Chapter 305: Chapter Three Hundred And Five

Julia stood completely frozen. Her face was bright red with hot embarrassment. She opened her mouth quickly. She desperately wanted to retort. She wanted to say something cruel and mean to defend her damaged pride. She wanted to put this new Duchess back in her place.

But Delaney absolutely did not give her the opportunity to speak a single word.

Delaney kept her posture perfectly straight. She did not raise her voice, but she commanded the entire space between them.

Delaney shifted her eyes away from Julia for a brief second. She looked across the crowded, noisy ballroom. She easily spotted Earl Wilfred Moore and his kind wife. They were standing near the food tables, happily eating roasted beef, completely unaware of their daughter’s terrible scandalous behavior.

Delaney turned her eyes slowly back to Julia. Her gaze was sharp and completely cold.

"Your parents are good people," Delaney continued. Her voice was firm, clear, and completely steady. "So how did you turn out exactly like this?"

Julia gasped softly. Her eyes widened in shock. No one in London high society had ever spoken to her so bluntly before.

"If you want to disgrace yourself in front of the entire Ton, then it is perfectly fine," Delaney said calmly, her tone completely even. "But do not include your good parents in this foolishness. They do not deserve to be embarrassed by your highly improper actions."

Julia’s hands began to shake slightly. She gripped her closed fan very tightly.

Delaney took a deliberate step closer. She invaded Julia’s personal space entirely. Delaney bent her head slightly, leaning directly toward Julia’s ear.

Delaney lowered her voice into a soft, deadly whisper that only Julia could hear.

"Don’t cause a terrible scandal that will drag you and your family down," Delaney whispered firmly. "Because if you push me, I will make sure the entire ton knows exactly what you did today. And it will be very, very difficult for you to save face."

Julia swallowed hard. A cold shiver ran completely down her spine. She realized, with absolute certainty, that she had picked a fight with the wrong woman.

Delaney pulled her head back. She stood perfectly straight again, looking down her nose at the terrified woman in the yellow dress.

"Don’t ever appear in front of me or my husband again," Delaney stated clearly, returning her voice to a normal volume. Her hazel eyes flashed with authority. "This is your final warning, Lady Julia."

Julia did not say a single word. She was entirely defeated. She looked at Delaney, and then she quickly looked at Rowan. Rowan’s face was completely hard and unforgiving. He fully supported his wife.

Humiliated and angry, Julia spun around on her heel. She lifted the edges of her yellow silk dress and walked away very quickly. She marched angrily through the crowd, desperate to escape the piercing stares of the guests who had witnessed her total defeat.

Delaney stood still for a moment, watching her leave. She let out a long, slow breath. The cold, dangerous fire slowly faded from her eyes. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Rowan turned his body fully toward Delaney. He looked at her with amazement. He had never seen her act so fiercely. She had protected their marriage exactly like a brave lioness protecting her family.

Rowan smiled. A low, deep chuckle rumbled softly in his broad chest.

"Remind me never to make you angry, my Duchess," Rowan said with a warm, highly amused chuckle. He raised his hand and gently touched her arm.

Delaney turned to him. The sudden, intense rush of adrenaline completely left her body. As the anger faded, a deep, heavy exhaustion suddenly took its place. She had been awake since the early hours of the morning. She had worn a heavy dress, walked down the church aisle, said her sacred vows, and fought off a very stupid lady.

Delaney looked toward the tall glass windows of the ballroom. The bright afternoon light had completely faded. The sun was slowly setting over the city of London, casting long, dark orange and purple shadows across the floor.

Delaney let her shoulders drop slightly. She leaned her weight gently against Rowan’s strong arm.

"I am completely tired, Rowan," Delaney spoke softly, her voice losing all of its previous sharp edge. "The sun is setting. I want to call it a night. I do not want to smile at any more strangers."

Rowan looked down at her beautiful, tired face. His heart swelled with protective love. He completely understood. It had been a very long, highly emotional day for both of them.

Rowan nodded his head immediately.

"Of course, my love," Rowan agreed softly. "We will go upstairs right now."

Rowan gently guided Delaney away from the center of the room. He stepped forward slightly and raised his right hand into the air to catch the attention of the nearby guests.

"My lords and ladies," Rowan announced. His deep voice carried clearly over the soft music of the orchestra. "Please, continue to enjoy the food, the music, and the champagne. The night is still very young. However, I must ask you to excuse us. My wife is indisposed at the moment and requires some rest."

The noble guests nodded politely. They offered respectful bows and small curtsies as the Duke and the new Duchess walked past them. They completely understood that a wedding day was very tiring for a bride.

Rowan and Delaney walked out of the ballroom and entered the quiet, empty foyer.

Mr. Simmons was standing near the grand staircase. He saw the tired couple approaching and immediately stepped forward.

"Simmons," Rowan called out quietly.

"Yes, Your Grace?" Simmons replied, bowing his head.

"Please send the lady’s maids to the master bedroom immediately," Rowan instructed clearly. "Her Grace is ready to retire for the evening."

"Right away, Your Grace," Mr. Simmons nodded. He turned quickly and walked down the side hallway to fetch Jane and Sarah from the servants’ quarters.

Rowan offered his arm to Delaney again. She placed her gloved hand entirely over his sleeve.

Together, they walked slowly up the grand, sweeping marble staircase. The loud, buzzing noise of the wedding reception slowly faded away beneath them. The upper hallways of Hamilton House were completely quiet, peaceful, and softly lit by warm candles burning in glass lamps along the walls.

Rowan led Delaney directly to the door of the master bedroom. He opened the door and guided her inside.

A large, bright fire was crackling happily in the stone fireplace. The heavy velvet curtains were drawn completely closed against the evening sky.

A few moments later, a soft knock came on the door. Jane and Sarah, the two cheerful maids, entered the room quickly.

"We are here, Your Grace," Jane said politely, offering a small curtsy.

Rowan let go of Delaney’s arm. He stepped back to give the women plenty of space to work.

Delaney walked over to the tall, polished standing mirror near the dressing table. She stood facing the mirror. She turned her back completely to Rowan and the rest of the room.

Jane and Sarah quickly stepped up behind her. They began the long, difficult process of helping Delaney out of her wedding dress.

Jane carefully started untying the many tiny silk ribbons at the back of the dress, while Mary gently unpinned the white lace veil from Delaney’s dark hair.

As the maids worked, the quiet peace of the bedroom was suddenly broken.

Delaney had held her polite tongue in the ballroom, but now, in the complete privacy of her own bedroom, her frustration finally boiled completely over.

Delaney began to rant.