A great deal of pain

The picnic continues and I slump down in the chair by the side of Colin, who raises an eyebrow as he looks at me. "Lovers quarrel?"

"What?"

"You and Anthony?" Colin grins at me, shrugging. "Oh, come off it, Delilah. It could not be any more obvious. You know that the emotions of love and hate are almost identical?"

"Where did you read that? In a scandal sheet? Do not be so absurd, Colin. You are quite ridiculous." I roll my eyes back at him, groaning as Benedict now jumps down beside me. "And what could you possibly want?"

"I heard you are in love with Anthony and not myself and I wish to know why." He pops a grape into his mouth and shows me his teeth, raising both eyebrows. "I heard Colin teasing you and I thought it should be more fun if I were to join in."

"You can laugh and joke and mock all you like but the simple fact is that it is not true. I find your brother disgusting, repulsive, the thought of him makes me wretch!" I exclaim. I am becoming defensive and that is not at all helping the situation. They continue to laugh and do not stop no matter how hard I scowl at them. "You two can shut your mouths or I shall shut them for you. Your brother is an awful human being and I should never wish to spend a minute longer with him than I have to... is that Lord Berbrooke? My goodness, what has happened to his face? He is even more hideous than he was before."

Berbrooke waves a sheet of paper in front of Anthony's face, announcing loudly to all that can hear: "here it is! A special marriage licence for my marriage to Daphne."

"You shall not need a licence since you shall not marry her." Anthony excuses himself from the conversation he was having with his mother to speak to the bumbling baron. "You must leave, and quickly. Do not make more of a fool of yourself."

"I shall not do, you shall. I have this and that means I shall wed Daphne."

"It most certainly does not!" Daphne shrieks but Simon keeps a grasp on her so she might not do anything more.

"Lord Berbrooke, perhaps you shall be more comfortable if we spoke about this elsewhere, you look in a great deal of pain." Lady Bridgerton attempts to diffuse the situation but of course this does not work.

"Perhaps I am now speaking to the true head of the Bridgerton household since the viscount seems to have not a clue what he is doing." Smugly, he thrusts the paper at Anthony who grasps it to read it. "Your father should be ashamed of what you have done to this family, viscount. But never fear, I shall help you. Our families union shall save your reputation."

I can see Daphne beginning to get herself rather upset and I can see Anthony breathing deeply in and out. No one appears to wish to say anything in a rebuttal, and so I shall. As I have mentioned, Berbrooke is one of the only lords I knew of before I came to London. He knew my father and I knew a lot more of him that he might think. After all, I was only a child and so they assumed I should not understand secrets and whispers. But what they did not know is that I was a rather smart child with a very good memory and that memory shall serve me well today. "Lord Berbrooke, how is Winnie?"

"What?" His smug face falters as he stares down at me. "Lady Basset."

"Yes, that is me. We did not need to establish that. I merely asked you how Winnie is?" I stand and I move so that I am by the side of Anthony, raising an eyebrow at the baron Berbrooke. "Last I knew she was with child."

"I do not know of what you speak." He glares at me insistently as he makes it clear he should like for me to stop.

"You do not remember the servant girl you got pregnant? I can describe her to you if you should like! She was slightly taller than I myself am currently. She had blonde hair that fell to her shoulders and one of her eyes was blue whilst the other was green. She was quite unmistakable!" I tilt my head, smiling a little. "I heard you sent her away and refused to provide for the child."

"And who shall believe what you have heard against what I say?" The lord bares his teeth at me, looking around to explore who is hearing what I have said.

"Oh, perhaps no one. But shall you wish to risk it? I am sure that I shall find a way to spread such a rumour to Lady Whistledown. Or perhaps you should prefer that I will not do such a thing if you leave Daphne alone." I offer him a sweet smile, taking the marriage license from Anthony's hands and giving it a once over. "So shall I keep this or should you like it back, Lord Berbooke?" He mumbles for a moment, looking back and forth between myself and Anthony. "Tick tock, Berbooke, I do not have all day. I have a ball I must attend tonight, I cannot stand around much longer and wait for your response."

"Keep it." He hisses, turning on his heel and storming away.

It is silent for a moment, but I break this up with the loud tear of the marriage certificate as I rip it into two and push it against Anthony's chest. "I believe somebody owes me a thank you?"

"Delilah, I cannot ever thank you so much." Daphne beams and wraps her arms delicately around me to thank me, letting out a content sigh. "I could think of nothing worse than having to marry such a... such a... buffoon."

"He is indeed." I smile to her and gently pat the  back of her head. "Hopefully he shall be called away to the country on alleged business and we shall never see his disgusting face ever again. I must say, I got far too close to him there. I was sure his breath was toxic."

"That was... impressive. Thank you, Lady Basset." It shocks and stuns me when these words come from the mouth of Anthony, who looks at me and nods, holding the two parted pieces of paper in his hands. "Thank you."

"Do not mention it.'