Season's Feather

Chapter Thirty-Nine

"Why are you so distressed?"

Williamson groaned, why was she always here? Why was Kate Sharma at every single corner? He paced and breathed heavily.

His eyes looked up at her, "When will you leave?". 

This doesn't matter. At least, that's what Williamson was telling himself. "Immediately?" He asked, "Once your sister is married?"

Kate nodded, "I presume so, yes."

Williamson took a breath and paced harder. Why did this matter to him? Why was this setting him off so much? It doesn't matter. He looked over at Kate, "And you'll not concern yourself with finding a match of your own?"

"Why would that concern you?" Kate asked.

He scoffed, "It seems to me you will find any excuse you can to keep me away from your sister. That is it, is it not? You simply do not like me."

"Of course I do not like you-"

"Then tell me why."

She didn't respond right away. He hadn't even noticed he was standing in front of her. His eyes were wide, his arms splayed out. His mind was reeling - he didn't even need this answer. Williamson had his blessing. Why was he so concerned with Kate's post affairs? 

"Have I done something to you?" Williamson asked, "Why is it that you dislike me so?"

"Because..." Kate breathed, "Because you vex me!"

Williamson looked at her with wide eyes. That was it? That was her reasoning. He laughed, "And what is it, do you think, you do to me?"

Kate looked him in the eye, "What? What do I do to you?"

Williamson shook his head and took slow steps towards her. He had lost every sense of self control the moment he laid eyes on her. He shook his head with a deep, guttural laugh, "You hate me."

Kate nodded, "Yes. I hate you."

Lord Aevery looked at Miss Sharma for a moment. Deep breaths, in and out. He was trying to reign in the last of any self control he could find. But, there was none. Kate Sharma had ripped out every sense of control Williamson had, "I am a gentleman,"

"And your heart is with my sister." Kate breathed.

But, they both knew that wasn't quite true. It was - possibly - not true at all.

"And my heart," Williamson whispered, "Is with your sister."

Except, that his head was falling closer to her. His breath was coasting her face, "Say you do not care for me. Tell me you feel nothing, and I will walk away."

Kate couldn't say anything. Kate couldn't think for herself.

Williamson was so impossibly close.

Then Delilah walked in. Kate and Williamson separated and Delilah looked at them with wide eyes. Williamson walked away quickly muttering apologies. Wiping a hand down his face. He began pacing again.

Kate turned around, "Delilah,"

Delilah couldn't say anything though. She turned quickly and ran out. Williamson followed her, he had to explain. He didn't want to upset her, or anyone else. She just needed to hear him out. Delilah just needed to listen.

She walked fast. Her mind was running, "What is it with me and stumbling upon private moments," She found an alcohol cart and poured herself a glass of brandy. She downed it in one go. The door opened and she turned to Williamson walking in quickly.

"It is not what you think." He said hurriedly.

Her eyes flashed over to him, "I am trying very much not to think about it at all."

"Delilah-"

"You are courting her sister." She exclaimed.

Williamson stopped next to her, "And I have every intention of bringing it to a point."

Delilah looked at him incredulously. He was still going to marry Miss Edwina? After the moment in the library? It was clear to her - the suspicion she had from the beginning of the season - Williamson wanted Kate Sharma. She frowned at him "Why?"

"Why?" He scoffed, "Because I am courting her. Because I've decided."

"And last year, though you don't know this, Daphne decided she would marry a prince. For clarification, she did not marry a prince. Until me and Anthony caught her and Simon in a very dark garden at the Trowbridge ball. The circumstances are extremely similar, Williamson!"

"Similar only in that I am a man and Miss Sharma is a woman." Williamson argued.

Delilah smiled tensely, "And you were alone. Quite close to one another."

"Only there is one significant difference," Williamson said, "According to your story, Miss Daphne and the Duke did something. Whereas with Miss Sharma, nothing happened."

Delilah scoffed at him. She wondered, if it had been seconds later, what position would they have been in? Her eyes fixed pointedly on Williamson, "It is clear that you have affection for Miss Sharma. The two of you cannot stay away from each other."

"Because she is aggravating!"

"Or," Delilah suggested, "is it what I just witnessed?"

Williamson didn't reply. Instead he filled his own glass of brandy and downed it. Delilah sighed as she looked at him. Why couldn't he see it himself? Better yet, why didn't he allow himself to act upon it?

"There is obviously something between you."

Williamson shook his head in denial.

"I know that this is not as you would wish it," Delilah breathed, "But you must be honest with yourself. Because, one way or another, these kinds of feelings always have a way of coming to the surface. I have watched and lived it."

"And what kind of feelings are those?"

"Love."