Rejected

Chapter 22

Delilah watched the misty pattern on the square window pane slowly grow as rain continued to fall with no signs of abating. Through the glass the hues of greens and blues enticingly beckoned for her to leave the room but being next to her cousin was far more important and besides she couldn't have moved from her seated position even if her life depended on it. Her nerves wouldn't let her. Delilah's grey eyes followed Cecilia and her friends talk animatedly amongst themselves, gasping and laughing at appropriate intervals. Cecilia was uncharacteristically the most subdued out of the group but that was to be expected. She was still shaken from her encounter and Delilah easily spied her trembling hand.

"You beat up a grown man with a stick. How much more remarkable can you get," Mary said, her voice dripping with obvious awe as she played with the large engagement ring on her finger.

"It was nothing. I wasn't even thinking, only reacting," Cecilia spoke with her eyes firmly fixed on her silent cousin, "I have been lucky today."

"Lucky or not you had better rest. Those bruises are not going to go away on their own," Isabella smiled, eyes crinkled, "And I will inform Lady Demetria that you shan't be attending her soiree tomorrow. She will understand, of course."

"No, she will not miss any event after today," Delilah spoke up, abruptly, breaking out of her reverie.

"Why ever not?" Prudence blurted before Cecilia could say anything.

"We were with her and we saw her come out of the woods safely but the others in the palace have not. You girls may not know what common gossip can do to a person's reputation but I do. They will slander her to bits if she does not make an appearance, assuming the worst," Delilah said firmly though she could not look up. The fear that they would read her whole story through her face and eyes was overwhelming her.

"I would have gone to the rest of the events even if my name was not at stake but you are right. My kidnapping is so fantastical an event in real life; I wonder what more they could add to spice it up," Cecilia smirked, as if daring the imaginary gossipmongers to make up something more interesting.

"Of course, but you still need to rest, at least today," Isabella nodded and ushered the rest of the girls out of the door after long hugs. Cecilia picked up a leftover drink from the silver tray while Delilah was still lost in her thoughts with her fists clenched in her lap.

"Is there something bothering you?" Cecilia asked conversationally after a few moments of silence.

"I should be asking you this question," Delilah replied with a fleeting smile.

"You needn't since I am well as I can be. I am more concerned about you. I know you would have been worried."

"I was but," Delilah suddenly paused remembering who she was about to mention, "I- I trusted the guards to do a good job."

"I expect you created a scene and the Prince had to physically manhandle you into submission," Cecilia laughed but Delilah's face only turned even more sour, "I can't say I dislike the man but I harbour no secret love for him either. When I saw him calling out for me- I can say I have never been more relieved in my life."

"Understandable. He was the first person you saw after your ordeal."

"No, any other guard or noble could not have comforted me the way he did. He held me and told me that he would protect me almost like Edward would have in his place," Cecilia smiled softly though it vanished with the appearance of anguish in her cousin's eyes, "What is wrong? Did something happen?"

"No," Delilah bit her lip and looked away, "I-I'm sorry, my composure has been torn to bits."

"Please," Cecilia pleaded, "Tell me what ails you. I can see it in your eyes that something bothers you that has nothing to do with my predicament."