A Scandal By Any Other Name

"You did absolutely nothing wrong, Celine," Delaney whispered fiercely into the girl’s blonde hair. She rubbed Celine’s back in slow, soothing circles. "Do you hear me? You did nothing wrong. You loved him, and he loved you."

Delaney held her tighter, speaking with absolute conviction.

"And Edward knew the risks," Delaney continued gently. "He was a very smart, very brave young man. I am entirely sure he would have done it a thousand times over if he thought it would have kept you safe from your family. You shouldn’t feel guilty. You brought him love in a terrible place."

Delaney paused, her voice hardening with cold anger toward the true villain of the story.

"The only one who should feel guilty," Delaney stated firmly, "is your father. He is a monster."

Celine sniffled against Delaney’s shoulder. She slowly lifted her head.

Celine broke slightly from the warm hug, creating a small space between them. She looked at Delaney, her blue eyes red and swollen from crying.

"What?" Celine asked, confused by Delaney’s sharp tone.

Delaney looked directly into Celine’s eyes. It was time to completely lift the heavy burden of guilt off the young girl’s shoulders forever.

Delaney replied, her voice incredibly steady and clear. "Your father did not kill Edward because of the elopement, Celine. That was a lie he spun to control you and keep you quiet."

Celine blinked, her brow furrowing deeply. "But... he shot him when we tried to run away."

"He shot him because he caught us running,"

Delaney corrected gently. "But the reason he wanted him dead was completely different. Your father killed Edward because Edward found out about his massive, illegal smuggling business."

Celine couldn’t believe her ears. She stared at Delaney in absolute, stunning shock.

"Edward was clever," Delaney explained quickly, keeping her voice low. "Miss Flora told the Duke everything. Edward overheard your father making the deal with the port commissioner. Edward duplicated the keys to the study. He broke into the safe. He saw the ledger. He knew all of your father’s dark secrets, and your father realized the book had been touched."

Delaney reached out and gently wiped a fresh tear from Celine’s cheek.

"He killed Edward to silence the boy forever," Delaney finished the terrible truth. "And then, he used the tragedy to manipulate you. He made you believe it was your fault so you would never question him again, and so you would never look for the truth yourself."

Celine stared at Delaney.

The heavy, crushing weight of the guilt she had carried every single day for three years suddenly vanished. She was not the reason Edward had died. She was not a foolish girl who had ruined a young man’s life. Edward had died a hero, trying to gather the evidence to save her.

Celine let out a loud, breathless gasp.

She lunged forward and hugged Delaney again, wrapping her arms completely around Delaney’s waist. She buried her face in Delaney’s shoulder once more, breaking down with fresh tears.

But these tears were entirely different. They were not tears of agonizing guilt or terrible fear. They were tears of profound, overwhelming relief. They were tears of true mourning for a brave boy who had loved her enough to fight a monster.

Delaney held her securely. She soothed her gently, whispering quiet, comforting words into her ear, simply allowing the young girl the time and the safe space she needed to finally let it all go.

After a series of long, calming breaths, Celine slowly became calm. Her violent shaking stopped.

She pulled back from the hug again. She reached into the pocket of her dress and took out a small, white lace handkerchief. She wiped her red eyes carefully, trying to regain a small shred of her aristocratic composure.

Then, Celine looked down. She noticed the large, dark wet spots her tears had left on the shoulder of Delaney’s dress.

"Oh, dear," Celine sniffled, dabbing at her nose with the lace. She reached out and tried to clean the tear stains on Delaney’s dress with her handkerchief. "That was so entirely unladylike of me. I am so sorry. I apologize, Miss Kingsley. I have ruined your dress."

Delaney smiled. It was a very warm, incredibly genuine smile. She gently caught Celine’s hand, stopping her frantic wiping.

"It is perfectly alright, Celine," Delaney replied softly. "A few tears are nothing compared to what you have given me today."

She patted where the ledger rested safely.

"Thank you for the ledger," Delaney said earnestly. "You have saved my family’s honor, and you have stopped two very wicked men from ever hurting anyone else."

Celine looked at Delaney. A small, tentative, truly peaceful smile touched her lips for the first time in years. The dark shadows that had always haunted her blue eyes were completely gone.

"Thank you for the information," Celine spoke, her voice much steadier now. She clutched her small lace handkerchief tightly in her hand. "Knowing the truth... knowing he did not die because of my foolishness... I feel at peace now. I truly do."

"But..." she needed to ask, to know how her handmaiden has been fairing all these years. " How is Miss Flora? When can I see her?"

Delaney replied softly. " She’s in the Hamilton house, for her safety. After everything has been settled, you should be able to see her."

"Okay." Celine said.

She turned her head slightly. She checked the tall grandfather clock ticking quietly behind Delaney in the corner of the shop. The brass hands had moved significantly since she had first run down the aisle.

Her peaceful expression shifted back into a look of practical urgency.

"I need to go," Celine said quickly. "My mother would soon be back from her morning outing. If she finds me gone and without a chaperone, she will ask terrible questions."

She turned back to Delaney. She didn’t offer a formal curtsy. She simply stepped forward and hugged Delaney one last time, a quick, tight embrace between two women who had survived the dark machinations of cruel men.

"Till we meet again, Miss Kingsley," Celine whispered warmly. "May you have a very happy life with the Duke."

Delaney hugged her back firmly.

"Till we meet again, Lady Celine," Delaney replied softly. "Be safe."

Celine pulled away. She pulled the large hood of her cloak back up over her blonde curls, hiding her face. She turned on her heel, her skirts swishing against the floorboards. She left the shadowed aisle, walked quickly past the busy dressmaker at the front counter, and stepped out the front door into the cold morning air.

Delaney watched her go.