,wallflower' • BRIDGERTON

chapter 31

"I Love You, Hope Buckingham"

[31]

✑

Hope took it upon herself to pay a visit to Kate Sharma. During a previous conversation with her brother, Anthony, she couldn't help but notice the palpable distress etched across his features as if he were teetering on the edge of an abyss, grappling with the uncertainty of Kate's fate. The unspoken fear of perpetual solitude seemed to shadow his every move. Meanwhile, Hope found herself seated on the edge of Kate's bed, a silent observer in the midst of the hushed atmosphere that enveloped the room. A delicate bouquet of tulips, a symbol of hope and renewal, lay in Hope's hands.

"He is positively distressed because of you. What did you do to cause him to be wrapped around your finger?" Hope playfully remarked, a tender smile gracing her lips. Rising from her seat, she carefully placed the tulips in an empty gold vase on the bedside dresser, a small act of adorning the space with a touch of life. As she arranged each flower with meticulous care, the sound of Kate's murmurs reached her ears, prompting an immediate response.

Turning back towards the bed, Hope approached with a mix of anticipation and concern. Kate's eyes fluttered open, casting a momentary spell of surprise upon Hope. "Miss Buckingham... is that you?" Kate inquired, her voice carrying a faint haze as she sought to gather her senses.

Hope's eyes widened with a mixture of joy and relief. "Yes! Yes, it is me! Lady Danbury, come quick!" she called out towards the open door. The urgency in her voice summoned Lady Danbury, along with Edwina and Lady Sharma, who swiftly entered the room. Edwina, visibly anxious, questioned Kate's well-being before rushing to her sister's side.

"Kate!" she exclaimed, enfolding her in a tight embrace.

"Thank heavens. Send for the doctor," Lady Danbury instructed a servant, who promptly scurried away to fulfill the command.

Amidst the emotional reunion, Lady Sharma, concerned yet relieved, inquired about the events leading to Kate's loss of consciousness. Kate, still in a state of recovery, began to recount the fragments of her memory from that fateful night. "I remember riding in the park. And the fall... Oh, Mama, Edwina, I am so sorry," she apologized sincerely, a mixture of remorse and gratitude reflected in her gaze.

"Nonsense," Lady Sharma dismissed the apologies with a smile, her motherly affection evident.

"You must rest, Didi. Do not strain yourself," Edwina insisted, offering reassurance as they navigated the delicate terrain of Kate's recovery. A sudden wave of realization painted itself upon Kate's face, she looked over at Lady Danbury. "Did Lord Bridgerton come to see me?" She asked curiously, almost hoping the woman would say yes. Right before that fateful night she and Lord Bridgerton had fallen into a rather heated argument, which ended with them tangled in each other's scent, naked in one another presence.

She did not expect to sleep with him, not so suddenly and she had felt terrible with herself but she also felt as if she could not get enough of Anthony. And it drove her insane. That is why she went on that ride to the park.

Lady Danbury is hesitant to even mention him. "He... He rescued you in the park. Gallantly, in fact. He brought you back here several days ago." She said, noticing the sudden awkward expression Edwina had on her face. Kate took in the new information before gathering the courage to speak again. "And since?" She asked.

Lady Danbury gave her a certain expression, that told her he couldn't visit because it tore him apart. He blamed himself for ruining Kate Sharma. He believes that he should not have given in to her, but there was no one to stop him and he did not care enough to stop either. "I see," Kate said with a nod before Hope let out a sigh, she nodded her head before standing to her feet. "I shall let the Bridgerton's know that you're awake." She said before turning on her heel and leaving the family to truly celebrate Kate's recovery.