Hidden Within The Flowers

Chapter 9

At the sound of her brother's voice calling for Anthony, Nicollette began to panic. She looked around her to try and see where her brother was coming from. If she spoke quickly and quietly, he wouldn't be able to hear her talk, "Anthony, my father is quite unstable at the moment, and I do not know what to do." Anthony's mind wandered to all the different possibilities of what that could have meant. Nicollette looked at Anthony with scared eyes and spoke again "Anthony, please help me." He quickly nodded his head at the girl's request as if making a  promise to her. 

"Lord Bridgerton," Olivier spoke as he reached Nicollette's side. Anthony tried his hardest not to glare at the eldest Arquette sibling. "Thank you for entertaining my sister, but I have a slight headache, and we must return home at once," Nicollette's eyes widened, and she looked to Anthony for help. Anthony nodded at Olivier and cleared his throat,

"I do hope you feel better. However, I'm sure my mother would not mind chaperoning Miss Arquette so that she may continue with tonight's festivities," Olivier practically glared at Anthony's suggestion but was quick to remember where he was and plastered a fake smile on instead,

"That is a very kind offer, but my father does require Nicollette's presence at home," All the color that was left in Nicollette's face drained. "Good evening, Lord Bridgerton," With Olivier's chaste goodbye, he turned around with Nicollette on his arm and walked away. Nicollette turned her head around to look back at Anthony one last time. He stood and watched the beautiful girl in the lilac dress walk away from him, and for what felt like the first time since his father died, he had no clue as to what to do. 

Anthony looked around the crowds of Vauxhall for his mother and sister. He found his mother starstruck at his sister's entrance to the dance floor with the Duke. Anthony watched his sister as she carefully made her way to the floor and began to waltz to the slow beats of three coming from the music. Violet was ecstatic at the new development in Daphne's relationship with Simon. "Anthony look!" She beamed. Anthony glared at the sight of his best friend and his sister, looking madly in love. "Oh Anthony, be happy for her," Violet scolded. Anthony looked away and avoided eye contact with his mother, but Violet prided herself on knowing when something was bothering one of her children. "Anthony, is something the matter?" She asked, suddenly concerned about her eldest child. The Viscount looked at his mother's worried face and knew he could not keep this from her, and if anybody knew what he could do, it would be her, 

"Nicollette informed me as to why she was so upset this evening," He stated, and Violet was intrigued by the subject, "She said that her father is unstable," He whispered to his mother, and she nodded her head understandingly, 

"I do not know what to say," He looked at her confused. His mother always knew what to say, and at the moment where he truly needed advice, she had nothing. 

"What do you mean, you don't know what to say?" He asked accusatorially; Violet sighed at her son's antics. Violet was quick to tear her eyes away from her daughter and turn to her son,

"Anthony, there is nothing you can do about it," His face flushed with anger at her comment "I know you want to be a hero and save the damsel in distress, but she is a Lady, and you cannot just simply steal her away even if it is for her own protection," Violet let out a heavy breath as she thought over her next words carefully, "Anthony, the only way to save her from her father would be to marry her," Anthony's breath hitched in his throat, and he suddenly forgot how to breathe,

"Marry her?" He choked out. His mother nodded her head in confirmation. 

"Yes, Anthony, the only way to get her away from her father without a scandal would be to marry her," Anthony was swirling with all sorts of different emotions; he felt obligated to help the Arquette girl and wanted to protect her, but he had only just started to come to terms with the idea of marriage. Anthony walked away from Violet and left to get a strong drink.