Midnight Rain:

Chapter 67: Duty:

*****

"Duty. More than laws or faith, I have often thought it the bond that holds our fragile society together.

Duty to rank and title. Fidelity to one's family name."

*****

The Bridgerton estate.

"I cannot wait until he gets here." Anthony smiled, cuddled up to Evelina as he drew different shapes on her belly over her pink night gown.

"Or she..." Evelina smiled, chuckling a bit.

"The future viscount or viscountess... Either way, I'm so ready to meet him or her." Anthony smiled, sitting up to kiss her stomach that barely looked like she was pregnant.

"Viscountess?" Evelina asked him with a small smirk.

"Yes... Eloise has enlightened me on your views." Anthony said as Evelina chuckled.

"And did she inform you of anything else?" She asked as Anthony moved so that he was facing her, moving her hair away from her face.

"Nothing, really... Just how you can be competitive at fencing." He smirked as she nudged his chest.

"I told her that in confidence." Evelina scoffed, pretending to be hurt and offended.

"I would definitely love to see that side of you when you feel up to it." He smirked, moving her hand to interlock their fingers.

"Oh, from what I seen... You do not like to lose in fencing." She smirked at him, looking at their intertwined fingers.

"I rarely do." He smirked, leaning in to kiss her lips again.

*****

"It demands both utter obedience and total sacrifice."

*****

"You must teach me that... I'm afraid my needlework is not the best." Evelina smiled as she got dressed, that next morning, as she walked down to the drawing room to see Violet finishing off her embroidery.

"Your needlework is beautiful, dear..." Violet gave her a smile as Evelina walked over to sit on the sofa next to her. "What is it?" She asked her daughter-in-law, stopping her embroidery, when she saw Evelina look a little unsure.

"I wanted to apologize... on behalf of my husband." Evelina said, hesitantly, when Violet gave her a kind smile.

"There is no need, dear... I fear that I have overstepped quite a bit." 

"You did not." Evelina shook her head, taking Violet's hand in hers. "Trust me. My mama is quite meddlesome. And not to mention, everything I have ever heard from my siblings." She chuckled, softly. "You did not overstep. You have always been kind to me, since you have welcomed me into your family." Evelina smiled as Violet looked down, seeing Evelina's hands shake a bit.

"You are very kind, Evelina..." Violet smiled, closing Evelina's hands into her hands. "I am thrilled to have you in this family... You have brought something back to Anthony that I have not seen in him for so long." She smiled as Evelina nodded, giving her a smile.

"He's always had it in him." She smiled, but slightly frown a bit as she cleared her throat. 

"What's wrong?" Violet asked, seeing her mood change quickly.

"I'll be right back..." Evelina stood up, feeling sick from the pregnancy.

"I shall have Ms. Wilson make you something that I had to drink with each of my kids." Violet chuckled, softly, watching Jane rush over to Evelina's side as they rushed to the chamber pot.

*****

"But what happens when such duty is in conflict with the heart's true desire?"

*****

Kate took off that morning for a ride. She wanted to get James out of her head. But it was so hard to do.

Meanwhile, James sighed, looking around the library, before looking up at the portrait of his mother. It was painted when Elijah was a little younger. It was of Josephine, James, and Elijah. Their small family, but content family.

*****

"Why, then, there is the potential for a considerable scandal, indeed...

The only question is, will the parties in question heed my warning?

Or is it already too late to turn back to duty and away from desire?"

*****

~season 2, episode 5: "An Unthinkable Fate"~

~630 words~