Season's Feather

Chapter Thirty-One

In the study. Williamson sat. Then Kate walked in. He looked at her, she looked at him. His anger got the best of him. He threw down the quill he had and stormed over to the bookcase. When she was about to say something he raised his hand.

"Don't, I don't want to argue."

She paused but said nothing. The more Williamson looked at her, the more he was having trouble discerning the one thing he had been fighting himself on. Every conversation they had, drove him mad. He couldn't propose last night, because of her.

Because she was the one he wanted, and he couldn't permit that.

"This is all your fault." He whispered.

"What?" Kate breathed.

He shook his head. Grasping on the shelf to steady himself. He looked back over his shoulder.

Eye contact was all it took to be swept away in her gaze. He pushed off the bookcase and walked over to her, one slow step at a time. Until he stood over her, looking down. Her face inches from hers.

He could kiss her, marry her, make her his wife now and be happy. She would be the mother to his children, the Lady of the Aevery estate. She would help Felicity make her debut. She would help Thomas find a suitable wife. She would make him happy. They would have as many children as they wanted and would live happily.

Lady Kate- No, he cursed at himself inwardly.

But that one mental thought was all it took for the two of them to race apart. It was too late, though, something had already shifted in their relationship.

"If the Ancient Greeks were members of the ton, they might have added to their Olympic pentathlon one additional event. The hosting of a country visit.

"This, of course, is the week of Lady Bridgerton's and the late Lady Mary Slilvester's annual Hearts and Flowers ball, the year's most coveted invitation in the country, an no event better designed to show the might and mettle of its hostesses."

Delilah was walking with Violet and Daphne as they prepared for tonight's event. It used to be planned instead with Mary, but with her death, Delilah took over her mothers usual duties.

"Mrs. Partridge requires large amounts of sugar for her morning tea, and Lord Abernathy, he will refuse to eat any meat that is not well-cooked, while Lady Abernathy will only consume her meat bloody, I am told," Violet listed, "And make sure you put an extra blanket on Lord Weston's bed. I hear he feels the cold."

Delilah walked into the foyer where a maid walked up to her with the flowers. This was Mary's role once upon a time. Her focus was on decorations.

"The roses and carnations have arrived, Lady Silvester."

Delilah looked over the bouquets, "You may wish to add in lilac. Symbolic of first love. While you see to it, make the bouquets even bigger."

Violet and Daphne looked at her with admiration. Violet smiled widely, "Mary taught you well."

Delilah sighed, "Well, if there is to be a proposal - before the end of the week, no less - Williamson will need all the help he can get."

Daphne smiled at her best friend and took her hand, "You are doing wonderfully, 'Lilah."