“But you promised me I would never have to!” she cried. “You told me that I could choose my own husband! You told me that I could wait to find a love match!”
“You have been reading too many of those cheap novels,” he growled. “They have addled your mind.”
“You loved Mama,” she sobbed, her eyes glittering with tears. “I know that love is real! It is not a figment of my imagination, nor something invented by novelists!”
He shook his head sorrowfully. “For the love of our Lord, Delia, I am not saying that romantic love is not real. Ididlove your mother. I am only telling you that you must put all thoughts of it aside. Sometimes it is possible to marry for love. That is not the case for you any longer. I am sorry it has come to this. I had hoped that you could marry for love. But that is no longer achievable.”
Delia stared at him. His face was set. She realised, with a sinking heart, that she couldn’t dissuade him. She had been hoping fervently that he would back down, tell her he would find another way to save Twickenham Hall, that he would walk to the ends of the earth to find a way, so she didn’t have to enter into a loveless marriage. But it was never going to happen.
She truly was going to marry Lord Stanton.
The realisation struck her like a slap to the face. The gentleman had told her he anticipated they would marry in a month’s time. Their betrothal was going to be formally announced this Saturday. The trap was closing in around her. She almost heard the clang of the cage bars.
She threw her napkin down on the table and rushing out of the room. She had no appetite anyway, and she couldn’t stand another moment of sitting there with him. She raced out into the garden, running down the path, tears streaming down her face. She knew she had to resolve herself to her fate, but she just couldn’t.
When she reached the boundary at the end of the property, she stopped, gazing off into the distance at the rolling green fields. Her home—the only home she had ever known. She had been born at Twickenham Hall and had spent all her childhood here. And now, she must leave it.
She had always known the day would come, of course. But she had imagined that she would be deliriously happy when it did, leaving to go to a home with her new husband, who she loved more than anything in this world. She had dared to dream of a life of happiness with that unknown gentleman. She had dared dream that she would love her new home as much as she loved this one.
That dream was shattered, lying in shards around her feet.
She could never love Lord Stanton. She knew it. Even if she grew fond of him, there would never be a possibility of falling in love with him. Her romantic dream burst like a bubble. She was destined to become the much younger wife of an ageing lord, valued for her appearance and her ability to produce children. That was all.
“My lady. Are you well?”
She turned around, hastily wiping the tears away. It was Minnie.
“Oh, Minnie,” she cried. “I know I must accept this betrothal, but it is so hard. Papa wants me to journey to Lord Stanton’s home this Thursday for a house stay. There is to be a ball on Saturday evening, and the betrothal shall be announced then.”
Minnie frowned. “I am journeying north to see my grandmother on Thursday,” she said, biting her lip. “But I will cancel the trip and go with you if you want me to. You need support.”
Delia shook her head. In all the furore over this sudden betrothal, she had quite forgotten that Minnie was taking a week’s leave to see her ailing grandmother. She was sorely tempted to agree to her maid’s proposal, but then stopped. Minnie worked hard and rarely had time off. Her holiday was precious and had been planned for a long time. She couldn’t be so selfish, even though she longed for her dear friend to be by her side during this ordeal.
She knew Minnie would do it in a heartbeat. Her maid was incredibly loyal to her. Minnie had been her lady’s maid for five years now, ever since her mother had died. The relationship had grown into genuine friendship. Minnie would walk over hot coals for her if she asked her to.
“No,” she said slowly. “You must take your leave. Your grandmother is ailing. It has been a long time since you have seen her. Where does she live again?”
“Bradford,” said Minnie. “She runs a shop there. But it is becoming harder for her. I do worry about her a lot. She isn’t getting any younger.”
“You must definitely go to her,” said Delia. “I will cope, Minnie. But I do appreciate the offer, my dear friend.”
“I hate to see you like this,” said Minnie, shaking her head. “You are so forlorn. Is there no chance your father will change his mind?”
“None,” said Delia, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “He is intent upon selling me off. This house is more important to him than my happiness. And it seems I am the only asset he has to barter with.”
“Do not be so harsh against your father, my lady,” said Minnie in a gentle voice. “He has made many mistakes, but he is paying for them now. He loves you dearly. It must be tearing his heart apart to force you to do this for him.”
Delia didn’t reply. Her feelings towards Papa were so conflicted now, that she didn’t know what to think. Only a week ago, she had thought they were so close that nothing could ever come between them. How wrong she had been.
It had been the two of them against the world since Mama’s death. Hehadspoilt her since their great loss, showering her with gowns and jewellery, letting her go anywhere she pleased. He rarely challenged anything she desired. She didn’t know how lucky she had been. But now, she wished it had been different, for it would make the shock and pain of this sudden change somehow easier to bear.
She turned to Minnie. She didn’t want to think about Papa’s betrayal for another minute. “What are your plans while you are in Bradford?”
Minnie shrugged. “Not much. It is a grim place, my lady. Full of factories. My only plan is to spend time with my grannie and help her in the shop.”
“You were born in the North, weren’t you?” Delia tried to smile. “How did you come to Surrey again?”
“My ma and pa upped sticks one day when I was ten,” said Minnie. “They said there were better opportunities down south. You see, they didn’t want to work in the factories any longer. A lot of people end up dying or being maimed in them. They didn’t want me or my brothers and sisters to end up there, either.”