Chapter 2 - Two
Delia rushed back into the ballroom, her heart heavy with despair. The festive music now sounded like a funeral tune. Before she could even process the fresh wave of sadness, a group of palace guards blocked her path. Their stern faces gave her a sudden chill.
"We are looking for Delia Ellington," the captain announced, his voice booming through the sudden silence that had fallen over the grand room.
Baroness Augusta stepped forward with a false smile, her eyes darting to Delia for a split second. "She is my other daughter," she said, her voice smooth and falsely concerned. "How can we be of service?"
The captain’s gaze was fixed on Delia. "She is under arrest for murder."
The words hit Delia like a physical blow. Murder? Her mind reeled. How? She didn’t do anything. A cold wave washed over her, making her legs feel like jelly. She was frozen to the spot, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
Just then, Baroness Augusta moved closer, her movements subtle, almost imperceptible to anyone else in the room. She leaned in, her voice dropping to a low whisper that only Delia could hear. "Take the blame, my child. I promise I’ll find a way to get the king to lower your sentence."
Delia’s eyes flickered to Anne, who stood a few feet away, her face pale and her hands clasped tightly. Delia could practically feel Anne’s nervousness radiating from her. That’s when it clicked. A horrifying realization slammed into her. She was being framed.
Baroness Augusta continued her whispered manipulation, her words laced with a false sense of urgency. "Anne is too young to go through all this. And you are her elder sister, you are supposed to protect her."
Murmurs started flying around the ballroom. The whispers grew louder, like a buzzing hive of speculation. Delia remained silent, her mind racing, trying to piece together the nightmare unfolding around her. Her world crashing down in one night, her one sided love marriage and now her reputation in society is ruined
The captain of the guard, growing impatient, turned to Baroness Augusta. "Is she Delia Ellington?"