Archive of Our Own

“I heard he’s hot,” Rosso smirks over from the oboes and Kate rolls her eyes as she takes her place at the back of strings.

"You think anyone new is hot," She sets up her cello carefully even though it's unlikely that she'll even get to practice today. The first and second string cellists all used to work for the London Philharmonic, before they had to leave for one reason or another, and have played since they were kids. Kate only picked up cello here at Danbury House a couple of years ago because the charity bin kept running out of violins.

"I heard he has an in with Danbury," Marina says as she pulls her hoodie off. She’s percussion. Unlike the rest of them who have to compete to even practice Marina (and Dorset when he can be bothered to show up) are practically guaranteed to play. "That's probably code for..."

The sound of someone clearing their throat loudly interrupts them and the studio quickly quietens as they all turn to the front. Kate gasps when she sees Danbury standing there next to Anthony Bridgerton, the man who conducted his way to the London Philharmonic when he was just eighteen and stayed there for ten years until he mysteriously quit last year.

"As I am certain you have all heard by now, Cowper finally retired." Danbury grimaces as if 'retired' might not be the entire truth. "I don't think his replacement needs an introduction but to those of you who've been hiding under a rock over the past few years, this is Anthony Bridgerton. Our new maestro." 

Kate smirks as she slides her eyes over Bridgerton. He’s dressed for the heat, so someone clearly warned him that the air con doesn't work. His pale blue shirt while impeccably fitted to his lean body is translucent under the harsh lights, and she can see the outline of his abs through the material. Instinctively her eyes roam down his legs and widen when she realises that he’s barefoot.

"As Agatha said," Bridgerton’s clipped Oxford accent forces her eyes up and she startles when she sees his eyes already on her. "Most of you have already heard of me. To those who haven't, I'm going to be the guy who gets to rip you a new one five times a week." A few people titter thinking it's a joke but Kate can see the fire in his eyes - he’s serious. "So first thing's first. Everybody auditions again for first and second string positions, all sections. You have an hour to prepare." He crosses his  arms across his chest when some people yell at him in shock. "I suggest you don't waste it."

Kate prepares in the corridor behind the toilets because it has the best autistics outside of the studio. She runs through all of the cello pieces she's memorized, getting frustrated when she realises none of them are perfect, before deciding on Elegie in G-Minor. It was her father’s favourite. She usually avoids it but under pressure it's definitely her best because she's had the most practice playing it.

She waits in line outside the studio when the hour's up. The line moves slowly because Bridgerton is insisting on full pieces, where possible, for auditions. Kate’s one of the last people in the queue so she has to wait a long time.

"This is Kate Sharma," Danbury introduces her when she finally sets up her cello in front of them. "She’s in strings: currently seventh violin, seventh cello, and seventh harp."

Kate instinctively looks away when Bridgerton sweeps his gaze across her before making notes in his diary.

"Where's your violin, Kate?" Danbury asks mildly as if she doesn't know that the charity bin hasn't stocked violins in a year. Kate’s about to tell her exactly that when she produces one. "Never mind." She sighs wearily in a way that Kate doesn’t think is entirely genuine. "You can use mine."

"What're you playing today, Miss Sharma?" Bridgerton asks when she's finished tuning both instruments.

"I only prepared a cello piece."

He gives her an unimpressed onceover and she licks her lips before beginning. After a minute he interrupts to ask her to play the same piece on the violin, giving her his fancy Apple smartphone so she can see the adapted sheet music , and as soon as she starts Kate notices his eyes begin to soften.

"Kate used to busk in Hyde Park when I discovered her," Danbury says proudly even as Kate stares at Bridgerton after her performance. 

He’s crying. 

In all her whole life Kate has never made someone cry through her music. She’s not sure what to make of it. 

"Do you want me to play the harp too?" Kate asks Bridgerton uncertainly.

"No that won't be necessary," He clears his throat. "Thank you for your audition, Miss Sharma. I will let you all know the results in half-an-hour."

That half-an-hour is the most stressful in Kate’s career. She spends it chainsmoking in the alley outside with Marina and Sienna listening as they rant about how much of an arse Bridgerton is.

Kate, personally, can't stop thinking of his eyes. They're a rich, glittering  brown like the mollasses her father used to melt to make his favourite mithai.  Part of her wouldn’t mind drowning in them. It's not really a thought she can (or even should) articulate.

"So," Bridgerton addresses them after they have all piled into the studio like sardines in a can. He’s got his notebook in his hand. "I made a few alterations to first and second string positions." He looks up sharply. "This is in no way a reflection of your talent. You are all incredibly talented but I want the Danbury House Orchestra to move to different directions under my charge. So soloists.  Oboe - Nolan first, Rosso second. Piano - Thompson first, Fife second..."

Kate widens her eyes because she didn't even know Marina could play another instrument and she's supposed to be her best friend.

"Cello - Sharpe first, Cowper second." Bridgerton’s eyes rise up briefly but that's all it takes for Kate’s face to burn. "Violin - Sharma first, Dankworth second. Harp - Goring first, Featherington second..."

All in all it's a drastic change to the status quo. Several former first stringers hand their resignations in loudly there and then, including Cressida Cowper. Kate stands where she is, frozen.

"Right," Bridgerton claps his hands and rubs them together like a maniac after Brimsley storms out. "Now we practice."

They practiced for five hours during which Bridgerton pissed off several people, Kate included, by nitpicking over the slightest things. Kate got her stance roughly adjusted while playing the cello, and she nearly had a heart attack when he ran a thick knuckle over her spine while she played Danbury’s violin to 'straighten her back'. He was like that with every one and so it was a relief when practice finished. Unfortunately for Kate that relief doesn't last long.

"Miss Sharma, if you could please stay behind," Bridgerton interrupts her thoughts as she wipes down her bow. She sets her jaw but stays where she is.

This is it, she thinks viciously.

This is where she finds out the real reason why Bridgerton made her a soloist. He’s going to end up being just like just like Cowper, the guest maestro Arkadia hired after Granville disappeared last spring, who offered to recommend Kate’s sixteen year old sister into Danbury House’s scholarship programme but only if Kate slept with him.

She did it, of course she did, but afterwards she discovered he had also made the same offer to four other women. And it was all for nothing  because he ended up recommending his daughter for the coveted spot anyway.

"So," She snaps out when the others leave and she watches Bridgerton sashay through the stands to him like he’s hunting her. "What do you want?"

"You're amazing,"

The unexpected compliment makes Kate blink in surprise but it’s his smile, wide and warm and obviously genuine, that unsettles her. "I've never heard someone emote so beautifully on the violin before and considering who I've worked with, that's saying something.”

Kate frowns at the compliment still not understanding where he’s going.  "But your technique on the cello is shit. I don't know how much of that is lack of practice, lack of knowledge, or the rubbish that comes from the second hand bin, and I really don't care. Your technique needs to be improved quickly.  I could help with that."

Before Anthony Bridgerton became maestro at the London Philharmonic, he was their cello soloist, and a composer in his own right. He wrote some of the finest modern cello solos Kate’s ever heard. That he wants to tutor her for free when people must be offering him thousands of pounds for the privilege is difficult for Kate to believe.

"What do you want in exchange?"

Bridgerton gulps. Here it comes, Kate thinks bitterly. Her whole life, she has never been offered any help without conditions. 

"I have an idea for a showpiece performance," He says quietly, "It's risque to put it mildly. I want you to support me when I pitch it to Danbury."

"Why me?"

"Because I want it to involve you playing cello," He touches her bow and Kate’s heart races as she watches his thick, calloused finger slide across it, "Naked." He finally raises his eyes to hers. "But you aren’t good enough to be my cello soloist just yet. I wasn't joking before. You desperately need to improve your technique. This way I'll kill two birds with one stone."

"Is that why you promoted me, because of how good I'd look naked for you?" It's meant to be a joke but doesn't come out lightly enough. 

He smirks.

"I hired you because of how good your being naked will make me look. Sexy sells, Sharma. So, are you in?" 

Kate’s smile takes her by surprise. 

"Yeah. I'm in."

"Good," He sits on the chair next to hers and quirks an eyebrow when she blinks at him, "No time like the present, Sharma. Lets start with Interlude 6 - that's a pretty good technique builder. I'll watch you, then you can watch me play the same piece."

Kate wants to argue. It's past six pm, she hasn't eaten since the previous afternoon, and she's coated in sweat. All she wants to do is go home to her hovel of apartment, binge on ramen, and watch Netflix until she passes out. But instead she starts playing.

"You're slouching," Bridgerton tuts when she stops playing. "I didn't mean stop playing, Sharma. Just stop..." He huffs out a breath when she starts playing again and then gets up to move behind her. Kate closes her eyes when she feels his broad hands on her bare shoulders, gently pulling her back until she straightens a little. "That's much better. Move your cello closer to you. Closer, Sharma."

Kate sighs and pulls it in so close she's in danger of cutting into her bare thighs if she moves her bow wrong. "Now you're just being awkward."

"You're nitpicking."

He moves in front of her and kicks out her ankles to widen her stance and Kate widens her eyes because she can suddenly hear the difference. "What just happened?"

"Technique," Bridgerton grins cockily as Kate plays. Her eyes rove over his body. His shirt is now so slick with sweat he might as well be topless because she can see practically everything, and if the cello wasn’t so fucking close to cutting her she might have found it attractive.

"My old cello tutor used to get me to pretend it was a lover," Bridgerton says quietly and Kate almost falters. "I don't know how well that works for women, but it really helped me to put more emotion into my work."

"I thought you said I emoted well."

"On the violin.” He corrects obnoxiously. “You need to be better on the cello," And well Kate can hardly argue with that. When she's finished she gives her bow to Bridgerton while downing the remainder of her water bottle. 

"It's your turn," She says with a smirk when he squints at down at the bow in his hand. “Show me how it's done, Maestro."

Bridgerton smirks, pulls up his trousers slightly, then settles back in her chair with the cello snug between his legs. When he starts to play Kate gets so lost in the visual of him that she doesn't pay attention to his technique, or sound, or even what he’s playing. She is mortified when  Bridgerton notices.

"Close your eyes," He says kinder than she might have been if their situations were reversed and he was ogling her. She feels so embarrassed that she immediately does as she's told. "Does it sound different to what you played?"

It does and it doesn't. Bridgerton sounds lighter, more playful, while Kate plays the same piece with far more gravitas and pomp. 

"I prefer my version," She grins with her eyes still closed but it disappears when he lets out a husky groan. The sound goes straight to her cunt and her eyes fly open in horror.

"You would." But he smiles as he pushes the cello to her. "Your turn, now. Keep playing until I tell you to stop."

-/-