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Whoever could they be speaking of?

#thats baby daddy fr fr #benedict bridgerton

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KATE & ANTHONY | BRIDGERTON S3 PROMO

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Chapter 4

Clandestine

The Viscount and Augustine had sealed their fate that night by being intimate with each other. She was not only a maid to Anthony, but now a mistress. Anthony returned to the comforts of his own bed in the middle of the night. The thought of what had occurred was still looming in his mind as he tried to make sense of it all. He could only remember how passionate and how desperate his actions had started to get towards the end of their conversation.

Augustine had woken up that morning, already flushed. She was in complete disbelief that she had done such undignified acts. Though the events of yesterday were still quite dizzying, she held a sort of excited happiness. The brightened mood continued as she entered Eloise's room. Eloise had lifted her head as soon as she heard her maid opening the door.

"Good morning, Miss Eloise," Augustine's face was adorned with an eager smile.

"You look quite... joyful this morning," the young miss had noticed how her maid's demeanor had shifted, "What is the reason for such cheer?"

"Can I not be simply joyful to see you this morning, Miss Eloise? Perhaps it is the air, the weather is quite beautiful today," Augustine softly giggled as she opened the blinds, allowing the sunshine she spoke of to illuminate the room.

"It is simply... unusual for you is all," Eloise replied with a small grin on her lips, "Are you certain that is all the reason?" She shifted her position as she spoke, she was still fatigued from the night before, she was finding it extremely difficult to stay awake, but that did not stop her from making sure that her maid was truly feeling the way she claimed she was.

Augustine feigned having another idea "Perhaps I am just excited for another day here in the Bridgerton household. Inhabiting this beautiful home with you all is a great reason for my cheer,"

"I suppose that is reason enough," Eloise replied in that gentle tone of hers, Augustine relieved that she received it well. "but I cannot help but feel like there is something that you are intentionally hiding from me,"

“Ah yes. Well, of course, I am also a witch, but now that I have told you, I have to kill you,” Augustine jested in confidence, tickling Eloise at her sides. Eloise laughed with her so as to be kind, but she would still silently have her suspicions.

Augustine and Eloise’s morning had looked similar to yesterday’s. She had groomed her hair and dressed her, then sent her off to go about her day. Augustine had noticed her stomach rumbling halfway through dressing the young miss, so decidedly she was on her way to the kitchen to eat some breakfast. In the hall, Anthony had appeared, just as he did the day before.

"Viscount Bridgerton," She bowed to him. "Good morning," She said gently.

"Good morning Miss Augustine," He smirked slightly. "Could I ask you a question?"

"Of course, my lord. What do you require?" She smoothed the hair around her face to look more presentable to him.

"Is it safe to assume that you enjoyed my visit last night?" he asked, a slight tone of mischief present.

She looked around to see that there were no other souls around them. She said in a hushed tone. "Are we to be discussing such matters aloud like this, my lord?”

"You did not answer my question… Miss Augustine. Shall I ask it again?" he teased further, tutting as he did so.

Anthony invaded her personal space once again, stepping close so close to her the skin of their arms were mere centimeters apart. The aroma of his cologne again put her in a trance. The sight of him in pure daylight created a glow around him as if he were an angel. 

"No... I heard you perfectly fine. I just feel that we should not discuss this-" Augustine stopped herself, knowing that she was attempting to avoid the question once more. Anthony’s demands and questioning were conditioning her to obey with less and less friction. "I did... I did enjoy our encounter," 

"Good." He was not surprised at her response. "And so-" he continued, his tone of voice was soft and gentle, "Would you be interested in doing it again sometime?"

Augustine blinked her eyes in disbelief. She was in great conflict. If she had said yes, she would further the risk of getting caught and losing her position. If she had said no, the viscount held the power to throw her out simply for refusing his advances. And there had of course been the fact that she actually enjoyed her private moments with him. Those intoxicating moments she had been dreaming about, only made her hunger for more. She then made her decision.

"If you are able to pay a visit to me in my quarters tonight, like you had the night before, I will gladly have you," 

"It is set then. I shall see you tonight..."

"Tonight..." she smiled and sighed, before continuing on to the kitchen.

-

At the end of the day, Augustine retreated to her quarters, impatiently awaiting Viscount Bridgerton's return. She had stared into her vanity mirror longer than she ever had, making her appearance suitable for him. She felt slight shame that she had traveled to the home with no such flattering garments, however, on the other hand, she did not expect to be entertaining male company, especially not her new master. Her stomach was in knots due to the anticipation, her mouth poured out a string of expletives incoherently. With every minute passed, she had wondered if the viscount was sincere in his plans to see her. Perhaps it was better that way. Perhaps if it had all been a ruse, although quite a scandalous one, it would only be to her benefit of preserving her place there.

Then there it was, that familiar tapping at her chamber door.

#anthony bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton fanfiction #bridgerton #eloise bridgerton

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Clandestine

Dearest Reader, Why do we take joy in wanting things we know we cannot have? Is it the thrill of the chase? Is it to satisfy our egos? How far are we willing to go to obtain our desires and how will we know if it was worth it in the end?

In 1814’s social season, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton declared that he was in search of a wife while his younger sister, Eloise, was making her debut in society. Per Anthony’s request, a new lady’s maid was hired to tend to her. A duty that should have been insignificant in the list of his responsibilities would soon be a consequential decision.

Content Tags + Warnings

S1 continuation | secret relationship | f!OC | smut | swearing | angst | death ment | fix-it | f!love interest | hurt/comfort

Characters

Anthony Bridgerton | Augustine Baxter (OC) | Eloise Bridgerton | Violet Bridgerton

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

#bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton #eloise bridgerton #anthony bridgerton fanfiction #regency

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Chapter 3

Clandestine

Augustine walked down to the maid's quarters. With her being the newest maid of the house, the only room available for her was the furthest one down the hall. It sat in a corner beside an exit leading to the barn.

“Lovely,” Her comment strewn with sarcasm.

The room certainly wasn’t the worst she’s ever inhabited. However, she had known with the location, it would be insufferably hot during summers and frigid in the winters. The space was too quiet, only filled with the sounds of the animals outside. She paced the floor thinking of the viscount once again. Even if it was only mere moments they had shared, Augustine was captured by Anthony's glances. It was as if his eyes were speaking a million words per minute and only she could hear or decipher them.

Viscount Bridgerton too, had been thinking about her. All his thoughts could not get her image out of his head. It seemed that every time he tried to think of something else, her smile always would appear. He knew not of a more pleasant sound than her voice, that rattled in his ears like a choir hymn.

Augustine discovered her mouth had gotten dry from her heavy breathing and pacing. Since she could not see herself sleeping any time soon, she wanted to go to the kitchen and get herself a glass of water. However, she was stopped in her tracks when she heard someone coming in through the basement exit beside her room. Anthony was wandering down the halls of their residence when he found himself before the entrance to the maids' rooms. His hands found themselves on the door, knocking on it gently.

"Yes? Who is it?" Augustine was slightly startled by the sound. She did not know any reason why someone would be at her door, let alone who would be up at this hour. He was relieved to hear that it was indeed her voice.

"Lord Bridgerton," he responded through the door, "May I have a moment of your time?" He asked, patiently waiting for her.

"Lord Bridgerton, I was not expecting you," She looked astonished. Her head poked out of the room, looking left and right to see if anyone else was around, and did not see another soul. "Were you in need of something?"

"No... no, I was simply on my way to my quarters and decided to visit," he smiled as he lied, assuming that she knew it too. "May I come in for a few moments?" There is something I would like to speak with you about."

She gulped as she listened to his request. "As you wish," She stepped aside, allowing him inside the room. Anthony had swiftly turned around and closed the door behind him. Augustine was shocked to see him do such a thing. Was it proper for the lord of the home to speak to his staff in private? Augustine did not feel unsafe but felt a slight uneasiness. 

"No problem at all, my lord. What did you want to speak about?"

"I simply wished to speak about... the encounter that we recently had. Would you mind if I ask you a couple of questions regarding it?"

“What are you curious about, my lord?” Her arms were placed on her body in a way that looked odd, for she wore only a sheer lavender nightgown. Anthony had come in so quickly, she did not have the time to put on something more modest.

His eyes flickered towards her attire before quickly returning to her face. He decided to remain focused and attempted not to glance down.

"Was my behavior inappropriate for someone in my position? …I, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, with you, my house staff," he asked, speaking of his title in jest.

“Inappropriate?” Her voice shook. “Why do you ask, my lord? … Do you fear that someone saw our dealings?” A slight dizziness was coming over her. She slowly took a seat on her small cot. It was but her first day there, did she already cause herself to become terminated? That was on her mind as she impatiently waited for Anthony to enlighten her. He noticed that her eyes were now shifting as if she were trying not to let her emotions become visible to him.

"You have nothing to worry about, there is no one else to witness our interaction," he answered her question with arrogance in his voice, before taking a seat beside her. "but the fact still remains, I want to know if you thought my behavior was inappropriate."

"I am not quite sure how to answer that, my lord..." Her words were chosen very carefully. She was envious of the young viscount, for he said everything so confidently, wielding power in his voice. She wished to have such power at that moment to know how to answer Anthony's question properly. "I suppose to answer that question, I would need to understand what your definition of 'inappropriate' would be,"

He nodded. He was not surprised at the way she chose her words, for he knew that she was being careful for her own sake. When she suggested that she would need to know what his definition of ‘inappropriate’ was first, he realized how hard it would be to get a straight answer from her.

“Hmm… how about the way I touched you and looked at you, do you feel that to be inappropriate?”, he asked curiously, hoping that she would take his bait. His voice was low and breathy, it was almost sensual.

"I suppose in some eyes, it would be somewhat inappropriate, yes. But morals seem to be subjective these days," She continued to dodge the answer, a feigned smile painted on her lips. He knew that she was dancing around the question.

"And what about your personal opinion on the matter? Do you find it to be inappropriate?", he repeated his previous question, not allowing for her to escape it so easily.

"If it were in any other world, I would say no. Doing such actions would be merely a normal sign that one is showing interest in another..." Her voice trailed off as if her words had simply run out. His eyes remained on her as hers were glued to the ground.

“So you believe that I was showing interest in you then?” he raised an eyebrow at her. A short pause fell upon the two as she looked at him with her jaw hung open.

 "No- I- ... That was not what I was implying, Lord Bridgerton..." Panic was heard in her voice. The longer they went on about the subject, the more she was scrambling in her mind to find answers to throw at the viscount.

How was he able to be so in tune with her? She was raised only to know how to serve with a smile, all she knew was to hide her emotions, and yet Anthony Bridgerton had seen through the walls she had built up so perfectly. "Quite the observant one, aren't you, Mr. Bridgerton," She sighed, knowing that she could not run away from his question for much longer. "It would not matter anyway if I believed it to be true or not. We should not entertain such things," A fear started to grow within her. Even if they did fancy each other, it would be wholly wrong to do such things as they did in the stable like that again, and they both knew that. "If anyone should see us acting in the manner that we did, I would surely be banished from the estate, is that what you wish to hear?" She surrendered and spoke as if her words were an unstoppable stream of thought. Her voice, though intense, was quiet so as not to wake the other servants sleeping in their quarters. She felt anger that Anthony did not seem to care about what was at stake here. She gathered her thoughts before speaking once more. "Though I cannot deny, you are unspeakably tempting, I think you should know just how dire this is for me, my lord. I hope this answers all your questions," She was heavy breathing. Their proximity would be too close once again.

"It does," he spoke softly, "but I do have one more question, one that has been plaguing my mind since this whole thing began,"

"Please speak freely, my lord," She asked with a sigh, trying to catch her breath.

"If no one else were to find out... if your position were secure in this household, then would you feel comfortable if I were to express my interest in you?"

As their lips moved closer and closer, Augustine had no other things to say. Instead of continuing this game of hypothetical questions, they had let their emotions bubble up to the surface by kissing each other. Gently at first, but quickly intensifying, including more desperate grabbing at each other.

They had only enjoyed this kiss but for a moment, before she pulled away, her head now resting on his shoulder. 

"My lord... you must promise that we shall never be seen like this. If this is truly what you want, I am in no position to deny you, but you must keep us a secret," She pleaded.

"Of course. I promise that it will be kept a secret. No one will have to know about this," he replied, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her back closer.

Anthony’s hand met hers, assisting them to lift her nightgown over her head before tossing it to the floor. He smiled devilishly to see that she was without undergarments. Augustine had laid on the bed as he anticipated his following moves. His eyes flooded with lust as he looked upon her. There was hardly a thought in his head other than she was incredibly beautiful. His eyes stopped on a large purple mark that had covered her right thigh.

“Oh dear… Did you receive this just this morning?” He reached down to gently rub the bruise with his thumb. She whimpered in pain at first contact, but it morphed into sounds of pleasure as he continued to massage the area. “I shall take care of it… at the very least, ease the pain,” He had removed his trousers before climbing over the side of the bed. His lips desperately, yet gently kissed the bruise. She had thrown back her head in pleasure, her hand grabbing at the back of Anthony’s head as his kisses led between her legs.

#anthony bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton fanfiction #bridgerton #tw: suggestive

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Bridgerton Season 3 | Official Trailer

#god this one is gonna change me #i will not be the same after s3

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Jonathan Bailey as Anthony Bridgerton in “An Affair of Honor” (Bridgerton - 1x04)

Gifs 52/?

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“Unlike most men of his acquaintance, Gregory Bridgerton believed in true love. He’d have to have been a fool not to. Consider the following: His eldest brother, Anthony…”

Julia Quinn, On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons, #8)

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how i look bagging the baddest bitch in the ton after doing everything wrong

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Chapter 2

Clandestine

Augustine knocked lightly at Eloise’s bedroom door. “Who is it?” She called but refused to open it.

“Good morning, Eloise… It’s Miss Augustine Baxter… I am your new lady’s maid?” Augustine kept at it, hoping Eloise would not let her stand there all day.

The young miss eventually answered, bringing Augustine relief. Eloise observed the newest addition to the family staff as she entered the room and greeted her with a small smile.

"Good morning to you, Miss Baxter,” Eloise said, pleased with herself for her small fit of mischief. 

Upon a second glance at Augustine, she noticed that she was panting rapidly. She was also slightly damp from the rain.

“Is everything alright? You seem to be a bit flustered," her tone curious yet worried at the same time.

"Hm? Ah yes, well it has been quite an eventful morning. I had fallen off my horse on the way here and got caught in the rain as soon as I arrived," Augustine laughed convincingly as if she were not haunted by the sight of Anthony hovering above her lips.

Eloise ran to her side in concern. "My word, I'm sorry to hear that. Surely you did not travel alone during all of that?"

"Certainly not... your brother, Viscount Bridgerton, found me and led me back to the home," Augustine said, a slight tone of excitement when she spoke his title.

Eloise had the urge to sigh softly with relief that Anthony had taken the young lady's maid back to their residence. If she had arrived all wet and by horseback, she would've probably given him a piece of her mind for her brother making such a risky choice.

"That is good, the ride must have been rather pleasant then," Eloise said, with a kind look to her, before noticing something in Augustine's voice. "You seem quite fond of Lord Bridgerton. He did not say anything inappropriate to you, did he?" She spoke in jest, but the implication worried Augustine just the same.

"Inappropriate? N-no. Why? Does he typically say inappropriate things?" 

Not only did Anthony inappropriately speak to Augustine, he had looked upon her with lust and was dangerously close to kissing her. Eloise found the response to be interesting, it had given her a hint that there might be more to the situation than what it looked like on the surface. However, it wasn't her business to pry further as it wasn't something that would have an impact on her or the Bridgerton household.

"No, no... he does not say inappropriate things nor does he act in any manner that is unbecoming of a Bridgerton, Mama would not allow it. I find it curious that you seem so fond of him," She spoke half-truthfully. Anthony was the respected head of the Bridgerton family, but he had quite the temper and would partake in unsavory acts in the night. These facts she had kept from her maid. She felt that Augustine did not need to know such personal things about Anthony just yet. "I do not believe I am any more fond of him than I am of you, Miss Eloise. I am still learning about him and you, as well as the rest of the household," She said in an attempt to divert any insinuation that she had a small moment of passion with the viscount.

Eloise could feel the slight uneasiness in her tone, something was off, her voice was just not as solid as it was moments before she described the viscount. She could tell that there was more to the maid than what she was letting on, but she would not pursue it further as there was no reason to do so, especially when no clear sign of malice was evident. She could just be acting pleasant to impress the Bridgerton family or to build rapport with Eloise.

"I see... and how are you finding our household to be? Are you finding us to be a welcoming bunch?" she asked curiously with slight sarcasm in her voice.

Augustine listened to Eloise as she sat her in front of the vanity mirror to groom and dress her for the day. "Welcoming does not describe the half of it. I did not expect you lot to speak to your house staff, let alone be so kind. I would say I am quite flattered with all of the kind gestures you and Viscount Bridgerton have shown me so far," Augustine had looked content.

The previous household that she tended to had treated her as if she were sub-human. The lady she was assigned to did not speak with her, but rather bark demands. Eloise seemed the opposite and Augustine was thrilled.

~

Once Augustine was finished getting Eloise ready for the day, Eloise hastily was out the door and down the stairs. She had left the door open to reveal Anthony standing in the hallway, nonchalantly adjusting the cuffs on his shirt. When Anthony spotted Eloise leave the room he turned his attention to the door that had been left open, his eyes locking with Augustine's for what seemed to be an eternity. His eyebrows lifted at her expression.

"Miss Augustine..." he spoke softly and nodded

“Viscount Bridgerton,” She had bowed back in response but had taken a moment to view him in his exposed attire. It was quite a sight to see him with the first few buttons on his shirts undone, allowing his chest to be exposed. She had squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to get the vision off her mind.

Augustine and Anthony plagued each other's minds for the remainder of the day. As she tended to Miss Eloise around the home, it was as if Anthony were never too far. She saw him in her peripherals, seeing him interact with the other house staff and his other family members. Every time Anthony would find Augustine looking away, he would fill his sight with her once more. He had enjoyed this game of tag they were playing only with their eyes.

~

After Augustine had gotten Eloise ready for dinner, she was on her way to her living quarters in the basement with the other house staff when she had bumped into Anthony once more. He walked her way with a whiskey glass in hand.

"Good evening, Mr. Bridgerton,"

“Good Evening, Miss Augustine.” He took a sip from his glass.

"Do you require something of me, my lord?" She had seen how Anthony's hands held the glass. She had thought to herself that they were large and looked strong. He took a moment to respond to her question, his stare slowly traveling up and down her figure.

“No, I do not require anything from you,” He responded with a small smirk.

"Very well, then," Augustine had a moment of breathlessness as she passed by him. Had she just asked Lord Bridgerton that because she was being helpful, or did she truly wish to speak to him for another moment? She was not quite sure. His presence made her stomach flutter like the arms of a hummingbird.

#bridgerton #anthony bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton #bridgerton fanfiction #eloise bridgerton #bridgerton siblings

[torturedbridgertonsdept]

Forgotten Destiny - Anthony Bridgerton

Summary: When one wants a thing it does not mean the other lover would want the same thing, is it not?

Word count: 1543

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky into a tapestry of fiery reds and oranges, Anthony Bridgerton paused in his work, his pen hovering above the paper. 

He glanced at you, as you were sitting primly on the edge of his desk, your delicate features set in a familiar expression of determination. 

Your argument had been raging for the better part of an hour, and it showed no signs of abating. 

The air in the room seemed to crackle with tension as if a storm were brewing, waiting for the right moment to break free.

You leaned forward, your voice taking on a pleading quality that only served to enrage your husband further.

 "Anthony, I am your wife," you said, "and I am begging you to reconsider. We have three healthy children, which is just fine to me."

Anthony bit back a retort, unable to understand how you could be so content with your current situation. 

"But y/n," he said, his voice strained, "don't you want to give our children the gift of another sibling?"

You sighed, your gaze drifting to the floor for a moment before meeting his eyes again. "Of course I do, but yet I still think we shouldn't."

Anthony frowned, his eyes narrowing. "But why? What's the problem? You know that I can provide for any number of children."

You hesitated, unsure how to put your concerns into words. You glanced around the room, feeling a sense of overwhelm. 

Your house was beautiful, yes, but it was also filled with so much noise and activity. 

Three children were a handful even when they were well-behaved, and you worried that another one might push them all over the edge. 

"Yet it is my body, Anthony," you began.

He looked up sharply, his expression softening. 

"I understand that, dearest. I do not take your sacrifice lightly. But I feel like we are such a close family, and I want our children to have the same bond that we share."

You sighed, running a hand through your hair.

 "I know you do, but sometimes I feel like we lose ourselves in being parents. I want to be a wife to you too, Anthony. I want us to have time for each other, just the two of us."

Anthony's eyes widened at this admission. He hadn't realized how much you had been craving your alone time. 

He set his pen down on the desk and reached across the space between you, taking your hand in his. "You and me talking in my office isn't the same as spending time together?"

 "No, it's not the same. This is us being parents, have a good night, Mr Bridgerton." You snapped before walking away and smashing the door closed.

Anthony sat there for a moment, stunned. He couldn't believe you had just left him like that.

 He watched your retreating figure until you disappeared around the corner, and then he let out a frustrated growl. 

He knew you were upset, but he couldn't help but feel like you were being unreasonable.

The next morning, Anthony awoke to the sound of one of the servants knocking on your door. 

He groaned, rolling over and burying his face in the pillow. It had been a restless night, plagued by thoughts of you and the argument.

 He wished he could just apologize and make everything better.

When he finally dragged himself out of bed, he found you already dressed and sitting at the breakfast table, sipping your tea. 

Your expression was still stony, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of hope at the sight of you. 

He walked over to you, took a seat across from you, and gave you his most winning smile. "Good morning, my love. I hope you slept well."

You looked up at him, your eyes guarded, but not answering or saying a single word.

Anthony frowned, feeling the tension between you grow tighter. "Y/n, please," he said, reaching across the table to take your hand. 

"I know we didn't part on the best of terms yesterday, but I truly am sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel like you're not important to me."

Your eyes met his, and you retreated your hand, going back to reading Lady Whistledown's new gossip.

Anthony sighed, feeling defeated. 

"Y/n, I truly am sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel unimportant. I just want what's best for our family. I want us to have another child, but I also want to make sure that we don't lose sight of the love and connection we share."

You looked up at him but turned your head towards the butler who stood at the door. "Finley, would you mind cleaning the table, It just got to me that I had a talk planned with the Duchess of Hastings."

Anthony frowned, his eyes narrowing. "And what would you like to discuss with her?" he asked warily.

"I'll be back in an hour or two for tea, Finley, thank you very much."

Daphne Bridgerton rose from her seat when you entered the sitting room, your graceful movements a testament.

 "Y/n, how wonderful to see you!" she exclaimed, giving you a warm hug. "It's been far too long."

You smiled, returning Daphne's embrace. "It has been, hasn't it? I do apologize for not visiting sooner. I've been rather busy with the children."

You sat down on the plush sofa, and a servant immediately brought in a tray of tea and biscuits.

 Daphne poured you each a cup, taking a sip before asking, "So, how are things going with you and Anthony? I must admit, I was rather surprised when Mama said he wanted another child."

You took a deep breath before answering. 

"He does...at least he does," you admitted. "Anthony is so focused on his duty as a Bridgerton, we've been arguing about having another child."

Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Oh? have you?"

"Well, Anthony is headstrong that we should try for another as soon as possible, while I want to enjoy the time we have together as a family before we add to it."

"I see," Daphne said thoughtfully, taking another sip of her tea.

 "It's a difficult position to be in, isn't it? On the one hand, Anthony is right in wanting to continue the Bridgerton line, but on the other, you both need to consider your happiness and the well-being of the children you already have."

You nodded, your eyes downcast as you toyed with your teacup. "Yes, it's been rather strained between us. I feel like he doesn't see how important it is for us to have that time together."

Daphne smiled sympathetically. "Well, I can understand where he's coming from as well. Anthony is a devoted father and husband, but he's also a man of duty."

Anthony cleared his throat as he entered the room, his eyes immediately darting between you two. "Ah, I didn't mean to interrupt," he said, his voice a little strained.

Daphne glanced up at him, her expression softening. 

"It's quite alright, Anthony. We were just discussing the challenges of maintaining a happy marriage while balancing family obligations." She motioned for him to sit down. "Please, join us."

Anthony hesitated for a moment before taking a seat. He cleared his throat again and looked at you, his expression contrite.

"I know I've been insensitive. I shouldn't have pushed for another child without considering how it would affect us as a couple, and I never want anything to come between us. I just..." He trailed off, searching for the right words.

Daphne reached out and placed her hand on his arm, offering him a reassuring smile. "It's alright, brother. We all make mistakes. The important thing is that you recognize them and are willing to apologize."

You took a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart. You knew Anthony meant every word he said, and you loved him for it. 

But you couldn't help feeling a twinge of uncertainty. You had been through so much already, and the thought of adding another child to the mix was both exciting and terrifying.

"I do appreciate your apology," you said finally, your voice quiet but steady. "But we need to find a way to move forward together. We need to decide what's best for our family."

Anthony nodded, his expression serious. "You're right. I want us to find a solution. I want to be the best husband and father I can be."

You considered his words for a moment.

 "How about this? Let's wait until the end of the season. By then, we'll have had some time to reconnect and renew our focus on our family. If we still feel the same way, we can discuss the possibility of having another child. Does that sound fair?"

Daphne smiled encouragingly. "It sounds like a very sensible plan, y/n. And if you ever need someone to talk to or someone to bounce ideas off of, please don't hesitate to reach out."

The three of you sat in silence for a moment, each lost in your thoughts. But there was an understanding between you, a sense of unity that gave you hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, you could find a way to make everything work.

#so sweet #bridgerton fanfiction #anthony bridgerton #daphne bridgerton

[torturedbridgertonsdept]

Chapter 1

Clandestine

Anthony Bridgerton had been out hunting on a cold October morning. He was crouched behind foliage, his gun pointed directly at a deer he had been carefully following for a few moments. His heartbeat pounded in his ears and his breath created a light fog around his head. The doe kept still for a moment too long. He fired his gun, unfortunately missing the shot. The deer ran off out of his view and he growled in frustration. Oddly, he had heard a loud neighing coming from behind him. A cream-white horse caught Anthony’s attention when he turned around. 

“Oh dear, where did you come from? Shh… it’s alright, I am sorry for startling you,” Anthony had spoken softly, trying to ease the animal’s anxiety whilst he petted its nose.

“Blossom? Blossom! Come here, girl!” Anthony heard a young woman’s voice cry accompanied by loud whistling. It was not long before he had seen her coming from the same direction as the horse did. “Blossom! Oh my sweet girl, are you alright?” She cooed approaching it then patting its back gingerly.

Anthony tipped his hat to the mysterious lady who had appeared at his then-failed hunting spot. 

“I’m afraid it was my fault that the poor girl was startled. My apologies, Miss…” He paused, allowing her an introduction.

“Augustine… Augustine Baxter,” She bowed.

Anthony studied her appearance. Augustine wore her brunette hair pinned up uniformly, her cheeks and lips accented by a subtle pink rouge, but her coat was discolored and tattered, with her dress and apron reflecting the same state.

“Pleasure to meet you Miss Baxter, Viscount Anthony Bridgerton,” He held his hand out for her. 

His name rang in her head to be familiar. Her eyes widened once she remembered the identity of the man.

“Viscount Bridgerton!” Augustine said frantically as she bowed before him. “Oh, I am a half-wit! Forgive me for not recognizing you before. I had been journeying to your estate before my beloved Blossom had gotten away from me,”

“Journeying to my estate? Why might you be heading there?” He raised his brow.

“Did Lady Bridgerton not inform you? I am to be a lady’s maid to your sister, Miss Eloise,” She placed her hands on her hips proudly.

“Ah, yes. I had forgotten we contacted the agency for a new maid,” Anthony rubbed his temples with his thumb and middle finger as if it would repair his memory. “Forgive me, for the last few weeks have been a total nightmare to deal with. I’ve too much paperwork to tend to, on top of me searching for a wife this season, I am completely overwhelmed…” He paused to groan and wipe his face in frustration. “Anyway enough about me, yeah? I am far too complicated and boring to talk about. For now, I shall see that you arrive at the Bridgerton home safely, yes?” Anthony requested as he mounted his own horse.

“Are you sure that’s quite alright? I would hate to trouble you, my lord. You must have so many duties to attend to as the viscount,” She said gently, not wanting to look like a damsel in distress any more than she already did.

“Ah, come on. You would not be interrupting anything, seeing as my hunt this morning was unfruitful,” He chuckled in slight embarrassment.

“That is most kind of you, sir, thank you,” She reluctantly agreed. Augustine climbed back up onto Blossom, waiting for his instruction. He had gestured the direction with his head and she nodded in understanding.

Riding her horse parallel to Mr. Bridgerton, he could feel his glances but refused them, thinking it to be improper to stare back at a man with that high of a title, but the looks she did allow herself revealed traits such as his jawline and how it framed his smile elegantly. His dark hair curled upward, highlighting his chocolate-colored eyes. She had thought to herself that anyone who had seen him would agree that he was handsome, almost annoyingly so.

“I do hope you are prepared to tend to Eloise. She is quite a handful. Think of if a squirrel were to be combined with a rabid dog, and you will only know half of the chaos she is capable of creating. if you wish to no longer work for her after your meeting, I would not blame you,” Anthony said in jest and was delighted to discover Augustine softly laughing in response.

“I doubt that she will cause me to reconsider things, my lord. I assure you, I have as much patience as there are stars in the night sky,” She said in earnest, but Anthony had found it a bit humorous nonetheless.

“Well, thank goodness for that,” He said, giving her a nod. A moment of silence passed before Anthony spoke once more  “I’m assuming you had fallen off your horse when I startled her correct? I can call for a physician to examine you if you are hurt,”

“I am most grateful, Mr. Bridgerton. I am quite alright. I believe the worst of it would be this nasty bruise on my hip,” 

Anthony was intensely curious about Miss Augustine. She was very brief in her responses as if she were punished for having a personality as a child, but still exuded charm and kindness. He wondered what her history must be. He felt it a bit invasive to ask her questions about personal topics, but he could not help himself.

“I hope you don’t mind me asking, Miss Augustine, but how old are you?”

“I am but one and twenty years, my lord,”

“You’re quite young to be a lady’s maid, yes?”

“Perhaps, my lord, but it is what I must do to live,” She laughed to be polite. She had known working for people of high rank would include having to hear comments like this, but she didn’t seem to mind it coming from Anthony. She found it harmless.

“Right… My apologies,” Anthony nervously cleared his throat, embarrassed about coming off so privileged.

“It is no trouble at all, Mr. Bridgerton,”

"Have you had any experience in being a lady's maid before?" He quickly asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"I have been working as staff to noblemen since I was sixteen. I worked with my parents until they had tragically passed. My mother was a chambermaid and my father, a butler," Her voice was sweet, contrasting the rather grim recalling of her history.

"My deepest condolences. How did your parents pass?" Anthony was not known to be the most gentle in his delivery, but his interest was genuine.

"They had gotten sick while traveling from France... They passed on the boat ride from lack of medical attention," She said slowly so as to not get herself emotional in front of the viscount.

"And what happened to you after that?"

"I had continued to work at my old employers' estate until they had moved out of the country and now the plan is to work for you and the rest of the Bridgerton family until I am old and grey," Augustine attempted to lighten the mood with a bit of humor. She did not wish to depress him any further.

His interest was piqued when she mentioned her plan. That was quite some time to commit for a young woman, he thought.

"Is there no chance that you might marry one day? Are there no men that have asked for your hand?" he inquired.

Augustine found Anthony so fascinating. He was not purposefully prejudiced against commoners, he more so seemed uninformed about what life was truly like for them. She did not have the pleasures of going to balls and soirees in search of a spouse, just as Anthony was able to. She did not have time, nor money to even entertain the idea of finding a husband. She was fated to be a poor spinster, a fact that she has accepted for a long time.

“With the brood of Bridgertons I am about to share a home with, I believe I will have my hands full. I shall need not for a husband or children,” As she spun her tale into one that included positivity and light, he couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness for her.

Augustine was known for turning any negative situation into a positive one. That continued to be proven true as the two arrived at the Bridgerton residence. She found it serendipitous to see that the sky was quickly pouring, unconcerned if it had gotten all over her. 

"My lord, would you mind escorting Blossom and I to the stables? She is not a fan of the rain," She laughed, wiping away the raindrops that stung her eyes. Anthony was amused to see the way Augustine looked with her hair now curled up from being doused in rain. Most women he had met would have been furious if they had so much as a speck of dirt on their dresses. 

Augustine had looked upon the Bridgerton home with wonder. She had never seen a place more beautiful. The red brick walls stood out with the wisteria that framed the threshold. It seemed so magical, yet so comforting at the same time. She could not wait to explore the estate. She knew that she would spend every spare moment she was allowed to admire the gardens and see the view of London from the upstairs balcony.

Anthony’s view at that moment was different. He had paid attention only to his footing and to Augustine. He could not ignore how the rain caused her clothes to wrap around the curves of her body tightly. The light fabric of her dress was sheer enough to reveal the entirety of her chest. He had visualized in his mind what it would look like to carefully peel the fabric from her soft skin. Thoughts like this had continued until she had noticed his stare. Once caught, he kept his eyes forward. 

When they arrived at the stables, Augustine was quick to take Blossom into an open stall, lined up with the coachmen’s horses. Anthony stared as she bent over to secure Blossom’s lead to a post in the ground. Her chest had swung out in front of her, the peaks of her breasts fully in Anthony’s view. It was as if he had been entranced, ordered to take small steps closer to her. When Augustine stood up again, she was slightly startled to see Anthony standing there with little space between them. She trembled, feeling his warm breath hit her face. Soon she was pressed to the wall, the viscount’s lips hovering around hers. Her eyes were wide and she felt frozen in place. After a moment passed, the two were brought back down to reality and Anthony pulled away from her sharply.

He then cleared his throat to say "Very, well... I do have some business to attend to and you must be getting to Eloise," He tipped his hat once more and hastily ran off.

“Aye… I shall change clothes and introduce myself to her at once, Lord Bridgerton,”

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