The Viscount Who Loved Me | Anthony Bridgerton

Chapter Fifteen

Katherine Windsor's days at Aubrey Hall were filled with an unsettling melancholy. Despite her attempts to assist in the preparations for the upcoming Bridgerton ball, her heart was heavy, her thoughts clouded. Anthony Bridgerton noticed her mood immediately. Her usual vibrant presence was overshadowed by a palpable sadness that seemed to follow her everywhere.

Her children, Margaret, Charlotte, William, and Eleanor, were her usual source of comfort. Yet even their bright smiles and innocent laughter could not lift her spirits. She was acutely aware of the love she held for Anthony, a love that felt both fierce and hopeless. She had resigned herself to the belief that he would never return her feelings, and this resignation only deepened her sorrow.

Anthony, on his part, was at a loss. He attributed Katherine's melancholy to the painful memories she had shared about her marriage to the Duke. His own feelings of guilt compounded his frustration. He wished to help her, to ease her pain, but every attempt seemed to fall short.

One afternoon, unable to bear it any longer, Anthony found Katherine in the drawing-room, staring blankly out the window.

"Lady Katherine," he began, his voice gentle but firm, "would you join me for a walk in the garden?"

Katherine looked at him, her eyes dull and unseeing. "I don't think that's a good idea, Lord Bridgerton."

"I insist," he said, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone. "Please."

Reluctantly, Katherine agreed, and they strolled through the lush gardens of Aubrey Hall. The beauty of the surroundings contrasted sharply with the tension between them.

"Katherine," Anthony began, struggling to find the right words, "I know something is troubling you. You can talk to me."

She sighed, her frustration evident. "Anthony, there's nothing more to say. I am fine."

"You are not fine," he retorted, his patience wearing thin. "You have been distant, melancholy. You can't go on like this."

She stopped walking, turning to face him. "And what do you expect me to say? That everything is all right when it isn't?"

"Yes, if that is what it takes to get through to you," he snapped. "You think I don't care? I am trying to help you."

Their voices grew louder, the argument escalating. Katherine's frustration boiled over, her emotions spilling out.

"You can't help me, Anthony. No one can. I am beyond help."

"That's not true!" he shouted, his own emotions fraying. "You don't have to carry this alone. Let me in."

As their argument reached its peak, a bee flew into view. Anthony's eyes widened in panic, his breath catching in his throat. Katherine, oblivious to the bee, continued to argue, her hands gesturing wildly.

"Stop moving!" Anthony yelled, his voice tinged with fear.

"Don't you dare command me," Katherine shot back, not understanding his urgency.

The bee landed on Katherine's arm, and she swatted at it dismissively. A sharp pain followed as the bee stung her. She gasped, more in surprise than pain.

Anthony, however, was paralyzed with fear. "Katherine! Are you all right? Are you breathing?" His voice was frantic, his eyes wide with terror.

Katherine, bewildered by his reaction, tried to calm him. "Anthony, I'm fine. It's just a sting."

He grabbed her shoulders, shaking her slightly. "No, no, you must breathe. You can't...you can't die."

Realizing the depth of his fear, Katherine took his hand and placed it on her chest. "Feel, Anthony. I am breathing. I am all right."