My Baby Bridgerton

Chapter seven

The sun was beginning to rise in the morning, birds beginning their song of the day. The ton asleep. Anthony and Kate were wrapped in each other in bed, enjoying each other's presence in their marital bliss. He drew kisses all along her jaw. "Mhm" she said smiling as he looked at her with pure love. Suddenly they heard voices coming from outside the door. "Hyathinth! Hyacinth! Just because you hath share room with the baby does not mean you wake said baby! Especially not at this hour!" Violets voice boomed outside of the door. Arabella was crying. Anthony grunted and closed his eyes causing kates slight laugh. "Mama! I did not wake her! She awoken herself, I just happened to entertain her." They could hear hyacinth try to defend herself.  "No it's it final hyacinth, the baby stays in my room from now on" violet boomed. "Mama.." hyacinth whined.

Kate was smiling until she turned and saw Anthonys expression. She placed her hand on his cheek "Everything will calm down in a couple days.." she said looking at him softly. "I thought you wouldn't mind the noise.."

"It's not the noise I care about. With seven siblings and my mother I've faced enough noise then I care to tell.." he said. "It's the child." He said after a moment of silence and a sigh. Kate looked at him with pity filling her eyes.

"Anthony.. you cannot avoid her forever. You have to interact with her, especially from the early ages. Come on, you know how important fatherhood is." Kate says trailing her fingers on his chest.

Anthony groaned shrinking under the covers with his eyes shut. "How mature." Kate smirked. "But in all seriousness, I do hope you are not avoiding her on my account." She said.

"No I am not!" Anthony said. "I just cannot do this as of right now. I have- this is- completely unjust" he said in loss of words. He sat up. "Why are you so.. how can you be so calm about any of this! You interact with her more than I do- why- how-"

"Because Anthony I understand. Mary was not my mother, She just wed my father. Yet she took me in as one of her own. Loved me as one of her own. Same as Edwina. Do you not see a similar scenario within this household? Am I not marrying a man who has a child? I wish to bestow the same grace to baby arabella as Mary bestowed to me." Kate said.

"I know, and you've been so graceful about this whole situation. I applaud you for that so much.." he said kissing her lips. "Frankly anyone else would have ran miles when they heard of this." Anthony said.

"Hm.." Kate said pressing down his bottom lip with her finger. "Everything will be in order soon. There is not much wrong you can say to a two year old. As long as she knows and trusts you, that is the main thing. A relationship will follow. And we will be a family.." Kate said.

"We're already growing a family though.." Anthony said touching Kates belly.

"Don't say that so loud! We had not told anyone yet!" Kate muttered under her breath.

"Sorry." He smiled. "I'm just so eager.. to have the baby born." He said kissing her. She pulled back. "Well bond with the baby downstairs first!" She said with an eyebrow raised.

"Mhmmmmm" he groaned. "You are right my love." He said eventually. "You're right." 

Newton barked.

Anthony glared at the dog. "I already said she was right. No need for that-"

Kate laughed.
___________________________________

The family sat downstairs to break their fast. Violet Bridgerton had the youngest bridgerton sitting on her lap. Feeding her a little bowl of porridge that she had the maids prepare. She even let her try feed herself. Which ended up leaving the spoon flinging a load of porridge onto Benedicts shirt. Gregory and Hyacinth erupted into laughter. "Seriously, she is her fathers daughter-" Benedict said wiping his shirt with a tissue. "My good shirt as well-".

"It's alright i mean, I'm sure you can go to Madame delacroix and she could sort it out for you-" Eloise said with a smirk on her face. Benedict quickly shot her a look and Eloise made a face before resuming her food. "What was that about?" Violet asked.

"Nothing" Eloise and Benedict answered in unison.

Just as they spoke, Anthony and Kate came down. "Good morning you two." violet said. "Look Bella, it's papa.. papa and Kate." Violet said baby talking to the child. Anthony couldn't believe his mother had already given the child a nickname. Anthony and Kate both sat down in their usual seats.

Kate elbowed Anthony. Anthony gave her a look Kate rolled her eyes before turning to Arabella. "Morning little one." He said. "Are you eating your breakfast for your grandmother?" Kate asked softly.

Arabella nodded enthusiastically. "I eat.. all" she replied. Picking up the bowl in order to show Kate. Kate smiled. "Wow, that is delightful Arabella."

Violet picked her up. "Oh we must get you dressed and down to the modiste for a proper little dress shall we?"

"Oh! Anthony I think you're schedule is free? We could go and accompany your mother-" Kate says.

"Actually i-"

"Perfect. We will go Violet. I will go tell the maids to prepare the carriage!" Kate smiled before standing up to go. Eloise smirked. "She is amazing is she not?" She said putting a forkful of food into her mouth. Benedict and Colin looked at each other in a laugh.

"Can I co-" Hyacinth began to say.

"No-" Anthony replied.

"No fair! mama!" Hyacinth complained.

Violet just chuckled before picking up Arabella. She touched Eloises hair passing. "Oh my Good God- I Cannot- why must children always be so aggravating-" she said touching her head.

"I think Eloise should go instead of Anthony-" Benedict said.

"Don't you even suggest-"

"That'll be enough, thank you Benedict-" Violet said.

Eloise tilted her head mocking Benedict.
________________________________

Anthony was silent the whole carriage ride. Kate sat beside him. Violet didn't even realise Anthony's lack of conversation. As violet walked into the modiste, Kate called Anthony back. "Anthony, what has you like this?" She asked.

"You're not giving me time- and it's not fair-" he said firmly pressing his lips together,

"What-" she said in shock. "You're mad because of me? Why what have I done?" Kate said.

Anthony became silent.

"Anthony please tell me." She said.

Anthony took a deep breath before answering. "Everything's changing so quickly" he said turning around to face her with his hands on his hips. He shook his head. "I.. can't stand quick changes. When.. my father died, I had everything. Suddenly I had nothing. Everything I knew was taken from me, a huge responsibility placed on my shoulders. Mother was just unavailable in every way and I became the head of everything in the split second. I had no time." He said.

Kate was silent then. She felt immensely guilty. She knew he was hurt when he started talking about his past. She just nodded silently.

Anthony became silent.

"All I need.. is time to adjust. My mind cannot salvage quick changes. I do not plan to avoid her- I would have said no if I didn't care for her- that's not what this is about. I just need to adjust. I need to know this.. won't ruin my life, but more importantly hers. Please just let me adjust." He said.

Kate nodded. "I'm sorry- I.. I'm just thinking of it from my perspective of Mary. I didn't mean to be pushy. You will bond with her in your own time" Kate said. Anthony nodded and an awkward silence followed the both of them. After a moment Kate spoke. "You can take the carriage back.."

Anthony nodded. He got back inside. He waited for her to come. "Are you not coming?" He asked.

"No.. I'd like to stay and go in with her. I will meet you afterwards" she said. Anthony nodded and the carriage left. Kate stood watching it leave. Feeling the guilt flow through her body.