First posted on Tumblr on 9 May 2023 as part of Kate and Anthony Week
Throughout Season 2 we hear Anthony utter the words 'I am a gentleman'. To be honest I never counted how many times he said it, but I do feel that we believe he said it more times than he did, one day I might rewatch and count the number of times that line is said.
However, whilst some (including me) may laugh and think it is funny, make jokes about it and even turn it into a drinking game Anthony saying these words whilst acting anything like a gentleman, I think there is another meaning for him saying the words.
Some have speculated it is Anthony reminding himself he is a gentleman for him to keep control whilst he is around Kate, however, I think it goes further, and is as much Anthony reminding himself (and Kate) that she is a lady. This echoes back to a conversation he had with Siena in Season 1.
In Season 1, in one scene with Siena Anthony is talking about having to leave her to escort Daphne to a ball, Siena complains and Anthony says that someone must protect Daphne. Siena comments that Daphne is lucky, not every woman has someone to protect them, Anthony's response is 'not every woman is a lady'. The point he is making is that Siena is not a lady, he is very much dividing the women in his life.
So moving on to Season 2, as Anthony tells Kate he is a gentleman, and repeats this to her, I believe there is more to this than just him reminding himself that he is a gentleman. It goes further, he is reminding himself Kate is a lady, someone that needs to be protected from men in society. But beyond that, this is the message he is passing on to Kate as well, he is telling her that she is a lady and he, as a gentleman, will protect her.
This comes to fruition in the gazebo scene where during their argument (foreplay?), Anthony says the phrase again, but this time followed with the words 'and you are a lady'. His actions after this exchange show Anthony attempting to 'protect' Kate as he tells her to go inside, he does this at a point where his control appears to be at its lowest. Kate doesn't leave, but as they kiss and Anthony moves back to say he will stop, he is again showing that he is there to protect Kate from unwanted advances, that he, as a gentleman, will protect her, as a lady.
