Softly, delicately (6)
I believe the answer is:
gently
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'softly' is the first definition.
(I know that softly can be written as gently)
'delicately' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
(Other definitions for gently that I've seen before include "In a mild/kind manner" , "Lightly, mildly, softly" , "Not violently" , "in a peaceful manner?" , "In mild and moderate manner, not in rough way" .)