Season's Feather

Chapter Sixty-Eight

Anthony was in the study with Delilah when Gregory came in. Delilah was going over the Silvester books and Anthony was staring at a portrait of the late Viscount - Edmund Bridgerton. Delilah glanced up when the youngest Bridgerton strolled in before the Featherington ball.

"Should you not be in bed?" Anthony asked.

Delilah looked over to the youngest Bridgerton and smiled.

Gregory looked between the two of him, "I cannot sleep."

Anthony sat up just a bit, "Is something wrong?"

"My Latin teacher believes so," Gregory responded, "He yelled at me. Thinks I am stupid. I am sorry for disturbing you both, I shall-"

"Gregory, wait." Delilah called. She patted the seat next to her, "Come sit, and talk to us."

The young boy turned around slowly but made his way in and took a seat next to Delilah. Anthony leaned over the desk to be able to speak with the youngest Bridgerton boy, "Your latin tutor does not think you are stupid. He thinks I am frightening. I ask too much of him, and of you. And of everyone, really."

Gregory looked down at his hands, Delilah brought a hand up to lightly rub his back. Gregory, the youngest of all the Bridgertons, was both the most innocent and intelligent boy she had ever met. She wasn't really close to him at all, but he and Hyacinth were never excluded from the family if they could be around.

Gregory looked back up, his eyes turning to the portrait of Edmund Bridgerton, "Am I like him at all? Or was he more like you? Father."

Delilah looked down at her hands when Anthony took a moment to configure a response. Delilah didn't think there was any difference. Anthony was a man like his father, but Anthony had also closed up very quickly after that summer the late viscount died. Gregory and Anthony were both like Edmund. His care reigned through all of the Bridgerton siblings.

"He was, um.." Anthony breathed, his eyes turning glassy, "He was like both of us, really. He had my seriousness perhaps. He shared your love of a prank."

Anthony had gotten up from his seat to stand next to Gregory. His youngest brother looked up at him with glowing eyes, "Did he?"

Anthony smiled slightly, "He once put glue in Benedict's shoes."

Delilah laughed lightly at the memory.

"I wish I could have played a prank on him." Gregory remarked.

Anthony nodded his head at the portrait. Then he turned to Gregory and nodded his head lightly, "I wish so too."

Delilah slowly got up from her chair and walked to the door. This was a moment not meant for her. This was a moment meant for Anthony and Gregory. When she got to the door though, she bumped into Violet. She could have sworn the viscountess was about to say something before Anthoys voice came through the frame, "We do not talk about him enough do we?"

Violet and Delilah exchanged a sad look.

"I do not know much about him at all." Gregory said.

"That is because I have shown up far too late for far too many things."

Delilah watched as Violet fell into the wall and she moved to wrap an arm around the Bridgertons mother. It wasn't easy. It had never been easy. It was hard after the loss of Edmund and James. It was a hard summer. A summer no one would forget.

"Your father was the best man I have ever known." Anthony's voice floated through the open door, "He was good for a laugh, of course, but he was courageous and never afraid to fight. Not just for his family, but for everything else too."

Violet reached out and took Delilah's hand. She squeezed it softly. The two women smiled at each other and quietly walked away from the study.

The Featherington Ball. Delilah had to give it to Lady Featherington, she knew how to decorate. Never did she think the yellows and greens would blend together. But all  the extra decor made it beautiful. If only the occasion weren't so somber. If only Delilah could enjoy it.

She walked in with Williamson. She wore a dark emerald green dress. Her arms coasted in matching green sleeves and on her finger was the engagement ring. Symboling her ever impending date to be wed to Anthony Bridgerton. Her eyes focused as Anthony's arm came around her waist. The Bridgertons were there. Her support was there. She took a breath. She could do this.

She could see Eloise's nervousness. She could see the tension in Williamsons shoulders. She could hear all the whispers and feel all the states. Ballrooms had never felt so small.

Delilah grasped onto Anthony's arms as they went around the room. The music was keeping her distracted from the war raging in her head about taking Williamson home and shielding him from the disdain of the ton.

"Delilah, dance with me."

She turned to Anthony, her breathing stilled, "Darling..."

"You have been frowning since we've arrived and I can't take it anymore. Dance with me." Anthony insisted.

Delilah let out a small breath but took Anthony's hand and let him lead her away. Away onto the very place everything started at the end of the day. They had begun and ended with a dance. They always had. Delilah felt her worries melting. She let the music wrap around the two of them and slowly, everything faded.