Chapter 296: Chapter Two Hundred And Ninety Six

Aunt Renee gently set her teacup down on the saucer. She looked at her niece with a very proud, highly emotional expression.

"There is one more highly important matter," Aunt Renee announced quietly. "I received a letter from the seamstress in the country this morning."

Delaney sat up slightly straighter in her chair. Her heart fluttered with sudden excitement.

Delaney’s mother’s wedding dress had already been altered to her shape. The beautiful, ivory silk dress covered in tiny seed pearls had been slightly too large in the waist.

The skilled seamstress at Oakridge had worked carefully for the past few days to take the fabric in, ensuring it fit Delaney’s delicate figure completely perfectly.

"Is it finished?" Delaney asked eagerly.

"Yes," Aunt Renee nodded, her eyes shining happily. "The seamstress finished the final stitches last night. The dress has been carefully packed in layers of soft tissue paper. It is currently being sent to London in a secure, private carriage. It should arrive at this townhouse by tomorrow afternoon. You will be able to wear your mother’s dress, exactly as you dreamed."

Delaney let out a soft, happy sigh. She placed her hand gently over her heart. The thought of walking down the long aisle of the church, wearing her mother’s beautiful dress, and walking toward Rowan was almost too wonderful to believe.

"I cannot wait to see it again," Delaney whispered softly.

Just as she spoke, a sudden, firm knock came on the front door of the townhouse. The sound echoed slightly in the quiet hallway.

Aunt Renee looked toward the parlor door. "I wonder who that could be at this hour? The maid is currently upstairs changing the bed linens."

Delaney stood up quickly from her armchair. She smoothed the skirts of her light blue morning dress.

"I will get it, Aunt Renee," Delaney offered happily. "Do not trouble yourself."

Delaney walked out of the sunlit parlor and stepped into the quiet hallway. She walked toward the front entrance. Her soft shoes made absolutely no sound on the polished floor.

She reached the door. She placed her hand on the cool brass handle, turned it smoothly, and pulled the door open.

Standing on the front steps was a young courier. He was wearing a simple, clean brown coat and a flat cap. He looked slightly out of breath, as if he had walked very quickly through the busy London streets.

The courier looked at the beautiful young lady standing in the doorway. He immediately recognized her as a woman of high birth.

He held a medium-sized white cardboard box in his hands. The box was tied perfectly with a thick, shining silver ribbon. Tucked neatly beneath the ribbon was a small, folded white note card.

The courier stepped forward slightly and held the box out toward Delaney.

"For you, my lady," the courier said politely. His voice was highly respectful.

Delaney looked at the box in surprise. She reached out her hands and took the box gently from the young man. The box felt slightly warm against her palms, and a very faint, incredibly sweet smell of baked sugar and butter drifted up into the air.

"Thank you," Delaney replied softly, offering the young man a kind smile.

The courier stepped backward. He raised his hand, tipped his flat hat politely, and turned around. He walked quickly down the stone steps and disappeared into the busy street traffic.

Delaney stepped back inside the townhouse. She pushed the door shut, making sure it closed with a firm, solid click.

She stood alone in the quiet hallway. She looked down at the white box resting in her hands. The silver ribbon shone brightly in the light of the hallway lamps.

She carefully pulled the small, folded white note card out from beneath the ribbon. She opened the paper.

The handwriting inside was familiar. It was strong, bold, and perfectly elegant. It was Rowan’s handwriting.

Delaney read the short, sweet message written in dark ink.

"Sweets for my Duchess, so that her days will be sweet."

It read simply.

Delaney stared at the note. A sudden rush of affection completely flooded her heart. Her breath hitched softly in her throat.

Even in the middle of his own frantic chaos at Hamilton House, even while dealing with his sister and aunt, Rowan was still thinking entirely about her. He had taken the time to write a note and send a special delivery just to make her smile.

"He is the most wonderful, thoughtful man in the entire world." Delaney whispers to herself.

She carefully slipped the note card into the small pocket of her dress, keeping it close to her.

She reached her fingers down and gently pulled the end of the silver ribbon. The bow untied easily. She lifted the white cardboard lid off the box.

Delaney gasped softly in delight.

Inside the box was a completely stunning, mouth-watering arrangement of the absolute finest pastries from the best French bakery in London. There were tiny, delicate fruit tarts filled with bright red strawberries and yellow cream. There were soft, fluffy lemon biscuits dusted heavily with white powdered sugar. And there were small, rich chocolate cakes decorated with tiny sugar flowers.

The sweet, rich smell of the fresh pastries completely filled the hallway.

From inside the parlor, Aunt Renee heard the front door close. She wondered who had come to visit them so early in the morning.

Aunt Renee called out, her voice echoing clearly down the hallway to exactly where Delaney stood.

"Delaney, who was that?" Aunt Renee asked curiously.

Delaney looked down at the box of pastries. A wide, bright smile spread completely across her face. Her hazel eyes danced with deep affectionate light.

Delaney closed the cardboard lid slightly to protect the sweet treats. She turned around and walked slowly back down the hallway, heading toward the open parlor door.

"It was a courier, Aunt Renee," Delaney answered cheerfully.

She stepped back into the sunlit parlor. She walked over to the small table sitting between their chairs and placed the beautiful white box gently down on the polished wood. She removed the lid completely, revealing the colorful, sweet pastries to her aunt.

Aunt Renee’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise. "Oh my! Where did these come from?"

Delaney smiled. She reached out and gently touched one of the small, powdered lemon biscuits. She thought about the handsome, broad-shouldered Duke.

"It seems my husband to be wants to fatten me up before the wedding," Delaney said.

She chuckled softly.

Aunt Renee laughed as well. She shook her head in deep amusement.

"The Duke of Ford is a very smart man," Aunt Renee noted happily, reaching out to select a small strawberry tart from the box. "He knows exactly how to keep his bride completely happy."

Delaney nodded in agreement. She picked up a soft lemon biscuit. She took a small bite. The sugar melted perfectly on her tongue.

She sat back down in her comfortable armchair. She chewed the sweet pastry slowly, looking out the bright window of the townhouse.