Season's Feather

Chapter Seven

The next day Delilah mounts her horse at the Bridgerton house, a peaceful evening ride imagined in her mind. She settled nicely on her saddle, when a voice came around the corner.

"Delilah?"

She looks over to Anthonys brown eyes.

"Yes?" She asks, looking down at him.

"Where are you going?" He asks.

Delilah smiled at Anthony and looked down at her chosen horse. "A ride in the park, would you like to join me?" Anthony nods his head, a small smile on his face. He runs in and mounts his horse riding out of the stables on his steed.

The two ride through the park, with many different couples and families in the area. Delilah's thoughts wondered. She had many things she wanted to say to Anthony. But she thought about a more prominent thought. Anthony's control over Daphne's social season. Lord Berbrooke was a hideous man, and she shouldn't have to court him. She should court somebody handsome and young.

"I presume news of Daphne and Nigel Berbrooke's courtship has found its way back to you." She begins.

Anthony glances over at her, confusion and other emotions swell in his eyes. "I read as much in this scandal sheet taking Mayfair by storm." He pauses and lowers his head a bit.

"Lord Berbrooke may be...persistent. But he is harmless. No one pays him any mind, Delilah. I certainly do not. Neither should you. Neither should Daphne, either. There will be others." He says.

Delilah gives him a quick glare. "Lady Whistledown has but declared Daphne unintelligible. Worthy of the affection of a detestable simpleton and no one else. Tell me...What others would ever want such damaged goods now?"

Anthony rolls his eyes. "You speak as if Lady Whistledown were to be held in higher regard than Her Majesty the Queen herself. You give far too much credit to some anonymous scribbler. These musings...they are not true."

Delilah knows he is right. But that doesn't mean the whole of the Ton is convinced. To everyone else, Lady Whistledown has managed writing equal to scripture read on Sundays. So technically, everything that had been written about Daphne, was in a sense, true.

"Only they are true, Anthony. They are true because of you. You have managed to scare away every worthy suitor for Daphne. And me as well, for the matter. Whistledown merely reported it."

She turned her head to face him, "She had hoped to find a love match. It is all she ever wanted. She had hoped to marry, her very first season, so that your other sisters would not have to devote themselves to such an overwhelming task."

"And she still can-"

"Not if you continue to ruin all of Daphne's chances." Delilah finished.

"I am looking out for her. I am protecting her. It is my duty." Anthony argued.

Delilah was now angry. She was angry with the fact that her best friend now had no hopes of ever falling in love with a young, handsome, polite man.

"Daphne...she is a Bridgerton." Anthony then again argued. Delilah looked at him in shock. He was still making excuses to justify every action he had made thus far.

"It would be easier if she were not," Delilah stated.

Anthony was now in shock, "How can you say such a thing?"

Delilah smiled tightly, "The fact that she is a Bridgerton is now the very reason why nobody wants her. All eyes have been on her, her entire life. Everyone has been waiting for Daphne, the perfect Bridgerton bride, to make her debut. And what did she end up proving to them? Only that she is nothing more than an encumbrance. A young lady tethered to much trouble indeed."