TWO ALONG THEIR WAY ┃a. bridgerton

4: winning and losing

"It is a marvel you love literature as much as I do. Do you enjoy Byron?"

Lord Lumley was a gentleman, and a fine one at that. He was thoughtful, friendly, and showed a genuine interest in Edwina beyond her ability to run a household well or produce children. Anna was glad for it, and Kate was just glad the two of them had found a happy medium after all the complaining about Anthony Bridgerton.

"I have read some," Edwina replied to her suitor. "Though I believe myself a novice when it comes to poetry."

"How fortunate to have found such a well-versed teacher in Lord Lumley then," Kate said. Her eyes were on the back of her sister's head, who walked quietly alongside Lady Danbury. Though she was giving Edwina distance, she was still keeping an ear out. But Anna was also drinking in the familiar sounds, scents and sights of the racetrack, what with the horses coming and going and their jockeys stopping to show them off. Despite saying to her mother that she was more than willing to give up her trades back in India, she did miss it.

"Many find poetry a flat medium, words read silently from a page," Lord Lumley said. "But I believe it is meant to be read aloud, like music. Here, I carry a small pocket copy of my favourites with me wherever I go..."

No sooner had Anna turned to give Lord Lumley a bit more of an audience for his impromptu poetry reading than another man had made his approach. Well-dressed in a dark shade of blue, his gentle did not exactly match his outfit, but suited him all the same. Falling in line with Kate, she waited for him to speak.

"Lady Danbury, I would be so honoured if you could facilitate a proper introduction. I fear my calling card got lost in the shuffle at your home this morning." Anna watched the man carefully as his eyes moved over Edwina and Lumley, and then landed on Kate.

"Of course," Lady Danbury said respectfully. "Mr Thomas Dorset, allow me to introduce Miss Sharma, Miss Kate Sharma, and Miss Edwina Sharma."

"A pleasure," he said. He shifted his gaze to Anna for a moment, then looked over his shoulder. It was so quick, it could've been easily missed. But she saw him in the crowd. Anthony Bridgerton.

Then again, that did not mean anything. Anna did not want it to mean anything. Before whatever scheme was cooked up could go ahead, she pushed Kate forward a little and cleared her throat. "Perhaps you are here to escort my sister, Mr Dorset? I'm sure she would be glad to accompany you."

"I..." Kate started. "I would. Mr Dorset."

Anna removed herself, reclaiming her spot walking beside Lady Danbury. Over her shoulder, she looked to see Lord Bridgerton looking at their small group once more. His lips were pulled into a straight, not a look of irritation, not quite, but one of admitted defeat. The look in Mr Dorset's eye towards Kate was genuine, but she suspected she was not the sister he was first aiming for. But she would never entertain it, and more the fool him for thinking she would after all the times she'd openly shared her disdain for partnerships.

No matter. The day was going well. As they found their seats, Anna placed herself comfortably in the middle of the two potential couples, Mr Dorset on one side, Lord Lumley on the other, and her sisters on the other side of them respectively. Conversation flowed, and she was simply a happy, quiet presence in the middle, unbothered and unbothering.

"Lord Bridgerton!" Lumley exclaimed, shooting up out of his seat as a sign of respect to the newcomer. Just hearing his name now felt like a jump scare, but seeing his face was much worse. There was such a smug look about him, and she could not look for more than one second without feeling her irritation bubble. He could not distract her with Dorset, so he was just being obvious with his pursuits now.