Will this Season's Diamond prove to be more than last Season's cut of glass?

"Ouch," Benedict said as he looked over Edwina's shoulder. "A bit harsh don't you think?"

"When have we known Lady Whistledown to hold back her barbs?" Edwina replied. Edwina was only glad that Lady Whistledown made no mention of her failed marriage to Anthony or even Anthony's unexpected marriage to Kate in her first issue since the season officially began last week.

It's been a week since the Bridgerton family returned to their house in London with Edwina and her mother in tow. It was their first time residing in the home together and Edwina was surprised when Kate situated her in Daphne's old room. "She won't be needing it any longer," Kate had said. "Daphne has Hastings House."

It felt a little odd being so closely embraced by another family, particularly one as large as the Bridgertons. For all her life, Edwina only had her mother and her sister. She was a small child when her father passed and memories of him were beginning to fade.

"Is that Whistledown?" Eloise asked as she entered the morning room. Before Edwina could reply, Eloise snatched the paper from her hand and threw it into the fire.

"Eloise! I was still reading that."

"We do not read that trash in this household."

"Since when?" Benedict asked. "From what I remember, you spent the past two seasons trying to uncover the identity of Whistledown. Why the sudden hatred?"

Eloise's lips puckered as if she had bitten into a particularly sour lemon.

"Come, children!" Violet called out. "Or we will be late for Francesca's presentation. Where is the girl?" The sound of frantic footsteps disappeared up the stairs.

Anthony entered the room with Kate on his arm. They were both dressed immaculately in dark navy with Anthony wearing a waistcoat embroidered with silver threads while Kate wore a dress a shade lighter but with the same silver threaded through it creating pretty curlicues.

Anthony looked down at the pocket watch attached to his coat. "We still have time."

"We are all ready on time for once?" Colin asked. He was dressed similarly like Benedict and Anthony in blue. "At least Francesca's debut will be the last for a while. Hyacinth's won't be for another five years and I will, hopefully, be long gone from the house by then."

"Married with a household of your own and a brood of children underfoot," Anthony replied.

Colin visibly shuddered. "Traveling the world." He turned to Edwina. "Did I ever tell you about my trip to Greece?"

Benedict groaned and threw a pillow cushion at Colin's head. "Please smother yourself with that."

Kate approached Edwina, who was dressed simply as she and her mother were not attending Francesca's presentation to the queen. The invitation was limited only to the immediate family, which suited Edwina just fine as she had planned on spending the morning quietly catching up on her reading. Unfortunately, she had planned on reading the latest issue of Whistledown in its entirety before it met its fiery fate. Perhaps, she could go out and buy another copy before Eloise returned.

"Edwina, if you have a moment, Anthony and I would like to speak to you privately."

"Yes, of course." Edwina stood and followed Anthony and Kate into Anthony's study at the other end of the house. She rarely entered the room and immediately noticed a second desk set up next to Anthony's. It appeared that Anthony had converted his study to suit his wife's needs as well. Edwina smiled to herself at the sight.

There was a stack of cream-colored paper where Kate must have been busily writing out instructions for the Bridgerton ball a few nights from now. It would be the first ball thrown by the new viscountess and the ton was frothing in anticipation of the event.

Anthony closed the door behind him and gestured for Edwina and Kate to sit before he took his own place behind his desk.

"We have decided," Kate began, "to provide for your dowry this season. Anthony has generously offered five thousand pounds, the same he is providing for both Eloise and Francesca."

Five thousand pounds.

Edwina's heart seemed to stop beating. Five thousand pounds was a small fortune. It would be enough for most families to live for many lifetimes. She looked up at Anthony and Kate, who looked back at her with wary expectation and Edwina knew she had to say something.

But, instead of overwhelming gratitude, she felt something deep and dark inside her unfurl. All she could think about was Cleo and all the ways Kate and Anthony had tiptoed around her these past few months as if she was something fragile and in danger of breaking. Giving her gifts here and there, smiling at her placidly, always asking if she was happy. She wasn't happy.

She felt angry.

"No."

"What was that, bon?"

"No, I do not want it." Kate and Anthony exchanged an alarmed look which infuriated Edwina further. Edwina took a deep breath and slowly exhaled it through her nostrils, willing herself to calm down. "Thank you, but I do not want it."

"Why?" Kate asked in surprise.

"I do not want your blood money."

A shocked silence fell on the room.

"Edwina..." Kate began.

"No, please let me finish. Kate, Anthony, I love you both. And, I am happy–truly I am–that you found one another. And, yes, I have forgiven you both for what happened last season. But, I have come to realize that I was part of the problem. I was naive. I grew up with fairy tales spinning around in my head about how I would come to London and find my Prince Charming." She looked at Anthony who had the decency to look sheepish. "And, before you say that it was all your fault, didi, for putting those thoughts in my head in the first place, it is not. I willingly wanted to believe the fantasy."

Edwina took in a deep breath. "I was terribly embarrassed, not because of the failed wedding, but because I truly was so blind to the love that was obviously blossoming between you two. I was self-centered, only caring about what I perceived as my own happiness. I didn't stop...I didn't take a moment to see outside of myself. And, I am sorry for it, for all the pain it caused everyone and the scandal it brought upon our family."

Kate leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Edwina. Edwina was surprised by the tears streaming down her face, both their faces. "Bon, you know you do not need to apologize. It wasn't your fault."

Before Edwina could refute her sister, Anthony cleared his throat. "Perhaps, we need to dispense with all the apologies and move on together as a family." He reached out, clasping Kate's hand with one of his and Edwina's in the other. "We love you and we only wish to see you happy."

"Then, give me time to find it for myself," Edwina replied. "I do not know if I will ever marry. But, if I do, it will only be when I find a man who loves me as much as you love Kate."

Anthony fell silent. She could see him warring with himself, the need as the head of the family to see Edwina settled, but also the want for Edwina to choose her own happiness. "Agreed," he finally said. "I cannot believe I am saying this, but if you choose never to marry, we will bestow you the five thousand pounds to do as you please."

"Perhaps I will purchase a cottage in the country and house it full of Cleo's offspring," Edwina said, smiling weakly.

Both Kate and Anthony laughed softly. "If that is what you wish, bon," Kate said, tightening her embrace.

“And, please,” Anthony said with a slightly pained expression, “do not tell Eloise of our agreement or she will be demanding the same.”