Chapter 5 - Five
The modiste gasped, discreetly stepping back, trying to make herself invisible.
Lady Pembroke’s face flushed a deep crimson. "How dare you!" she shrieked, her carefully constructed composure crumbling. "After all we have done for you? All the preparations? The expense! You will bring shame upon us all!"
"The only shame will be in continuing a charade," Delia countered, her voice calm despite the storm raging inside her. "I will inform my father. And I will ensure all expenses incurred are covered."
Lady Pembroke sputtered, speechless for a moment, torn between outrage and the sudden mention of money. "You... you cannot do this! George will be devastated! He loves you, you love him!"
Delia almost laughed. "Does he?" she asked, a bitter smile playing on her lips. "Or does he love the idea of our marriage bolstering his love for my sister ? Love, My Lady, does not starve its beloved to fit into an old dress. Love isn’t wicked. Love does not see its partner as a means to an end."
The unspoken accusation hung between them. Lady Pembroke’s eyes narrowed, her face a mask of fury. "You will regret this," she hissed, her voice barely audible. "You will regret this for the rest of your life."
Delia simply met her gaze, a new strength blossoming in her chest. "Perhaps," she said, her voice steady. "But at least I will regret it on my own terms."
She began to remove the heavy wedding dress. She unfastened the tiny buttons and untied the laces, the rustling of the fabric loud in the sudden silence of the room. Lady Pembroke stood frozen, her face a mask of disbelief and rage, unable to utter a single word. The modiste, wide-eyed, watched the scene unfold, a mixture of shock and fascination on her face.
Delia stepped out of the cumbersome gown, letting it drop to the floor in a heap of lace and silk. She was now in her simple undergarments, feeling lighter, freer than she had in years. She wore her plain dress and dressed her hair. She didn’t spare Lady Pembroke another glance. Her decision was made, and there was no turning back.