The Viscount Who Loved Me | Anthony Bridgerton

Chapter Five

1803

As the new head of the Bridgerton household, Anthony found himself overwhelmed with responsibilities, leaving him with little time to see or meet with Katherine. Every moment of his day was consumed by managing the family estate, comforting his grieving mother, and attending to his siblings' needs.

One evening, Anthony found his mother, Violet Bridgerton, sitting alone in the dimly lit drawing room, her once vibrant eyes now dulled with grief and heartbreak. He approached her quietly, his heart heavy with the weight of his father's absence.

"Mother," Anthony said softly, taking a seat beside her, "how are you holding up?"

Violet looked up at her son, her eyes brimming with tears. "Anthony, my dear boy," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I miss him so terribly. I can't bear the thought of living without him."

Anthony felt a lump form in his throat as he wrapped his arms around his mother, holding her tightly as she wept. He couldn't bear to see her in such pain, knowing that her grief was a reflection of his own.

"Mother, I promise you," Anthony said, his voice choked with emotion, "I will do everything in my power to take care of this family. Father would have wanted us to carry on, to find strength in each other."

Violet nodded, clinging to her son as if he were the only anchor keeping her from drowning in sorrow. "I know, Anthony," she murmured, her words barely audible through her tears. "But it's so hard, knowing he's gone."

As the days turned into weeks, Anthony's resolve to stay away from Katherine only grew stronger. He couldn't bear the thought of bringing her into his world of pain and sorrow, of subjecting her to the same heartbreak that had consumed his family.

Late one evening, Anthony found himself standing outside the gates of the Arlington estate, his heart heavy with the weight of his decision. He longed to see Katherine, to hold her in his arms and tell her how much she meant to him. But he couldn't bear the thought of putting her through the pain of losing him, of leaving her alone and brokenhearted like his mother.

With a heavy heart, Anthony turned away from the Arlington estate, his footsteps heavy with regret as he walked away from the one person he loved more than anything in the world. Deep down, he knew it was the right decision, but it didn't make it any easier to bear.

Meanwhile, inside the Arlington estate, Katherine sat alone in her room, her heart aching with longing for Anthony. She couldn't understand why he had been so distant lately, why he had stopped coming to see her or even speaking to her.

As tears welled up in her eyes, Katherine made a silent vow to herself. She would wait for Anthony, no matter how long it took. She would be there for him when he was ready, to offer him the love and support he so desperately needed, even if he couldn't see it for himself.

1814

Katherine sat in the children's playroom, the sunlight streaming through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the room. The laughter of her children—Margaret, Eleanor, Charlotte, and William—filled the air as they played with their toys. These moments brought her immense joy and peace, a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt after seeing Anthony at Lady Danbury's ball the previous evening.

As she watched Margaret read aloud to Charlotte, Eleanor stack blocks, and William race his toy horses, Katherine couldn't help but reflect on the previous night. She had known it was only a matter of time before she would see Anthony again, but she hadn't expected the sheer panic that gripped her. She thought she could handle it, but her body had betrayed her, leading to an abrupt departure that had now become the latest topic of Lady Whistledown's gossip.