Season's Feather

Chapter Sixty-Nine

There on the dance floor was a young Anthony and Delilah. Dancing to music nobody could hear. In an empty ballroom. They were at Aubrey Hall. It was a beautiful night. But instead of meeting at the window, Anthony took Delilah's hand and led her to the ballroom.

He led her through the different steps and together they warped the place into a shimmering event that would leave everyone speechless. They would leave everyone speechless. The gliding feather of the season and the bachelor viscount.

"I am happy here." Delilah whispered, "I did not think I would be happy for a long time."

"You're not the only one." Anthony smiled.

He took her through the different pools of spilled light and twirled her around until she was giggling and sliding around out of breath. They both ended up at a window, not theirs, but a window nonetheless.

They just smiled at each other. That's when Delilah fell in love.

— & —

In the Featherington ballroom, Delilah had danced three rounds of music with the love of her life. And even though they weren't at a window, they were together. And that is what made everything special. She was smiling and breathless, but never had she ever been happier.

Anthony looked down at her. Love shining in his eyes and chuckled. He held up three fingers, "How many?"

Delilah cocked her head with a dead expression, "This again?"

"How many?"

"Three?"

Anthony spun his hand around and added another finger. He cocked his head with a mocking smirk and shook his head slowly, "Four."

"Anthony Bridgerton." Delilah laughed. But her smile stayed, and her body language was no longer tense. Then the music ended.

In walked Lady Danbury and the Sharmas. Delilah looked over at them and then curled into Anthony. Because truth be told, she hadn't expected Kate Sharma to walk in with her sister. She had not expected her to be here. But, something clicked, the way it always did when Williamson and Kate were in the same room.

She watched the two sisters and then laughed quietly when they went to the dance floor with each other. Her eyes went wide at the sight and she shook her head. They always had a way of shocking everyone.

Especially one certain lord who was fighting to keep himself from approaching Kate Sharma. But, a man could only stand for so long. When she was alone, Williamson decided to approach her. Whether that was a stupid or perfect idea he didn't know. What he did know though, was that he was irrevocably in love with Kate Sharma. And nothing could change that.

"Miss Sharma," He nodded, "I was just on my way outside."

Kate didn't respond.

He stilled his beating heart, "We should continue to keep our distance between us, in light of the..." He stopped himself. He was stupid. This was stupid. She had made up her mind. She was leaving and he would be alone to find some boring, monochrome-

"Perhaps we should not. Perhaps the spectators might take pity on me. I was on the dance floor days after a terrible injury to the head. Perhaps I needed someone to steady me. Make sure I was alright. Perhaps you were the first person I found." Kate said.

Williamson felt a smile take over. He rocked on his heels and kept the beating in his heart as stable as he could. This woman. This mad, arrogant, amazing woman. The air around them was stilled - as it always was when she was around - but it was lighter. No lies, no deception.

He smiled down at her and the two laughed quietly.

"Are you going to ask me to dance?" Kate asked, "One last time?"

"Are you going to say yes?" Williamson asked softly. But he reached down anyway and took her gloved hand. Leading her to the floor and taking a position amongst all of the others joining in for this dance.

And there was the next dazzling couple. The Duke and Daphne Bridgerton, Anthony Bridgerton and Delilah Silvester, and now, Williamson Aevery and Kate Sharma.    

The music began. And the world washed away from Williamson until all that was left in front of him was Kate Sharma. But it wasn't enough to keep his head from turning and seeing all of the other members leave the floor. And all eyes on them.

"Do you want to stop?" Kate asked.

"Just keep looking at me." Williamson whispered, "No one else matters."

And no one else did matter. Because on the floor was one of the most prized couples of the season. And even though the duke and duchess weren't there, they might as well have been. Because everyone was imagining all three couples together, even if Anthony and Delilah weren't currently dancing. Everyone could see the most prized relationships the social season had brung.

It was beautiful. It was everything everyone wanted. A love match. A true and solid love match.

"A scandal," Delilah heard Lady Cowper whisper.

"Is that why the sisters' wedding was abandoned?" Someone asked her.

Delilah felt annoyed. She was going to say something when the queen spoke up.

"Oh, child, no," The queen said, "That wedding did not happen because I simply changed my mind. A fact Lady Whistledown must have somehow missed."

Delilah wrapped her arm around Anthony's arm and stepped up into view, "I think they look beautiful, Anthony, what about you?"

Anthony looked down at her and smiled, "They remind me of us."

The queen smiled at them and then looked out, "They are most certainly with the other beautiful couples this ton has witnessed. Are they not?"

Delilah felt a source of amusement as everyone rushed to agree with the queen. The queen looked around and then frowned, "Then why is no one else dancing? Lord Bridgerton please escort your soon to be bride to the dance floor and while you go please let me know the date for the wedding. I would love to watch the union of one of the best successes."

Anthony smiled and nodded at the queen before taking her to the floor along with a few other couples. But it didn't matter. All of the eyes were on one couple. Williamson and Kate were in their own little world. The air around them had stilled and created a wall around them.

Williamson couldn't kiss her here even though he wanted to. The music stopped and they moved a part. Though his eyes never left her.

"Everyone, outside. I have a surprise for you all!" Lady Featherington announced.

People moved all around them. Delilah came with Anthony and nodded at the two of them. The queen came as well. But, Williamson and Kate didn't move. One hand clasped between them and eyes locked. There was no more excuse to be made. Love, Williamson was in love.

Kate let go then and joined the crowd. Williamson stilled his heart, and followed.