Season's Feather

Chapter Twenty-Four

Delilah was in Daphne's room getting ready with her for the ball tonight. However there was something different about Daphne's demeanor. She held herself differently, the gleam in her eyes was replaced with a different one. She seemed more closed off, almost angry, but determined. Delilah couldn't place her finger on what changed.

"You can put that dress away, Rose."

Delilah turned her head to Daphne as she spoke to her handmaid. Why was she requesting the dress be put away? Had something happened that Daphne had not told her of? Even Daphne's maiden, Rose, had looked up at her in confusion.

"Are we not attending the ball this evening?" Delilah asked her best friend.

Daphne turned to her with a shake of her head. "No, we are, but I shall wear the white and silver dress instead. I think we should match tonight, Delilah." She turned back to Rose and walked over to her vanity. "And will you do my hair just the way you like with the circle of jewels and flowers?"

Rose nodded quickly and skipped over happily to Daphne. "Of course. You will look perfect."   

Delilah shook her head in confusion sitting on Daphne's bed. What had caused this change in Daphne's demeanor?

Daphne nodded her head at Rose, however, "Good. That is what they want."

Delilah shook her head again and exited the room after excusing herself. She walked down towards the Briderton study where Anthony sat at the desk. She walked around and placed her hands on his shoulder. He leaned back into her touch.

"Will you be joining us at tonight's ball, Anthony?" She spoke quietly, leaning down to place her chin on his shoulder.

Anthony brought a hand up to meet Delilah's and turned his head slightly to kiss it. "I have accepted the invitation."

Delilah nodded her head looking down as he checked a watch on his wrist. His fathers. She hadn't seen it in a long time, not since his unfortunate death. "What time do you have?"

Anthony glanced up confused. "What?"

"The time." Delilah motioned down to the watch, "You were just checking your father's old watch when I caught you, yes?" She asked.

Anthony sighed, glancing down at the watch. The garden, the bee, his collapse to the ground, his mother wailing, Delilah's soft eyes ringing out in all of the chaos all those years ago.

Anthony's words were somber as he spoke, "It is a lovely heirloom."

Delilah nodded her head.

"It's a quarter till, Delilah." Anthony glanced up at her eyes.

She was smiling softly, so her eyes lit up in a way that made them look like diamonds. His own eyes softened at the sight.

"It's quite late, indeed. Well, let me know when you are ready darling. Time, as we both know, is certainly of the essence." She gave one kiss to his cheek and exited the room. Anthony looked at where she had exited and glanced down at the watch.

Was his father proud of him? He was in a courtship with someone his father had always thought of as his daughter. Their fathers had been best friends and Delilah had lost hers around the same time they had lost theirs. Even though they had different deaths. The impact led the mothers to be closer, which in turn created a bond between the children.

Delilah's mother. She was at the end of her life, and Anthony was preparing for the impact it would have on Delilah. It was only so long before she would be alone. But Anthony would not let that happen, not as long as he was there.

He sighed and gathered his jacket, he exited the house and entered the carriage with Delilah, Daphne, and his mother. '

Delilah and Daphne were matching. They both looked beautiful. But in Delilah's mind, she was worried. Why was Daphne acting so formal? She didn't know what was going on, but something told her the duke might have done something he would regret.

Upon entering the ball Daphne entered with her mother. Delilah entered with Anthony. The couple was slightly behind the eldest Bridgerton daughter on the descent down the stairs to the ball. Delilah had been watching Daphne ever since she entered, but her eyes had not immediately drifted to the duke, instead they were upon the prince.

Daphne brought her fan up to cover herself, Delilah narrowed her eyes. She saw how she had caught the duke and prince in a trap. Though it was only the prince that acted on it. He met her at the stairs. Delilah clutched Anthony's arm.

What was her friend doing?

She watched as Daphne stood in front of the prince.

"Miss Bridgerton, I simply must have your first dance." The prince spoke.

Daphne nodded her head with a soft smile, "It would be an honor, Your Highness."

And then, just like that, Daphne dropped her fan. A simple move. Delilah had taught her that. It was something the two used to laugh about. How simpering a girl could be to a lord, or a prince.

Just like their jokes, the prince bought into it a kneeled before her to pick up the fan. On one knee looking up as if proposing.

Delilah's eyes were wide. Anthony at that point was looking down at her in concern. But her mind was running wild, what was going on? Just the other night at the last event she had been attached to the hip of the duke. What on earth had happened?

"Could it be true? That the season's diamond even more precious and rare a stone than previously thought? For it now appears this treasure is set to join the likes of the queen's ever-so-cherished crown jewels themselves.

"The Duke of Hastings, I hear, was left looking rather tongue-tied last night, as Miss Bridgerton seems to have finally grown tired of waiting for him to pose an all-important question. Or perhaps, the young miss has simply traded up.

"Surprising? Quite. Unreasonable? Of course not.

"After all, why settle for a duke when one can have a prince?

"In a town full of ambitious mamas and fortune-hunting gentlemen, marrying above one's station is a form of art, indeed. But Miss Daphne Bridgerton's advance from future duchess to possible princess is an achievement that even this jaded author must applaud."

At the next social event, Delilah watched and watched as Daphne received excited nods from everyone around her. Where was Simon? He was always the one to escort her around these events. Something had happened, that much Delilah knew. The conditions of what had happened, Delilah did not.

"Mama, where is the duke?" Delilah looked up at her mother, but her gaze quickly fell back in line with Daphne. Mary knew she was concerned about Daphne. Her eyes hadn't let her best friend's figure disappear for very long.

"I don't know, darling."

"Her Majesty, Queen Charlotte and her esteemed nephew, Prince Friedrich of Prussia." The footman announced. Delilah watched as the royal family entered the room.

Daphne confidently walked forward. Delilah could only stare blankly at her friend. This was all nonsense. Mary looked down at her for a moment, concern present on every feature she held. Her eyes displayed it the most, however. Their natural silver losing its usual shine. That is until a gasp sounded about the room.

Delilah turned quickly to Daphne and saw a gift being presented from the prince himself. Delilah let out her silent scoff.

A necklace. A beautiful necklace. She watched as the prince brought it out and placed it around Daphne's neck. The eldest Bridgerton wore it beautifully. But Delilah could see the glimmer of regret in her eyes, she wanted the duke. Even if she would not admit it, Delilah knew.

"Good heavens.." Delilah whispered.