Chapter 63 - The Arrangement

Delaney and Vincent slept late into the afternoon. She woke before him and rang for Mrs. Crouch. The older woman came in and Delaney signaled for her to be quiet, pointing to her sleeping husband in her bed.

Mrs. Crouch smiled warmly and nodded. She helped Delaney dress for dinner in a dark plum dress. Delaney braided her hair over her shoulder and Mrs. Crouch insisted on pinning a few sparkling gems into it.

"Please let Harris know Lord Adair is in here and will need his clothes," she whispered to the housekeeper who nodded.

Once Mrs. Crouch was gone, Delaney went back to her bed and sat gently on the edge. Vincent was still asleep, one muscled arm thrown over his eyes in an attempt to block the sunlight. Delaney smiled and moved closer to him.

Kissing him on his arm, the closest thing she could reach, she propped herself up with one hand and let the other move slowly over his chest. Starting at the puncture scar on his abdomen, she lazily traced the web of scars coming from it.

With a single fingertip, she traced lightly over one branch that worked its way out until it almost touched his navel. Another she followed upward to where it was just creeping onto his ribcage.

As she absently traced one line after another, her mind drifted back to the night she had seen him in the hospital. It seemed like a lifetime ago now.

The scars had been fresh then and were a bloodier red and more raised. Now, they would grow redder with his moods but never such a raw color.

Delaney frowned as she traced another. Had they covered so much of his chest then? She couldn't remember exactly. She had been too distracted by the gruesomeness of them and the pain he was in.

Vincent moved then and interrupted her thoughts. He took her hand that had been on the scars, weaving his fingers through hers. She looked over, met his sleepy green eyes, and smiled.

"You're dressed," he spoke with a rough voice.

Delaney laughed and stretched to kiss his cheek, "You were asleep. Mrs. Crouch was able to get in and out without waking you up."

Vincent's eyes went wide in worry, "She was in here? While I was... like this?" He gestured to his bare chest and the blanket slung across his hips and legs.

Delaney rolled her eyes, "I'm sure yours wasn't the first bare chest she's seen."

"You know that's not what bothers me," he frowned, "I don't want her to have to see all this. It's disturbing for people."

Pulling her hand from his, Delaney sat up and frowned back at him, "I want you to stop worrying about that."

"Delaney I..."

"No," she cut him off, "I don't want you to worry about what anyone else thinks of us but us."

He looked away, "I can't do that. I know how frightening I look Delaney and the more someone can see of me the worse it is. I don't like scaring people."

Delaney opened her mouth to argue but a sharp knock came on the door and Vincent called for them to enter. She looked at him in annoyance, knowing he'd done it on purpose. He sat up with a smirk and kissed her cheek.

"Ah my Lord," Harris bowed to them, "Mrs. Crouch said Lady Adair asked for me to come here to dress you for dinner. Am I alright to do so or would you like me to come back?"

"You're fine Harris," Vincent assured him, reaching for the towel to tie around his waist, "The Lady and I were just finishing a conversation."

Delaney rolled her eyes at her husband's words and stood, "I'll go on down then while you get dressed."

"Wait," Vincent hurried to catch her before she could leave, his limp not as bad as she had expected given his strenuous morning.

He grinned at her before hooking a finger under her chin and gently tilting it upwards. He kissed her, not reigning in his affection for Harris's sake, and for a moment Delaney felt her knees go weak.

When his lips came away from hers, her eyes stayed closed for a moment as she steadied herself. When she opened them she found mischievous green eyes sparkling down at her.

"A good kiss doesn't get you out of finishing that conversation," she pursed her lips to keep from smiling.

Vincent chuckled and stepped back, "It was worth a try."

Downstairs, Delaney wandered down to the library to spend the time before dinner browsing through the books. When she pushed open the door though she was surprised to find Miles relaxing on one of the couches.

"Oh I'm sorry," Delaney said quickly, turning to leave, "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"No, it's alright. Stay. I've been wanting to talk to you anyway."

Delaney hesitated, feeling like she might be stepping into a trap. Knowing there was no way she could decline the offer without being rude, she gave up and let the door close before going to sit on the couch across from him.

"What is it you're wanting to talk about?" she asked and found herself twisting the small ring she now wore on the opposite hand from her wedding ring.

Miles closed the book on his lap and set it aside, "You and my brother. He told me about your agreement for this one year... test."

Delaney felt her cheeks warm and she looked down at her hands, "Why did he tell you about that?"

"I was expressing my concerns over his issues and the problems they might cause in the future for you both. I suppose he told me to try to calm my nerves."

"Well, he shouldn't have. That agreement is no one else's business and I don't intend to discuss it with you."

"Is that agreement the reason you're behaving as you are? Like you're in love with him? Is it an act to help you get through the next months without complications?"

Delaney looked at him in surprise, "What are you talking about? Of course not. My feelings for your brother are true."

"My mother says you're only being pleasant to him now because you've realized you like the lifestyle here and you don't want to lose the power or position. Is that true?"

"Miles," Delaney snapped, feeling her dislike for Violet Adair grow, "You know me. You've seen Vincent and I together. Do you really believe that's true?"

His face was serious as he studied her, looking very much like the brother they were discussing.

"Vincent had strong feelings for you before the war Delaney. Then you came to the hospital and saw him once and would never come back. He blames himself for that, his anger and his appearance, but I don't. You made that choice."

Delaney swallowed hard and felt her guilt from long ago sink into her heart again. Her memory of Vincent crying out in pain still haunted her.

"I was foolish," she spoke quietly, "I thought he would be exactly like my father after the loss of my mother. I didn't give him a chance to be better."

Miles sighed and leaned back, "Yes... Cora told me about your experiences with your father after your mother. She didn't want me to judge you too harshly for your reaction to Vincent."

Delaney smiled softly, thinking of her friend coming to her rescue.

"Listen Delaney," he continued then, running his hand through his black hair as his brother tended to, "If you promise me you don't have any game planned here and your feelings are true I will believe you. But you've broken his heart once and if you do again it won't just be our mother you'll have to fear."

Delaney looked at him very seriously, "Miles I promise my feelings are true. I... I think I might be falling in love with Vincent."

Miles's eyebrows raised at her words, "Do you?"

"I haven't thought about it," she spoke quietly, looking at the ground between them, "But I think I might be. I hate that we made that stupid agreement. I already know I don't want to leave him."

Miles sighed and ran his hands through his hair, "Well he seems to be very serious about that arrangement. But if you do fall in love with him maybe you'll be able to convince him to reconsider."

Delaney nodded, not wanting to think about the possibility of him not agreeing and still sending her away after a year.

They heard the bell announcing dinner then. Miles stood and held out a hand to her, helping her to her feet. He took her on his arm and escorted her out of the room.

When they were in sight of the dinning room doors, Delaney looked up and saw Vincent descending the stairs slowly, towards them.

"You go ahead," Delaney said to Miles before picking up her skirt and hurrying to Vincent. She got to him right as he reached the bottom step.

"My lady," Vincent said, concern on his face, "What's wrong? Did he say something to you?"

She shook her head before she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him down to kiss her. Delaney kissed him with an urgency before pulling away again and looking up into his eyes.

"I'm happy I'm here with you," she said, taking his face in her hands, running her thumbs over his cheeks, "I wouldn't rather be anywhere else. I was foolish for ever thinking I would be."

He studied her, before leaning down to kiss her forehead, "I'm happy you're with me too. No matter what happens."

Vincent took her hand then and walked with her to the dining room. Delaney thought over his words and knew what he meant.

No matter what happens.

What he meant was, even if he lost her after a year. Even if she lost him.

The idea of it made her heart ache. Miles was right. She would have to work to change Vincent's mind on that stupid arrangement. She couldn't lose him.