My response to the 'All the Other Women' Challenge on Sword and Circle at Steelsings
Regrets?
Delia slammed the door shut behind her as hot tears stung her eyes. It was all too much. So many things changing in the space of an hour. A few tears escaped and she brushed them away furiously, trying to get a grip on her emotions. Delia of Eldorne did not cry.
Slowly, she walked over to the counter where she pulled the stopper from the glass decanter and began to pour the amber liquid into a waiting glass. She downed it in one. It took a few seconds to take effect by which time she had already poured a second glass.
Midwinter was supposed to be a time of joy and good cheer. Delia let out an involuntary laugh that sounded strange in the silence of her room. Today had been a day of misery and unwelcome surprises. She sank into a chair and closed her eyes. However, the darkness was no comfort. Instead, she saw his face. His eyes staring and lifeless. Hers snapped open.
Roger was dead. Even though she had witnessed the event herself, she could still hardly believe that it was even possible for someone so powerful to be defeated by a short, skinny woman.
Still, she couldn't help but smile at the irony of the situation. That Jonathan's beloved Squire Alan should turn out to be a girl? That was a surprise. Well, maybe not a surprise. A few things certainly made sense, though Delia couldn't help but shiver at the thought that she had been forced to dance with him… her. At least there had been no real suggestion of anything else, even if she had flirted a little to make Jon jealous. The memory made her cringe.
As she sipped her drink slowly, she wondered if Jon had known even then. Had they laughed at her, called her a fool behind her back? Surely not. Jon had been in love with her. Or at the very least in lust. She had been too. In lust that is. After all, the Conte family did not only have a reputation for their ability to rule.
And once again, she was back to Roger. Suddenly the tears pricked at her eyes again and she swallowed hard. It wasn't like she was in love with the man, was she? Josaine teased her mercilessly about it, but what did it matter anyway now? He was dead and that was the end of it. Never again would she sit at his feet, Roger's strong hand running gently over her hair.
She had never sat like that with Jon. In fact, she couldn't recall if she had ever sat with Jon at all except at banquets. They had always been too busy with other things to just sit. For a moment, she regretted it. Maybe if they had sat more then she wouldn't have lost him.
Delia shook her head. It was nothing she did. No man in his right mind would have walked away from her the way Jon did without a better offer. She never had found out who it was though. If she had…
It was no use regretting things that had happened years ago. Everything had changed. Roger was dead and that pipsqueak squire had turned out to be a girl.
She stood up, walking over to the cabinet to refill her now empty glass. Swallowing down another mouthful, she frowned. A new thought had crossed her mind. Jon knew. He'd said it right in front of everyone. He'd known Alan was really Alanna already. What if that was why? What if Alanna was the other woman?
Delia almost laughed. It wasn't possible. Was it?
Glancing at the hour candle, Delia downed what remained of her drink and smoothed her skirts. She had places to be. She splashed some water quickly over her tear-stained face and dried it before opening the door and walking out to face the world once more.
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