Chapter 254 - Sadness

Delaney returned to her Aunt and Uncle's home and it was almost like going back in time.  She found herself in her old bedroom surrounded by her old things.  Her Aunt and Uncle had thought that might help her return be easier on her.  They had even made sure their kitchen prepared their niece's favorite meal for the night she returned to them.

There was no going back to the way things used to be for Delaney though.  Her life had been changed by Vincent and all they had gone through.  She was not the same woman now that she had been the day she left their home to go to her wedding.  None of these things were hers anymore.  Not the home or the bedroom or even the bed.  Her bed was in her bedroom far away in her home that she had shared with the man she loved.

The night she returned she walked in as if she was in a daze.  Her Aunt and Uncle hugged her and told her how sorry they were.  They assured her everything would be alright and that things would work out.  Delaney had nodded and quietly thanked them before turning and walking up the stairs to her bedroom.  Inside, she peeled off her clothes until she was down to only her underdress and climbed into the bed.  Once there, she didn't move again for the rest of the night.

Her Aunt Flora came to try to speak to her but Delaney said she was too tired to talk.  Later when her Uncle Felix tried, she said the same thing.  They were concerned but they didn't want to push her so they accepted her words and left her alone.

Days passed and Delaney didn't leave the bedroom.  Food was brought up to her and later returned to the kitchen mostly untouched.  The only person able to make the girl eat even a small amount or get up and wash was Ms. Bird.

Every morning the maid would sweep in and open the curtains, forcing her mistress to wake up and face the day.  She tried to coax her downstairs to eat breakfast with her Aunt and Uncle but she hadn't had any luck.  Another servant would bring up a tray of food to her and the maid would hover and fuss until Delaney gave in and ate a bit of it.

Ms. Bird would work to get her mistress to leave her room but after a week she had had no success.  Delaney spent her days moving from her bed to the reading chair by the window and then back again.  Staring at nothing in particular, she let herself get lost in thoughts and memories of Vincent.  She cried nearly every day at first but after a while, she found she couldn't even do that anymore.

Now she was left feeling empty.

At night her dreams would be of him and in the morning she would wake up to her pillow wet with tears.  All-day she would think about him and wonder what he was doing and how he was feeling.  She hoped he wasn't pushing himself too hard and she hoped he was getting enough rest. Had he gotten more medicine from Opal to help with his pain?  What would he say to the witch about Delaney being gone?  Would he visit Nell and the fairies on his own now?  What would he tell them?

Her mind was flooded with questions she wasn't able to get answers for.

Cora sent her friend letters and so did Constance.  They both expressed how sorry they were and tried to give her words of encouragement.  Both wanted to come to visit her but couldn't for one reason or another.  Delaney was relieved they weren't coming.  She didn't want to see them.  She didn't want to see anyone.  She just wanted to be left alone.

Ms. Bird watched her mistress with worry.  Every day the young woman was getting thinner and her skin was pale now.  She hardly spoke or moved.  When she did move it was only to float around her own bedroom like a ghost.

After a while Ms. Bird became so concerned she decided to do something she had promised herself she wouldn't do.  One day after she had spent nearly the entire day trying to coax Delaney out of her room with no success, the old maid took a piece of paper and carefully began to write.  She wrote to the Duke of Edgewood expressing her concern for her mistress and pleading with him to do something.

The next morning she sent it with a rider to be delivered.  Days passed and she grew more and more anxious but also hopeful.  Maybe it was taking so long because the Duke was preparing to come here himself.  How happy Delaney would be to see him.  Just in case, Ms. Bird set aside one of the woman's prettiest dresses.

Then one day while cleaning, Ms. Bird looked out the window and saw the messenger had returned.  She rushed downstairs as fast as her short legs would carry her, nearly running right into Delaney's uncle as he turned a corner.  Her apology flew back over her shoulder but she didn't stop.

Outside, she was breathing heavily when she, at last, came to the stables and met the boy as he was heading to the house.

"Well?" she panted, "Did he send a message back?"

The boy looked at her with a sad expression and only shook his head.

"W-What?" she stammered in disbelief, "What did he say?"

"Nothing," the boy sighed, "I was paid a few coins before I left to deliver some papers to another estate and that was it.  When I finished I came home."

"D-Did he read it?  Did you see him read it?"

"I delivered it to him myself as you asked.  He was in his office with his brother I think.  He read it right in front of me.  Then he folded it back up and sat it aside and told me to go eat something.  Later on, the other man came to find me and asked me where I had come from.  Then he gave me the coins and the papers to deliver on my way home.  That was it."

"I don't believe it," Ms. Bird shook her head with tears in her eyes now.  All she could feel was disappointment and anger towards the Duke.  How could he do this to his wife?  He clearly loved her deeply.  How could he turn her away without another thought?  This was not the type of man she had ever imagined him to be.

Relieved she hadn't told Delaney about sending the letter, she went inside to find Felix and Flora.  She had told them about the letter shortly after she had sent it because they were both so concerned about their niece.  Now she found them out on a patio having tea and enjoying the warm spring weather.  As soon as they saw the disappointment on her face they knew the news wasn't good.

"I can't believe he can be so cruel," Felix snapped, crossing his arms, "After all they've gone through together he just throws her back out into the world and expects her to move on."

"Be quiet Felix," Flora hissed, "This is all your fault!"

"What?  My fault?"

"Of course!  You were the one that made him feel like he wouldn't be able to make her happy!  That's the whole reason he came up with that horrible arrangement."

"I-I did that for her!  I didn't expect her to fall in love with the man.  You know she came to us and begged us to help her get out of the marriage contract.  She said she was sure there was no way she would ever be happy with him!"

"Well you shouldn't have listened to her," Flora scolded, crossing her arms, "She was a foolish girl.  You know we didn't care for each other much at first either and now look at us."

"Well, I wasn't covered in scars and having trouble even walking.  We didn't know we wouldn't be able to have children.  He thought even then that he wouldn't be able to give her a family and he knew he couldn't keep up with her.  It wasn't the same at all."

Flora frowned, "Maybe not.  But you meddled and it put ideas in his head."

"I meddled because Delaney begged me to and I love that girl like my own child," Felix countered, "Besides... you know as well as I do that those ideas were already in his head."

His wife sighed, giving in.  "I suppose you're right."

Felix nodded and looked out across the grass, "I will say after how he's behaving now though I'm glad she won't be married to him anymore.  How could he read about how torn up she is and not even have the decency to write back?"

"I don't know," Flora shook her head, "I was really hoping he would come for her."

-

Not too far away, a carriage rolled quickly along a road surrounded by trees.  Its destination was the home of Felix and Flora.  The person inside wasn't going to see them however but their beautiful, heartbroken niece.

The Duke of Edgewood might not be coming for Delaney but that didn't mean no one else was.