Chapter Text
Chapter 4
Games of Society, Games of the Heart
Dinner was a lively affair, but the echo of the afternoon’s events still lingered in the air. Against all his inclinations, Anthony found himself doing the right thing. He approached Kate, who was sipping a glass of sparkling water, her gaze still sharp.
"Miss Sharma," Anthony began, his voice unusually measured, "I must admit my mistake. Your predictions were correct. And your quick thinking… well, it prevented a disaster." A slight blush crept up his neck. "I am grateful to you for saving the day."
Kate arched an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "Oh, Viscount? The great Anthony Bridgerton admits he was wrong? I must mark the date on my calendar."
Anthony sighed, a small smile crinkling the corners of his mouth. "Yes, yes, go ahead and mock me. I deserve it. I've learned my lesson. I will no longer ignore your warnings."
"Good," Kate said, her smile softening slightly. "It's a start."
Shortly after, Daphne and Simon stood up, calling for everyone's attention with a clinking of glasses.
"Dear friends and family!" Daphne exclaimed, beaming. "After the excitement of the afternoon, we thought it was the perfect time for a night of levity and fun. The main lounge has been set up for a game night! Quizzes, challenges, and maybe a few surprises. We invite everyone, even those who are here for work," she added, with a knowing look at Kate and Sophie, "to join us to de-stress and enjoy some relaxation."
A murmur of approval spread through the room. Benedict felt a wave of euphoria. Game night! A perfect opportunity to spend time with Sophie without the excuse of work.
"Fantastic!" Hyacinth exclaimed. "I hope there's something that requires mental agility, not just brute strength!"
"We certainly can't have a boxing match on a cruise ship!" Gregory retorted.
"You know I can beat you even at that if I want to!" his sister replied with an ironic smirk, earning a grunt from Gregory.
Meanwhile, Colin was sitting at a table with his siblings, but his eyes kept searching for Penelope. She was seated with Alfred at a more distant table, her back straight, and she hadn't given him a glance since they returned from the beach. The tension between them was palpable, a silence heavy with unspoken words. Colin felt a knot in his stomach.
The main lounge of the "Sirenide" had been transformed. Soft lighting created an intimate atmosphere, while round tables were scattered throughout the room—some with board games, others ready for the quiz. Soft music filled the air, and a small buffet offered drinks and snacks. Excitement and competition were in the air.
Guests began to arrive. Anthony and Kate were among the first, both still visibly tense from the day's events. Anthony, although he had admitted his mistake, still bore a bruise on his pride, but he continued to cast glances at Kate, who that evening, having shed her wedding planner attire, had opted for a more informal look with a short, form-fitting black dress that drew more than a few stares. Kate, for her part, met Anthony's gazes with a certain, subtle, challenge.
Benedict scanned the room for Sophie. He saw her enter; she hadn't given up her camera slung over her shoulder, still reserved and a bit shy.
Colin was with his siblings, but his attention was elsewhere. "Where's Penelope?" he mumbled, noting her and Alfred’s absence.
"Maybe she didn't feel like it," Eloise replied, shrugging. "After your scene on the beach…"
Colin sighed. "It wasn't a scene."
"What did you do, brother?" a perpetually curious Hyacinth interjected.
"Nothing!" her brother replied curtly.
It was Eloise who answered: "He was an idiot! As usual, he was stupid and upset Penelope… our brothers only know how to make themselves look ridiculous!" This provoked several laughs among the siblings.
Lady Danbury, with a mischievous smile, took the microphone. "Well, well! Since the staff have the night off, I have volunteered to be the quiz master! To start, a classic: a general knowledge team quiz! Teams must be four people! Form your groups!"
Chaos quickly ensued. Anthony turned to his family, saying, "Alright, guys, same winning formation! Colin with me, then Eloise and Hyacinth… I want your A-game tonight, I have to win!"
The three poor siblings looked at him, already exasperated by his competitive mode.
Kate, on the other hand, ended up with Daphne, Simon, and Francesca. Kate leaned toward Daphne and whispered, "Do you trust your sister? She seems so… calm."
"Don't worry, we Bridgertons are super competitive; you'll see now!" the bride told her with a wink.
"I can imagine!" Kate replied, exchanging a challenging look with Anthony.
Benedict, with all his boldness, approached Sophie. "Sophie, please, join my team! We need your keen eye for detail."
Sophie hesitated. "I'm not good at quizzes, Benedict. And besides, I should be taking pictures."
"No pictures for now," Benedict countered. "Just fun. The bride and groom asked for it specifically! Please." Finally, Sophie consented, joining Benedict, Gregory, and Violet.
Lady Danbury, with the air of a television presenter, began the questions.
"First question!" Lady Danbury announced. "What is the capital of Australia?"
"Canberra!" Anthony shouted, almost before the question was finished. "Easy."
"Too easy, Viscount," Kate retorted; her team had answered a moment later. "Don't get too excited too soon."
The game continued, and the competitiveness between Anthony and Kate became the focal point of the evening.
"History question!" Lady Danbury exclaimed. "Who was the first Roman emperor?"
"Augustus!" Kate replied, with a triumphant expression.
Anthony complained. "It was on the tip of my tongue! Col, why didn't you answer?"
Colin, visibly distracted, shook his head. "Sorry, Anthony. I was… thinking." His eyes wandered toward the door, hoping to see Penelope.
"I should go outside for a moment," Colin said, getting up.
"Stay there! No one leaves my team!" Anthony blocked him, his competitiveness in full force.
"Second question for Lord Bridgerton's team," Lady Danbury continued. "What is the theorem that links the sides of a right-angled triangle?"
"Pythagoras!" Hyacinth shouted.
"Correct!"
"Third question for Miss Sharma's team," Lady Danbury said. "What is Leonardo da Vinci's most famous painting?"
"The Mona Lisa!" Francesca replied.
Anthony leaned forward. "That's not fair! They got easier questions!"
"Well done, Francesca! And the game is the same for everyone, Viscount," Kate retorted, a small smirk on her lips. "Perhaps you should concentrate more and complain less."
Their interactions quickly turned into a veiled, competitive flirtation. They challenged each other with witty remarks, their eyes meeting in moments of shared understanding or surprise at the other's moves. The erotic tension was undeniable.
"Geography question!" Lady Danbury announced. "What is the longest river in the world?"
"The Nile!" Anthony replied, with an air of superiority.
"Technically, it's the Amazon, Viscount, if you consider its most remote sources," Kate countered, with a know-it-all air.
Anthony glared at her. "You're cheating! That's not the common answer!"
"Knowledge is never common, Viscount," Kate replied, her voice velvety yet sharp.
Daphne and Simon exchanged amused glances.
Violet watched them with complicit smiles. "Those two are certainly at war with each other," Violet murmured.
"You should know, that's how great stories begin, Mama," Daphne replied a short distance away, with a wink.
Sophie, in her team, tried to stay on the sidelines, answering only if strictly necessary. Benedict, encouraged by the short laugh from the morning, tried to involve her.
"Sophie, what is the capital of Canada?" Benedict whispered to her.
"Ottawa," she replied, without looking at him, focused on her hands.
"See? You're brilliant! You should participate more," Benedict insisted.
"I'm not here to play," she replied, her voice low.
Benedict tried a couple of times to break through her wall with a joke, but Sophie didn't open up. His frustration grew. Benedict made a bold decision.
"Come with me, Sophie," he said, gently taking her hand.
Sophie was surprised by the contact but didn't object as he led her out of the lounge.
"Hey Ben, where are you going? We'll be eliminated!" a distraught Gregory yelled after him.
"My boy, let your brother be," his mother said sweetly, as she, too, watched the dynamics of her children with growing satisfaction.
The main game concluded. Anthony's team, thanks to his relentless competitiveness and Hyacinth's help, won.
"And the winner is Lord Bridgerton's team!" Lady Danbury announced.
Anthony raised his arms in triumph, but his gaze immediately sought out Kate. She, having come in second, put aside her pride and approached him.
"Congratulations, Viscount," Kate said, extending her hand. "A well-deserved victory, despite your… methods."
Anthony shook her hand, his grip lasting longer than necessary. "You were a worthy opponent as well, Miss Sharma. Perhaps the most worthy I have ever encountered." Their eyes met, and for an instant, the world around them faded away.
Kate recognized her chemistry with Anthony, and perhaps she felt strangely drawn to his passion, even if it was tinged with arrogance. She liked the challenge, more than she wanted to admit.
"Anyway, I want a rematch, Anthony!" his sister Daphne shouted, breaking the moment.
"Yes, of course, a rematch!" Anthony said, addressing Kate more than his sister. And Kate, in turn, gave him a nod of understanding.
Colin, dejected and still distracted, found himself wandering the ship's corridors after the quiz. As he passed his cabin, he noticed that the door to the cabin next door, Penelope's, was ajar.
Penelope was sitting on her bed, busy writing in a notebook. She looked thoughtful.
Colin timidly approached the door and knocked. "Pen? It's me! Colin! The door is open."
Penelope looked up, surprised, and her face hardened slightly. "Hey, Colin. Yeah, I know, I left it open. I was a little scared; the hallway is all empty."
"And so you thought it was a good idea to leave the door open so a wrongdoer could do whatever they wanted?" Colin asked her with an amused air, making Penelope laugh for a moment.
"Shouldn't you be at game night?" she asked him.
"I was," he replied, walking in and leaning against the door frame. "But… it wasn't the same without you."
Penelope looked at him with a half-smile.
Then Colin continued: "And what are you doing here alone?"
"Alfred didn't feel so well after dinner; he preferred to go back to his room, and I didn't feel up to game night," she explained in a small voice.
"I get it. It was a super lively night, actually! I won, on the team with Anthony, Eloise, and Hyacinth!"
"Well, congratulations, even though with a team like that, it was impossible to lose! I know how competitive you all are in these games!" Penelope said with a smile.
Colin burst out laughing and said without thinking: "You're right, you should have seen Anthony; he wouldn't even let me leave to look for you."
"Why did you have to look for me?" Penelope asked, surprised by the unexpected revelation.
Colin took the opportunity to apologize. "Pen. I wanted to give you my sincerest apologies. I'm sorry. I was an idiot. My joke about Alfred on the beach… it was stupid and out of line. I didn't mean to offend you or him." He took a step closer. "Sometimes I say things without thinking, especially when… well, when I'm not at my best. But that's no excuse. I was wrong."
Penelope looked at him, surprised by the sincerity of his apology. Her anger began to subside, giving way to a melancholic weariness. "You hurt me, Colin," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "I don't understand why you have to be so… so mean sometimes. It's not like you."
"I know," he replied, his gaze sincere. "And I'm truly sorry."
There was a moment of tense silence. Penelope sighed. "Alright, Colin. I accept your apology."
It wasn't a complete reconciliation, but a small step toward getting back together. "So what were you doing? I saw you writing before I came in," Colin asked, trying to change the subject and get back to their usual rhythm of conversation. "Oh, yes… I was taking notes for my next novel. My editor is hounding me for a draft as soon as possible."
"Wow, you're practically the last writer who still uses pen and paper!" Colin said, laughing and making Penelope laugh. "But you know, writing like this relaxes me… I'm an old soul!" she said with a half-smile.
"Of course I know! You and your Jane Austen-style stories… what will the male protagonist do this time to win over your protagonist in your Regency-style romantic comedy? Will he chase her in a carriage after causing her to lose a potential husband to confess all his love?" a amused Colin asked her. Penelope, with fake offense, said, "But my protagonists don't follow the usual clichés… and besides, I didn't know you read my books!"
"Of course I read your books! You're an incredible writer! I always bring one with me on my travels," Colin replied without hesitation, sitting down next to her. That compliment made Penelope blush. "I don't think I'm that good."
"Of course you are!" Colin replied again, placing his hand on hers, as if to strengthen his point. Penelope blushed even more at the gesture, and their eyes met, leaving them in a silent moment that was a balm for their recent tensions.
After that moment, Colin said goodbye, leaving Penelope to her thoughts, with the promise to see each other the next day.
Benedict had led Sophie out onto the deck, away from the bustle of game night. The night air was fresh, and above them, the Greek sky was a dark velvet blanket studded with brilliant stars. The full moon illuminated the water in a silvery path.
"Benedict, where are you taking me?" a curious Sophie asked, surprised by Benedict's boldness. But despite not knowing him that well, she knew that, despite being a libertine, he would never push it if she didn't want him to.
When they reached the ship's highest deck, Benedict whispered, "Look," pointing at the celestial vault. "Isn't it incredible?"
Sophie looked up, and for a moment, her mask of reserve cracked. Her eyes lit up at the sight of the stars. "It is beautiful! But a starry sky won't make me fall into your arms, Mr. Bridgerton!" Sophie teased him.
"Okay. But its beauty is undeniable," Benedict told her, looking more at her than the shining stars.
"Benedict, you're a real ladies' man! I can only imagine how many girls you've taken to look at the stars in your life."
"Far fewer than you think," Benedict replied, unable to take his eyes off her.
Sophie, while still looking at the stars, said, "Looking at the stars always makes me dream, just like when I dream about the black dots that represent cities and villages on a map. Why, I wonder, shouldn't the shimmering dots in the sky be as accessible as the black dots on a map of France?"
Benedict looked at her, his heart pounding. That phrase… he had heard it before. It was the same quote she had said the night of the masquerade ball a year earlier, when they had met, and he hadn't recognized it now. A flash of recognition crossed his mind, but he couldn't connect it. "Have you said that phrase before?" He asked in a whisper, more to himself than to her.
Sophie stiffened slightly, her face returning to a guarded expression. To try to fix the mistake that had exposed her, she said, "The quote isn't mine, but Van Gogh's."
"I know, he's one of my favorite painters… And yet, I've heard it quoted so openly before… And tell me, what are your deepest dreams?"
"Me? I'm a simple woman, Benedict. Perhaps my biggest dream is to establish myself as an artist."
"I understand. Our artistic spirits lead us to be free spirits."
Benedict said, moving much closer; their gazes met and lingered for an extra moment, where perhaps the world stopped turning.
But a slightly stronger wave made a sharper noise and brought Sophie back to her senses; the magical moment broke. "I have to go," she said, her voice suddenly cold. "I still have work to do."
She turned and walked away quickly, leaving Benedict on the deck, watching her go. He hadn't caught the quote, he hadn't understood the meaning of that moment for her, but he knew he had taken a small, albeit fragile, step toward her.