Chapter 48 - Blood

The butler himself rushed forward to Vincent's side and helped him to his feet again. The pair made it to Vincent's room and he sat on the edge of his bed, still pressing the cloth to his side.

Delaney went with them and hovered nervously by his side. His valet came in a moment later though and went ghostly white at the sight of his master's blood-soaked clothes. He was quick to suggest they get him into something clean.

Vincent nodded and looked towards Delaney. She blushed before excusing herself to wait outside.

In the hall, Delaney realized her own dress was now quite dirty and had blood stains as well. Slipping into her bedroom, she pulled the bell string to call for Ivy. There was still a bowl of water on her vanity waiting since she hadn't come to bed before.

She used a cloth and washed her face and hands of the blood and grime. When Ivy came in and saw her she still gasped and nearly dropped the cup of tea she was carrying.

"My-my Lady, what happened to you?"

"I'm fine Ivy. Don't worry," Delaney tried to assure the maid, "It's not my blood. Lord Adair was bitten by a wolf."

"A wolf?" she asked in confusion, "But how?"

"Can you help me out of this and into something clean so I can go back to him?" Delaney asked then, not interested in discussing things with her maid at that moment.

"Of course," Ivy reddened in embarrassment but hurried to help her mistress.

The maid took the most likely ruined dress and torn underskirt out of the room to work on repairing them. Delaney brushed out her long hair before braiding it into a long braid over her shoulder.

Her stomach still felt sick from her drinking and her head was starting to ache so she sat on her couch and drank the tea Ivy had brought her. She closed her eyes but as soon as she did, memories of Vincent fighting the wolves and the fear it had given her came to her mind.

It was common knowledge that packs of wolves roamed the woods but Delaney had only ever seen a lone wolf or a couple together before, never a whole pack.

What would have happened if Vincent hadn't come? Would the wolves have chased them until they could overtake them or would they have given up? She was glad she wouldn't have to find out.

Delaney finished her tea quickly and her worry for Vincent kept her from being able to stay sitting any longer. Stepping back into the hallway, she found Mrs. Crouch and a few other servants waiting in the hallway.

"The doctor is with him now my Lady," Mrs. Crouch told her, "He came right away."

"Good," Delaney looked towards the door, "Do you think...Do you think I could go in?"

Mrs. Crouch nodded, "Of course! You are his wife after all and the Duchess of Edgewood."

Delaney gave her a thankful smile before stepping to the door and lightly knocking. Vincent's valet answered and, seeing it was her, quickly stepped aside.

"Lady Adair, my Lord," he announced her entrance.

Delaney stepped into Vincent's rooms which were just as big as her own. It was sparsely decorated though, with mostly empty walls and little furniture. He also kept it relatively dark, with few candles lit even now.

A small, older man was bent over the bed where Vincent was laying. Delaney slipped around to the opposite side.

Vincent had his shirt off in the privacy of his rooms. He was pale, making his webbing of scars seem all the more red and vicious looking. He was sweating and had his eyes closed, holding a fistful of the bedding as if to brace himself.

Delaney saw what the doctor was doing and had to quickly look away, fearing she would be sick. He had a long silver needle and was sewing the wounds closed with black thread.

A hiss escaped Vincent's lips when the needle plunged into his skin again. Delaney sat lightly on the bed and reached out to lay her hand over his that was wrapped up in the sheets. He opened his eyes and looked up at her in surprise.

With his hand trembling, he let go of the bedding and instead took her hand. She squeezed it gently and gave him the best smile she could manage although it wasn't much.

He swallowed and forced himself to smile as well. It vanished as soon as the needle pushed into his skin again.

Seeing him in pain, tears filled Delaney's eyes and her heart ached.

"I'm so sorry Vincent," she whispered with a shaking voice, "This is all my fault."

"Shh," he shook his head, "It's not your fault. I baited you with the things I was saying. I don't know why. Maybe I wanted a fight."

"But I said all those terrible things," tears slid down her face as she felt the guilt in her heart, "And then I...then I slapped you."

The doctor glanced up from his work then, looking quizzically at each of them before going back to the sewing.

"I deserved to be slapped," Vincent sighed, looking away from her, "I shouldn't have kissed you. Not like that."

Delaney looked down at her hand in his, "But I ran away."

He stared up at the canopy over his bed, "Honestly I probably would've run away too. I know my...my anger hasn't been easy. Even Miles has come to Edgewood less and less because of it."

She was surprised to hear that since the brothers were so fiercely loyal to one another. She remembered Vincent yelling at Miles at the hospital though.

Vincent jerked and squeezed her hand, interrupting her thoughts. She looked and saw the doctor pressing the needle down into his abdomen again. At least he was nearly finished.

Delaney sat and held Vincent's hand as the doctor continued sewing stitch after stitch. At last, the old man stood and told Vincent to sit up.

On shaky arms, Vincent pushed himself upright and sat while the doctor wrapped his middle in bandages. When he finished he looked at the couple with serious eyes.

"You will need to keep the bandages and the wounds clean. Lord Adair your system is already compromised by the dragon poison so you can't afford to get an infection. You've lost a lot of blood so you will need to spend at least a few days in bed."

Delaney looked at Vincent with concern. His wounds were stitched up but there was still so much more to worry about.

Vincent, however, smiled at the doctor, "You're going to worry my wife doctor. I'm sure I'll be fine after some sleep and a few good meals won't I?"

The doctor looked from Vincent to Delaney and back as if he wanted to argue but in the end, simply nodded.

"I'll be on my way then," he said as he gathered his things into his bag, "Send for me if you need me or get a fever."

"We will," Delaney said quickly, "Thank you so much for coming to help him."

Again, the doctor just nodded, then left.

Vincent was propped up on the pillows now and gave her a gentle smile, tugging on her hand, encouraging her to come closer.

Delaney hesitated for only a moment before scooting across the large bed until she was sitting near him. She folded her legs under her skirt and settled into his surprisingly comfortable bed.

"I'm going to be fine," he reassured her, "I've been bitten by a dragon remember? What harm could a wolf bite do after that?"

Delaney knew he was joking to try to make her feel better but she couldn't smile and tears slid down her cheeks. She didn't want anything to happen to him no matter what happened with their marriage. He didn't deserve it.

"Delaney," he squeezed her hand, "I promise I'm going to recover from this just fine. You don't need to worry."

"I'm sorry," she whispered again.

"Stop it please," he shook his head, "I am just as much to blame as you are."

"You were out because I was being foolish and tried to run away at night. Now you've been bitten because you were fighting to protect me."

He sighed, "I will always protect you. I'm your husband."

Delaney looked at Vincent then, really looking at him. Her eyes moved from his bandages abdomen to the scars peeking out from under them.

She followed the lines as they spread up his chest then to the other blooming below his throat. She traced the webs of scars up from there along his neck and over his face, at last coming to the dark green eyes she'd known all her life.

Vincent had risked his life to protect her even after all the mean things she'd said and done. He was giving her chance after chance and still forgiving her every time she failed him.

Delaney swallowed as she looked at him. It was time she gave him a chance too.

"And I'm your wife," she said quietly.

He smiled at her and raised her hand to his lips, pressing a light kiss on the back of it. She smiled and squeezed his hand.

"You look so tired," she sighed.

"I am," he agreed, "We should both get some sleep."

"Alright," she moved to leave the bed but then stopped and looked back at him. "May I... may I sleep here tonight?"

Vincent was shocked by her question but nodded, "Of course."