22
"And then she turns up in a man's coat with the half naked owner in tow," Cecilia told her story vividly while her cousin looked on with exasperation.
"Stop being obnoxious, Cecilia. You know nothing of that sort happened. Mr. Rossi only offered me his coat because I was cold and he was hardly naked," Delilah interjected, minding her voice in the Ballroom. Delilah and her cousin along with their friends were tucked away in a corner but it was still dim-witted to blurt out private information without the fear of it spreading like wildfire.
"He was in a vest and a half open shirt; in polite society that constitutes as undressed if not naked," Cecilia protested.
"He had been dueling," Delilah gritted her teeth after having to repeat important facts again and again.
"For your hand," Isabella interrupted wistfully.
"No, they were about to have sparring session when they found me and thought it polite to ask for my company."
"And the opportunity to bask half naked in front of you," Prudence snickered in her glove.
"I don't know how you can be so unsocial and still develop such important contacts," Mary asked looking hopeful that her friend would reveal her deepest darkest secrets but there was nothing to disclose.
"Lady Delilah," A man's voice interrupted whatever reply that was on the tip of Delilah's mouth. Her mouth stilled mid word. The rest of the girls giggled without restraint.
"Mr. Rossi, How nice it is to see you tonight," Delilah spoke after she cleared her throat.
"Why do you seem so surprised? You knew I would collect my prize sooner or later," He spoke teasingly.
"I hardly thought that comment was binding on me since I never verbally agreed to it," Delilah stated with a frown.
"You sat through our fight without a verbal disagreement either. That constitutes as a yes."
"But I do not dance," Delilah pleaded.
"Will you go back on your promise?" Mr. Rossi scolded though the smile on his face washed over her warmly.
"That wouldn't be right," Delilah answered with a sigh. The man took this as a yes and held his arm out for her which she reluctantly took after getting encouraging looks from her circle of friends. He then walked her towards the edge of the dancing floor where all the couples were waiting for the next dance to begin.
Mr. Rossi was clearly the best dancer on the floor and he knew exactly how to position his body to let his partner be revealed in the best light. Delilah knew that the lightness of her step had nothing to do with her own prowess. They talked and danced and to her surprise Delilah truly enjoyed this engagement. As he bowed her off after the end of the dance Delilah caught an elderly woman staring at her uncouthly.
"You can try all you want, placing yourself with other men but we know what broth you're cooking," A lady with a purple cape, standing next to her, commented causally.
"I don't gather what you mean," Delilah stammered, quite alarmed at the rudeness.
"I suppose what they're saying about you is right," The same elderly lady hissed meanly, "Trying your luck again, Dearie?"
"That is as far away from the truth as possible," Delilah replied back trying to suppress the urge to defend herself more vigorously. This was not the time and place to fall apart even in anger.
"Then what about the rumours? Lady Penelope did not dream up the courtyard incident. The Crown Prince actually arrived in the courtyard carrying you, on a horse," Another Lady piped.
"I was injured, My Lady, I accept that, but the manner which I reached the Place is not something I orchestrated," Delilah retorted, feeling surrounded.
"Not orchestrated," Another Lady laughed sarcastically, "We are not so naïve to believe that in this day and age a lady would not take all steps possible to lure a man. Do you wish to entrap him into a marriage?"
"Hardly," Delilah answered curtly. The blood pumping in her ears was blocking out any sounds except for her heart.
"You know what they say about unmarriagable young Ladies," The first woman spoke to her friend, voice dripping with innuendo.
"Yes, what do they say about them? I should like to know that as well," Delilah asked with slow deliberation suddenly feeling strength course up her body. She was elated that keeping company with the Prince had some given her some advantage; he had unconsciously taught her some mannerisms which were extremely good at intimidation.
"I say, what's going on over here," A woman broke through the circle, "This is a Ball not a country fair where such accumulation of traffic would be acceptable-"
"Lady Ether," Delilah bowed keeping her voice in control. To her surprise, the Lady she addressed bowed back.
"I was expecting to see you, Lady Delilah but not surrounded by this lot," Lady Ether looked extremely displeased, "I gather they were being nosy again."
"Nosy! That's preposterous, we were inquiring after this suspect young Lady who not only concealed her presence but used arts and allurements to ensnare the Prince," The eldest of the group pleaded their case.
"Enough! She wasn't keeping her presence concealed. I knew all along and so did our Royal Highness, Queen Rosemary. If our Queen did not wish to disclose this information then that only tells the world how aware she is of common gossipers. Now disperse, Ladies, this is not your Drawing room," Lady Ether looked highly disgruntled.
"This was unexpected," She spoke again after a moment of silence.
"Hardly, though I was just not expecting such a direct assault," Delilah mumbled to her shoes.
"You can join us if you like. I hope you remember that all Ladies from the Capital are not like this," Lady Ether nodded towards her own group which consisted of extremely high ranking women who possessed much grace and delicacy of manner.
"Forgive me, but I don't feel like I would be good company," Delilah answered sadly.
"I understand," Lady Ether patted her gently on the shoulder. This was a common gesture amongst friends but when a high standing Lady performed it in front of hundreds of prying eyes it was impossible to be unnoticed. Delilah bowed again and walked away from the middle of the room until she reached the door. She paused for a second remembering her cousin but decided that maybe her cousin was better off without her company.
___________________________________________________________________________
To say Damian was in a foul mood was an understatement. The dark cloud over his head was not visible but could be felt by many. He prowled through another corner glad to find it empty when he heard a soft sobbing sound. He wanted to ignore it but it sounded like a Lady and he knew he could not be so cruel.
Damian wondered if it was one of the maids he had nearly bitten the head off after she had suggested that his hair style would be unimpressive for the Lady he wanted to woo. He had angrily informed her that there was no such Lady. But he had been in a rage in front of his staff so many times that there would be no reaction to any furniture being thrown about so he discounted the possibility.
The Prince looked for the source and found himself defeated until he remembered a small enclosed balcony that could only be accessed by a hidden staircase behind a false panel. Damian pressed it gingerly and three steps were revealed. He plodded down them and nearly had a seizure after seeing who was currently occupying the balcony. How as it that the Lady who had occupied his thoughts continuously for the whole day was standing in front of him looking utterly woe begotten? Damian could only guess that it must divine intervention.
"Lady Delilah," He stammered feeling like he had been kicked in the gut. She was wiping her face with her handkerchief but Damian had already seen the tears.
"I am sorry to have interrupted," Damian uttered.
"I was just leaving. I thought it would be best if I go back to my room," Delilah mumbled stuffily.
"It would be best if you come along with me. It is not safe for Ladies to be out and about all alone at this hour," Damian suggested and held his hand up for her to take. He helped her out from her hiding place gently.
Delilah tried to pull her gloved hand away but he held onto her like she would escape the moment he let go. She wondered when the question about why she was upset would come forth but the Prince had used his discretion and remained silent.
"That is my Grandfather," The Prince motioned towards a good looking man wearing a green cap and Delilah suddenly remembered a conversation about this very painting eons ago with Queen Rosemary.
"I know," She replied softly without looking up.
"How is it that you're acquainted with so much in this Palace? You even know the best places to hide," He asked her bending his head a little.
"You forget I have already been to this Palace. How is it that you expect me to have attended the last Ball without entering this Palace," She replied bitterly.
"Ah, that ill fated Ball," Damian muttered to himself, "Who can forget that."
"Ill fated indeed," Delilah repeated with a nod which made Damian even more curious. He wondered what could have happened so many years ago that could leave her so unhappy. She could deny it all she wanted but she was not completely content; her smile would often stop at her mouth and not reach her eyes at all.
Her grey eyes were rimmed red and Damian wanted to ask her about her predicament but paused only because he was certain she did not think him as a friend or a confidant. He was probably a nuisance to her.
He continued to observe her empty eyes and he felt himself pondering over her features. She was pretty, there was no denying it. She had a slender face; a small nose and lips that looked thin only because she kept them pursed in a straight line. He had joked with her previously about her skin being like milk but that wasn't far from the truth. She was pale enough for that compliment and his traitorous mind wondered what it would feel like to let his bare hand gently glide over her smooth cheek. Damian stifled a laugh as he imagined himself being brutally slaughtered by Lady Delilah. She was soft in her manners but he knew she could hold her own if she wanted to.
He was just about to break the silence when a panting servant raced towards them from an intersecting corner.
"Your Highness, your presence is required at the Infirmary immediately," The attendant breathed loudly as if he had been running all over the castle looking for him.
"Is it-" Damian paused and then gave the corridors a quick glance before looking back at the servant.
"Your Highness, I am not aware of the circumstances but it is vital that you go to the Royal infirmary immediately," The attendant stammered, shifting his weight from left to right.
Damian nodded and Delilah felt his hand tremble before his grip tightened on her hand almost painfully. She tried to pull her hand away but he held on tight.
"We must leave immediately," The Prince spoke without looking at her and she started. Even the servant seemed to have just noticed their linked hands because his eyes widened considerably.
"I-Is it appropriate," Delilah uttered quietly.
"You are part of this now because you know," He answered quietly but each of his words was fiercely bitten out, "and I just might need you."
"I don't have the training or the-" Delilah tried to protest worried her amateur interest in herbs could be mistakenly be perceived as expert opinion.
"I don't need a healer," Damian's voice reached a lower timbre as he spoke, looking away and that was when it hit her about what the Prince really needed; he did not wish to enter the infirmary alone in case there was bad news to be heard.
"I shall accompany you, then."
"Thank you," He said so softly that even the servant hanging onto their every word would not have been able to hear it. She nodded and the Prince dismissed the servant before marching towards the infirmary with Delilah in tow. There were cries coming from the room that Delilah was now familiar with and the pair paused as they heard them. Prince Damian took a step back but he straightened his shoulders immediately and marched onwards, braving himself for the worst still gripping tightly onto the Lady. She had no choice but to follow him in.
"My brother, my poor dear brother," A man wailed loudly and one attendant rudely put his fingers in his ears to avoid the sound.
"Sir, sir, there is hope yet; The King has survived whatever fit that descended upon him and we believe he is out of danger," The healer struggled to be heard by the sobbing man.
"He has?" Damian finally let Delilah's hand go and walked in to face the healer.
"Indeed, your Highness, your Lady friend's techniques have been helping us," The healer smiled at Delilah who was still lurking at the door trying to remain unnoticed. The room was full of healers and attendants but even in the rush of people it was impossible to not notice Queen Rosemary sitting in one corner looking tired yet dignified.
"Damian, I am so glad you came," The Queen wearied, "Your uncle is wretchedly distraught and I don't know what to do."
"Uncle, please control yourself," Damian uttered harshly sounding like he had no sympathy for the man.
The Queen eyed Delilah from her end of the room and nodded at her, indicating that she join her. Delilah stumbled forward with cheeks steadily growing redder as various members of the healer's working group looked at her with fevered curiosity.
"Prince Damian was escorting me to my room," Delilah offered quietly, realizing how odd her presence must seem especially at this time of night.
"I can guess Damian dragged you into this," The Queen replied before Delilah's explanation could be stretched any further.
"I told him to stay away from you," The Queen continued sardonically, "I should have known my son would have done the opposite. It is in his nature."
"We merely met in the corridor and he insisted he escort me back since I was alone," Delilah explained trying to take the blame away from the man. For the corner of her eye she saw the Prince's uncle being coaxed away from the King's bed by the Prince. The Queen only smiled back serenely.
"Father is out of danger," Damian spoke to them after seeing his uncle off. His lips twitched with a suppressed smile looking pleased that his father could still be counted amongst the living.
"I was quite worried when your father started seizing while your uncle was visiting. I nearly thought I lost him," Queen Rosemary whispered with a trembling chin.
"Oh, mother," Damian replied and took her hand comfortingly, "I wish I could cancel this stupid event and sit by his side till he regains his strength."
"You know what you have to do, son. It is your duty," The Queen slowly pulled her hand away. The Prince was startled by her sternness but he knew what she was talking about. He had an obligation to provide an heir for the throne and the Ball was the only way to go about it without diving into a marriage with an unknown woman. At least he would have a month to judge and observe and make his choice.
"I- I think I should be going," Delilah entreated.
"Damian, please escort the Lady back to her rooms. I know you have better manners," The Queen chided in a tone that annoyed him but he offered his arm to Lady Delilah nevertheless. She took it with a quick look towards the Queen. After a ceremonial bow the pair left the room and walked back quietly. Damian wondered what he could say to shatter the piercing silence but he was for the first time in his entire life at a loss for words.
"Isn't it odd that the time you were targeted by the mysterious archer your father was in the throes of his worst fit yet?" Delilah pondered, finally breaking the silence, "Is it not possible this occurrence was more of a coincidence then you thought?"
Damian's eyes rounded as he realized how much the timings had coincided. While the speculation amongst his advisors had been varied and sensible they had not managed to make this connection.
"The timing is indeed suspect but we have already gone over every possible mode of protection for my father. His diet is critically analyzed each day and we have multiple tasters who test every meal. Foul play could not possibly be the cause," Damian determined though the seed of suspicion still persisted in his own mind. Delilah nodded though she still looked unconvinced.
"Will you be coming to the lunch tomorrow?" Damian asked her politely as he dropped her off at her door. She nodded and when he turned around he could not keep the smile off his face at the thought of seeing her again so soon.
