Her uncle snorted. “Get rid of her. You have no need for her.”
“Do not be so foolish, Denholm.”
Delilah’s eyes flared in surprise as the older lady swung about to face Lord Denholm, her hands planted firmly on her hips.
“The girl needs a lady’s maid. You know that as well as me.”
“I have already employed one,” Lord Denholm sniffed, but the older lady simply laughed.
“Then you shall find her other employment, given that your niece has one of her own already,” the lady said, swinging herself back around and coming down the steps towards Delilah.
“Delilah,” she said, reaching out to grasp Delilah’s hand and speaking to her with a warmth that she had not expected. “I am sure you do not remember me but I am your godmother.”
The shock that rolled over Delilah almost knocked her to the ground. Her godmother?
“When I heard of your mother’s death, I came to meet with you and your father,” the lady continued, gently. “Your father was so lost in grief that he did not want to allow me to continue visiting you. And then, when he passed away, I felt it my duty to go to you.” Her eyes narrowed, and she shot a glance back towards Lord Denholm. “But I was a little too late.”
“You have no claim over her!” Lord Denholm shouted, his voice sharp. “As I have informed you time and time again!”
“But,” the lady continued, clearly ignoring Lord Denholm, “I have not given up. And when I heard that your uncle was back in London, I knew that he would be bringing you back here. Therefore, I have determined to remain close to you throughout the Season so that the burden on your uncle is not so great.” Her eyes twinkled, her lips quirking, making it quite apparent that this was not the main reason for her presence here in London. “Your uncle will find, Miss Delilah, that I am not easily dissuaded from my intentions.”
Blinking rapidly, Delilah tried to take all of this in. “I do not understand,” she said, closing her eyes tightly. “You have come to help me?”
“To be your godmother,” the lady said emphatically. “Now, do come in. I will help you unpack and rest before it is time to meet with your uncle.”
Delilah found her arm linked with the older lady’s as she was led up the stone steps, Betty at her heels. Her uncle, for a moment, did not look as though he would move out of her way, but, at a sharp glance from the lady, he stepped aside. Delilah looked up into his face, seeing the dark brows settled over a pair of cold blue eyes, lines grooved deeply into his forehead, his lips thin and curled on one side as a sneer formed. He was just as intimidating as she remembered him.
“I—I do not know your name,” she whispered as though she would be in difficulty merely for speaking aloud. “Might I inquire as to what it is?”
The lady glanced towards her, smiling. “Lady Newfield,” she said, leading Delilah towards the staircase. “And as I have said, I am your godmother and very pleased to have found you again. Particularly at a time such as this!”
“Lady Newfield,” Delilah murmured, feeling incredibly grateful for the lady’s presence. “You cannot know what this means, to have you here at this time.”
Lady Newfield said nothing but led her into a room a little along the hallway at the top of the stairs, clearly having been in this house before.
“And I must thank you also for insisting that Betty remain with me,” Delilah continued as she glanced behind her at the maid, who was looking all around her with wide eyes. “I will confess the truth to you, Lady Newfield. I—”
“Betty is your lady’s maid, and that is all that matters,” Lady Newfield said with a firmness in her voice. “And if you have both managed to make an escape from that dreadful school your uncle sent you to, Delilah, then I am very glad indeed for you both.”
Seeing that Lady Newfield already knew what Delilah had been trying to explain, Delilah managed a small smile as she walked into what was now her room, looking all around it.
“It is not quite as large as I would have expected for you,” Lady Newfield said, looking about the room with an air of dissatisfaction. “But it will do.”
“It is much larger than I have had before,” Delilah murmured, sitting down in a chair by the fireplace and shivering slightly. “Although it is a trifle cold.”
“But we are used to the cold,” Betty said briskly as she began to unpack some of Delilah’s things. “I am sure that—”
Lady Newfield tsked. “Your uncle should have laid a fire in this room if it has sat unused for a long duration,” she said, clearly irritated. “Have no fear, Delilah; we shall be warm again very soon.” She rang the bell with firm hand and Delilah felt herself shrink, afraid that her uncle would come into the room in a furious temper and demand to know why she had rung the bell.
“You need not be so afraid,” Lady Newfield said practically, sitting down opposite her and looking at her with such a firm gaze that Delilah felt as though she was being chided. “Your uncle may be intimidating and cruel, but you are not alone in this.”
“But I am to be wed to a gentleman of his choosing,” Delilah replied, with a sudden lump in her throat as she fought back tears. “I do not want to be but he—”
“And that is something we cannot ignore nor change,” Lady Newfield said, reaching across the space between them and putting her hand on Delilah’s knee. “But I will be with you throughout and will encourage you in all things.”
Despite her best efforts, a tear fell to Delilah’s cheek. “But what if my husband is cruel?” she whispered, envisioning another gentleman very similar to her uncle. “Whatever shall I do?”
Lady Newfield smiled gently. “I will be there with you,” she said, not providing Delilah with any particular answer but reassuring her, nonetheless. “And I shall do what I can to influence your uncle, but I do not think that he will be willing to change his mind if a specific gentleman is his particular choice.”
This was gently said, but it held the truth that Delilah well understood. Her fears were still very great indeed, but she allowed herself to gain a little courage from Lady Newfield’s presence, almost instinctively knowing that she could trust this lady with all that was to happen.
“So,” Lady Newfield continued in a practical voice. “You are to attend your first ball of the Season tomorrow and I have ensured that I will be present and waiting for your arrival.”
Delilah nodded, her lips pressed together as she nodded, trying to do all she could to remain strong.
“I am not certain as to whether or not you will be introduced to this gentleman tomorrow evening,” Lady Newfield continued with a hardness about her mouth as she looked away, “but if you are, I shall be there, standing alongside you, making certain that this gentleman knows that I have no intention of disappearing from your life even when you are a married woman.”
“That is very kind of you, Lady Newfield,” Delilah said, one hand pressed lightly against her stomach as she rose to stand tall, knowing now that her uncle was expecting her. “I am very glad you are here.”
“I am only sorry I was not able to be present with you earlier,” Lady Newfield replied, getting to her feet. “Now, we are to go and sit with your uncle for a time, I believe.” One eyebrow lifted, and her lips quirked. “Let us hope that there will be tea, for I am in desperate need of sustenance already!”