A Scandal By Any Other Name

Delaney stepped forward next. She walked up to Aunt Margery, her hazel eyes shining with deep emotion. Margery had been a mother to her when she desperately needed one.

Margery had fed her, clothed her, and protected her without a single question.

Delaney reached out and hugged Margery tightly. She rested her chin on the older woman’s shoulder, smelling the familiar, comforting scent of lavender powder.

"Goodbye, Aunt Margery," Delaney spoke softly, her voice shaking just a tiny bit with the weight of her gratitude. "Thank you for absolutely everything."

Margery hugged her back fiercely, wrapping her free arm around Delaney’s shoulders while balancing the quiet poodle in the other.

"See you soon, my dear," Margery said firmly, her voice filled with absolute certainty. "Take good care of your beautiful home. We shall wait for the day you join our household properly."

Delaney broke the hug. She smiled at Margery one last time, feeling a deep sense of belonging.

She turned and went to hug Ines.

Ines was smiling widely. She turned quickly to the nursemaid standing beside her. She gave little Harry carefully to Edith. The nursemaid took the happy, babbling little boy and stepped back slightly to give the women some space.

Ines turned back to Delaney. She opened her arms wide.

She hugged Delaney fiercely. It was a tight, strong, deeply emotional embrace.

"See you soon, sister," Ines said quietly, her voice thick with genuine love.

Delaney hugged her back, squeezing her shoulders firmly. She felt a deep bond with Ines that nothing could ever break.

"Of course," Delaney agreed softly.

"Okay," Ines said, pulling back and smoothing her morning dress.

Delaney walked past Ines and moved to Celine.

Celine stood tall and proud. The fearful, nervous energy that used to surround the Earl’s daughter was completely gone. She looked healthy, rested, and deeply happy to be living a quiet, honest life in the Duke’s household under Aunt Margery’s kind protection.

Delaney hugged Celine for a bit, broke it and offered her a very warm, deeply respectful smile.

"We will be seeing you soon," Celine said politely, her blue eyes reflecting true happiness for Delaney’s good fortune.

Delaney nodded her head in complete agreement. "Yes, Celine. Please take good care of yourself here."

Finally, Delaney turned around.

She faced Rowan.

He stood near the open front doors, the bright morning sunlight catching the golden strands in his blond hair. He looked incredibly tall, broad, and devastatingly handsome. His brown eyes were fixed entirely on her, watching her every single movement with devotion.

They were standing in the middle of the grand foyer, surrounded by family, guests, and a dozen watching servants. They could not embrace properly. They could not kiss. They had to maintain the strict, polite decorum of London high society in public.

Delaney stopped a few feet away from him. She gathered the dark green wool of her traveling skirts in both of her gloved hands. She kept her back perfectly straight and her chin level.

She lowered herself gracefully into a perfect, deep formal curtsy.

"Goodbye, Your Grace," Delaney said clearly, her voice smooth and perfectly polite for the benefit of the watching audience.

Rowan looked down at her. He placed his right hand flat against the center of his chest, right over his heart. He bent at the waist, offering her a very deep, highly respectful, formal gentleman’s bow.

"Likewise, Lady Kingsley," Rowan replied smoothly, his deep voice carrying a perfect tone of aristocratic courtesy. "I wish you a very safe and pleasant journey to your country estate."

He stood up from his deep bow. He straightened his broad shoulders and looked directly into her hazel eyes.

For a single, fleeting second, when no one else in the entire crowded foyer could possibly see his face from that specific angle, Rowan’s polite mask slipped completely.

He winked at Delaney.

It was a quick, cheeky, entirely wicked little wink. It completely ruined his serious, formal Duke persona. It was a silent, intimate promise between just the two of them. It told her exactly what he was thinking, and it reminded her of the passionate, breathless kisses they had shared in his private study.

Delaney let out a tiny, shocked gasp.

She tried her absolute best to hide the sudden, massive rush of heat that flooded her face. A bright, deep pink blush exploded across her pale cheeks. She quickly bit the inside of her lower lip to stop a wide, highly unladylike smile from spreading across her face.

She lowered her eyes quickly, pretending to adjust her warm traveling gloves so the staring servants would not see her blushing.

She turned around swiftly, her dark green woolen skirts swishing loudly around her ankles.

She walked purposefully to the open double doors and stepped out into the crisp, cool air. She walked down the wide stone steps toward the grand, dark traveling carriage waiting on the cobblestone street.

Aunt Renee followed her closely behind, smiling knowingly at the quiet exchange between the young lovers.

A uniformed footman stood by the carriage door. He opened it wide and lowered the small metal steps.

Delaney climbed gracefully into the carriage, settling herself comfortably onto the plush velvet seats. Aunt Renee climbed in right after her, sitting on the opposite side.

Delaney leaned forward slightly. She looked out the small glass window of the carriage door.

Rowan was standing on the top step of Hamilton House. The morning wind ruffled his blond hair. He was watching the carriage with a soft, deeply loving expression on his face. He raised his hand and offered a small, private wave.

Delaney smiled brightly through the glass. She raised her gloved hand and waved back.

The footman closed the carriage door with a solid, final click. The driver sitting high on the box cracked his long leather whip over the strong horses.

The carriage jerked forward smoothly. The wooden wheels clattered loudly against the cobblestones as it pulled away from the Hamilton’s house.

Delaney leaned back against the soft velvet cushions. She let out a long, happy, peaceful sigh.

For the very first time in twenty long, difficult, incredibly painful years, she was finally going home, her real home. She was returning to Oakridge Manor and she was returning as Lady Delaney Kingsley, the absolute, rightful owner of the estate.

She looked across the carriage at Aunt Renee, who was smiling warmly at her.

Delaney closed her eyes and listened to the steady, rhythmic sound of the horses’ hooves hitting the road. Her heart was completely full.

And waiting for her, very soon, was a beautiful wedding to the man who had fought death itself to save her.

The carriage rolled faster, leaving the busy streets of London completely behind, heading toward the quiet peace of the countryside.