The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide: Quinn, Julia. The Viscount Who Loved Me. Avon, April 28, 2015. Kindle.

In the romance novel The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn, the second installment in the Bridgerton series, Katharine “Kate” Sheffield does not intend to allow her younger, half-sister to marry the rich Anthony Bridgerton whom Kate considered to have the worst reputation of all the eligible bachelors in London. Of course, Kate never intended to fall in love with Anthony herself, either.

When Anthony’s father, Edmund, died of a bee sting when Anthony was 18-years-old, Anthony admired his father so much that he did not believe that he could surpass him in any way, not even in the number of years he lived. At 29-years-old, when Anthony decided it was time to produce an heir, he intended to find a woman to marry with whom he could not fall in love. He believed that having a loving relationship with his wife was the only thing that could make him regret his short life. For this reason, Anthony set his sights on Edwina Sheffield, the most beautiful girl on the marriage market in 1814. Kate, however, did not intend to allow her sister to marry Anthony.

As Kate and Anthony bantered over Anthony’s intent to marry Edwina, they both began to realize they had feelings for one another. During a house party at Anthony’s ancestral home, Kate watched as Anthony rescued Penelope Featherington, a girl being bullied for her appearance, and honored her by escorting her in to dinner. Kate considered Anthony’s behavior heroic and realized she had no reason to object to Edwina marrying him. Later that evening, Kate, who was deathly afraid of thunderstorms, went to the library for a book to read. While she was there, an electrical storm started. Anthony saw the candlelight in the library and discovered Kate trembling under a table. He stayed and comforted her until the storm passed.

The next day Anthony sought Kate out in the garden to make sure she was okay. Kate told Anthony that he had her permission to marry Edwina. In secret, Kate wanted Anthony for herself, but she did not think that Anthony would consider marrying her. She was unaware that Anthony was also attracted to her. Their fates changed when a bee began buzzing around Kate. Fearing Kate would get stung and die just like his father had, Anthony tried to get Kate to sit still, but she did not understand his fear and fought against him. As Kate and Anthony struggled, the bee stung Kate on the chest. She began arguing with Anthony when he pulled down the front of her dress, telling her that he needed to get out the venom so she would not die. She laughed at the idea that a bee could kill a person. Kate stopped laughing and let Anthony do what he felt necessary when he told her his father had died of a bee sting.

Kate tried to argue again when Anthony told her he needed to suck the venom out of her wound. She looked up to see her step-mother, Anthony’s mother, and the biggest gossip in London watching them. Because Kate and Anthony had been caught in a compromising position, despite the bee sting, it was decided that they needed to get married. Even though Anthony was secretly pleased with the arrangement because his desire for Kate was so strong, he warned her before the wedding that they would be friends and would respect one another, but they could not love each other.

After the wedding, Kate and Anthony had a satisfying relationship with one another. Anthony thought that, perhaps, his plan was working. He was distraught one night when Kate told him she hoped they would be happy together forever. Anthony suddenly could not stand his belief that he would not be around forever for Kate. He ran away, hurting Kate’s feelings, because he was unable to emotionally deal with her. It was only after he spent two days away from Kate and had a debilitating hangover that his brothers helped him to realize how easy it would be to tell Kate that he loved her.

Anthony went searching for Kate and learned she was out riding in a carriage with Edwina and her suitor. Anthony found them in the park, but the horses pulling the carriage had gotten out of control. Anthony watched as the carriage crashed on its side. Kate was trapped in the wreckage. As Anthony dug Kate out, he talked about how he was supposed to be the one to die first. He also told Kate that he loved her. She was rescued from the wreckage with only a broken leg. Later, Anthony told Kate about his fear that he would not outlive his father. Kate did not belittle Anthony’s fear, but she did advise him the best way to handle his fear was to live each day to the fullest.