Chapter Text
"Kathani, your work is coming out great. Once you finish it, we can display it in the dining hall," Emily, one of her sisters in the manor, complimented her as Kate dabbled on her water color. She turned to Emily to thank her and continued on her work.
"That is a beautiful house with an exquisite garden. I wonder if its real. Apologies for my curiosity," sweet Becky chimed in on her back. "I have never been to those big estates outside London. Havensfield must have been the first house I ever seen with a big driveway."
Kate was gracious to understand her friend of four months. Becky arrived in the manor a month after her, "This house is located in an estate called Aubrey Hall. It was a beautiful estate. The Lady of the house loves flowers especially tulips and hyacinths and continue to grow them in memory of her husband who passed away."
"Their marriage must have been a love match," Kate stayed silent as she knew that Lord and Lady Bridgerton's marriage was one of the greastest love match of the ton. "And those flowers are really pretty. I wish I will be able to see the estate one day or some other place that is similar to it," Becky added with a melancholic voice.
"Maybe one day," Kate continued painting and shook her head trying to stop herself from reminiscing the memories she had kept to herself all these months from the place that changed her life forever.
As her day went on, Kate focused in her painting. Emily and Becky had left to do other activities in the manor but as for Kate, painting has been occupying most of her time in her fifth month in the manor. Kate was happy they let her paint as painting has been one her hobbies in India. Her other sisters still let her help on other chores but in most days they let her have her peace with her paint brush and water colors.
Havensfield had been her home for five months now. Ever since she had left Dandbury House in June she never felt alone with the help of the other women who are staying in the manor. But alone is different from being lonely. Sometimes she thinks of her mother and sister but other times her traitor mind drifted on the thoughts of him. His smirk when he feels smug, the dimple between his brows when he frowns. She thinks of him today as she paints Aubrey Hall. She must be a masochist, Kate thinks. Why would she paint the house that reminds her of him?
*knock* knock*
The knock on the door took Kate out of her reverie, "Miss Kathani." James, a young boy serving as a footman on the manor, called out.
"James you may come in."
He shuffled on his feet, "Well...uhm...A gentleman is here to see you."
Kate thought it must be Mr. Winters, the clergyman, who had been fond of her as he told her she reminds him of his daughter who died 3 years ago.
"James, thank you for informing me I shall be down in a moment. Please usher him in the sun room."
She tidied up her brushes when she realized she had been sitting most of the afternoon and it would be difficult for her to stand up. Thankfully, James have not left her on her own.
"May I help you, Miss?"
"I would say it is fine but I would be lying," the young man approached her and reached for her hand to assist her. "Thank you very much James."
"You are welcome Miss. I will go downstairs to inform the man."
"Very good James. I shall clean up here first and follow you."
James curtly nodded and closed the room.
She was slightly irritated that she was disturbed from her activities but she enjoys Mr. Winters' company and it would not hurt to listen to his stories again. So after Kate cleaned up and have a quick visit from the wash room she proceeded to the sun room.
"Kathani I heard you have a visitor," Havannah said as she approached her.
"Oh Havannah its probably just Mr. Winters," Kate replied casually.
"Oh, I must speak with the old man. I must thank him for his help on our shed."
"Very well, lets head down."
They continuously chatted towards the sun room and Havannah opened the door. "Mr. Winters!" she said cheerfully. "Oh you are not Mr. Winters."
"Indeed I am not," it was him. He was on his travelling clothes almost similar to the clothes he wore on the day they first met.
"Lord Bridgerton!" Kate muttered in surprise.
Anthony turned to Kate's companion, "Madam may I introduce myself. I am Anthony Bridgerton."
"He is a viscount," she whispered towards Havannah as if he is not in the room.
"Kathani, do you know this man?" Of course Havannah would notice her change in demeanor, Kate thought.
"Yes Havannah I know him," she replied not meeting the eyes of the man in front of her.
"Miss Sharma, I came to see you," his tone was not in his usual authoritative manner but it sounds like a plea. Then she dared to look up at him.
"Do you want to speak to this man Kathani?"
She turned to Havannah and gave her a reassuring smile, "It is alright Havannah you can leave us."
"Are you sure, my dear?" Kate nodded. "Call me if you need anything."
"Thank you, it will be fine." She heard the door clicked as she settled on the settee near the window, fluffed a pillow and placed it at her lap. "Lord Bridgerton you may take a seat."
"Are you not concerned being unchaperoned, Miss Sharma?" He still stood near the door as he gazed at her intensely.
She held her chin high and answered, "We do not need chaperone in this manor. My sisters are always in the vicinity and I can always call upon James."
Anthony just nodded and proceeded to seat across her.
"We are alone now, what brings you here in Havensfield Lord Bridgerton?" looking at him now face to face she observed the tiredness on his face, the circles under his eyes and that dimple between his brows she was thinking earlier.
"Do you think I come here for a social call? Why do you think I am here Miss Sharma? You tell me," he said sarcastically.
"My lord, I just did not expect to see you. Or for us to cross paths...ever again."
He looked at her in disbelief, "Miss Sharma, ever since I ended my courtship with your sister I thought I will see you in other balls and social events but you disappeared. It has been five months since your family has been looking for you and you are asking me what am I doing here when I am the one who should ask, Kate, what is this place? Why do they call you Kathani?" Kate can't help but notice the raspness of his voice, calling her informally with her given name is clearly an indication of exhaustion.
"My family?" she muttered quietly but she shook her head and continued. "It does not matter. How did you find me, Lord Bridgerton?"
He ran his hand through his hair and answered, "Lady Danbury. As I said, we have been searching endlessly for you these five months and are going on circle with our lead. I goaded her if she knew where you were. Then two weeks ago she finally told me about this manor."
She wrote to Lady Danbury in a guise of a different name once every other month. She has been grateful to the formidable woman ever since she arrived in England and for introducing her to Havensfield but she cannot believe Agatha would reveal her location, especially to Lord Bridgerton.
"I had to settle first some business in town before I prepared my journey here. Please answer me Miss Sharma, why are you exactly here?"
Thankful for James' foresight for having a tea service before she arrived the room, Kate busied herself with pouring herself and her guest each a cup of tea. She saw the sincerity in his eyes as she sipped her tea then she pushed his cup to encourage him to drink as he continued to look at her, waiting for her answer. As silence filled the room Kate decided to break it and finally answered, "This manor was established by the woman you just met, Havannah, also known as Lady Chatsworth. She is a gentlewoman who came from a wealthy family. She inherited this manor and converted it as a safe space to help women who need respite from the ton or fallen women who are shunned by society. She educates us and helps us get back on our feet when we are ready. This manor serves as a new home for us. We are provided with our needs and in return the women here have a sisterhood and divides responsibilties to take care of the manor and help each other out with the children."
"Children? I thought this was only a place for women, " he said blankly.
She knew he was tired for her to prolong this conversation. "Yes, most inhabitants here are women...women who are expectant mothers."
He run his hair through his fingers again clearly frustrated, "I still don't understand, why are you here Kate?"
"Because my Lord I am one of those women," she removes the pillow from her lap, rose to her feet towards the window smoothing the folds of her dress revealing her rounded middle and turned to him meeting his eyes. "I belong here with my child."