Chapter 6 - Six
"Delia!!!" A voice boomed, cutting through the peaceful afternoon air. Baroness Augusta and Anne, who had remained in the garden, turned sharply. George was striding towards the manor doors, his face red with anger and frustration. Two manor guards, seemingly on his heels, were trying to restrain him, their hands on his arms.
"Delia, please listen to me!" George yelled, his voice echoing across the courtyard.
Baroness Augusta subtly signaled to the guards with a flick of her wrist. The guards, recognizing her unspoken command, immediately released George and stepped back, disappearing into the shadows of the manor entrance.
Augusta’s face was covered with false innocence as she addressed George. "What’s the meaning of this, George? What’s going on between you two? What happened?" Her tone was laced with an underlying demand for answers, yet carefully crafted to sound concerned.
George, still agitated, ran a hand through his hair. "Can we postpone the wedding, Baroness? I think she’s overwhelmed. The wedding must have taken a toll on her." He was clearly trying to smooth things over, to save face, and perhaps, to avoid a public scene.
Just then, the manor doors opened, and Delia stepped out, her expression cold and resolute. She saw George, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and desperation. With a swift, decisive movement, Delia reached for her left hand. She pulled off the engagement ring, the diamond glittering mockingly in the sunlight. With all her might, she hurled it at him.
The ring flew through the air and hit George squarely on his chest. It bounced off him with a dull thud and fell to the ground, landing silently in the gravel at his feet. The sound seemed to pierce the sudden silence that had fallen over the courtyard.
"What are we postponing? Seems you all didn’t hear what I said?!" Delia shouted, her voice trembling slightly, but firm. Her gaze swept from George to Baroness Augusta and Anne, who were now staring openly.
George, picking up the ring, looked at Delia, his eyes wide with disbelief. "My mother came back from the modiste saying you were breaking off the engagement and not going through with the marriage." He paused, his gaze boring into hers. "What’s your reason?"