Season's Feather

Chapter Fifty-One

When the wedding began. Delilah was sitting next to Anthony. When she heard footsteps walking down the aisle, she did not turn her head until Williamson was in front of her bowing before the queen. Felicity - who was beside her - didn't look up from her hands.

Williamson stood and took his place at the altar, Thomas - his best man - stood behind him. He looked at Anthony who smiled faintly, Delilah who wasn't smiling at all, and Felicity who didn't even look at him. He released a breath.

His eyes turned to the aisle where Kate had begun her walk down. She was in her bridesmaid dress. A beautiful lilac that contrasted her skin beautifully. Williamson's heart sped up. He had been so good about not bringing her up in conversation. He had been behaving around her in person. And now, when it wasn't the time to lose his control, it was slipping from his grasp.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Felicity look up and watch Kate's figure as she bowed before the queen and took her place at the altar. Williamson let his head turn slightly to look at her before looking back at the crowd.

Then Edwina walked down. The room stood as the bride's music began to play. She was escorted by her mother. Williamson felt himself smile, but it dropped quickly. This was his duty, it was all this wedding could ever be.

Delilah watched him with a neutral expression. Her hand clasping Anthony's. She watched as Edwina and her mother bowed before the queen. Then Lady Mary passed her daughter on to her future.

Williamson guided her up to stand in front of him, "Miss Edwina you look beautiful."

She smiled, "Thank you, my lord. I am happy you are pleased."

The archbishop seated the crowd, and the air stilled.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God and in the face of this congregation to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. And, therefore, it is not by any to be enterprise, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, and wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites like brute beasts that have no understanding."

Williamson tried his hardest to focus on the bride in front of him. But his eyes kept wandering to Kate. The bishop's voice faded next to him, Edwina faded from in front of him, and all that was left was Kate.

Then, there in front of him was not Edwina, but Kate. Kate Sharma in her wedding dress. There was no crowd, there was only the beautiful woman in front of him. They were getting married. They were getting married?

No, they weren't. Williamson looked towards the crowd, it was empty. Why was it empty if he was getting married? He turned back to Kate in front of him. And smiled, he was getting married to Kate Sharma.

"My lord..."

Williamson was getting married to Kate-

"My Lord."

Williamson snapped out of his daze and looked over the tense crowd. His eyes flashed to Kate. He stared. Not noticing Edwina peer behind her to see his gaze pointed on her sister. He hadn't noticed that Felicity was looking with her jaw dropped, and that her hand was clutching Delilah's and that Delilah was clutching Anthony's hand with her other one.

Edwina looked at Williamson, "The archbishop would like you to repeat, my lord, after him."

Williamson nodded, "Yes, of course."

The Archbishop looked at him, "I, Lord Williamson Aevery..."

"I, Lord Williamson Aevery..."

Then a small clamp sounded on the floor. Williamson turned his eyes to one of the bangles that was on Kate's wrist. He bent down at the same time she did and reached. Meeting her eye, he clasped the piece of jewelry and put it back into her hand.

Delilah and Felicity watched as they continued to look at each other. They squeezed each other's hand tighter.

Williamson stood up along Kate. He cleared his throat and returned to the altar.

Edwina looked between them. Delilah could see her eyes flashing. Delilah let the rest of the chapel fade out as pieces clicked into place for Edwina. She looked over at Anthony who frowned at her, the whole chapel knew by now if they were smart.

Williamson looked at Miss Edwina, "Miss Edwina are you-"

"I need a moment!" Edwina yelled. Then she ran out of the chapel. Delilah turned to watch her run, Felicity's eyes were on her brother. Then a second and third set of shoes ran down the altar. Delilah turned her head in time to see the two remaining Sharma's chase after the bride.

She looked at Felicity who stared at her brother. She looked at Thomas who clasped his brother's shoulder. She looked at Anthony who was whispering with his mother.

Dear lord, She thought, What a terribly eventful wedding.

It was not long after that Williamson ran out of the chapel, his siblings, and Delilah had followed him. Anthony wanted to come, but Delilah insisted he keep his family together. There was clutter everywhere. Although, he did insist he would meet them once the Bridgertons were situated.

"Williamson-" Thomas called but he was ignored.

Felicity put a hand out to reach her brother, "Williamson!"

They were both ignored. Delilah was slightly behind the both of them but before she could call out he had slammed his way into the groom's quarters. She held her tongue until all of them entered the room.

"Do you have any idea what you have just done?" Felicity yelled.

Thomas looked between both of them, "Miss Edwina is merely agitated. She will come to her senses."

Felicity laughed in a rage at her brother, "Yes. Miss Edwina does seem to have a delicate constitution, care to state any more of the obvious Thomas?"

"Felicity." Williamson snapped.

"Perhaps we should allow Williamson a little respite." Delilah said, "Williamson, is that what you need right now? You are clutching your head like it might expose."

Williamson nodded his head and looked between the three of his siblings before settling on Felicity, "Precisely."

Then he walked out. And as he walked out, Anthony walked in. Looking at the three of them. Delilah, Felicity, and Anthony shared a look. It didn't take long for Thomas to speak up, "All three of you know something."

"We do not," Felicity objected.

"Felicity we may be one season away from a debut but you are still my sister. Tell me what you and the two guests know."

"They know more than me," Felicity cried looking at Anthony and Delilah, "They have been here to see it happen. I merely put things together from the letters he sent us."

Thomas and Felicity turned to the engaged couple with pointed looks. Thomas stepped forward slightly and looked between them, "Tell me what you know."

That was all it took for Delilah and Anthony to explain everything. By the end of it, the Aevery siblings jaw's were on the floor. Felicity was shocked at the extra information she hadn't even known about. Thomas was shocked about everything.

"He loves the bride's sister?" Thomas asked.

"He almost kissed the bride's sister?" Felicity all but yelled.

Anthony looked at her, "Don't yell. We don't need to make this situation more precarious than it is."

Thomas paced, "Williamson has always been this way. Ever since me and Felicity were young-"

"That's what I told Delilah." Felicity interjected, "But, I did not know it was more than just what he wrote."

Delilah looked between both of the siblings before falling back into Anthony, "Well, it seems that the truth has come to rear its ugly head."

Then a footman came in to lead them to the garden. The four looked at each other before joining the rest of the ton on what the queen declared a 'small setback'.