Midnight Rain:

Chapter 65: The Bane of My Existence:

"You must know. Edwina is innocent in all of this. She had no idea. Coming to England, finding her a match. I only wished the best for her. You cannot be angry at her..." Kate tried to explain quickly while the two of them stepped into the drawing room.

"I am not." He immediately denied. "It is clear she was as much in the dark as I was about your schemes." He spat at her.

"They were not schemes..." Kate scoffed at his accusation.

"I take it there'll be no dowry? Now that the Sheffields have withdrawn their support..."

"You care about a dowry?" She asked him with a confused scoff. "It is because of what you just did that the Sheffields withdrew it." She retorted.

"It is regrettable, to be sure."

The Bridgerton estate.

"Oh, Anthony..." Violet smiled, looking up as Anthony entered the drawing room. "Where is the viscountess?" She asked while looking back down at her embroidery.

"She was starting not to feel so well... This pregnancy is beginning to take its toll on her." Anthony said, hands behind his back as Violet's eyes widened.

"So, it is true?" She asked him with a small gasp.

"Why would it not be? I presume Daphne had already informed you on the matter when we were at Aubry Hall." Anthony said, glancing over to the portrait of Edmund and Violet over the fire mantel.

"She had told me that you had mentioned she might be with child... b--but I did not know if she would know so early..." Violet sat up in her chair, setting her needlework on her lap. "So, you are going to have a child?" She sweetly asked, smiling from the joy that she would soon have two grandchildren.

"Indeed." Anthony nodded, looking back at his mother.

"Oh, you must be so happy--" 

"I am finally doing my duty as the viscount. Is that what is supposed to make me happy, Mother?" He asked with a slight scoff as Violet looked confused. "I have given up the rakish lifestyle you criticized me about. I married and found a respectable woman for whom I truly care. I have done everything you have pressured me to do, and now I am preparing for my heir. The next viscount. And all you do is question the sanity of my wife!" He began to raise his voice out of frustration.

"I do not question Evelina... I adore her, Anthony." Violet scoffed, hurt by her son's accusation, as she stood up, leaving her needlework on the chair.

"Then, you should act like it. You have repeatedly made her feel uncomfortable since learning of what happened at Aubry Hall. And since she had married me." He spat at her, wiping his face.

"Anthony... My dear, you must know that I did not mean to make her uncomfortable. I am so grateful that you have found someone that you have grown feelings towards, loveless marriage or not..." She said, walking over to him as he clenched his jaw. "It is just... I want to make her comfortable, and I do not know how to do that. I mean, I don't even understand what happened..." Violet continued to say.

"Well, you have." He scoffed, taking a step back from his mother. "All I wish is for you to respect my choices. And my wife." Anthony sighed when Violet tried not to tear up.

Violet said nothing as she looked down while Anthony glanced around the room. He felt harsh. But he felt like his mother had been down his throat since he was old enough to marry and become the viscount. And now that he had finally done what she wanted, she constantly questioned him. The two were unaware that Evelina and Jane were outside the door.