his sapphire • anthony bridgerton

thirty-three • alverie's smile

•••
"but when you smile... you knock me out, I fall apart..."
•••

Grosvenor Square, March 17, 1814

Anthony had not been able to leave his daughter since she was born only eleven days ago.

Nola, who was bedridden for only a week after giving birth, had been visited by Anthony hourly, their child in his grasp. She saw the new personality the child had brought out, and it warmed her heart more than she ever imagined.

The child always held a smile on her face, and it had formed the moment she first locked eyes with her father. Of course, she did not fully understand who he was at the time, but she was sure to now.

Anthony ignored the typical job of the father, and followed the path of his own father.

Most of the time, a man never really cast his eyes upon his offsprings, but Anthony could not see how that was ideal. He wanted his wife and daughter around him every second of the day.

Nola often found her child missing from her bassinet, and present with her husband within the gardens.

"Hello, my dear..." Anthony greeted, smiling to his wife. "Beautiful day, isn't it? Spring is on its way!" He exclaimed.

"Clearly..." Nola laughed, joining the pair on their crusade, and latching into Anthony's arm. "You are such a hog!" She laughed.

"What ever do you mean?" He looked to her,

"I have held our daughter half as many times as you have! I pushed her out... I think it's only fair!" She joked, extending her arms. "Come on, Anthony..."

He reluctantly handed the child to his wife, but got butterflies the moment he gazed upon them. His girls were simply breathtaking. Nola still had her bump, only slightly shrunken, and their daughter rest gently upon it.

"You two..." he began, stopping next to the empty rose bush, "are the best things that have ever happened to me..." Nola's eyes met his, a slow gulp being heard through his parted lips, "Nola, she is our greatest achievement." His lips began to quiver, and she reached up to press her lips against his.

"I love you, Lord Bridgerton." His smile shined brighter than the morning sun, pulling her into his side as they began walking once again, "how many children do you even wish for?" She joked.

"Why don't we try to fulfill the alphabet?" She looked at him through narrowed eyes, "what?"

"Once you start being the one to bear and birth... we'll discuss having twenty-six children." He simply laughed.

"Well, then! How many do you have your heart set on?"

"Maybe the magic number?"

"Magic number?" Anthony quizzically asked his wife, "and what would that be?"

"Eight."

"Only eight?" He exclaimed, clearly joking. "I was hoping to settle at twenty."

"You're crazy!" She smacked his arm with her free one. "After the pain I had endured, you're lucky I'm still considering another."

"Now that your rib is healed... maybe we can try for number two?"

She huffed, beginning to walk away, "Milord, when my stomach regains it's normality, maybe?" Knowing she meant that as a delay, he simply shook his head in amusement, racing to catch up with the girls.

•••

"How are you today, Daph?" Nola asked, pouring the cup of tea, mindful of her daughter in her arms, for the girl across from her, "all is well with my cousin?" We looked out the window in Clyvedon, eyeing their men shooting the clay pigeons.

With the stall from her sister-in-law, Nola knew something was wrong. "Do tell, sister. What is the problem?" Daphne couldn't help but break down, placing her head in her hands. "Daphne?" Nola sighed, standing from her chair and kneeling besides her friend.

"It hurts, Nola..." Daphne began, still not meeting the girls gaze. "I didn't think it would, but it does."

"What is this about, Daphne?" Daphne's eyes landed on Alverie, and Nola instantly understood. "You wish to have a child..." she instantly recalled what was wrong with that thought process.

Simon swore to never have an heir.

Nola pulled Daphne to her, embracing her. For, this situation was out of her hands, and all she could do was extend her support to her best friend.