Aurelia had known that, at some point during the season, she would have to come face to face with the man she'd been desperately trying to avoid. However, she'd hoped the reunion would have been weeks in the future and not on her second day back in London.

Whilst he appeared to have shredded the childlike glow he'd held six years prior, transforming into a rather - as much as she hated to admit it - handsome man, his face was still able to infuriate her within seconds of laying her eyes on it. It annoyed her that his eyes radiated their usual bored arrogance, constantly implying he would rather be anywhere else than the place he currently was, and that he'd managed to maintain his thick brunette locks. Secretly, she'd been hoping it had turned a sickly shade of grey, had thinned or fallen out completely. At least then, his appearance would finally match his personality.

"Aurelia," Benedict cleared his throat, "you remember my brother, Anthony."

"How could I forget?" She said, daring to look the man up and down.

"Miss Bradford," Anthony stiffly sighed, "it is a pleasure to see you again." There was not a single ounce of truth in his words. Meeting her again for the first time in years was the exact opposite of what he would describe as 'pleasurable'. Even though she had appeared to have finally grown enough to look her age, after spending the majority of her teenage years frozen in time as a twelve-year-old, she would be nothing more to him than the annoying little girl that his brother insisted on being friends with. No matter how attractive she seemed, now she'd come into a closer view.

Aurelia narrowed her stare. "I wish I could say the same, but I was taught it was improper to lie."

Even though she'd physically grown up, it appeared her maturity had a long way to go.

"Aurelia," Benedict asked, clutching onto any possible escape route, "would you like to dance?"

"It would be my hon..."

"Benedict," Violet Bridgerton's voice burst through their eardrums, "I've been looking for you everywhere. Ah, you've found Anthony, too."

"Mother," Benedict knew there was no chance of escape now, "I'm sure you remember Miss Aurelia Bradford."

Violet gasped, pretending the girl hadn't been the sole reason to bother her sons. "Aurelia, I hardly recognised you. You've grown into a proper young lady."

"Lady Brdigerton," Aurelia curtseyed, "it is wonderful to see you again. I am so glad we are neighbours once more."

Violet blushed. "You are too kind. I can't imagine we are more entertaining than the ones you had in...Pompeii, was it?"

Anthony and Benedict rolled their eyes at their mother's feeble attempt to conceal her prying.

"Rome," Aurelia politely corrected her. "Though, I hope to visit other regions of Italy on my next travels, if I am ever lucky enough to do so. Pompeii will definitely be on that list."

Lady Brdigerton didn't care in the slightest about her future travel plans, in her opinion, it would get in the way of a young lady's true concern - marriage. "Anthony likes travelling," She suddenly blurted out.

"I think you have me mistaken with Colin, Mother," Anthony protested, unsure why she would claim such a lie.

Ignoring him entirely, Violet continued, "You must tell him all about it whilst you dance."

Aurelia's eyes grew twice their size with panic, as she frantically shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Mother, this is not the time to..."

Anthony couldn't finish his sentence. By the time he'd made it halfway through, Lady Bridgerton had already thrust them out onto the dance floor for the entire ton to see.

There was no backing out for either of them now.

The pair stood in stiff silence, neither one of them able to look at each other, as they waited for the orchestra to prepare to play the next song. Aurelia's lips pursed and Anthony clamped his jaw tight. Only a few seconds passed before one of them dared to break the silence, but it felt like a lifetime.

"You could have refused," Anthony stated, his voice sharp as a fresh dragger.

"And miss out on the opportunity of basking in your glory? Never," Aurelia sarcastically replied. "Your mother didn't give me much of a choice."

She'd been so preoccupied with her own mother's schemes, she forgot to spare a thought for the other mamas' meddling. Without her father or brother present, she had little protection against the sly plans of the other members of the ton.

"She is my mother, not yours," Anthony reminded her, "you could have said 'no'." Aurelia let out an ugly snort, and Anthony was convinced it would have grown into full out laughter if he'd allowed it. "Oh, do enlighten me to what you find so amusing."

Aurelia looked up at him and, for the first time since they were forced out onto the dance floor, their eyes met. He still adorned the same bored shimmer, mixed in with a hint of arrogance for flavour. But something else lingered there now, hidden but not completely out of sight. She'd never seen it before, and she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

"You're still a mama's boy, I see," She replied, holding her gaze firm. "I guess some things never change."

Whilst Aurelia was taller than most, Anthony still had to lower his head to meet her gaze. She felt his irritated laughter splash across his face as he glared down at her. "No. You've made that quite apparent. Otherwise, you'd be pleasant company."

Anthony reluctantly took her into his arms as the orchestra began to play. Neither of them spoke the first few steps of the dance, instead, they glared at each other through their scowls.

Finally, Aurelia said, "It amazes me you think so low of my company, when you only have yours to compare it to." Anthony scrunched up his face, puzzled by her meaning. "I can't imagine you are constantly flooded with friends." She pointed out to him. "Even your mother seemed quite eager to get rid of you."

His tensed sightly, tightening the grip of his hands against her side. "My mother's only intentions," He defended himself, "were to meddle in my affairs."

Aurelia smirked, "Don't you have to be married to have affairs?"

"What do you know about either?" He countered. She spoke boldly for a lady, that's for certain, but it would take more than her sharp wit to throw him off.

"More than you think," She replied. Whilst still conservative, the lifestyle in Italy would make the ton blush with embarrassment. There were aspects of Aurelia's past six years that would raise a few eyebrows in London society. But, as they say, when in Rome.

Suspicious, Anthony narrowed his glare. "If you know so much about marriage, why are you still unwed?"

There was a long pause. So long, Anthony entertained the idea that she'd gone mute. To his dismay, Aurelia finally spoke. "I desire more than to be simply shackled to a man."

Now, it was Anthony's turn to laugh. "You hope to find love?" Aurelia frowned at his mocking tone. "You sound like my mother."

Aurelia couldn't help but think she'd rather sound like Violet Bridgerton than her own mama.

"You better go back to Rome," Anthony continued his taunt, "you'll have better luck finding love there."

Aurelia lifted her chin. "On that, we can agree. Italian men are far superior to any that London has to offer."

The smug expression fell from Anthony's face. It was a stunning sight to behold. "If they are so spectacular, why don't you go back?"

"How many unmarried women do you hear of living by themselves in another country?" She asked, surprised by his stupidity. Anthony's mouth bobbed up and down like a fish, words failing him completely. "Besides," She continued, "Mayfair is my home, I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Even though he concealed it well, shame drenched Anthony for his ignorance. She was her family's responsibility, where they went she had to follow. The idea of allowing Daphne to wander around the world by herself sent shudders down his spine.

"You have my excuse," Aurelia tore him from his thoughts, "it's only fair you give me yours."

Anthony scoffed. "It wouldn't be proper to discuss such things."

Aurelia snorted, unimpressed. "And neither would kicking you in the shins, but I would be more than happy to do it."

She wasn't bluffing, Anthony could be certain of that. Gossip would fly around the ton, whispering about what he could have possibly done to warrant such a reaction. His reputation couldn't handle the hit.

"I don't have the taste for it," He confessed, the intimacy of the conversation too much for him to be able to meet her gaze.

Aurelia did not share the same struggle. "You shall never marry?"

"No. When the time comes, I shall do my duty." He sternly replied.

Aurelia rolled her eyes. "How romantic."

It wasn't surprising in the least that Anthony didn't have a single loving bone in his body. It would have come more of a shock if it had been the other way around. She pitied the woman who would be sentenced to life with him.

"Marriage isn't about romance," He stated with such confidence, "a Viscount needs heirs, and that's what marriage provides."

It saddened her heart to hear someone so determined to turn something so beautiful into nothing more than a business transaction. Aurelia had always believed love was possible for anyone, even a brutish rake like Anthony Bridgerton.

"I'm sure your parents would rather see you happy," She said, "especially your father. He is one of the kindest men I know."

Anthony's eyes instantly locked onto hers, hurt flashing across them like a bolt of lightning. He didn't attempt to hide it. For a moment, he forgot how to breathe, his lungs turned to stone, refusing to draw breath.

The music was still being played, but his feet stopped moving. Anthony's stare bore down on Aurelia, the weight of it heavy on her skin. Just as she opened her mouth to ask him what was wrong, he stormed off the dancefloor and out of the ballroom, abandoning Aurelia entirely.

It appeared the Bradfords' six-year hiatus had cut them off from London society more than they expected, and the news of the late Viscount Bridgerton's death skipped them completely.

Aurelia searched for a friendly face in the crowd of gawking eyes, thankful to finally land on her sister, who was holding two glasses of lemonade in her hands. As she scurried over to her, Aurelia tried to conceal her blushing cheeks from the prying crowd.

"What was that in aid of?" Evelyn questioned, handing her younger sister a glass.

"I'm not sure," She confessed, "one minute we were bickering about marriage, and the next he ran away."

"Ah, you scared him off," Evelyn concluded. "Marriage is the last thing men want to talk about."

Whilst her sister seemed certain with her hypothesis, Aurelia couldn't help but disagree. There was another reason for his speedy escape.

"Just tell me Mama didn't see," Aurelia sighed, "she'll never forgive me if I commit a social faux pas during our first ball back."

Whilst it would be an entertaining sight, Evelyn was happy to inform her sister that Lady Bradford had been distracted. "Lady Danbury has been chatting her ear off since we got here."

"Good," Aurelia nodded, pleased. Lady Bradford wouldn't dare say a thing to her if her father was present, but as he was enamoured with business, her protection was gone - Lady Bradford could do as she wanted. Her parenting style was a lot stricter than her husband's. "How has your evening been, so far?"

"Thrilling. I poured drinks," Evelyn stated, almost envious that her sister managed to fit in a dance before her, even if it was only half of one. Especially since it was with a Bridgerton.

"Has anyone caught your eye?" Aurelia pried, wiggling her brows.

Evelyn scoffed at her sister's lunacy. "No, not a single one." She held her head high, as if she was proud not to be taken by a single suitor. "Rome had more to offer."

Aurelia wholeheartedly agreed. "Still, I suppose we should give them a chance - for Mama's sake."

"Or," Evelyn countered, "we could run away to France and start a vineyard."

"And what do you know about vineyards?" Aurelia questioned, stifling her laughter.

Evelyn smirked. "They make wine."

Aurelia beamed, chuckling at her sister's ability to find humour in everything. No doubt, Lady Bradford would be furious to find her two daughters giggling in a corner rather than dancing with the many men the ton had to offer, but Aurelia would have it no other way. If she ignored the small blip that was Anthony Bridgerton, she was rather enjoying her evening.

At least the worst was over. She had bumped into the Bridgerton boy, and they never had to speak to each other again.

That is, if her mama and Lady Bridgerton could resist keeping out of it.