At the third party at the Orphingtons Julius asked Delilah to marry him, and everyone was shocked but happy for them.

Lissa wondered if her sister could settle for one man. Delilah kept looking at Rafeal when she thought no one was looking. But Lissa was watching her out of the corner of her eye.

When it came to men, Lissa did not trust Delilah as far as she could toss her, after all Johanna was still upset with Delilah for breaking her and Alexander Timberlane up. But now she was seeing Keith his cousin, and happier then ever.

Of course there was a problem Julius wished to ask Jamie for Delilah's hand in marriage, but Delilah who was ashamed of her home and all her siblings.

"Father, Mother, I need you to go to Rivers Edge with me to visit Julius," Delilah pleaded.

"Well I can't get away right now, Oly took his family to Boston and I am looking after things for him," Jamie said.

"Besides what would we do with Lucas, Tristen, and Nicholas they are really too young to travel like that," Octavia said.

"Invite him here, I can put him up at the Inn for the night," Jamie offered.

Delilah sighed there was no changing their mind, well she guessed that she would have to be humilated some time, it might as well be now, because sooner or later he would see their crude house and the pack of children her parents had.

The day arrived when Julius was to call and Lissa hoped her father would say no, as she went to answer the door

Delilah was up in her room crying because she was so embarrassed of their poor house she upset because she was afraid that Julius would see the house and decide he wanted someone else.

"Sir I love your daughter Delilah and I wish her hand in marriage," Julius said.

"I see, she is only fifteen, I think . . . if I approve, it should be at least a year long engagement," Jamie said, looking as though someone had served him liver and onions which he hated.

"Of course sir, I will not be eighteen until next year," Julius said, knowing when he was eighteen he would have the house in which he now lived, as well as money and a business or two.

"Please be seated," Jamie said after Julius began to look a bit uncomfortable.

"I think that is wise," Octavia said, she liked Julius immedately.

"Very well, I think we should get to know each other better," Jamie said.

Melissa had gone to get the tea things, she was glad because she was smiling so wide she knew her parents or Julius would think she was plotting something. Which she wasn't.

Julius had expected them to live in a nicer home, but perhaps Jamie prefered to invest his money wisely not in items to show his wealth as Julius's father did. If this was so Julius highly approved. He disapproved of his family's guady trappings, but not too much it always seemed to land him the best young ladies. But when he became a man and recieved his grant from his grandfather he would not spend it foolishly on lavish items.

"How about your education?" Jamie asked.

"I graduated Rivers Edge Academy this spring first in my class, before that I attended school in London where I aquired a few awards and honors as a student," Julius sadi.

"Tell me about your family," Octavia said thinking Jamie was a little upset.

"Well my family of course is from Scotland, but only my faternal grandmother is actually Scottish, my English Grandfather Lord Matthew Orphanington was the second son of the Earl of Orphanington. My mother you may know is the sister of Olga Swensen, wife of Niels Swensen, they were royals in Sweden," Julius said, thinking his family had nothing compared to Delilahs.

"I see," Jamie said in a cool voice.

"Where is Delilah she should come down it is most rude, why don't you run and fetch her," Octavia said. She wondered why Jamie did not like this young man. She found him charming and very handsome.

"Of course mother," Lissa said wondering where her little brothers and sisters were. The baby was asleep but the others were mysteriously quiet.

"How long have you known Delilah?" Jamie asked, he was upset, she was very immature, and not ready for marriage at all.

"About a month, but the first time we spoke, I knew she was the woman for me because I lost my heart to her." Julius said trying to be very eloquent.

Jamie thought back about himself and Octavia, but Octavia was so different then Delilah, she had a good head on her shoulders much like Lissa. Delilah was fluttery and fickle more like Octavia's sister, he thought as his daughters entered the room.

Delilah sat beside Julius wishing she could appologize for the way her father was acting, she and Lissa had heard Seth and Captain Ferrin question men before, and her father sounded just like them. As if he was going to arrest Julius not approve him for her fiance. Of course she had been listening. She was in envy of Lissa, their father never treated Rafeal like this. Delilah thought Rafeal is the one who needed questioned.

"I would like a favour, if you marry this coming year, I would like the wedding in Amberly." Octavia said.

"We have not agreed that they can marry," Jamie said a bit angrily.

Delilah smiled, she should have known her mother would be on her side, and see that Julius was really the best husband material out there, better then Josiah, who until now Octavia had been rooting for, knowing he was a nice safe boy for her daughter to have call on her.

"Of course the bride's family always chooses the church," Julius said.

"We are not religious although my wife is a Quaker now, I have my own beliefs," Jamie said, thinking of Quentin and how lucky he was not to have to go through this nonsense with his daughter.

"Of course sir, what ever you choose will be acceptable," Julius said graciously.

"I would like to get married in the Amberly church," Delilah said.

"Of course if that is what you wish, she has been going there with friends of hers Josiah Martin and Madolyn Coates," Octavia said.

"I have not agreed that they should marry, you are putting the wagon before the horses," Jamie snapped.

"Sir, what must I do to prove my worthiness," Julius said getting a bit angry, but trying his best to hold his anger in check. He was used to getting what he wished.

"I just wish to know you better, and perhaps . . ." Jamie started and was interupted by a knock on the door, Annabelle appeared and went to see who was there.

It was Rafeal, who had no idea what he was walking in on, and now it was Lissa's turn to be embarrased of her father, not the house.

"Rafeal how nice of you to call," Melissa said hoping her father wouldn't unleash on him as he had poor Julius.

"I was riding by and decided to come and see what you were doing today, Hello Mr. and Mrs. Warwick, Julius, Deliliah," Rafeal said looking slightly amused as if he knew what was happening.

"Father you were sixteen and mother was fifteen when you were married why do you object to our marriage, I will be sixteen and Julius will be eighteen, and he has a house and land and money, and you had nothing but passage to America," Delilah said lowering the boom on her father, feeling with Rapheal here, her father was outnumbered.

"What do you think Rafeal?" Melissa asked.

"I think they are too young," Rafeal said, walking over to Lucas who had wandered into the room.

Julius gasped.

"I mean I would not wish to marry Lissa now, but maybe by next year we know each other well enough to make the decison," Rafeal said shrugging as he smiled at the four year old.

Lissa gasped at this, she loved Rafeal but she had always thought he would go back to sea and break her heart.

"See Jamie, even Rafeal thinks a years engagement is a good idea," Octavia said.

Lissa smiled at Rafeal as he sat on the floor and played patty cake with Lucas, he really loved animals and children and he loved her.

"All right," Jamie sighed, "A years engagement.

"I will go fix dinner, Rafeal you must stay as well." Octavia said smiling at Rafeal, she was so proud of her daughters choices in young men.

"I would be delighted Mrs. Warwick," Rafeal said thinking Lucas sure was cute, he would love to have his own son some day.

"I will go fetch fresh vegatables," Lissa offered, motioning for her sister to accompany her but Delilah did not want to leave her love and her father together.

Later Jamie came into the kitchen as Octavia was preparing the meal, and said, "Why are you for this wedding you know Delilah is not the serious young woman you were?"

"Delilah is a lot like me in one way, she would run off with him if you disapproved of the wedding," Octavia said.

"I see, so you think she will not be able to have just one caller for a year," Jamie said feeling relieved.

"No, and if she does it will be right, and you must be kidding to not approve of Julius." Octavia said.

"I approve of him, but I would like to know him better," Jamie sighed, thinking at least he was in Rivers Edge and she couldn't sneak out with him like she had Todd Landers.

"Oh Julius I apologize for my father," Delilah said.

"It's fine it is you I love not your father, and I think it is wonderful how much he cares about you," Julius said.

"You really do?" Delilah said.

"Of course I love you," Julius said, thinking he was glad his parents approved of her, of course it was easy once Roland told them who she was.

"I know that, I mean you really thinks he cares about me, he always favours the boys and Lissa over me," Delilah sighed, glad her mother at least was on her side.

"I do, when we have children I will want them to marry well," Julius said cringing slightly as Lucas grabbed his coat with a grimy paw.

"Tell me Rafeal you really want to marry my sister?" Delilah said suddenly invisioning a glorius double wedding.

"Ask me again in a year, but I can think of no other I would rather be with," Rafeal said smiling.

With the approval of Delilah's father behind them, Delilah felt it was nice to have a year to plan the biggest and best wedding Amberly had ever seen.

After dinner the three men sat in the drawing room while the women sat in the kitchen. Octavia had sent the younger children upstairs with Delilah, she wanted to talk to Lissa.

"About the dowery, I would like a nice horse if that would be all right, that black one would be nice I saw out in the paddock,"

Lissa gasped that was Satin her colt. Octavia shook her head and grabbed her daughter preventing her from barging into the room.

"Sorry, that is Lissa's colt, I do have a nice Chestnut colt a brother of that one, he is older and very well trained," Jamie said.

"That would be fine sir, thank you," Julius said, he had heard Jamie bred some of the finest horses in the country.

Lissa smiled she should have known her father would not cave in to some spoiled rich brat like Julius Orphington even though they ate on gold flatware.

"The chestnut is a nice horse," Rafeal agreed.

Lissa barely heard her mothers lecture about marriage and everything, she was thinking about Saturday night races and Satin he was almost ready.

Her sister was going on about the wedding and wondering if the puppy Lucas was so attached to should be given away to Julius' family Lissa told her no.

"Well I am glad you understand all I have told you," Octavia said, and Lissa and Delilah looked at each other and smiled.

Jamie allowed Julius to take the chestnut to the inn to see how he liked the colt, when he discovered that one of Olys carriages had brought him. Rafeal went with him to show him the way and to make sure his father didn't charge him for the room.

Later when Octavia and Jamie relaxed in their bed while they waited for Delilah and Lissa to come up and go to bed after saying goodnight to their callers.

"Are you sure we are doing the right thing, sixteen is still very young," Jamie sighed.

"I think she will grow up a lot in this coming year, besides Quentin was fifteen and we know boys mature slower then girls," Octavia said.

"Now Lissa will want to marry Rafeal as well," Jamie sighed, he was not ready to let go of his favourite daughter.

"It is good she found him, now she won't be out racing horses and being so unlady like she embarrases Delilah," Octavia reasoned.

Jamie sighed, he had let Quentin marry young and he had married Octavia young now he knew all of his children would be marrying young. But it would be a while Annabelle and Monique were only eleven and twelve, so he had four more years of peace perhaps.

The night of the race Satin did not let Lissa down, she was thrilled as he had beaten all the others including Rafeal's Fame in his very first race.

"I knew you would do it," Rafeal laughed, she was so excited.

They were surprised when Delilah and Julius showed up to watch the races.

Jamie had allowed Julius to take the chestnut home after visiting with his parents and knowing that both his parents approved of the engagement.

"I would like it if you raced that horse against mine," Rafeal said

"I will race you," Armon Dutcher said.

"You would surely win, as even though Ribbon is a great colt, I am not the rider you are and I have no money with which to bet," Julius sighed.

"What is wrong Julius? All evening you have been moping?" Delilah asked as Rafeal turned to talk to Paul Amberly, who so far had only been beaten by Lissa.

"We were robbed." He said in a low voice.

"When did this happen?" Delilah asked.

"The day I was at your home, my parents went to visit some friends they came back and the house had been broken into and my mothers jewelry and all gold was gone," Julius said.

"That is horrible," Deliah said.

"Oh no," Lissa said, "So sorry."

"I know and now if you wish to end our engagement I will understand, we are not as wealthy as we were," Julius sighed.

"I love you not your gold and your mothers jewelry, do not be silly," Delilah said, thinking surely that was not all their wealth.

"Oh Delilah, I hoped you would think this way, because I would surely die if you did not love me," Julius said dramatically.

Meanwhile Rafeal ahd slipped off with Lissa to kiss and talk.

"I have something I wish to show you but we are going to have to travel there and back and it will take two days and a night even with our fast horses," Rafeal said.

"I will think of something, maybe my parents will allow me to go visit a friend in Arcadia," She said wondering what he would have to show her that was so far away.

"Good, I think you will really love this, and I will explain my plans to you then as well, and you will understand why I can not commit to marrying you in the spring, but I think you will like my plan better, and we can marry if you like," Rafeal said smiling, thinking as captain of the ship his father could marry them.

"That sounds interesting." Lissa said, thinking she had never lied to her father before, but she wanted to now, for Rafeal.

They kissed in the moonlight, and then rejoined the others.

Lissa had to be careful what days she chose to go see Marian so Delilah would not insist on going with her. She didn't worry about her parents talking to her friend because they did not know Marian had moved from Arcadia to Portland last week.

"Lissa there you are," Delilah called.

"I am here," Lissa sighed, Delilah wanted to go home. Even though Julius was spending the night with Roland and probably could stay out as late as he wished.

Delilah claimed to have a headache and be very tired, Lissa kissed Rafeal goodnight, no use in upsetting her father and mother so close to the trip she wished to take.