A Loveless Marriage: A Bridgerton Story

Chapter 4

"What's wrong?" Kathryn asked looking back and forth between her sister and mother.

"Your father..." Katie trailed off.

"Papa has been sick," Alia finished.

"What? Since when? What is wrong? Why did no one tell me?" Kathryn rambled on.

"In the beginning, the doctors said it was just a cold," Alia answered.

"We did not tell you because we did not want you to worry. Your father did not want to worry you. And it did not start out as a big deal," Katie said.

"Did not start out as a big deal? In the beginning?" Kathryn said running her hands through her, "What are they saying now? Is he going to be all right?"

"Well they are not really sure," Katie replied, "He was starting to get better but as of the past few days he's been declining slightly."

"And when were you going to tell me?" Kathryn asked.

"We were going to write the letter today, I swear," Alia said.

"It sounded like you and the Viscount were having such a lovely time with your marriage. Your father and I did not want to worry you with what the doctors thought was a cold," Katie said touching her daughter's shoulder.

Kathryn could not help but think maybe if she had told the truth about her marriage to the Viscount her mother would have told her about her father's health.

"Is he going to be all right?" Kathryn asked, tears brimming her eyes.

"We do not know," Alia said walking up on the other side of her sister, "The doctor has been coming by every day."

"All we can do is spend time with him and hope that he recovers," Katie said.

Kathryn closed her eyes and a tear slid down her face.

"Kathy we are so sorry," her mother said.

Kathryn wiped her tears and looked at her mother, "I must see him."

"Of course," Katie smiled, "He is up in the room."

Kathryn nodded her head and started to walk toward the stairs.

"We will be down here if you need anything," Alia said.

Kathryn sent a small smile to her sister and walked to the stairs. She stopped in front of her parent's door and took a deep breath. She knew that she needed to keep it together for her father's sake. She did not need to get in there and fall apart in front of him. Kathryn cracked the door open and saw her father lying on the bed, his back to her.

"Katie, is that you?" Alexander asked coughing.

"It's me, dad. Kathryn," she said walking closer.

Her father rolled over, a weak smile on his face, "Kitty Kat. What are you doing here?"

"The Viscount and I are going to be spending the season in the ton," Kathryn smiled.

"That is lovely," Alexander smiled as his daughter sat next to his bed and grabbed his hand.

She felt her eyes sting as she tried her best to blink away tears.

"What is wrong my child?" Alexander smiled as he rubbed his thumb on the back of her hand.

"Mama told me that you were sick," Kathryn whispered.

"I just have a cold my dear," Alexander smiled, "I am actually doing much better."

Kathryn blinked quickly trying to get rid of the tears as her father spoke. Her mother had just told her that he had been declining during the recent days. So either her father did not want to face the reality or he really did not know how sick he was.

"I am just glad that I am here now," Kathryn smiled.

"Me too, Kitty Kat. I missed you," Alexander said squeezing his daughter's hand.

"I missed you too, Papa," Kathryn smiled.

"How is married life?" Alexander asked.

"It is going wonderfully, the Viscount is so kind," Kathryn lied.

"That is so lovely to hear," Alexander smiled, "I do not wish anything more than for you and Alia to be in happy loving marriages."

"I know you do Papa," Kathryn smiled.

"You know your mother and I were not always so in love," Alexander said.

"Oh really?" Kathryn asked even though she had been told this story so many times.

"Yes. Your mother wanted so much not to marry me that in our first few months of marriage, she barely spoke a word to me," Alexander spoke.

"How did you get her to speak to you?" Kathryn played along.

"It was just meant to be..." Alexander trailed off, "Well, and the fact that she could not resist my devilish good looks."

Kathryn laughed along with her father. Alexander's laugh quickly turned into a coughing fit.

"Are you all right, papa?" Kathryn asked.

"Yes," Alexander choked out, "Just have a tickle in my throat. Nothing to worry about."

Kathryn furrowed her brows looking at her father with concern.

"You know you got that from your mother," Alexander commented.

"What?" Kathryn asked.

"That look you are giving me. She makes the exact same one," Alexander said, "You both knit your brows together, your mouths turn down in a slight frown, and you have the most concerned look in your eyes."

Kathryn laughed slightly as she smiled. Not many people told her anything she did resembled her mother, it was mostly her father.

"Well that must have been the only thing I inherited from her," Kathryn commented, "Everyone always says I am the female version of you."

"That you are my dear," Alexander sighed.

Kathryn wanted to stay and talk to her father more but she could tell that he was getting tired.

"I'll come back tomorrow to see you, Papa," Kathryn smiled, "For now you should get some rest."

"All right, dear. Maybe tomorrow we could take our conversation to the garden," Alexander smiled.

"If you're feeling up for it," Kathryn smiled.

"I would love that," Alexander said.

"Have a good night papa," Kathryn said kissing his cheek, "I will see you tomorrow."

"Could you send your mother up?" Alexander asked.

"Of course," Kathryn smiled standing up.

"I love you, Kitty Kat," Alexander said.

"I love you too, Papa," Kathryn said before walking out of the room.

She shut the door behind her leaning against it. Her father did not look well and she was worried about it. He had been her best friend when she was growing up. She could not live without him.

Kathryn took a deep breath wiping her tears once again and walked down the stairs. She walked to the drawing room assuming that was where her mother and sister would be.

"Papa needs you, Mama," Kathryn said walking into the drawing room.

Katie got up and walked toward her daughter pulling her into a hug, "I am so sorry that I did not tell you sooner that he was sick."

"It is all right mama," Kathryn said hugging her mother tightly.

"I better get upstairs before he tries to come down," Katie said.

"He is going to be all right," Alia said making Kathryn look at her, "He has to be. He has not even seen me get married yet."

Alia started crying making Kathryn walk toward her and pull her into a hug.

"I have been trying to stay strong for Mama. I know that this is so hard on her. But I just cannot..." Alia sobbed, "I cannot help but think about the worst-case scenario."

"Shh," Kathryn comforted her younger sister, "I am here now. You will not have to do this alone."