Season's Feather

Chapter Forty-Six

That night at the Danbury estate, Anthony, Williamson, and Delilah all sat together across from the Lord and Lady Sheffield. They were having pleasant conversations when the Sharma's walked in.

"Ah, Lord and Lady Sheffield, it has been too long," Lady Danbury greeted, "May I present Miss Sharma and Miss Edwina Sharma."

Delilah and the boys stood back while the grandparents took time to look over their granddaughters.

"Oh, my dear, look at you," Lady Sheffield smiled at Edwina, "Isn't she quite as lovely as the report said?"

"You are too kind. I am most happy to make your acquaintance." Edwina smiled.

Lady Sheffield beamed at her granddaughter, "We have been waiting so many years to meet you. I wish to know everything about you. Do you enjoy dancing? Music?"

"You must accompany us to the opera," Lord Sheffield said, "We have a fine box which has been gathering dust."

Delilah smiled as the Lord looked back at them, "Indeed, it has been too long since we've seen you both in town, Lord and Lady Sheffield."

The tension grew when Lady Sheffield turned to her daughter. Mary Sharma. Lady Mary nodded tensely, "Mother. Father."

A tense silence followed. Edwina was quick to remedy it though, "I do enjoy the opera. My sister Kate is the one who introduced me to it."

More tense silence followed. Delilah looked between Anthony and Williamson before down-casting her eyes.

"Shall we go through to dinner?" Lady Danbury asked.

Delilah nodded silently with Anthony and Williamson. The three followed the Sharmas lead into the dining room. Lady Danbury came in behind all of them. Dinner was smooth at first. There was laughter around the table and conversation was light.

Williamson was nodding intently at everything Lady Sheffield was saying, "Oh course, you must be our guest at Sheffield manor. It is nothing compared to the estates of Aubrey Hall, to be sure, but I think it is the most pretty part of Hertfordshire."

"Do you shoot?" Lord Sheffield asked, "We have a fine stock of birds, and you are always welcome."

Williamson smiled at him, "Thank you for the invitation. I do enjoy shooting."

"As does Kate," Edwina added, "The two of them almost bagged a stag on our trip to the country."

Lady Sheffield laughed slightly, "How...unusual. Do they teach young ladies to shoot in India?"

"Only the fortunate one." Kate mumbled.

Delilah let out a quiet breath. This dinner needed to become less awkward, "Lord and Lady Sheffield, how long do you two plan on remaining in town?"

Lady Sheffield smiled at her, "Oh, after the wedding. Imagine! The queen herself overseeing my granddaughter's nuptials? Her Majesty is kind to be so forgiving after everything that has happened."

Delilah took a sip of her drink. The last comment certainly did not help matters as Lady Mary and Lady Sheffield exchanged a look. It was clear the family relations there were strained.

"Now, now," Lord Sheffield said, "We are all family here."

His wife smiled at him, "Oh, yes, of course we are. Even after our daughter so callously rejected the match we had found for her."

"My darling, we agreed-"

"And earl, no less, with 12,000 acres. Any other young lady would've fallen to her knees in gratitude that her parents were showing such care."

Anthony looked over to Lady Danbury, "This sauce is delicious, Lady Danbury. Delilah was just whispering to me about inquiring for a recipe."

"It is the gooseberry, I believe." Lady Danbury smiled, "Lady Sheffield, you've got quite the sweet tooth, I do recall?"

Delilah turned and smiled at the Lady, but she was in her mind about the past. She was not happy. Her eyes were trained down, her posture tense. Her features clearly display distaste, "And all for what?" She asked, "A mere clerk, was he? And with a child from a previous marriage to God-knows-who."

Kate slammed her silverware down, "My mother has a name."

"Lady Sheffield- '' Lady Danbury tried.

"We could not show our faces in society for years. Not that she should care. She simply sailed away from all of us with that man, robbing us of our grandchild."

"Grandchildren." Lady Mary said, "I have two daughters with whom you have had every opportunity to form a connection. But, the choice to shun us was yours alone."

"I beg your pardon-"

"I do not think I took it lightly, being cast out by the only family I had ever known. I was heartbroken, indeed. But in time, I came to see that in your cruelty you did us all a great service."

Lord Sheffield finally found a break between the mother and daughter, "I hardly think this is an appropriate dinner conversation."

Lady Danbury nodded her head quickly, "I quite agree. Please, collect-"

Delilah swore Lady Mary didn't know when to stop. Perhaps something she got from her mother.

"When you cast me out, what you did was set me free. Free to raise my daughters far from your constant judgment and craven demands that they should chase wealth and titles above all else!"

Lady Sheffield laughed, "You are a fine one to talk. You speak of scorning riches, and yet you have come crawling back to snatch at our fortune."

Kate looked fidgety as she looked between the two, "Lady Danbury is right-"

"Believe me," Lady Mary spoke, "I want nothing from you."

"Oh you may not, but your daughter certainly does."