Chapter 4

"Well, that really is something, Eliza," Andrew said as he looked down at her embroidery. Eliza had been sat with her sisters and their governess in one of the many parlours in the castle. She had been taught to use a needle and thread, but so far the design was not going to plan.

Eliza looked down with a look of disappointment. The teacher had been so patient with her, but Eliza could tell that she was beginning to feel frustrated.

"It's awful, isn't it?" Eliza asked, frowning at her work.

"I'm afraid that it is, princess." Oscar helpfully added, earning an elbow to the ribs from Andrew, and a glare from Eliza.

"I'm sure you will get better!" Andrew said, with a rather fake smile on his face, "Isn't that right, governess?"

"I suppose there is a possibility. But perhaps your talents are elsewhere?" She replied, not wanting to insult the princess.

"It is okay, I understand. Embroidery simply isn't my forte." Eliza replied. Truthfully Eliza was growing weary with learning all of the new skills. She didn't seem to have many talents at all.

"I think that will be all for today's lessons. Thank you, girls," the governess said before dropping into a curtsey and leaving the room.

"Finally, the lessons are over! I didn't know how much longer I would last!" Eliza sighed as she put her needle down.

"It's really that bad?"

"You have no idea," Eliza replied with a grin. "The only lessons that I am looking forward to are riding lessons."

"Why do you need riding lessons?" Rachel asked.

"Well, because I don't know how to ride a horse." Was the obvious reply.

"You used to love riding, though!"

"But I can't remember anymore." Eliza was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"I hope I am not interrupting," came a familiar voice from the door. Eliza hand her siblings turned around to see Delilah.

"Of course not," Eliza grinned, getting up to greet her new friend. "Come and sit with us for a minute. I suppose you already know who these people are?"

"Yes, I do," Delilah blushed slightly.

"This is Delilah," Eliza said to the rest of the room.

"It's a pleasure to meet you again," Oscar said. Eliza knew that they had first met in Grea and then danced together at Elizabeth's welcome home ball.

"How are things in Grea?" Eliza asked.

"Well, from what I know, everything is great. But that's actually what I came to talk to you about. I now have a job in the castle!"

"That's wonderful!" Eliza turned to Andrew and Oscar. "I suppose that you knew about this?"

"We didn't want to ruin the surprise," Andrew laughed whilst Oscar blushed slightly.

"What will you be doing?"

"It is planning parties and events," Delilah replied, a bright smile on her face. She really did seem excited. She had been ever since Oscar proposed the job to her.

"So, will you be staying at the castle?"

"Yes, I will. I actually needed to talk to you, Elle," Delilah said, looking nervous for a moment. She was fiddling with her hands in her lap.

"It's Eliza now," Andrew interrupted.

"Of course, sorry!"

"It's no problem." Eliza sent a glare at her older brother. "Perhaps we could go somewhere to talk?"

"There is no need," Oscar began, "Your siblings and I were just on our way out."

Eliza sent him a grateful smile.

"So what is going on?" Eliza asked once she was sure that the door was shut and she could hear their footsteps leaving.

"I just wanted to explain to you what was going on before. I was so awful to you, and I know there is no excuse, but I just wanted to explain." Delilah began, looking at her hands.

"You don't have to do this, Delilah. I have forgiven you." Eliza began, taking Delilah's hand and giving it a squeeze. "Besides, neither of us are the same person as we were back there."

"Thanks, Elle." Delilah smiled slightly. "But I think I need to tell you what happened. You deserve to know."

Delilah looked up at Eliza, who could see the tears in her eyes. Eliza just nodded.

"So, my mother has never been kind to me. She always wanted the best, but it wasn't because she loved me. I fact, I'm sure that she didn't. She just wanted the best for her." Delilah began. "It really started a few years ago. She began to compete with the other ladies in the village. They all wanted the perfect daughter with the richest husband and largest house. At first, I tried to ignore her. She would make me go to dinner parties, and make me play the piano to impress people. I would refuse at first, as I hated the attention. But then she began to punish me for not obeying her."

Delilah found a loose thread on her skirt which she began to fiddle with.

"Eventually, I just gave up trying. There didn't seem to be any point anymore. I could never be happy anyway, so why not make my mother happy?

"Two years ago, my mother set her eyes on a man who she was sure would be my future husband. Well, he was actually a boy back then. To begin with, I refused, but then I realised how kind that James was."

Eliza gasped slightly.

"I thought that this was the one thing that my mother wanted that could actually make me happy. So I started to talk with James, and flirt with him like my mother taught me. I suppose that it never worked. Mother used to tell me that I wasn't doing it right. If I was, he wouldn't be paying any attention to other girls.

"I think that I started to believe my mother. Somewhere along the line, I began to do these things for myself. I was such a horrible person back then."

Delilah was crying now, so Eliza placed her hand comfortingly on her shoulder. She didn't want to interrupt because she knew that Delilah needed to tell her.

"That's where you came in." Delilah looked at Eliza with a regretful smile. Eliza had never seen someone look so guilty.

"You had been around for years, and everyone knew that you didn't talk to people. But that didn't stop them from taking about you. I always heard the boys talking about the beautiful girl from the bookshop. It made me jealous.

"So I told my mother about you. I told her how James always sent you a wave and a smile, but you never responded. I told her how upset it made him when you did ignore him.

"I think that is when my mother spoke to Mr Winters for the first time. She reported back to him everything that you did, and anyone that you talked to.

"I am really sorry if he punished you for it. I should have stopped her. I should never have told her in the first place. But I did, and for that, I will always be sorry."

"It's okay, Delilah," Eliza said after she was sure that Delilah was finished. "It makes sense now."

"What makes sense?" Delilah looked confused.

"Well, I think that I always knew that it wasn't your fault. I could just see in your eyes that you didn't want to be like that. And it also makes sense how Mr Winters always knew where I was."

"You know, I don't think that I was ever in love with James," Delilah said, grinning at her friend. "But I think someone else whom I know is."

"Who?" Eliza asked quickly. She blushed slightly.

Delilah laughed at her blushing face. "I think you know who I mean."

Eliza looked down at her hands.

"I should go and start working. I can't be caught doing nothing on my first day." Delilah said as she got up from the chair.

"I don't think anyone would mind if you told them that you were talking to me."

"That is true," Delilah said, wiping her eyes.

"What are you actually planning at the moment? Is there to be a ball soon?" Eliza was curious. They had just had a ball for her return, and now they were having another.

"Yes. And don't look so shocked, Eliza. You are royalty now. Going to balls should be normal for you." Delilah smiled.

"I don't think I will ever get used to it," Eliza said, shaking her head at the thought.

"If you think the balls are a big deal, just wait for your wedding!"

Delilah laughed at Eliza's slightly pale and shocked face.

A/N- I have set up an Instagram account, so go and follow me!! (thelittlemissreader) I will be posting lots of book/ reading related things!!

I think I deserve a vote for this chapter, as I only updated yesterday! :)

I'm really excited for the next chapter... you'll have to wait and see what will happen :)