Chapter Text
Truthfully, when her step-mother described the elegance of a London season, she never described it as so boring .
Oh, it was elegant; Kate could not deny that. The London ballroom she stood in was fanciful in a way that only London ballrooms are. Flowers covered every available surface. The candles within the lofty chandeiler burned bright, lighting up the room and casting shadows across the faces of the dancers. Eager debutantes and apathetic suitors mixed together on the dance floor, swishing their skirts this way and that. It was really everything her step-mother had previously described.
But Kate Sheffield stood on the outskirts of the dance, alone, sipping the same lemonade she had begun a quarter hour before. Her step-mother, Mary, was not far away. She spoke with Lady Danbury, Kate’s sponsor for the season, and another woman Kate had yet to be introduced to. Kate’s dance card hung from her wrist, partially filled out. Her night had not been disastrous; Kate did dance with several suitors earlier this evening, having dull conversations and attempting not to walk over their toes. Regardless of the fancifulness of the room, Kate was having a boring time.
Kate’s reasons for entering into London society, rather than simply finding a husband back home in Somerset, were rather simple. Her family’s financial prospects were dim, and she wanted her younger sister, Edwina, to be able to find a love match. Thus, Kate had come to London to find herself a husband who was both wealthy and generous, so that she could provide for her family and allow Edwina the opportunity of a lovely season. For her family, Kate would undergo hours of this boredom.
And it appeared that the boredom would draw on for hours, too.
The quartet on the opposite side of the room took a break as Mary finally deemed it time to return to the side of her eldest daughter. With her, she brought Lady Danbury and the other woman. Kate took a deep breath as they approached, anticipating another average conversation with society’s best.
“Kate!” Mary exclaimed as she approached, taking her daughter’s hand. “I really must introduce you to Lady Bridgerton. We were acquantinces during my season in London many years ago.”
Lady Bridgerton gave Kate a brilliant smile. She looked around the same age as Mary, with fair hair and a nearly unlined face. She carried herself gentler than many of the other society matrons Kate had met that evening. Rather than her posture seeming unnervingly tight, Lady Bridgerton seemed comfortable and at ease. “Miss Sheffield,” she greeted. “It truly is lovely to meet you. How have you been finding London so far? Is it your first time in the city?”
“The first in many years, Lady Bridgerton,” Kate admitted. “I visited with my father when I was small, but I have not left Somerset in several years.”
“Well, you must call on Bridgerton house at some point this week. My daughters would love another young lady to speak with. Perhaps we could even have a picnic, so that our families may be acquainted as we once were, Mary.”
“That would be delightful, Violet,” Mary said with enthusiasm. “Of course, we will need to see how many suitors call upon Kate first, but an afternoon picnic would be lovely.”
“Of course,” Lady Bridgerton replied. She opened her mouth to speak again but was quickly interrupted by Lady Danbury’s loud voice.
“Lord Bridgerton!” she nearly shouted at a figure trying to move quickly past them. Kate was quite unsure how she spotted him, for he was sneaking behind the women, evidently trying to avoid the woman who must be his mother. Or Lady Danbury, who loved to meddle.
Lord Bridgerton froze for a moment before turning slowly to greet the women. “Lady Danbury,” he greeted in a deep, smooth voice. “Mother. How are we this evening?” He spared a glance toward Kate and her mother, eyes lingering on Kate before he turned back to his mother.
“Absolutely wonderful ball, eh, Lord Bridgerton?” Lady Danbury said, moving her cane closer to his toes as if to hold him in place. “May I introduce my charge for the season, Miss Katherine Sheffield, and her mother, Lady Mary Sheffield?”
Lord Bridgerton inclined his head toward Mary as was proper before turning to Kate. “Miss Sheffield,” he greeted, taking her hand and falling into a deep bow. As he brought her hand slowly to his lips, Kate could only focus on the warmth of his hand on hers and the warmth of his eyes. Something about this man seemed dangerous as his lips lingered a second longer than proper on the back of her hand. Kate’s skin burned through her glove where his lips touched.
“Lord Bridgerton,” she greeted as he stood. Meeting his dark eyes was a challenge. Kate felt flushed. “It is a pleasure.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Miss Sheffield.” Lord Bridgerton, she noticed rather unwillingly, had a small quirk to his lips as if he was holding back a smile. “Is this your first season? I have not seen you around London before.”
“This is my first,” Kate agreed. Lord Bridgeton’s gaze was unrelenting, making it seem as though he truly cared about her every word. “I hail from Somerset, my lord. I do not come to London often.”
Lord Bridgerton nodded before speaking again. “Miss Sheffield, do you have a free dance this evening? I count myself lucky that I caught you unengaged just now. You must be nearly overrun with suitors at this point.”
Kate barely stopped herself from laughing aloud. Instead, she gave the man a rueful smile. “Not quite, my lord. The rest of my card is free at the moment.”
“Well, I must surely fix that then.” Before Kate could so much as move, Lord Bridgeton caught her dance card with one hand and pulled a pencil from his coat with another. “A waltz, I think, if you have permission?” Though the question was directed at her, he cast a glance at Mary just long enough to watch her nod before turning back to Kate. He scrawled his name across one of the lines of her card, and it took everything in her not to shiver as his gloved fingers grazed her wrist when he pulled away. Distantly, Kate had to remind herself not to immediately glance down to see his handwriting on her card when the man was right in front of her. “Until then, Miss Sheffield,” he nearly whispered as he pulled away. Lord Bridgerton nodded once to the assemblage of women and disappeared back into the crowd.
For the first time in her life, Kate nearly swooned. She looked dazed at the mothers standing in front of her, trying to decide if that entire exchange actually happened.
Distantly, she tried to think back to the hour before. Had the night even really begun before Lord Bridgerton stood in front of her?
Her original plans to come to London only for the sake of finding a wealthy and generous husband seemed distant in her mind.
-
When Anthony Bridgerton walked into the ballroom that night, he was not anticipating Katherine Sheffield. Truthfully, he was anticipating another boring ball to start the 1814 season. Anthony had attended enough of these to know that the first was rarely excited, except if you happened to meet someone exceptional.
Which he seemed to do.
Admittedly, he did not catch sight of Kate until his formal introduction. For the first hours, he spent most of his time trying to avoid his mother, staying on the outskirts of the ball and speaking quickly to the few men he thought worth a conversation. Before his introduction to the Sheffields, Anthony was attempting to sneak out to the smoke room. Now, he was grateful Lady Danbury nearly caught him by the ears.
Kate Sheffield was a wonder in his arms. No, she was not the best dancer, but the way Kate smiled nervously after each time she caught his toes was mesmorizing. As he twirled her in his arms, Anthony thought he would rather like to keep her there.
This was not how he thought his evening would go.
“Tell me, Miss Sheffield,” he spoke in an attempt to keep himself from drowning in her eyes, “how has your debut ball been thus far? Spare no details.” He knew his smile was more sly than encouraging, but Kate did not seem to mind.
“Truthfully, my lord? Rather boring, until now. I must admit, your company is the best I have had all night. Other suitors seem to lack a bit of charm.” Kate herself had a sly smile on her face as she moved away from him. Anthony was quick to pull her back.
“So you find me charming?” he asked, unable to hold back his grin. Kate pulled a confused face, as if she did not remember insinuating that.
“I did not say that, my lord. Rather that your fellow suitors seem to lack a bit of it. I have not known you long enough to ponder if you are charming.” An errant curl fell from Kate’s coiffure as she moved. Anthony barely had the restraint to keep himself from pushing it behind her ear.
“I will just have to show you how truly charming I can be then,” he decided. Their dance was quickly coming to an end, but Anthony found himself wanting to stay by her side. He wondered just how improper it would seem if he asked for a second dance. Because it was only the first ball of the season, he figured it may not want to push his luck. “Do you have any siblings, Miss Sheffield?”
“Just one, my lord. A sister. She will hopefully make her debut next year.” Kate looked a little less certain of herself as she gave this answer. Anthony decided not to comment on her ambiguity. “And you?”
“Seven,” he replied with a brilliant smile. “We are rather famously named alphabetically A through H. Perhaps you can meet them sometime. They are a bother, but they are family.”
Kate’s face held a brilliant smile as Anthony spoke about his family. Immediately, he could tell this was one thing they had in common. Kate loved her family as Anthony loved his. At the back of his mind, he thought that this would be a wonderful characteristic of a viscountess.
As the quartet finished their song, Kate and Anthony were forced to separate. Their eyes met as he bowed and she curtsied, and Anthony felt that familiar heat begin in his stomach. Belatedly, he tried to push it away. He was looking for a wife this season, not a quick dalliance. Desire had no place in this courtship.
At the moment, at least.
Before she could go too far, Anthony grasped Kate’s arm and placed it into his. “A turn around the ballroom before I return you to your mother?” he asked. Without waiting for an answer, Anthony led them in the opposite direction of where their mothers waited together.
“I suppose,” Kate answered with a small laugh. Throughout their entire dance, a serene smile had rarely left Kate’s face. Anthony liked to think that he was the cause of it.
“Miss Sheffield, I hope I am not too forward in saying this,” Anthony began, steeling himself, “but I have had a wonderful time in your company tonight. Usually, these events are so dull I find myself looking for any excuse to leave.” He tried to walk as slow as possible, but their arrival to the mamas would be far too soon.
“I agree, Lord Bridgerton. My night was rather boring before I made your acquaintance.” Kate took a deep breath before continuing. “Perhaps we could do this again? I know our mothers are already plotting a family picnic, but perhaps I could find your company again at the next ball.”
“May I call on you tomorrow, Miss Sheffield?” Anthony blurted before he could truly think about it. “I find that my afternoon is free, and I would enjoy more of your conversation.” A light flush overtook Kate’s features, and Anthony almost preened at the effect he had on her. The blush made her face look even more delightful.
“I think that would be agreeable,” Kate finally got out. “I believe you may find us at home.” The shy smile on her face did not dim as they approached their mothers. Carefully, he removed her hand from his arm and moved it slowly to his lips. Like before, his lips lingered just a moment longer than propriety dictates. His lips tingled where they met the back of her hand.
“Until then, Miss Sheffield,” Anthony murmured nearly in her ear. He released her hand, grabbed hold of his mother, and disappeared back into the crowd.
Kate was left speechless.
-
“Kate! Kate! Kate!” Edwina nearly howled as Kate entered her own bedchamber after the ball. Her sister sat in her nightclothes on Kate’s bed, bouncing up and down as she waited for her sister to answer. “How was the ball? Tell me everything!”
“Magical,” Kate managed to say, thinking of Lord Bridgerton, his smile, and his lips on her hand. “Simply magical.”