I loved you in spite
of deep fears

That the world
would devide us
*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

ANTHONY BRIDGERTON WAS TIRED. Painfully so. After a long day of listening to his younger sister Eloise complain about her duties as a young lady during this years season and entertaining his brother Colin's fantasies about traveling even more so than he has already, he was exhausted. Nevertheless, his never-ending thoughts and worries of finding a dutiful wife this season for himself were also downing his mind.

There were days the tiredness came in both forms, physical and mental. His body needed to rest yet his mind needed to move, to burn the anxiety right out at the thought of finding a wife this season. Without exercise his mind would often keep him awake all night long, without rest his body would spiral into exhaustion. However, his thoughts plauged his mind. A wife. He must find a wife.

Tolerable. Dutiful. Suitable enough hips for childbearing. And at least a small amount of intelligence and she must be well-read.

Anthony did not feel as if he was being unreasonable in his search for a wife, but he struggled to find a single woman that had all the qualities he was seeking. Especially the first and last box.

Women, as he soon realized, were searching for a love match while all he was searching for was someone to fill a role as love wasn’t something Anthony believed in or had the desire to believe in, and most definitely not a requirement for having children.

The only way he could rationally find a suitable wife, then, was by removing love from the equation all together. As once he wed, bed, and bred her and had an heir, his role would be fulfilled and he would be free from being pestered from his mother.

The thoughts pestered him as he made his way down the corridor of his home, paintings on each wall, the soft lavender carpet soft under his feet. He supposed he should be fearful of someone seeing him in such careless attire but at that moment he was not concerned.

It was not until he was walking past the maids quarters, in order to escape to the small hidden garden at the back of the Bridgeton manner, that he heard a soft voice singing quietly into the dusk of night.

"Lavenders blue, dilly, dilly
Lavender's green
When I am king, dilly, dilly
You shall be queen."

Anthony had always been a curious soul and could not help himself as he walked towards the voice, following the soft melody. His heart did whisper that it was a beautiful voice indeed.

"Who told you so, dilly, dilly
Who told you so?
'Twas mine own heart, dilly, dilly
That told me so."

The voice led him to a door, one he should not be near or in fact allowed to enter however, the Viscount felt as though he was in a trance. Desperate to find the woman who's voice had captured his attention.

However, before he could get any closer he was called by his younger sister. "Brother?"

Turning hurriedly he called in a hushed whisper, "Hyacinth! What on earth are you doing up at this hour?"

"My, brother, I could ask you the same question in return." She smirked before releasing a heavy sigh. "I'm afraid sleep would not come to me so easy tonight, Anthony. I thought a stroll would help but it has not I'm afraid."

Anthony couldn't help himself softly smile. "Come Hyacinth. Let us walk back and hopefully tire you enough for you to rest once you return to your chambers."

And so Anthony Bridgerton turned away from the door, and the mysterious woman with the voice of an angel. His curiosity continuing to grow with each step he took.

"Because you love me, dilly, dilly
I will love you
Let the birds sing, dilly, dilly
And the lambs play
We shall be safe, dilly, dilly
Out of harm's way."