Season's Feather

Chapter Thirteen

That afternoon Delilah joined the Bridgertons in their drawing room. She had come from her house, as she had taken the evening to be with her mother with energy remaining from the morning. It was lovely. It had been so long since Mary had the strength to make it down the stairs for dinner. Delilah wasted no time in conversing with her mother and confirming with her about the now official courtship with Anthony.

Her mother was ecstatic when she was told. Delilah hadn't seen her mother's eyes that bright in a while. It had her walking cheerfully down the square towards the Bridgerton house.

However, the conversation she walked in on was not one she was happy with.

"Do not be disrespectful, sister." Anthony's voice rang through.

"Disrespectful?"

Delilah now had walked into the drawing room and looked at the situation in front of her. Anthony, Daphne, and Violet. The room was tense.

"I cannot imagine a greater show of disrespect than promising me to Nigel Berbrooke." Daphne shot out.

Delilah was now caught up. She turned to Anthony with an astonished look on her face. She thought he would have fixed this by now after Vauxhall, but clearly, he hadn't.

"Anthony..you didn't do that, did you?" Her voice rang through the room.

Anthony glanced over at her for a moment, a solemn expression on his face. That was quickly hardened. "He's a fine choice. I looked into him." He defended.

"You promised your sister to that man?" Violet spoke up.

"Not well enough apparently."

"What?" Delilah asked.

"It does not matter." He quickly ended the conversation. He turned to walk to the door.

Daphne took a step towards him. Her anger burning vividly in her eyes, "I have many choices indeed. I do not need-"

"You have suitors. You do not have what matters: proposals." Anthony quickly turned around to her though, "Except, of course, from Lord Berbrooke." He reasoned.

"What happened to his eye? It's quite grotesque." Violet spoke.

When Anthony began to reason, Delilah pointed at him, "Daphne has charmed a duke, Anthony. You must know that changes everything."

Anthony then sighed in exasperation bringing a hand to his temple, "Please do not tell me this rebellion is to do with Hastings."

Delilah stepped over to Daphne, "They are courting."

Anthony looked over at her, "Yes and so are we, love."

Daphne looked over at her with wide eyes but Violet stole the attention back, "They've danced a couple of times at a ball." She argued.

Anthony looked to his mother, "Colin has done the same with Penelope. I have done the same if not more with Delilah." He again dismissed. "It does not signify-"

"They promenaded this morning, and he sent flowers to both of us." Violet finished.

"Expensive ones," Daphne added.

Anthony sighed again. "The duke is not a serious suitor. He will never marry." He replied, "I have known him since we were boys. It is not bravado, or denial, or even immaturity." He said looking straight at Daphne.

Delilah couldn't argue with that. She had grown up as well with Simon. And even then she had grown up closer to him than Anthony and Simon most truly refused to marry.