her eyes flaring wide and a gasp escaping her. Delilah’s heart began to hammer furiously as she saw the paleness of Lady Newfield’s cheeks and began to fear that this gentleman, this unknown fellow she was to marry, might in fact be even worse than her uncle was at present.
“I think that is all I have to say at present,” Lord Denholm said, clearly using the silence from Lady Newfield and the shock of his words to escape. “Tea will be served to you now, and dinner will be sent to you in your room, Delilah. I am sure you will need to rest.”
Delilah said nothing, nausea swirling through her as she watched her uncle leave. Lady Newfield said nothing for some minutes, although her lips were now pursed and her hand pressed to her cheek as though she were attempting to warm herself a little.
“Lady Newfield?” Delilah tried, a little timidly. “What is wrong?” Sweat broke out on her brow. “Is my husband a cruel man?”
Lady Newfield closed her eyes tightly before turning towards Delilah. “Did your uncle say there was to be tea?” she said, her voice flat. “I think we need to have something before I explain all to you.”
This did not satisfy Delilah, who did not want to wait any longer but rather wanted to hear all that Lady Newfield had to say. However, the maid came in at precisely that moment, and a tray was set down for them both. Delilah did not feel able to refuse. Serving the tea as quickly as she could and refusing Lady Newfield’s encouragement to eat one of the honey cakes, she sat back down again and fixed her eyes steadily upon her godmother.
“How is it that you are able to have such an influence on my uncle, Lady Newfield?” Delilah asked, thinking that mayhap the lady would be willing to answer this question before speaking to her of her soon-to-be husband. “He appears unable to refuse you on so many things.”
Lady Newfield’s eyes flickered, her brows lowering. “Your uncle is not a good man, Delilah, as you well know,” she said calmly, putting her teacup down. “I may have discovered something about his behavior that I know for certain he would not want to be shared with anyone else.”
Rather surprised, Delilah nodded but did not say anything more.
“He does not like me at all,” Lady Newfield continued with a wave of her hand, “but I confess that I knew I had to have something by which I could influence his behavior.” Her eyes narrowed. “I know that you are desperate to ask me about the earl, Delilah, but I fear it may be too much for you. You have endured a great deal already today.”
Trying to summon the strength that Lady Newfield had asked her to seek, Delilah shook her head. “Please, Lady Newfield,” she said urgently. “I must know. I do not think I can wait here in confusion and worry, not knowing what the problem is with my betrothed.”
Lady Newfield said nothing but took a sip of her tea, studying Delilah carefully.
“I do not want to upset you,” she said slowly. “I can now understand why your uncle is so eager to have you wed so soon—and what benefits will be given him because of it.”
“Oh?”
Lady Newfield shook her head. “Lord Coventry, whilst he might be an earl, has been somewhat...set aside by society.” She shook her head. “That is not to say that he will not be invited to further gatherings and occasions, of course, because society is fickle and there is some confusion over what it is that he has done.”
This sounded ominous and Delilah swallowed hard, setting her teacup down. “What is it that he has done, Lady Newfield?”
“I was not fully aware of it, and to be frank, I might not be speaking the truth,” Lady Newfield explained, a little hesitantly. “But from what I heard last Season, Lord Coventry was involved with a young lady. A young lady whose brother disapproved of the match as her father had been a marquess. Her brother deemed her only suitable to marry another marquess or even a duke! He did not want her to lower her rank. However, Lord Coventry would not leave her company, seemingly desperate to marry her.”
Delilah clutched at her heart. “What happened?”
“It appears, according to the Marquess of Chesterton, that Lord Coventry attacked him during a dinner party that Lord Chesterton was hosting. I believe Lord Coventry was invited as