Chapter 51 - Unwanted Guest

"What-what is your mother doing here?" Delaney asked anxiously, feeling her heart begin to speed up.

"I don't know," he fumed in sudden anger, "I can assure you she wasn't invited."

Delaney watched as he quickly pulled on his jacket, wincing as he did so, and straightened his appearance before the mirror. He was nearly radiating his displeasure.

"Vincent you shouldn't be up yet," Delaney tried.

"Well, I'm going to have to be now," he snapped, "I can't leave you alone to deal with her."

Delaney watched him as he stopped to lean against the wall for support, a grimace on his face. Her worry for him only grew.

"I'll be fine with her," she tried again although she wasn't sure it was true, "You need to rest. The doctor said..."

"Delaney please," he cut her off abruptly, taking a deep breath to try to steady himself, "You know how my mother can be. If she's here unexpectedly it's just to cause trouble."

Delaney frowned at him now, crossing her arms, "I'm your wife now. I'm the Duchess of Edgewood and the mistress of this manor. I won't let someone intimidate me in the place that is supposed to be my home."

Vincent looked at her seriously before running his hands over his face and up through his hair. Delaney stepped forward and took one of his hands, pulling him toward his bed as there was a knock on the door.

"Uh, it's the dowager," Harris said after Vincent had called for him to enter, "She's in the drawing-room now waiting for you."

Gently pushing Vincent's shoulders until he was sitting on the bed, Delaney turned with a smile.

"Thank you, Harris. I'll be down shortly."

The valet nodded, meeting Vincent's eyes for a moment before slipping back out of the room.

"I really think I should go," Vincent tried again, "There are lines she won't cross if I'm there."

"Try to get some sleep," Delaney squeezed his hand, "I'll be back after she's gone."

Vincent nodded and stared after her, not convinced, but he didn't move to follow her when she left.

Outside of his bedroom, Delaney paused and rested her forehead against the worn wooden door, closing her eyes and taking a moment to build her confidence. She didn't want anyone to know she was this unsettled by her mother-in-law.

Stepping back, she patted down her hair to make sure it was in place before heading towards the stairs.

The drawing-room at Edgewood was resplendent, decorated with purples and golds. Sitting regally on one of the plum couches, was Violet Adair, wearing an emerald dress that matched her eyes.

Seeing Delaney, she gave a smile that was more of a smirk, "Why Delaney, don't you look fetching!"

"Thank you, Violet," Delaney made herself give a cheerful, pearly, smile back, "What's brought you all the way to Edgewood today? I hadn't heard you'd planned a visit."

"Oh it's not that far for me," Violet chuckled, "Do I need a reason to visit my son and daughter-in-law?"

Delaney gave a pursed lipped smile, "Well, it is only our second day of marriage so I would've thought we wouldn't have to be entertaining visitors for some time."

"Oh well, you didn't give me a chance to visit with you after the wedding though did you? And you've said "we" but my son has yet to join us. Where is Vincent?"

Delaney had to focus on navigating through Violet's traps. "I'm afraid he just laid down for a nap before you arrived," Delaney purred, "If we'd known you were coming I'm sure he would've had different plans for his afternoon."

"Vincent?" Violet feigned shock, "Sleeping in the middle of the day? He never does such things. Did he have a late night?"

Delaney fought not to let her smile falter but knew what was happening now. Violet must have somehow found out something about what had happened the night before. This whole conversation was a trap she'd set and had been waiting to spring.

"He's fine," Delaney replied evenly, "I suggested he get some rest and he agreed. I'm sure you're aware he gets... tired... sometimes."

Violet looked at her with thinly veiled contempt, "I don't think convincing him to become bedridden is the best course of action to handle his... debilities."

Delaney raised her eyebrows, "I hardly think taking a nap will lead straight to him being bedridden Violet."

The woman's frown deepened, "Just remember as his wife you have an influence on him. You can use that influence to make him great or to convince him not to push himself. Then he'll become weak and his appearance will be the least of his worries."

Delaney inwardly cringed at Violet's harsh words about her son.

"Well," she shrugged a shoulder and her annoyance made her say something she knew would upset the woman, "We may not be married after a year and then you can go back to being the one to influence him."

Anger flashed across Violet's face, upsetting her perfectly constructed mask, "I told you not to speak about that stupid sham agreement again!"

Delaney couldn't help but smile seeing she had roused Violet. This was a sort of sword fight between the two of them, each trying to land a blow.

"I think I'll send Harris to wake Vincent," Violet moved to ring the bell on the side table.

"He's asleep Violet as I told you," Delaney insisted, "If I thought it was best to wake him I would have."

"Yes well, just days ago you were saying you couldn't marry him because he's so disfigured so you'll excuse me if I don't believe you have his best interests in mind."

Before she knew what she was doing, Delaney stood quickly and snatched the bell from its place.

"I am the mistress of this house now Violet and Vincent is my husband," Delaney lifted her chin, "If I don't want him to be disturbed then he won't be."

"Oh stop pretending to care about his wellbeing," Violet rolled her eyes.

"I do care," Delaney argued, raising her voice as her annoyance grew.

"Lies!" Violet's voice rose now as well, "If you cared about him so much why did you try to run away from him after being married only a day?"

"I... I..." Delaney stammered, surprised Violet had come out with it so suddenly and directly.

"You said he needs to rest but that's only because you had him out in the middle of the night and because of you he had to fight off a pack of wolves! It's because of you he's been bitten! But please Delaney go on telling me you know what's best for him."

"Who told you this?" Delaney demanded, "You have no idea what happened here last night."

"I know exactly what happened here just like all of your servants do. You forget I was the mistress here for more than twenty years!"

"And you are not the mistress now!"

"You wouldn't even be here if I hadn't forced you to marry my son," Violet snarled, "You wanted nothing to do with him because he's so unappealing. But look at you now. Here in the grandest manor house and married to the wealthiest man in the land! Now, suddenly you expect me to believe you care about him? Oh no Delaney we both know you're just happy to have the great title and all the money and connections. You don't care about Vincent. You'd be happier if you could have it all and not have to have the hideous husband along with it!"

"You have no idea what I want!" Delaney shouted back at her, "You don't know anything about me!"

"I know my son said you were a selfish, superficial little brat who thinks she's better than everyone else," Violet sneered, "Which I've always found laughable since you are the child of a common merchant's daughter and an alcoholic lord who squandered all his money and lost everything that had been in your family for hundreds of years before killing himself, leaving you a penniless nothing."

"Mother!"

Both Violet and Delaney who now had tears in her eyes jumped at the sudden thunderous roar. Turning to the door, they saw Vincent leaning against the doorframe, pale and tired but boiling with rage.

His scars looked dark and his eyes were black with his anger. Delaney stood quickly and took a step toward him.

"I'm sorry Vincent," she said with a quivering voice, "I shouldn't have argued with her I just..."

"You are not the one who should be apologizing," he glared at Violet and walked straight up to her.

"Listen to me mother," he hissed, "This has been my house and my land since my father died and now I share it with my wife. None of it is yours! If you come to our home and speak to either of us like this again you will find yourself not only removed from my property here but no longer welcome to occupy my house in the village."

"Vincent!" Violet gasped, "I am your mother!"

The man took one more step toward her and leaned in close.

"Then act like it!"