My Baby Bridgerton

Chapter five

Anthonys world was completely turned upside down as he watched his mother fawn over this child. Everything felt dazed as he zoned out. Violet picked Arabella up and was rocking her in her arms. He could faintly hear violets soothing voice to the baby.

He was pulled out his trance when Benedict put a hand on his shoulder. "Brother?" He said. "Are you alright?" With a concerned expression. Anthony went to open his mouth but nothing came out. "I.. don't know what to do." He said honestly. Benedict nodded. Even Eloise, who usually did have so much to say was silent.

"Oh Gregory come look.." Hyacinths voice said as she went on her tip toes every more so to get a look into violets arms. "Now Hyacinth don't overwhelm her with your antics." Violet said.

And just as Anthony was about to come to terms with it, Kate walked in. She had just put on her new dress as she came into the scene. He felt like he could collapse and the sweat instantly returned to his palms and he closed his fingers into his fist. "Kate I-" he said. He rushed over to her past his own mother and infant. He had to now explain this to his wife, his beautiful wife that he cherished more than anything this world. He hoped with all his heart that she would understand. That she wouldn't judge him for this, he had just won her hand, spent months on edge, and now he had finally gotten her. The risk of losing we was too much to bear in this thoughts.

"What's going on?" Kate asked shaking her head slightly. She hadn't caught sight of the baby yet considering the amount of bridgertons standing in her way. "Anthony you look so pale what happened?" She said eyes flicking up and down trying to search his body language. Trying to see what could have possibly done this to him, in the time that she excused herself from the dinner table in order to change. She watched him stutter in front of her and she just felt a drop in her stomach as she knew it couldn't be good. "Anthony you need to calm down and tell me..." she said trying to meet his gaze.

"My god I don't even know where to start." He said with his eyes closed. Arabella began to whimper in violets arms causing Kate to look. "Is that a.. child?" She asked with a raise to her voice.

Anthony turned around to glance at his mother quickly and then turned back around. "Kate this just happened so quickly.. a woman I previously had relations with.... she just-.. she just... dropped off a bloody baby.." he said clenching his eyes shut. "She says the baby is mine. It's mine. Can you believe it?" He said as the stress ran through his veins.

Kate blinked trying to make sense of the situation. "You didn't know of this?" She said with a frown to her brow after a moment of silence.

"Don't you think I'd have mentioned her by now if i did!" He gritted with an angry expression. Kate raised her brow again at his tone to her. "Sorry... I'm.. sorry I- I'm just so stressed right now, I'm angry, and... I don't know what to do.." he admitted slowly.

"I think you know exactly what to do..." Kate whispered pointing her head towards the girl. Anthony shook his head. "No no no I mean...Kate..Don't you have questions?! Don't you want me to explain this to you! I mean-"

Kate cut in across him. "No, I want you to stop avoiding the situation in front of us. Stop looking for delay. We can talk about how it came to be after. Okay?" She said calmly taking his hands. Anthony took a breath as she held him. "We?" Anthony said.

"You are my husband, are you not? Yes we" Kate replied immediately.

"Kate I can't.. if I go to her, it makes it real. I can't have a daughter, and not... not with her. He said into his hands.

Kate closed her eyes and shook her head. "No Anthony, whatever you may be feeling right now, you have to leave that to one side. Because that is a child who has been left in an entirely new environment, and she needs to know who her father is. She deserves that much. And you deserve it too. You've lost time, don't willingly forfeit more." Kate said.