A Scandal By Any Other Name

Delaney stood in the quiet hallway of Hamilton House. She stared at the closed doors of the drawing room. Her heart was beating very fast against her ribs. For twenty long years, she had believed she was entirely alone in the world. Now, her mother’s sister was sitting just on the other side of that door.

Delaney took a deep, steadying breath. She reached out her hand, turned the brass handle, and pushed the door open.

Delaney walked into the drawing room. The bright morning sun was streaming through the tall glass windows, highlighting the floating dust in the air.

Sitting on the edge of a soft, velvet sofa was a woman in a dark traveling dress. When the woman heard the click of the door, she immediately stood up.

Delaney stopped walking. She looked at the woman’s face.

Tears instantly prickled at the corners of Delaney’s hazel eyes. The resemblance was undeniable. Renee had the same delicate chin, the same elegant nose, and the exact same warm, loving smile as her late mother, Genevieve.

Suddenly, a rush of beautiful, happy childhood memories flooded Delaney’s mind. She clearly remembered how Aunt Renee would travel from France to come to the Oakridge manor.

She remembered how Renee would stay for some days during the warm summers. Renee was always much more fun and mischievous than her older sister, Genevieve. While her mother was gentle and serious, Aunt Renee would sneak Delaney extra sweets from the kitchen and play hide-and-seek in the grand gardens. As a little girl, Delaney was always looking forward to her arrival with great excitement.

"Aunt Renee?" Delaney spoke. Her voice was barely above a soft, trembling whisper, but it carried across the quiet room.

Renee let out a loud, broken sob. She dropped her small cloth reticule to the floor. She rushed across the beautiful carpet to give her a hug.

"My Delaney," Renee cried loudly, throwing her arms around the young woman. "Oh, my sweet girl!"

Renee hugged Delaney incredibly tightly, burying her face against Delaney’s shoulder. She wept openly, her tears soaking into the fabric of Delaney’s simple morning dress.

"I am so sorry," Renee wept, her voice shaking with twenty years of heavy guilt and profound sorrow. "I am sorry I failed to protect you from those wolves. Cole Kingsley told me you were happy and content. He lied to me, and I believed him. I should have come to check on you. I am so sorry."

Renee squeezed her even tighter, trying to make up for two decades of lost time.

Delaney winced just a little bit. The sudden, tight pressure flared the small, lingering pain in her bruised ribs. She let out a tiny, sharp breath.

Renee heard the sound. She instantly broke the hug and pulled back, her eyes wide with sudden alarm.

"Oh, forgive me," Renee gasped, stepping back to look at her niece properly.

As she looked at Delaney’s face, Renee’s eyes moved upward. She saw the clean, white linen bandage wrapped securely around Delaney’s head. Her hands flew to her mouth in pure horror.

She gently reached out. Her shaking fingers carefully touched the edge of Delaney’s bandage.

"Mon Dieu," (My God), Renee whispered, her French accent thick with fresh tears. "Genevieve would be so incredibly angry with me. She trusted me to be a good sister, and look what has happened to her child. She would never forgive me for leaving you in that terrible house."

Delaney felt her heart ache at her aunt’s terrible guilt. She reached up and caught Renee’s hand. Delaney put Renee’s warm palm gently against her own cheek.

"It is okay, Aunt Renee," Delaney reassured her softly, looking deeply into the older woman’s tearful eyes. "I am fine. I am safe now."

She leaned her face into her aunt’s soft palm, offering a loving, forgiving smile.

"And I am completely sure Mama is not having such angry thoughts," Delaney continued, her voice steady and warm. "I saw her in a dream, Aunt Renee. She was peaceful. She wants us to simply forget the dark past and be happy together. She would not want you to cry."

Renee looked at Delaney’s beautiful smile. She let out a wet, watery laugh and nodded her head. She used her free hand to wipe the tears from her own cheeks.

"You have grown into such a strong, beautiful woman," Renee sniffed. "You have your father’s kind heart and your mother’s quiet strength ."

Delaney took her aunt’s hand and gently led her back to the velvet sofa. Delaney and Renee sat down closely beside each other. A maid quietly entered the room, poured them two warm cups of tea, and quickly left them alone to talk.

For the next hour, they sat, talking. Delaney gave a brief, honest summary of what had happened over the past years. She told her about the cruelty of Cole and Eunice, the terrifying threats of Lucas, and the dark truth about her parents’ carriage accident. She told her about the ledger, the trial at the House of Lords, and how the Duke of Ford had stood by her side through the entire terrible ordeal.

Renee listened with wide eyes, frequently covering her mouth in shock. She cursed Cole Kingsley’s name, and she praised Rowan’s absolute loyalty.

Then, the conversation shifted to a much brighter, happier topic. They talked of the upcoming wedding.

"The Duke of Ford is a very good man," Aunt Renee said, taking a sip of her warm tea. "He wrote the letter to me himself, explaining that you were recovering. He clearly loves you very deeply."

"He does," Delaney smiled, a bright pink blush appearing on her cheeks. "And I love him."

Aunt Renee set her teacup down on the small table. She reached over and patted Delaney’s hand with a secretive, happy smile.

"I have a special gift for you, my dear," Aunt Renee said. "When I heard you were to be married, I went into the storage trunks at my home in France. I brought Genevieve’s trousseau with me."

Delaney’s hazel eyes widened in pure, stunning shock. Her breath hitched in her throat. "Mama’s trousseau? You still have it?"

"Yes," Renee nodded proudly. "Her fine nightgowns, her beautiful embroidered linens, and her white lace veil. I kept them all safe. They are traveling in a separate, heavier luggage cart. It would arrive here in London in exactly four to five days."

Delaney felt a fresh wave of happy tears fill her eyes. To have a piece of her mother with her on her wedding day was a priceless, incredible gift.

"Thank you," Delaney whispered, squeezing her aunt’s hand tightly. "Thank you so much, Aunt Renee. You have no idea what that means to me."

Delaney reached over to the small silver bell on the side table. She rang it gently.

Almost immediately, the drawing room doors opened. Mr. Simmons walked in, bowing politely.

"Simmons," Delaney called the butler over. "Please show my aunt to the best guest room. Make sure she has warm water to wash with after her long journey."

"Right away, Lady Kingsley," Simmons nodded respectfully.

Delaney turned back to Renee and held both of her hands.

"You will be staying here for three days to rest," Delaney informed her aunt with a bright, excited smile. "Then, we will leave."

Renee raised a curious eyebrow. "Leave? Leave for where, my dear?"