Season's Feather

Chapter Forty

That night there was a storm. Delilah couldn't sleep. She walked out and found Kate standing on the terrace. She quietly took a position next to her. Kate looked over at her new presence, then looked back out at the country.

Delilah took a breath, "Before I could even be considered a child, my father made a deal. It was an arranged marriage. If I did not marry by the end of my first season as a debutante, I would be married off to a man waiting. Do you know who I was supposed to marry, Kate?"

The Sharma sister shook her head.

Delilah looked at her, "I was supposed to marry Williamson. No, do not look at me like that. Anthony knew about it. It was over before it could take effect. Do you know why?"

Kate shook her head, her focus now on the Lady beside her.

"Because Anthony acted on his feelings instead of hiding them. Granted, it took finding out about my pre-arranged marriage for him to act, but he did. Now we're engaged and waiting on our marriage license."

Kate looked away, "I fear there will be no proposal from Lord Aevery. I fear I have ruined it for Edwina."

"Because you two 'cannot get along'?" Delilah asked.

"Yes."

Delilah scoffed, "And why, you are so close to getting what you want? A marriage, a happy marriage, for your sister. Edwina also clearly wants to marry him, so why are you getting in the way?"

"I do not know," She whispered, "I do not know what to do. I'm so afraid to just love him because my sister already does, and I cannot break my sister's heart."

"There is only one thing to do." Delilah said, "Be honest with your sister, and with yourself. You must tell Edwina how you feel."

Kate steeled herself, "About my...dislike...for the Lord?"

Delilah laughed, "If you have replaced love for dislike to help yourself sleep at night, then fine. But, you must tell her about whatever it is you feel. I am going inside. Don't stay out here for long, or you will catch a chill."

She turned and walked inside. Delilah needed rest, the storm be damned.

"Dearest gentle reader, while much occurred at the Bridgerton country visit, this author feels not all is fit to print. Especially when so much is already known by far to many members of the ton. But, if you thought we would reach the end of this journey without this trusted author finding a truly delectable morsel of gossip, then you are sorely mistaken."

It was the final day at Aubrey Hall. Everyone was leaving today. The festivities were over, and Delilah could not wait to get back into the city. However, she couldn't lie as she arranged everything to be taken down to the Silvester carriage. Williamson was antsy. He was pacing.

He ran off some time ago, and now she was walking down to the exit.

"While Prudence Featherington seems to have secured her match, it was not the only occurrence of note."

Williamson was going to do it. He was going to do it now, and it would be the first step to accomplishing what he set out to London originally for. He ran through the halls, a leather box bumping around in his pocket.

When he got to the exit he saw Miss Edwina about to enter her carriage.

"Wait," He called.

He walked over. In the corner of his eye he could see the Bridgertons and Delilah. But he strode forward with quick steps, his eyes focused on the target. His task at hand is clear.

"Might I speak with you?" He called.

Kate stepped forward and nodded her head, and as much as he wanted to - he knew his goal. Damn his feelings, "That was meant for Miss Edwina."

The younger Sharma sister looked at him, "My lord?"

Right then and there he got down on one knee before her, pulled out the leather box, and displayed the Aevery ring. A soft golden band with pearls and diamonds. It was beautiful, simplistic, the ring of his mother and many Aevery wives before him.

And now, it would be Miss Edwina's. It was going to be her engagement ring.

"Miss Edwina Sharma," Williamson said, "Will you marry me?"

"Yes." Edwina breathed. She had tears in her eyes, she was breathing heavily, but she was smiling, "Yes! Yes! I shall be your lady, I shall marry you."

Williamson smiled and took the ring from its box. He slid it onto her finger. He was engaged to Miss Edwina Sharma.

"Williamson Aevery is now betrothed to Miss Edwina Sharma. Victory indeed."

Delilah stood in shock. Anthony was beside her, his arm around her waist. He looked down at her, Daphne looked at her as well. But, Delilah was frowning. Her eyes were furrowed, and she had to hold her tongue. There was no place for objections here, if there was any place for objections at all.