The formal drawing room of Oakridge Manor was quiet, except for the steady, rhythmic sound of soft leather shoes stepping quickly across the rug.

Delaney was walking back and forth. She walked from the large marble fireplace to the tall glass windows, and then she turned around and walked back again. Her hands were clasped tightly together in front of her chest. She was wearing a beautiful new dress made of soft, peach-colored wool, perfectly suited for an afternoon stroll. But right now, she was not strolling. She was pacing.

Sitting comfortably on the sofa, Aunt Renee watched her niece with a mixture of deep fondness and growing exhaustion. She gently placed her porcelain teacup down on its matching saucer.

"Arrête de te promener, Delaney." (Stop pacing around, Delaney), Aunt Renee said gently, her French accent filling the quiet room.

Delaney froze immediately. She stood in the very center of the room, her peach-colored skirts swirling around her ankles before settling down. She looked at her aunt, her hazel eyes wide with genuine worry.

"Why are you so jittery?" Aunt Renee asked, looking directly at the anxious young woman who had just stopped pacing. "You are wearing a path into the carpet, my dear."

Delaney let out a long breath. She looked over her shoulder at the large, tall grandfather clock standing in the corner of the drawing room.

The brass pendulum swung back and forth steadily. It was exactly fifteen minutes past the hour.

"What do I do, Aunt?" Delaney asked. Her voice was slightly strained, revealing the deep, lingering anxiety that still lived inside her heart. "He is late. And Rowan is never late. He is always perfectly on time."

She took a quick step closer to the sofa, her hands twisting the soft fabric of her skirt. The dark memories of the past few weeks suddenly rushed into her mind. Her mind instantly went to the darkest possible place.

Delaney gasped softly, her hand flying up to cover her mouth.

"What if something dreadful happened to him on the road?" Delaney whispered, her eyes filling with sudden, cold fear. "What if his carriage wheel broke completely? What if there are highwaymen? I should send the grooms to ride out and look for him."

Aunt Renee sighed softly. She was already quite exhausted from Delaney’s frantic anxiety. She knew her niece had survived a terrible trauma, and she understood why Delaney was so fearful, but she also knew the Duke of Ford was perfectly capable of traveling a few miles safely.

"Delaney, please," Aunt Renee spoke, her tone calm and highly reasonable. "What could possibly happen to him in broad daylight on a safe country road?"

Aunt Renee patted the empty space on the sofa right next to her.

"I am completely sure something important held him at the inn," Aunt Renee reasoned smoothly. "Perhaps he was finishing a letter to his estate manager, or perhaps he simply had to change his coat. Stop worrying, my dear. You will make yourself ill before he even arrives."

Delaney stood still for a moment, listening to her aunt’s calm, logical words. The cold fear in her chest slowly began to melt away. She realized she was overreacting. The monsters were gone. Nothing could harm him now.

Delaney nodded her head slowly. She let her hands fall to her sides and let out a deep, calming breath. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"You are right, Aunt," Delaney agreed softly. She walked over to the sofa and sat down carefully beside the older woman. "Yes. You are right. I am simply being foolish."

Delaney reached out toward the silver tea set resting on the small iron table. Her hand was still shaking just a tiny bit, but she managed to lift the silver teapot. She poured herself a fresh cup of warm, chamomile tea to calm her nervous stomach. The sweet, floral smell of the tea rose into the air, helping to ground her racing thoughts.

She took a slow sip. The warm liquid felt soothing against her throat.

They sat in comfortable silence for a few more minutes. Delaney kept her eyes focused on the teacup, refusing to look at the clock again.

Then, the double doors of the drawing room opened smoothly.

Mr. Benry stepped respectfully into the room. He walked a few paces forward and stopped. He placed his white-gloved hands firmly at his sides and bowed deeply at the waist.

"My lady," Mr. Benry said, his deep voice carrying clearly across the quiet room.

Delaney quickly set her teacup down. She looked at the butler with bright, hopeful eyes.

"His Grace, the Duke of Ford, has arrived," Mr. Benry announced formally.

A massive, immediate wave of relief completely washed over Delaney. A wide, bright, incredibly beautiful smile plastered instantly onto her face. All of her terrible fears and her jittery anxiety vanished completely. Finally, He has arrived.

Aunt Renee smiled warmly at her niece’s obvious joy. She turned her head toward the butler.

"Please, let him in, Mr. Benry," Aunt Renee instructed politely.

"Right away, Madame," Mr. Benry bowed once more. He stepped backward, turned around smoothly, and left the drawing room, leaving the double doors wide open.

A few seconds later, the sound of confident footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Rowan entered the drawing room.

Delaney’s breath hitched in her throat. He looked absolutely magnificent. He was not wearing a stiff, dark formal coat. Instead, he was wearing a perfectly tailored, rich, deep forest green coat. The color suited him incredibly well. It highlighted the broad width of his shoulders and made his blond hair look even brighter in the morning sun. He looked relaxed and completely handsome.

But it was what he carried in his hands that caught their attention.

In his left hand, Rowan was holding a smooth, polished wooden box. It looked like an expensive chest, locked with a tiny brass latch. In his right hand, he was holding a very large, incredibly beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers.

He walked into the center of the drawing room with a warm, confident smile on his face.

Aunt Renee stood up slowly from the sofa to greet their important guest properly. Delaney stood up right beside her, her hands clasped together in pure excitement.

"Your Grace," Aunt Renee greeted him formally, offering a very polite, elegant curtsy.

Rowan stopped in front of them. He offered a very polite gentleman’s bow, but his smile was highly playful and entirely genuine.

"There is absolutely no need for such strict formalities, Aunt Renee," Rowan smiled, his deep voice carrying a very warm, friendly tone. He deliberately used the title ’Aunt’ to show his deep respect and his desire to be part of their family.

He stepped slightly closer to the older woman. He reached out his right hand. He gave her the large, beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Delaney looked at the flowers in surprise. They were not for her. They were a bright, stunning collection of yellow daffodils, white lilies, and soft pink carnations. They were tied perfectly with a thick, golden silk ribbon.

"For you, Aunt," Rowan offered smoothly, placing the flowers gently into Renee’s hands.

Aunt Renee’s eyes widened in complete shock. She looked down at the beautiful flowers, and then back up at the handsome Duke. In all her widowed years acting as a chaperone for young ladies in France, no gentleman had ever brought flowers specifically for her.

"I saw this lovely bouquet while passing a local florist in the village," Rowan explained easily, his tone highly charming and deeply respectful. "I simply had to stop the carriage and delay my arrival just a few minutes to get you one."

He offered her a gentle, knowing smile.

"Because it reminded me exactly of you," Rowan finished smoothly. "Warm, bright, and completely beautiful."

Aunt Renee gasped softly. A bright, sudden flush of deep pink color rushed directly into her mature cheeks. She felt exactly like a young girl at her very first ball. She blushed deeply, completely charmed by his flawless, gentlemanly manners.

She looked at the flowers, a massive smile spreading across her face.

"Oh, stop teasing an elderly woman like that, Your Grace," Renee laughed. It was a bright, happy, highly pleased laugh that echoed warmly in the drawing room.

Rowan smiled politely, very pleased that his small gift had worked perfectly. He had secured the absolute favor of the chaperone. He knew that winning the aunt’s approval was exactly how a gentleman secured a peaceful, successful courtship.