Chapter 27: Cornered (3)
"Rafael, you should smile. You don't want everyone to think you are not enjoying yourself," Delilah said after sneaking a glance at Rafael. It wasn't enough that he was by her side. She wanted him to look happy or the young ladies who wished to be in her place would comment on the fact that he looked like he did not wish to be near her.
"I am not," Rafael replied. Gatherings like this were not for him, but he was allowing it so the knights could enjoy themselves after the deaths they witnessed during their trip. He didn't want to escort anyone since he didn't plan to dance and act like he was interested in Delilah.
Rafael looked around the hall for some unfortunate soul he could stick Delilah with and then leave. Find a corner that would offer him some privacy. Rafael closed his eyes for a second as he already felt the headache from listening to mothers talk about their daughters. 'I should get the knights to surround me,' he thought.
"If you don't look happy, people will assume I am the reason why. I do not want to be ridiculed. I know that I forced my way onto your arm when you've turned me down, but-"
"Since you know that much, isn't it time you get your mother to stop asking me to escort you, and for you to stop coming around my home so often? I have no interest in you, and tonight will not change that," said Rafael, being honest instead of getting her hopes up. "I will help you find a suitable man. You are a lovely woman, but I am not the man for you. I do not wish to steal your time."
Delilah opened her mouth to speak but then closed it, as she did not know how to respond for a moment. She didn't want to be paired with anyone but Rafael. She loved him, so much that she counted down the days until his return. She turned down other offers for her hand so she could wait for him.
Delilah could not give up her love for him just yet so she would do whatever was necessary to stay close to him. "I apologize for the difficult position I have placed you in. If you could be so kind as to introduce me to one of your knights so my night would not be so wasted. I will leave your side when there is someone suitable. I don't want to disappoint my mother."
"Very well," Rafael replied. That much he could take. He looked around the hall once more trying to find a suitable man who was looking to marry around this time and wouldn't be caught drunk in the red-light district.
After a long depressing trip, though there was a victory, most of the men only had one thing in mind. Women and getting drunk. He would end up having an earful from her father if he set her up with just anyone.
"After all these years that I've known you, I finally get to see you with a woman on your arm. My eyes aren't playing tricks on me, are they?" Logan asked, rubbing his eyes and then looking back at the lovely couple. "It is real. How wonderful," he smiled.
"Logan, there has to be someone else for you to bother," Rafael said.