Andrea descended from a black automobile escorted by a small group of discreet companions. He was the same young man of beautiful and singular figure with whom Delilah had spoken during that celebration at the Bathory mansion. Back then, he had already been dazzling, but compared to his current image, there was no way to find similarities. He looked like the heir to an ancient king, perhaps the prince of some distant kingdom. His presence was on a completely different level.
Even so, when he offered a casual and respectful greeting, Delilah felt her body stop responding for a moment.
—We finally meet again.
The young woman tried to suppress the insecurity that dominated her before Andrea's impressive figure. She stared at him, unable to help herself, and then extended her hand almost automatically. Her body was acting on its own. She remained in silence, unable to respond with words.
Andrea took her hand naturally.
—To tell the truth, I expected you not to accept a gift from a stranger —he said with a slight smile—. But it has made me happy that you are wearing the dress.
Delilah shuddered. She wanted to thank him, but she didn't know how to do so in the presence of a noble of such high rank. That morning, she had tried to fix her hair with special care; she knew she would probably have to accompany someone important during the celebration. However, no matter how presentable she tried to look, she would never feel worthy of standing beside a young man like Andrea.
Andrea took off the long coat he was wearing and then removed the black gloves that covered his pale hands. With a calm gesture, he dismissed his companions, completely clearing the entrance area. Then he turned his attention back to her.
—Could you show me the mansion?
—As you command.
Delilah's behavior had changed completely now that she recognized the weight of the Bathory name. Andrea was accustomed to such treatment, but a slight disappointment crossed his expression nonetheless.
He began to walk. Instead of heading inside the mansion, he moved toward the backyard. Delilah followed him without asking questions.
Surprisingly, Andrea headed directly toward the garden. At first, Delilah thought it was a casual decision, but when they arrived in front of the large central fountain, surrounded by white rosebushes, she understood that Andrea had planned to go there from the start. That made it clear that it was not the first time he had visited the mansion.
Andrea observed the structure of the fountain in silence. Then he dipped the tips of his fingers into the crystal-clear water, where his reflection was gently distorted. The garden light highlighted his mysterious appearance. If someone had tried to describe that scene, they would have said he looked like one of the angels guarding the entrance to a paradise.
—I have heard that you tend to this garden personally.
His fingers touched the water softly.
—You have done a good job.
The garden was difficult to maintain even for the gardeners. It was too large for the small staff that attended to it, and Marquise Lathasha showed little interest in natural life. Many believed she kept it only because it would be a waste to get rid of such an exotic place. Flowers grew there that Delilah often wondered if they were valuable—flowers brought from distant cities that, in her opinion, did not deserve to be neglected.
—It is not like that —she responded modestly—. I only help sometimes.
Their gazes met, but Delilah could not hold her head high. Andrea touched the petals of a white rose with the delicacy of his long fingers. A bright smile appeared on his face; he seemed familiar with that place.
—I liked it better when you didn't know who I was.
The words surprised Delilah. For an instant, she thought she had offended him, although she knew Andrea was not wrong.
—I am only trying to treat you the way you deserve —she finally said—, even if I don't know how to do it.
Andrea took a step closer.
—Then you should speak freely —he responded softly—. It doesn't matter if it is proper or not.
He looked at her directly.
—I will only accept hearing what you truly want to say.
Delilah could not disobey a request from Andrea, but in the depths of her being, she felt a strange relief.
—I want to thank you for your kindness.
Andrea shook his head gently.
—It is not necessary.
The young man looked back at the garden around him.
—You really like this place...
For a moment, his gaze was lost in the sky. Then he spoke again.
—In reality, my father would have liked to buy this mansion.
Delilah blinked in surprise. It was not strange for someone to want to possess such a beautiful place, but if the mansion was destined to be inherited, it was curious that someone wanted to buy it—especially if that someone was a Bathory.
—But it is not a place that can be easily sold —Andrea continued—. Not even for my older brother.
The mention of an older brother provoked an immediate reaction in Delilah. She never imagined the day would come when she would speak with a Bathory so naturally. She had always thought of the high nobility as if they were owners of the sky: beings so superior that she didn't even deserve to look at them.
—Tell me —Andrea asked suddenly—. Would you like to meet my older brother?
The proposal took her completely by surprise. Having met Andrea was already an enormous privilege, a miracle even. When the dress arrived in her hands, she was convinced it had been a mistake. But now she knew it truly came from the Bathory family.
Still, she couldn't even imagine herself in front of Neil Bathory. Everything related to him seemed unreachable. She tried to think quickly of a proper response. Refusing could be offensive, but accepting too easily might seem arrogant.
—I do not think someone like me should take up the precious time of such an important person.
She had no reason to meet Neil. At that moment, Lucrecia's face appeared in her mind. Surely the proud "glass doll" already knew that man. After all, she seemed to have a particular interest in him.
♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠