Chapter 314: Chapter Three Hundred And Fourteen
Delaney stood directly between the two adults. She looked at Rowan’s serious, defensive face, and then she looked at Ines’s amused, stubborn expression. They were acting exactly like two children fighting over a precious item.
Delaney decided it was time to break the siblings’ childish banter before it continued all morning. She placed her hand firmly over her hip.
"Enough," Delaney spoke clearly.
The two siblings stopped speaking instantly. They both looked at her, completely quieted by her firm tone.
Delaney turned her face to Rowan first. She gave him a soft, slightly scolding look.
"Why are you behaving exactly like a child, Rowan?" Delaney said gently, a small smile touching the corners of her mouth to show she was not truly angry. "No one is taking me away from you. I just married you yesterday, and I am completely staying right here."
Rowan’s defensive posture relaxed instantly. He let out a quiet breath, looking slightly guilty but highly pleased by her words.
Delaney then turned her face toward Ines. Her hazel eyes softened with deep warmth.
"I will honor that wonderful invitation very soon, Ines," Delaney promised her smoothly. "I would love to see your home, and we will certainly have a great time together."
Ines smiled brightly, looking highly satisfied with the promise.
Carcel stepped forward then, deciding it was truly time to end the playful family bickering. The carriage was waiting, and the morning hours were passing quickly. He walked up to Rowan.
The two tall men stood facing each other. The playful teasing vanished completely from the air. Carcel reached out his right hand, and Rowan immediately took it. They shook hands very firmly, a true, serious gentlemanly goodbye between two men who respected each other deeply as brothers and best friends.
"Take care of her, Rowan," Carcel said quietly, his deep voice serious.
"I always do," Rowan replied with a firm, solid nod of his head. "Safe travels, Carcel. Do not let my sister drive you completely mad on the road."
Carcel smiled a genuine smile. "I am entirely used to her by now."
Ines suddenly clapped her hands together with a sharp, loud smack.
"Wonderful!" Ines said loudly, her eyes widening as a sudden thought struck her mind. "Oh, before I completely forget!"
Her expression slowly turned very serious, soft, and emotional. She reached her gloved hands up to the back of her neck. Her fingers worked carefully for a moment, unfastening the delicate gold clasp of the beautiful antique necklace she had been wearing all morning.
She continued speaking as she worked, her voice taking on a very quiet, highly tender tone.
"I realized that during all the chaos of the trial and the rapid wedding planning," Ines said softly, "I did not give you a proper wedding gift yet, Delaney."
Delaney saw what Ines was doing. She saw the gold chain coming away from Ines’s neck. Resting at the center of the chain was a striking blue sapphire pendant, surrounded by a circle of tiny, sparkling diamonds. It was a priceless piece of jewelry.
Delaney quickly waved her hands in front of her, taking a small step backward.
"No, no, Ines, please," Delaney said quickly, her voice full of reluctance. "It really isn’t necessary. Your presence at our wedding, and your wonderful kindness to me, was more than enough. I do not need a grand gift."
Ines did not listen to her objections. She stepped forward quickly, entirely determined.
"Of course it is absolutely necessary," Ines replied firmly.
She walked right up to Delaney. She stepped behind her gracefully. Ines raised her hands, gently lifting Delaney’s dark, curled hair out of the way. With highly careful movements, Ines placed the cold gold chain around Delaney’s neck. She fastened the small clasp securely at the back.
The sapphire settled perfectly against the soft peach cotton of Delaney’s morning dress, catching the bright morning light beautifully.
Ines stepped back around to stand in front of her. She placed her hands gently on Delaney’s shoulders.
"This was my mother’s favorite piece of jewelry," Ines explained softly, her eyes completely serious and filled with love. "She wore it to every grand ball she attended. I am giving it to you now because you are officially her daughter now. You are a true member of this family, Delaney."
Delaney froze completely still. She looked down at the sapphire resting on her chest. She touched the cool stone with her trembling fingers.
She knew the history of the Hamilton family. She knew how deeply Ines and Rowan had suffered when their mother died young.
"I heard you cherish your mother’s belongings more than anything else, Ines," Delaney spoke, her voice suddenly trembling with a rush of emotion. Her hazel eyes filled with bright, hot tears. "Why would you give something so incredibly precious to me? It is too valuable, I cannot..."
She could not even finish her sentence. The sheer, overwhelming weight of the gift completely choked the words in her throat.
Ines smiled. It was a very sweet, genuine smile of sisterly affection. She squeezed Delaney’s shoulders gently.
"Because we are true sisters now, Delaney," Ines replied softly, her voice vibrating with absolute certainty. "And sisters share everything, even the most precious things. I want you to wear it, and I want you to know that you are completely loved in this house."
Delaney felt a single, happy tear roll slowly down her cheek. She smiled through her tears, looking at the wonderful woman who had welcomed her so completely.
"Thank you, Ines," Delaney whispered softly, her voice full of profound gratitude. "I promise you, I will cherish it exactly as deeply as you did."
"I know you will, Delaney," Ines replied warmly.
Ines looked around the foyer one last time.
Seeing that Rowan and Carcel were speaking quietly near the door, Ines quickly leaned her head closer to Delaney’s. Her expression turned highly mischievous once again.
She whispered quietly and rapidly into Delaney’s ear, making sure her teasing words did not carry to the men.
"And do not forget to carefully study that ink drawing I shoved into your hands this morning," Ines whispered with a wicked chuckle. "My Harry is growing very fast, and he completely needs a little cousin and a playmate very soon. Enjoy yourself tonight, Duchess!"
Delaney’s hazel eyes widened until they were entirely round. Her face instantly flushed a deep, burning, bright red color for the second time that morning. She gasped softly in stunned shock.
Ines withdrew her head quickly, a wide, delighted smile covering her face. She turned around gracefully and walked over to her husband. She linked her arm firmly through Carcel’s arm.
"Let’s go, my love," Ines said brightly, completely happy with her final piece of mischief. "The carriage is waiting, and the road is long."
Carcel nodded his head politely. He looked at Rowan and Delaney one last time.
"Goodbye, Rowan. Goodbye, Duchess," Carcel said.
"Goodbye, Carcel. Safe travels," Rowan replied, offering a final, respectful nod.
Carcel and Ines walked out the double front doors of Hamilton House. The tall footmen stood at attention as the noble couple walked down the wide stone steps. The carriage driver quickly opened the door of the carriage. Carcel helped Ines step safely inside, ensuring her dress was not caught in the door. Carcel climbed in right behind her.
Edith, holding baby Harry, was already seated comfortably inside the second carriage with the rest of the luggage.
The carriage door was closed with a firm, solid click. The driver climbed up to his high seat and gathered the leather reins.
Delaney and Rowan walked out onto the stone steps of the house to watch them leave. The cool morning wind swept past them, rustling Delaney’s skirts.
The driver gave the reins a gentle flick. "Walk on!" he called out.
The four white horses strained against their harnesses, and the carriage began to move slowly down the sweeping gravel driveway.
Delaney raised her white-gloved hand high into the air. She waved it warmly as the carriage moved further away.
"Goodbye, Ines!" Delaney called out clearly, her voice ringing with happiness.
Rowan stood right beside his wife. He placed his arm gently around her waist, drawing her close against his side to protect her from the cool wind. He raised his own hand, waving a calm, polite goodbye to his departing family.
"Goodbye, Carcel," Rowan called out, " Goodbye, Ines," He muttered softly.
Suddenly, the carriage slowed down just a little bit near the iron gates of the estate.
The small glass window was pushed open. Ines brought her head fully out of the carriage window. Her bonnet ribbons fluttered wildly in the morning wind. She smiled a very wide, bright and beautiful smile back at them.
She raised her hand and waved it frantically. Her voice carried clearly over the sound of the horses’ hooves.
"Goodbye, brother!" Ines shouted happily through the window. "Take good care of my new sister! And I suppose... I suppose I might actually miss you just a tiny, tiny bit!"
Rowan froze for a brief second.
Then, his serious, stubborn face completely melted away. A very soft, genuine, and highly affectionate smile completely covered his handsome features. His eyes shone with a deep, silent love for his wild little sister. He knew that underneath all the constant teasing and the frantic arguments, they shared an unbreakable bond.
He raised his hand and gave one final, firm wave.
Ines pulled her head back inside the carriage window. The carriage turned sharply through the open iron gates and rolled smoothly onto the main cobblestone street of London, disappearing completely into the busy city traffic.
The grand foyer and the front steps of Hamilton House fell into a beautiful,peaceful silence.
Rowan lowered his hand. He kept his arm wrapped securely around Delaney’s waist. He turned his head and looked down at her face. He saw the beautiful antique gold necklace resting against her chest, the sapphire catching the bright sunlight perfectly.
"She truly loves you, Del," Rowan spoke softly, his deep voice full of emotion. "She has never given our mother’s jewelry to anyone before. You are truly a sister to her now."
Delaney looked up into his eyes. She reached up her hand and gently touched the cool blue stone.
"I know," Delaney whispered softly, her hazel eyes shining with peace. "And I love her too."
Rowan smiled a warm loving smile. He leaned his head down and pressed a very soft tender kiss directly to her forehead. Then, he guided her gently back inside the warm house.
