11 The Choice

Delaney let Vincent sweep her into another dance before he left her at a card table and went to get them refreshments. She excitedly sat next to Cora who had a pile of winnings in front of her already. Delaney noticed the men around her, noble and highborn men, did not look particularly happy about being beaten by a woman. Especially one so young.

Cora laughed as she pulled more winnings towards her and Delaney had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. She had the dealer deal her in and that was when Cora stopped laughing and got serious. She knew well how talented Delaney was at cards. Delaney knew though, that Cora could not be so easily distracted as the men when she flirted with them.

As the game began, Delaney noticed a familiar dark-haired man slide near them and observe the scene. It took her a moment but then she recognized the familiar features.

Miles frowned as he watched his future wife and sister in law playing cards. "Do you think this is appropriate?" he hissed at Vincent when the man returned, sitting a drink beside Delaney.

"You should play Miles," Vincent smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"What and embarrass them?" Miles scoffed.

"We wouldn't be the ones embarrassed," Cora stated frankly without looking up from her hand. Miles looked shocked and insulted. "Delaney just won this hand so you could have the dealer deal you in if you're not worried about being embarrassed."

"That was fast," Vincent spoke to Delaney, leaning down to see her hand. She smiled smugly up at him and wiggled her eyebrows. "Don't take it easy on my brother if Cora manages to goad him into playing," he said loud enough for Miles to hear.

Miles glared at his older brother's back as the man moved away to be a good host. "Fine," he snapped, "Deal me in."

Delaney glanced at Cora and saw she looked as pleased as a cat who had just caught a fat rat.

This time the game didn't move quickly because Miles overthought every move. This made him all the more frustrated when he lost. He demanded they play again so the women obliged him. When he lost a second time he was irate. And after a third time, Delaney thought he might burst with anger.

"Are you cheating?" he charged.

"We don't have to cheat Miles," Delaney gave him a sympathetic smile.

"You're too emotional," Cora commented, "You give away your hand with your face and then you get angry and make poor decisions."

"Emotional," Miles stumbled over the word, eyes bulging, "I'm a man!"

"An emotional one," Cora replied dryly as Vincent rejoined them at the table.

"You'd better watch how you speak to me girl," Miles spat, "Or you will find your contract broken and be left to find another husband."

"Well, maybe the next one won't be a pompous, spoiled, brat."

Miles slammed his cards down on the table so hard the cracking sound it made echoed.

"Miles control yourself," Vincent hissed in annoyance. Miles glared at him before turning and storming out.

"I'm sorry," Delaney whispered, standing and taking Vincent's hand, "We should've gone easier on him."

Vincent chuckled, "Miles needs to be knocked down a peg or two every so often. What Cora said was true." He led Delaney away from the table and towards the entrance. Once they were out of ear range, he laughed and squeezed Delaney's hand, "You know I think she might be a good match for Miles. She doesn't let him get away with much."

Delaney smiled, thinking of her friend, "She doesn't let anyone get away with much."

Vincent led her out of the manor and out across the lawn towards the stables. Torches were lit and glowing in the black night sky, outshone only by the bright full moon.

"Do you want to know a secret?"

"Of course," Delaney smiled.

"A unicorn lives in these woods."

"Really?" she gasped, "How do you know?"

"I found him here once during a full moon like this. I've gone back to see him a lot since then."

"When I was a little girl I would always dream of finding a unicorn, "Delaney said wistfully, "I suppose even as a woman now I'd still love to see one."

He smiled down at her, the torchlight dancing across his attractive face, "Maybe one day when we're married and living here I can take you to meet him."

"That would be wonderful," she beamed, hugging his arm her hand was on. When she looked up at him he kissed her again and she smiled before quickly kissing him back. They separated and walked on for a while, letting the fall wind cool them.

In the near darkness, Delaney was able to let her smile fade as she thought over what he had just said. One day when they were married. He didn't sound like he had any doubts he would marry her and she felt guilty then for her thoughts about breaking the contract.

Delaney knew if she didn't marry him her life could be an adventure she made for herself. If she married him and lived here, yes seeing a unicorn would be nice but how many more adventures could they even have after that? He would have to devote himself to managing the estates and she would have to run the house and raise the children. Did she even want to have children?

She felt the guilt twist inside her again as she looked up at him. He was so handsome. Women loved him. She heard the whispers even though everyone thought she didn't. Even now, she was the envy of every young woman at this party, married or otherwise. She also felt fairly confident she was at least one of the most pretty women. They could go almost anywhere and those facts would probably remain the same.

Delaney considered this then, a thought taking hold in her mind. If she was the Duchess, she didn't have to stay at the estate as much as Vincent. She could still go anywhere she wanted for shopping or just to travel. Maybe he could come with her sometimes. She would have the finest dresses and jewels and always know the newest styles. As the Duchess, she could even go to the King's court with her handsome husband. Delaney had not been born with a title and now imagined all the fancy high born women looking at her and wishing to be her.

Delaney couldn't keep the smile from her face as her mind turned. She had never thought about it like this before. She would never truly stop being the most envied woman there was as long as she was the duchess married to the insanely handsome duke. She glanced up at Vincent and admired his strong jaw and bright eyes. His black hair fell lightly over his face. He was a sight to behold.

The witch's words rang in her head then. This had to be the right choice. How could it not be? How could her future end up bad if she married the richest, most handsome, and high born man there was? Women dreamed of futures so bright. She couldn't help from laughing at herself now. She had been foolish for ever considering breaking her marriage contract. Getting to live the life every woman dreamed of could never be the wrong decision.

A weight lifted as she made up her mind. Who says a Duchess couldn't play cards as much as she wanted anyway? This was the right choice. She was sure of it.