Chapter 52 - Adairs

Vincent was tall with flashing green eyes and a scowl on his scarred face. Even though Violet was petit, looking up at him with matching green eyes and scowl, there was no mistaking they were related.

In fact, the two looked so alike in their anger, if it had been any other time Delaney might have smiled at the similarity.

"It's a mothers job to worry about her children," Violet snapped at him, arms crossed, "And I've heard some very troubling news about what's been happening since the two of you got to Edgewood."

"What's been happening in my home is none of your concern," Vincent moved back from her and crossed to Delaney. He met her gaze before gesturing for her to take her seat on the couch again. To her surprise, he then sat next to her.

Violet glared at the pair but servants came in then carrying trays of snacks and drinks. Delaney took advantage of the distraction to lean closer to Vincent and whisper so Violet wouldn't hear.

"I'm sorry you had to come to my defense. I really thought I could handle her."

"It's alright," he muttered back, smirking in amusement, "You'll get better at it. In the meantime, I promised you I would always protect you."

"Your mother is sort of like a wolf herself," Delaney giggled.

Her words made Vincent laugh out loud and the sound caught Violet's attention, her eyes narrowing on them. Her son cleared his throat in an attempt to hide his laughter, and sat up straighter.

"I know you were bitten by a wolf," Violet said to Vincent once the servants had gone, "How bad is it?"

"I'm fine."

"I would hardly call that fine," Violet looked at him in disapproval, "If a wolf bites you like it sounds that one did, then there is no way you're simply fine."

"I've been taken care of," Vincent ran his hands over his face and into his hair again, "The doctor came and saw to it."

"Honestly Vincent you're not going to tell me how bad it was?"

"It wasn't as bad as when I was bitten by a dragon mother, alright?"

Delaney shifted uncomfortably. She didn't care for Violet herself but the woman was Vincent's mother and she had never heard him speak to her in such a way. She decided to intervene. 

"They were about this long," Delaney held her hands a distance apart, "And they bled quite a lot but the doctor came quickly and stiched them all up. He just needs to rest and heal and not get an infection."

"Thank you Delaney," Violet lifted her chin, "You see it wasn't that hard to give a straight answer Vincent. Was he bitten on his side with all the damage?"

"No," Delaney answered, glancing at Vincent to see if he was getting angry with her but he was still watching his mother with cold eyes.

"Oh," Violet seemed somehow disappointed, "So there will be more scars then."

"Yes mother there will be more scars," Vincent agreed in annoyance.

"I'm sure they will hardly be noticeable," Delaney took her husbands hand.

"Well I suppose not compared to the others," the woman sighed before taking a bite of a something from the serving tray, eyes locked on their hands together.

Delaney inwardly cringed and watched Vincent drop his eyes to his lap, his hair falling down to obscure the view of his face.

Looking at Violet, Delaney wondered if there wasn't some reason behind the woman's casual, hurtful insults to her son. She never acknowledged them but surely she knew what she was doing.

"I think it would be best if we considered this the end of the visit for today," Delaney stood then and was relieved when Vincent did the same, "Vincent needs to get some rest and I'm fairly tired myself."

"Oh so you're dismissing me then?" Violet asked in shock.

"Yes mother," Vincent answered before his wife had a chance, "We are dismissing you. Now if you'd be so kind as to start for the door I will see you out."

Violet stood and turned to frown at Delaney, "I was never so rude to guests when I was the mistress here."

"Well, you're not the mistress here anymore," Delaney replied cooly, tilting her chin upwards.

The moment the carriage rolled away from Edgewood with Violet Adair safely inside, Delaney felt herself relax.

She stood in the doorway and watched as Vincent made his way slowly up the stairs. She wanted to try to help him but knew better now. She knew he wouldn't appreciate it.

"Ah my Lady," he was out of breath when he finally made it to her, "I'm afraid I'm quite tired now."

"I know you are," she gently brushed a piece of hair back from his face, "I'm sorry you had to come defend me."

"Yes well I've told the servants that next time she arrives unannounced they're to lock all the doors and not let her in." He smiled mischievously at Delaney, making her laugh.

He leaned against the door frame then and pulled her hand to his lips. She felt the kiss on the back of her hand and was now oddly comforted by the unnatural heat.

"Let's get you inside so you can rest," she encouraged, without letting go of his hand.

"Just to the couch in my study though alright?" he groaned as he straightened and headed inside with her, "I want to have a proper dinner with you."

Delaney smiled up at him, "Missing one dinner in order for you to get some rest won't be the end of the world."

Vincent was quiet as they walked to his study. He had slowed down and his limp was showing itself again. Delaney held his hand though and didn't show she noticed.

He was too tall for the couch so he had to have his feet propped up on one side and his head propped on the other. His scars had darkened red from the exertion and his skin was somewhat grey. He was clearly exhausted.

Instead of sitting in one of the chairs, Delaney pulled the foot rest over so she could sit on it beside him. She took his hand and studied him.

"Do you want to know something my father taught me before he died?"

"Yes," Delaney answered without a second thought, having never heard him talk about his father, "I'd love to."

Vincent leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. The way they were sitting, she was on the side giving her a full view of his scars and she watched them move as he swallowed.

"He believed it was important to always have dinner with your family. Every night, everyone should be at the table together for the last meal of the day. He hated when he had to travel without us and we had dinner apart."

He swallowed again and Delaney pulled his hand onto her lap.

"He told me once I was the Duke and had all the responsibility it would be even more important to make sure I had dinner every night with my family. He said it reminds you every night what you work so hard for every day."

Delaney bit her lip and felt a pang of sadness in her heart for him. She had faint memories of Vincent's father but knew they had been close. She remembered the man seemed to always have been smiling. Vincent had been just like him before the accident.

"As long as we're married I want us to have dinner together every night. It doesn't even matter if it's in the dinning room. Just as long as we're together for it alright?"

"Alright," Delaney agreed quietly, feeling tears in her eyes hearing him say this, "That sounds nice."

"And there's one other thing," he looked at her now with a small smile, "I'll always walk you to your room when you're going to bed for the evening. No matter what, before I go to sleep myself, I want to know you're safe in your bed."

Delaney giggled, "More wisdom from your father?"

"No," he chuckled, "I think I've just seen some things in my life that make me worry. I never want to worry you're not safe."

"I'll try to make sure I never do anything to make you worry."

Vincent squeezed her hand and smiled before settling back into the pillows. He closed his eyes and Delaney watched him, his words swirling in her mind.

Living with her Aunt and Uncle, they had always given her her freedom to come and go as she wished and have meals when she wanted as well. They had let her make her own decisions and just sort of stood back and let her do as she pleased.

While the independence had been nice, Delaney knew it had always left her feeling quite alone. They were a family and she was a guest on an extended stay. She hadn't ever felt like she truly fit there.

Hearing Vincent talk about wanting to have these things with her because she was his family made her feel a warmth in her heart. Things may not be perfect now but once they were settled down she wondered if they would start to actually feel like a family.

Delaney had never realized before but she saw now she did long to have a family of her own one day, even if that family was just her husband.

She wanted to belong somewhere.

Maybe here at Edgewood Manor with Vincent would end up being that very place.