rubbing his forehead in frustration “I cannot let you out in the streets, you are Kate’s family after all and she would have never forgiven me if I let you leave so…. You can stay while your aunt comes back”
“Really?” You exclaimed “Oh thank you so much!” you squealed when he nodded and brought him into a hug, when you felt him turn rigid you let him go quickly “Sorry, but thank you so much, I promise I will not disturb you”
Anthony nodded pursuing his lips “ I will tell Mrs. Robbins to prepare you a room” and left without another word
Well he certainly was not someone of many words...
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𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑦 ~ Anthony Bridgerton (On Hold)
Fanfiction*slow updates because I still don't know where I'm going with this story lmao* Anthony Bridgerton x reader 𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚢: luck that takes the form of finding valuable or pleasant things that are not looked for. When Anthony's wife, Kate Bri...
