Chapter Text
The cathedral was majestic, adorned with gold that gleamed as the sun's rays fell upon it.
Flowers scented its interior, and everything was perfectly immaculate for Viscount Bridgerton's wedding with the Indian Ruby, Kathani Sharma.
The Queen herself had planned the pompous wedding, and only la creme de la creme of the Ton was present, in what was considered the biggest event of the wedding season.
Anthony hated all this opulence, but he knew that he, as everyone else, were in no position to say no to the Queen, so he accepted this whole circus.
After all, it was what was expected of a man in his position, a perfect nobleman, with a perfect marriage, with a perfect Viscountess.
And, good God, Kathani is perfection.
As she enters the cathedral, arm in arm with Lady Mary, looking more stunning than ever, her face looking more ethereal than ever, her white gown draped perfectly over the curves he craved to explore, since the first moment he'd met her.
From the first moment, he knew that someone with such fire in their eyes, would not perish in the face of life's adversities.
Knowing her, and knowing that she also shouldered her family responsibilities, seeing how she took care of her sister, made him certain that she was the one.
Their courtship had been easier than he had anticipated, considering her disinterest in marrying, with only a few bumps on the road, like her dog, who didn't seem to like him no matter what Anthony did, with her brazenly competing against him during pall mall, or with her diverting her attentions to take care of her sister's season.
Anthony supposed that he should be grateful for the Queen's interest in their relationship, for it was it that had made Kathani take his propose more seriously into consideration, before Edwina being betrothed, and after...
With each new step that she takes, the more he feels funny inside, he never imagined that he would feel this happy on the day he was getting married.
But here he is, eager to say yes, so that he can start a new life with her.
How could he not be excited, after all? He knows there won't be one single dull day at her side, he knows that their nights will burn from now on.
He had never tasted of desire, like the one he felt for her, it seemed to be crested within him, as she consumed him completely.
It was quite maddening, and… dangerous.
Because he knows that if he feels that kind of attraction for her, it could easily lead him to feel something else….
But, she is perfect, and this yearning within him could not be denied.
And to be friends, to share such a fire with the one he is going to marry, is a good thing… better than he could have hoped, by marrying out of duty.
That it's why he is so happy.
It is why, when Lady Mary handed Kate's hand to his, he couldn't take his hand from hers, clasping them together instead, loving the feel of her warmth.
That is why he paid no attention to the priest's words, getting lost in the curly black locks that adorned her face, on the sight of her lips, that he would finally be able to taste again, drowning in the depths of her gaze.
Then he finds himself frowning, looking at the growing woe written across her face. Was she not feeling well?
The thought of Kate being anything less than fine shakes him... especially at such time.
He turns his attention back to his surroundings, to the hubbub among the crowd. Had he not heard the priest's question?
So the priest repeats the question, and Anthony’s confusion only grows.
“Kathani Grace Sharma, do you take Lord Anthony Edmund Bridgerton to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
The question hangs like a sentence over Kate's head.
Kate hadn't planned on falling in love with him.
She hadn't planned on falling in love with anyone.
She would come to England, help her sister to marry someone worthy of her, who would love her, and then... She would return to India.
But, Anthony... with that captivating smile of his, which drove her mad, with his ways that vexed and challenged her in equal measure, taking her off her axis, had won her over little by little, and when he proposed to her, when she saw - what she thought it was - love in his eyes, and she accepted, she felt like she was in the clouds.
Not only would her family's future be secured, they would no longer depend on the Sheffields.
What was the best about it, was that she would be able to stay.
What was the best about it, was that she would be able to have the life she had once dreamed of.
But, then…. She had a rude awakening.
Last night... when she went to surprise him, at his bachelor party, and then she listened to those abhorrent words... to what came out of his mouth... when she understood...
She tilts her head, trying to dispel this trail of thoughts, for the countless time.
Regardless of what she's heard, marrying him was still what was best for her, and, for everyone else.
But, feeling him take her hand in his, looking at her so affectionately, she understands that it was this, this... that had driven her to be so foolish, to fall in love, to believe...
If she had been so wrong, who could say that he wouldn't turn out a completely different person when they got married?
Worse… what if he treated her the same as now… with her being completely in love of him, and he...
And he… feeling what…? A mere passion for her, at best?
She can't live a life like that, it would be unbearable.
If she was honest with herself, it already was….
She shouldn't have come here...
All of a sudden, her chest starts to feel constricted, she starts to feel her breathing shortening... This is a mistake!
She has to get out of here! She thinks, looking at her surroundings, feeling as if the walls were enclosing her.
She looks at Edwina and Mary looking at her with concern, and Kate tries to focus on them, and prioritize them, as well as her duty, as she always did, but, she can’t this time.
It hurt too much.
She cannot stay in this mistake any longer!
She doesn't know what makes her say the words to him, instead of them, especially after last night, of what she heard, but he's the one who she whispers to, woefully. “I am so sorry.”
It shouldn't break her heart, the expression on Anthony's face, but, it is shattering, watching his happy expression fade, watching his eyes fill with concern.
And that's what rips her to pieces, and the next thing Kate knows, she's grabbing the skirt of her dress in her hands, before she runs off through the central aisle of the cathedral.
Heedless of the gasps of surprise, of the people gawking, of the Queen's revolt.
She doesn't see Mary and Edwina getting up on the bench.
Just like the Bridgertons.
She doesn't see Anthony darting after her, after the initial shock of witnessing her running from him, and leaving him standing at the altar, in front of everyone.
She doesn't even notice the palace's luxurious corridors, the paintings on the walls, she just focuses on the marble carpeted stairs, and on running, and getting out of there.
Even when she gets outside, she doesn't stop, nor even to take a breath, nor even to take in her new surroundings.
Kate only stops when she's in front of the carriages.
“Unhitch one of the horses.” She shouted, without any propriety at the coachman, as soon as he came into her eyes range.
“But, they're without a saddle…” He exclaimed, shocked by her sudden appearance.
“Just do it!” Kate demanded, feeling for her lack of tact, but everything screamed inside her, desperately crying for her to get out of there, desperately crying for her to return to.…
When she finally caught up with the coachman, the horse was already unhitched, and she jumped on it, using its mane to guide them away.
And it was then that her heart was lost for good, because that was when she heard Anthony's agonized pleads:
“Kate! Kate.. wait! You cannot go like this! Kate!…”
She felt as if it had been ripped from her chest, and left behind with him.
Kate went away aimlessly, without daring to look at him, fearing that his eyes would make her stay.