Intention

Chapter 4: Aubrey Hall

Hello, it is me again. I am so sorry for the delay.. I have been meaning to post BOTH chapters of Balance (my other fic) and this one for WEEKS now but (house) work has been draining. A few notes thingies, I cannot remember if I had Philippa was married in the previous chapters and I do not care to search for if I had indeed written her to be married because I sincerely dislike reading my own 'work' as I just CRINGE. Anyway. Please tell me if she is indeed. Hope you like this chapter.. I had fun writing it. Halfway through I wanted a different ending to the chapter, but I kept this one.

As always sorry for shitty grammar. It sucks to be not a native Brit.

P.s. Hoping to post Balance this week, I love that story dearly so, here is me hoping to post that one soon, it is already half written. Half of THIS chapter was written two weeks ago; I just need to finish.

Ps 2. This chapter has Kanthony elements which was fun to write too but FYI.

p.s 3. Do not let 'the end' discourage you OK?

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One week later

He felt restless, which was not something new to him nevertheless, at the most unexpected moments, he was beset by a slumbering sense of discontent. A feeling of emptiness, or gloominess that took hold of his mind and emotions. He tried to find correlations, to look for something that could explain the feeling, but he couldn't find anything.

And it drove him mad because on the face of it he had everything his heart could want. He didn't have to worry about money if he already had a comfortable sized inheritance waiting for him, sure he had wished to be richer, who wouldn't but it was still better than many a poor sod he met at balls, desperate to marry rich, in search of a nice dowry.

So, what was it that bothered him so much? If Robert had to think about it, it was a feeling of emptiness, something was missing but he wasn't quite sure what.... He just got up because his plan to fall asleep again had failed miserably. What day was it again, ah yes.... Saturday.

He had to go to a garden party he remembered with displeasure. As if the numerous balls were not already up his nose, a new "trend" of garden parties had emerged, which basically amounted to the same thing however the guests stayed the night instead of going her house.

To be honest he was again surprised to be invited, he really didn't get along well with Anthony Bridgerton, but he suspected the invitation was based more on the fact that it was an 'obligation' than that his presence was really appreciated. And perhaps it was a sign of rubbing it in that the Viscount could afford to hold no less than two major events this summer.

He summoned his butler and ordered a bath to be prepared and his clothes laid out. After this he indulged in a short but hearty breakfast before boarding the carriage ... to Hertfordshire aka Aubrey Hall.

When he arrived in Hertfordshire an hour and a half later, his mood was already not in the best shape, and he cursed himself for not indicating he would not attend. Robert hated long carriage rides, even if they did not even last two hours because they reminded him of the long, awkward carriage rides he had taken with his father.... Long hours in which he was expected to tolerate Reginald Fife's underhanded sneers, to tolerate the comparisons with his classmates, how they outperformed him academically.

The coachman turned the corner and there he could see Aubrey Hall in the distance.... Robert was already actually impressed by how impressive it was, with its stately columns and timeless design, the building seemed to feel at once classical yet contemporary. He felt a stab of jealousy go through him, whatever the Fife's owned in real estate, this in no way compared to it, they did not have such a building of grandeur.