Rejected

Chapter 6

"Del, where were you? Mary and I probably upended half a dozen nobles looking for you."

Cecilia peered into the room she and her cousin shared and was baffled to find none of the candles were lit. The only light flooding in the room was from the night sky. Delilah was sitting on the window seat; one half of her face lit by the soft moonlight while the other half completely dark. She seemed to be staring blankly in some unidentified direction.

Delilah spent most of her nights sitting in that seat observing the serene mountainous terrain outside but tonight her demeanour was altered from the norm. Delilah was always quiet in those moments but she never lost her expressions quite like this.

Cecilia wanted to say something but the statue like countenance of her cousin frightened her. After a few false starts Cecilia finally gained the courage to open her mouth. What is it that troubles you? Cecilia wanted to say but she could only mutter something about it being so dark.

"You could have called the maids in to light the candles," Cecilia continued, trying to cover the awkward silence. Delilah continued to be oblivious to her presence. Cecilia walked in closer and finally reached close enough to touch her cousin.

"Del," She leaned in, "Delilah," she called her cousin again louder than necessary.

Delilah looked up suddenly, her gaze so focused in its intensity that Cecilia jerked back.

Delilah blinked and lost the sharpness in her look. She looked surprised that Cecilia was standing close.

"How much sherry did you drink to not notice me?" Cecilia joked as she sat down on her bed.

Delilah looked away abruptly at the mention of drinking.

"None, you know I abhor alcohol."

Cecilia chuckled as she fussed over a pin in her curled red hair. "That preference of yours I am very, very familiar with. The tongue lashing I received from you when John and I decided to steal father's port is something I shan't ever forget."

Delilah smiled back and Cecilia was relieved that the strange spell over her cousin was broken.

"Shall I call for a maid to get you out of those clothes?"

"Don't bother, I am in no mood to look at another person's face," Delilah slouched against the seat.

"I should have stolen Lady Hinderton's peacock feathered fan if I knew what mood you were in. That green would have matched with my eyes very well when I hid my face behind it," Cecilia batted her eyes at her cousin. She was hit by a cushion in return.

"Not you, silly. I don't find myself thinking charitable thoughts about the inhabitants of this palace today. The poor maid would only face unearned ire."

"Not so unearned. I can't find one of my pearl earrings and I just know the maid with the shifty eyes must have swiped them," Cecilia muttered hotly. Delilah just smiled as she played with the lace on her sleeves.

Cecilia scrutinised her and decided the time was right to ask about her previous absence from the ball.

"Where were you during dinner? Mary was frantic at losing your company. And you missed the Prince's antics as well."

Delilah looked up sharply, "The Prince's antics?"

Cecilia laughed at the memory. "He spent the better part of dinner trying to balance a port bottle on his head but that was before he fell asleep with his head on the table. I swear the man is missing a great deal of sense."

Delilah remained quiet but after a moment's pause spoke again. "The heat in the room didn't suit me. I felt faint so I decided to leave before I made a spectacle of myself."