31
"See, why don't you stay with me. You could be my advisor and find me a pretty girl and I could save you from the wind," Damian hooked his hand around hers and headed towards the same shady grove he had found Delilah and Rossi standing under. People around them were scampering about like headless chickens trying to avoid getting wet.
"I really don't think I have the grit and determination for such a momentously difficult task," Delilah couldn't resist jesting as she was pulled under a tree right before the rain, that was only dripping half heartedly before, now decided to rush down eager to become one with the ground. While the shade the pair now took refuge under wasn't water resistant it still allowed protection against the brunt of the storm.
"I am not that unlovable. I'm sure there must be someone in this kingdom who could love me," Damian wriggled his eyebrows hoping his tone was as nonchalant as possible. He unconsciously positioned himself so he shielded his lady friend. The trickle of rainfall fell heavily on his head, mingled with his hair and finally slid down his neck making him twitch uncomfortably.
"As much as I admire your enthusiasm I assure you that this fabled love is not as pretty as poetry paints it," Delilah replied with a small cynical smile of her own.
"You have been in love? I cannot say I have had the pleasure," Damian spoke roughly and coughed. His heartbeat's steady thrum overpowered his hearing until all he could hear was the heavy rainfall and the thud thud thud of his heart. His skin felt frozen while his insides were fiery hot; it was an unpleasant mix to feel and for a moment he thought the nausea would take over.
"I fell in love with a figure etched into a painting," she uttered as if far away with a voice that was both fond and slightly sad, "but then I was too naive to know paintings could not tell you a man's worth."
"And did you ever find out his worth?"
"You mean did I ever meet him? Yes, I did but I do not think about my folly any more. It is unwise to think about someone without hope of reciprocation," Delilah smiled weakly. Damian didn't know how to respond. Should he say sorry even though he felt wickedly pleased for reasons beyond his understanding? His heart's solitary race against an unknown enemy slowed down in pace though his stomach was still churning. Before Damian could open his mouth to say something stupid he was interrupted in the form of a very short girl.
"Delilah, Prince Damian, have you seen Cecilia?" Isabella panted nearly running the man over. Damian caught his breath but unfortunately two more bodies thumped into him nearly sending him to the ground.
"We've been looking for Cecilia everywhere and we can't find her," Mary's pretty pink bonnet now hung limply and wetly over her forehead as she blubbered tearfully.
"And then we remembered she left with you," Prudence poked Damian in the chest angrily, "So," poke "where" poke "is" poke "she?"
"Hey! Contrary to popular belief my rock solid muscles are not constructed from metal and stone," The Prince winced doubling over letting his damp hair fall in his face. He shook them like an animal hoping to get rid of the water sticking to it.
"Why was she with you?" Delilah asked with a tone that seemed too quiet and sure enough he spied signs of panic in her eyes immediately.
"I needed her... opinion on a pressing matter. But that is irrelevant. I left her safe and sound after which I encountered you," Damian told her.
"She must be somewhere nearby. It is in these groves that we found one another," Delilah looked around impatiently as if hoping to find Cecilia playing hide and go seek under a bush."Indeed, there must a rational explanation for her absence. She might have found another friend to mingle with or perhaps she decided to make use of the food stall my men have haphazardly set up," Damian wracked his brain trying to conjure different plausible scenarios; her growing wings and flying off into the heavens was a thought he decided against vocalizing.
"We have searched from corner to corner and there is no sign of her; losing her should not be this easy," Isabella tugged at her wet, dark hair in anxiety.
"While it may not seem obvious but my men have formed a parameter around the camp site. No one including the haughtiest nobles would be allowed to go beyond a certain distance. If anyone is to exit the valley they must go back the way we came and even there my men stand guard; I am not such a terrible Prince that I let my guests go forth traversing mountains without caring for their safety."
"Then you have made our job easier. This narrows down the search," Delilah nodded approvingly.
"It is pouring; surely you would like to wait under the trees while I talk to my men and organize a search," Damian spoke gently hoping he could convince her into staying put.
"Do you think mere rain could stop me?" Delilah answered surely with a defiant arch of her eyebrow. Damian nodded knowing he would only be wasting time in an unwinnable argument trying to stop her. He knew she cared for her cousin more deeply than anything and keeping her out of the proceedings would be a difficult task.
"You three had better not move. Stick together and stay where you are. One girl is already missing and I don't want to have to look for another three. In case you see something suspicious scream like your lives depend on it," Damian ordered the three, wet, miserable friends. They looked like they wanted to argue but one sharp glare ended any courage they had gained when they confronted the Royal Prince. "I shall be sending a guard as soon as possible."
With Delilah in tow Damian marched towards one of his chief guards who seemed to be herding guests under a makeshift tent. As soon as they had walked out from under the protection of the tree the wind mixed with the sharp blades of rain had hit them straight in their faces.
"Stay behind me," Damian ordered, loudly over the rumbling howl of wind, holding onto one of Delilah's pale wrists. He kept her protectively behind him until they reached the guard.
"Your Highness," The guard bowed lowly struggling to keep his composure as his blue uniform coat flapped about in the rain.
"I have been reported the disappearance of young girl. She is tall with a shock of red hair. Her name is Cecilia Winsham. I want you round up your men not guarding the parameters and start a search immediately. It is imperative that she be found as soon as possible. And send a spare man to guard those three, frightened ladies standing under that beech tree."
The guard bowed again and ran off barking orders at his men.
"You are wet and cold, you must take my jacket," Damian glanced back Delilah's shivering form. He blinked the rain out his eyes irritably.
"I feel nothing right now except for worry, Prince. The weather is growing worse," Delilah looked up the swirling grey-black sky letting rainwater run down her face. There was a burst of light in the sky and sure enough the crack of thunder soon followed.
"I feel your pain but you cannot compromise on your health," Damian insisted and he quickly pulled his green tweed frock coat off himself and laid it on her shoulders, "Wear it properly and if I hear you worrying about getting it wet then-"
"I know, I know, you have a hundred similar ones hanging in your cupboard," Delilah completed with a tired smile and eased her arms into the still dry insides. Damian swiped the wool, burgundy cravat from his neck and tied it around her neck while she buttoned the three buttons the coat had.
"There, now you are a real boy," He patted her head trying to ignore how his fingers had scraped against her bare neck. She just sighed without much energy in the gesture.
"You do realize you are not immune to the elements," Delilah asked dryly. His tweed vest was the only barrier between the rain and the white cotton shirt which was in the process of getting thoroughly drenched.
"Never mind, me," His smile was of the teeth baring Cheshire cat hiding the fact that he felt like his skin was just another numb layer on top of his shivering bones.
"Damian, what is going on? Why are the guards running to and fro?" Lady Beatrix emerged from the tent. She had one hand clamped onto her lavish touring hat which hung about her face, completely ruined. She tapped her foot impatiently and stopped as soon as she realized who it was bundled up in the over sized coat.
"Lady Cecilia is missing," Damian answered gravely, "The weather is growing worse and soon we will be turning back; we could hardly leave her behind."
"Yes, the safety of the guests comes first," Bea nodded morosely, "The whole day is already ruined by this infernal rain. We cannot have anymore tragedy."
"I think we should go back and see where Cecilia was last seen. We might gain some insight about her whereabouts," Delilah suggested not looking up and Damian knew their callous words were making her frantic.
"I shall be coming, of course, I am the organizer of this event and it is my responsibility," Beatrix ordered without ceremony and clung onto Damian's arm before anyone could protest. Damian made it a point to take Delilah on his other arm and the threesome traversed through the pelting rain like an odd three legged race where Lady Bea wanted to be first even though she had no idea where they were supposed to be going while Delilah was the slowest leaving Damian unsure about what pace to keep.
"There are signs of a struggle," Beatrix as soon as Damian led the two women to the grove, "Look at the marks in the ground."
"Indeed," Damian nodded. The foot prints and the consequent marks around the area were not of a casual walk around. Even though puddles were forming on the ground someone had clearly dug their heels into the ground and had been led through the thorny bushes.
"Your Highness, the search has started. We are methodically combing the area," A guard panted, running in. The west opening is completely clear and now we are going towards the eastern forest."
"I shall join you from here," Damian nodded. He took a hold of Delilah's hand unconsciously and squeezed hoping she was reassured.
"I cannot sit here doing nothing," She spoke softly with unseeing eyes.
"And I cannot risk you," Damian sighed.
"I must do something ," Delilah lost her calmness and Lady Bea grabbed her shoulder firmly.
"Stay here!" He pleaded loudly making the two women flinch, his desperate gaze landed on Delilah, "I need you to be safe when I come back. Can you take care of her?"
Lady Beatrix nodded and he left with a morose nod of his own.
"Everything is going to be okay. Trust Damian," Lady Bea spoke in a tone much less harsher than the one she usually adopted.
"I do trust him but what if the situation is beyond his capabilities?" Delilah fretted. She continued to pace through the mud uncaring about the mud lining her dress. The guard standing in their presence and Lady Beatrix stood watching her wear herself into the ground.
"The rain is slowing down," The golden haired women looked heavenwards approvingly. He musings were cut off by a loud shout from beyond the trees.
"They found her," Delilah whispered. She fled the clearing to see what was going on and her heart nearly stopped seeing the cluster of people standing on the edge of the forest.
"What is the matter?" Delilah asked the nearest guard as she tried to stand on her toes so she could see over the crowd of guards.
"The missing Lady has been found but I think she is hurt," The guard informed her politely.
"Hurt?" Delilah's eyes widened. Not caring who she bumped and stumbled against, she roughly ran through the crowd of guards and ended up in the middle to find her cousin leaning wearily against the Prince. She had a splatter of dark liquid staining her coral dress that caught her cousin's attention immediately.
"Are you alright?" Delilah ran forward and grabbed her cousin by her satin covered shoulders.
"I found her near the denser part of the forest," Damian explained as he held her up.
"Oh, Delilah," Cecilia hiccuped and embraced her cousin for once not caring about her hair or how wet they were.
