Season's Feather

Chapter Sixty-Six

Williamson avoided Kate. He avoided it all. How could he go? How could he face her? Face her and see his mother? See where he failed. He couldn't do it. He could not go. So he stayed away. Hidden behind months of work he had put aside. Even though there was no work to be done. He and his siblings managed the estate with one retired maid who refused to leave.

Miss Georgina, his mothers handmaiden.

He couldn't stop thinking about everything. It had been a stormy day and Williamson had gone to his fathers study as per usual. Thomas and Felicity were with his mother, or so he thought they were.

Thomas and Felicity were alone in the drawing room. Felicity had seen their mother sitting under the willow in the wide expanse of land they owned. It was known later that she was crying. Felicity had gone out and found their mother dead from a head wound after a low and cautioned branch fell.

She had recklessly put herself to her death just as Kate had done.

But what would Williamson do if he had lost Kate? What would he have done? He would have taken Felicity and Thomas and retreated back to the country. No wife. He could not have a wife knowing the woman he loved was dead. That was too much. To marry someone in heartbreak. That was cruel.

But that thought was scary along with the rest of his emotions. So he hid. Until Felicity came in.

"Williamson." She breathed.

"I will join the family in the drawing room soon."

"Williamson."

"Felicity-"

"Kate is awake."

Williamson paused what he was doing and looked up at his sister. He steeled his eyes as the emotions threatened to swell, "What?"

"We've been informed that she has awoken." Felicity smiled and laughed softly, "Delilah is rushing to send word to the Bridgertons."

Williamson felt the relief and happiness course through him. But on the outside he simply nodded and wrung his hands out over his lap. But that didn't help. The past week came bubbling over and soon the tears were coming out of his eyes. He breathed in and leaned into his hands.

Felicity looked at him. Her smile dropped and she came to hug him. She knew. She had thought about it herself. She thought about it in wake of Thomas. Her arm cradled her brother, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what happened to us."

Williamson took a breath of air, "I cannot see her."

"You can." Felicity whispered, "Love is worth it. Love brought Delilah to us. Love brought us here. Love brought us back together. Real love is worth that and Williamson, me and Thomas have never seen you this happy. Don't lose her, Williamson. You cannot lose her."