The Knight's Mysterious Maid-Chapter 39: Returning gifts (4)

’No!’ Annalise screamed in her head. She would rather take the dress to her room and place it somewhere she would never have to look at it again than go anywhere with Delilah.

Delilah was only offering to help to let out her anger from Annalise receiving a dress instead of herself. There would be no one to stop her from doing as she pleased, picking a dress she thought was more fitting for a maid.

Rafael read the sheer look of horror on Annalise’s face. He didn’t know if she realised it, but she was pleading with him with her facial expression to say no. He was almost tempted to send her out with Delilah so he wouldn’t have to deal with Delilah. "That won’t be necessary," it pained him to say since he would be left with Delilah.

"I will keep the dress now," Annalise said, rolling back up with the blanket. The dress was large enough that she could cover her body with it whenever the blanket became dirty. Keeping a dress she didn’t want was much better than going with Delilah to get one she might like.

"I must get back to work now, young master. Thank you for the kind gift," she said, leaving the room before he could change his mind.

Rafael imagined himself being the one to leave the room. His eyes went from Annalise walking away to Delilah who smiled. "Why are you here, Delilah? Did I not make it clear enough last night that nothing would ever happen between us?"

Delilah was prepared for Rafael to send her away. That was why she came up with a brilliant plan for him to allow her to visit frequently. "I have not come here for you, Rafael. I have taken a liking to one of the knights you spoke to last night. The one named Christian. He is a man I would like to know more about. He stood close to me when you left my side"

"Really?" Rafael replied, not believing her words. Better liars had stood before him. Still, he didn’t mind her pretending to show interest in Christian and leaving him alone. "I believe he is on the training grounds. You know where it is, don’t you?"

Delila’s shoulders dropped. She did not want to go alone. "Won’t you be taking me there?"

"Do I seem like a guide? You have been here plenty of times as my mother’s guest so you should have no issue finding the training grounds. Next time, come with an escort or better yet, don’t come at all. This estate is full of men at each corner you turn and you are a lady whose good name would be ruined for coming here alone. Make this your last visit unless you are with your father," said Rafael.

"I believe it will not be an issue. I have been coming here for as long as I can remember. We are like-"

"Then understand why I see you more as a sister and not as a woman I want to have any kind of intimate relationship with. Christian is a good choice. He comes from a good family, and so far, he hasn’t tried to sleep with every woman he encounters. Be mindful that he gets irritated quite easily. Good luck," Rafael said, going back to the letter he was reading before they came in.

Hearing Rafael think of her like a sister hurt more than when he rejected her daring offer in this same study two nights ago. She didn’t want to be viewed as a sister. What was Rafael seeing when he looked at her? She noticed the way other men eyed her to know that she was desirable. The offers for her hand in marriage showed it. What did she need to do to become a woman he would lust after? A woman he would want?

"If you don’t leave now, you will miss Christian, and I can’t have you roaming around where the knights are. I’ve learned that I can’t trust some. Will you look for him, leave, or continue to stand there like a statute?" Rafael asked since she wasn’t making any attempt to do anything. He didn’t need someone standing around staring at him.

"I will leave," Delilah answered, holding back her tears so he wouldn’t see how hurt she was. He had already hurt her deeply by buying a dress for a maid and not her, whom he had known for a long time. Now he easily admitted that he viewed her as a sister. She could only blame herself for continuing to chase after him, but it was never easy to let go of your first love.

Delilah turned on her heels and walked toward the door. She gasped when she bumped into someone turning to enter just as she was exiting. "Giselle?" Delilah narrowed her eyes at the woman before her. Giselle was a popular woman known for not acting like a lady.

Delilah’s eyes trailed down to how exposed Giselle’s chest was. One wrong move and her breasts would spill from the dress. It was what Giselle used to gain her many admirers. Just like Delilah, Giselle was also seeking a husband, and now Delilah knew that she had her eyes set on Rafael.

"Delilah, what a pleasant surprise," Giselle said, taking a step back to look at the young lady who had been the topic of many conversations since she was by Rafael’s side last night. It was a surprise to hear that Rafael escorted Delilah. She didn’t see Delilah as a woman who suited Rafael.

"You look lovely. Like a doll a young girl plays with," Giselle added, holding back her laughter since she could not believe how Delilah dressed to visit Rafael. It was a dress Giselle would wear to visit her grandmother. Poor thing didn’t know how to get a man’s attention.

"Thank you. You look... intriguing," Delilah decided was the best word. She remembered a time when Giselle rarely got attention. She moved away for a while and then came back like this. Showing off too much of her body to get attention. "Why are you here?"

"To visit Rafael. You know that my brother is a knight, so I came to bring him some food our mother prepared, but first I will say a quick hello to Rafael. Are you here alone? Without an escort?" Giselle smiled as she realised how bold Delilah was. "I was lucky to grab my uncle, who is waiting for me by the carriage. Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone that you were here alone. We don’t need anyone coming up with nasty stories about you."

"It looks like you are about to leave. It’s a shame we could not talk for longer. If you would please step aside for me-"

"I wasn’t leaving!" Delilah exclaimed, changing her mind to stay and pretend to be interested in Christian so she could stay around to keep an eye on Giselle and Rafael. If she were to leave the two alone, there was no telling what lengths Giselle would go to be with Rafael.

"Really? Well, I hope to run into you again. Now excuse me. There is a handsome man I have been longing to see," said Giselle.