Chapter 69 - A Baby

The next morning, as soon as they had finished their breakfast, they heard the sound of a horse on the gravel. Vincent frowned, wiping his mouth and standing.

"This is more visitors in a month than we'd normally have in twice the time," he sighed. He helped Delaney from her seat before they went to see who had arrived.

Stepping into the entryway, they saw the butler talking to a dirt-covered man who was speaking urgently to him before he left again. The butler hurried to Delaney and Vincent.

"My Lord and Lady, the messenger has brought news that Lady Olive has had her baby yesterday. It's a boy! They've named him Benjamin."

Delaney clapped her hands to her mouth with a little squeal of excitement.

"Oh that's so wonderful!" she exclaimed, "A boy! They must be so happy!"

"My Lady the messenger also said they were inviting the two of you to come today and see the baby if you would like."

Delaney turned quickly to Vincent, "Can we go? Surely you can take one day and we could go see the new baby, can't we?"

Vincent hesitated, looking away from her, "Delaney I don't... I don't know."

"Please? We haven't gone anywhere since we were married. Wouldn't it be nice to see our friends? Bernard is your friend. When was the last time you spoke to him?"

Vincent rubbed the back of his neck, "I know but... but why don't you go? You'll be able to have more fun with your friends if I'm not hanging around anyway."

Delaney's face fell, "What are you talking about? I don't want to go by myself. I want to go with you."

Vincent shifted, his scars growing redder. Delaney saw the fear in his eyes then. She stepped forward and took his hand in hers, leaning up to kiss his scarred cheek.

"I doubt there will be too many people there," she assured him quietly, "And if there are, we don't have to stay. I can go in and say hello and see the baby and then we can leave."

Troubled green eyes met hers, "Delaney I... I don't want to terrify people... And I don't want to be the subject of their ridicule."

Her heart ached as she looked up at her husband. She wished more than anything that she could take that pain away for him. She wished he could go where ever he wanted without worrying about being stared at or mocked.

"It's alright," she said quietly with a sad smile, taking his face in her hands. He closed his eyes but his pain was still evident. "We don't have to go today. Maybe we could try in a few weeks or so? When the rush of people coming to see the baby has eased up. That way it will likely be just us. Does that sound alright?"

Vincent sighed as he opened his eyes to look at her again. "I'm sorry my love," he apologized and she could see how truly sorry he was.

Delaney forced herself to smile even as a tear slipped down her cheek. "You don't have to be sorry love," she shook her head, "I want to go with you. It doesn't matter when we go as long as you're with me."

He used his thumb to wipe tears from her cheeks. "Please don't cry," he murmured.

His words seemed to have the opposite effect as crocodile tears started to fall down her cheeks. "I'm sorry," she squeaked.

Vincent pulled her in against his chest and crushed her in a hug, kissing the top of her head as she wept.

"I'm sorry," she repeated, "I'm sorry you had this happen and that people are so cruel. I'm sorry I was so cruel."

"Shh love," he tried, "It's not your fault. It's no one's fault. It's just something that happened."

"But it's not fair," she argued.

"No... No, it's not fair but it happened and now I have to accept it and move on. I'm just sorry you have to suffer because of it."

Delaney pushed against his chest until she could look up in his eyes, "I'm not suffering Vincent. I'm so happy with you. I love you. There's no suffering, I promise."

She could tell by looking at him that he didn't believe her but he didn't argue either. He frowned and kissed her gently.

"Why don't you think of a gift you want to get for the baby or Olive. I need to... I need to go to my study."

"Alright," Delaney agreed as Vincent moved to leave her. She stood and watched as he walked away, his limp barely noticeable after a good night's sleep.

Once he was gone, Delaney went to her bedroom and called for Ms. Bird to bring in her jewels. It took several trips but soon Delaney's bed was laden with cases. She was in awe of all the Adair jewels and even more in awe that they now belonged to her as well.

She shifted through them until in one she found a small golden ring with a black gem of some sort. She set it aside and took some time to admire the rest of the jewelry.

"I heard your friend had a baby, my Lady," Ms. Bird smiled, "Congratulations! Little ones are such a blessing."

"Thank you, Ms. Bird," Delaney gave the woman a small smile.

Ms. Bird considered her for a moment, "Is everything alright my Lady?"

Delaney sighed, "We were invited to go see the new baby today but... Vincent doesn't want to go and I don't want to make him... But I do wish I could go see my friend."

"Oh no," Ms. Bird shook her head, "Well why doesn't Lord Adair want to go see the baby? I thought the father was his friend?"

"He is... But when we go out and are around people... It's usually uncomfortable for him. People can be very cruel."

"Ah," Ms. Bird nodded in understanding, "And people are also afraid of things that are different."

"Exactly."

"Well, you know Lord Adair is quite a powerful man. He's the wealthiest man second only to the King. He has many titles and estates. Not to mention he was a soldier who ended the war. He's just a tall, strong, serious man. I imagine a lot of people are scared of him for any of those reasons as well as being madly jealous."

Delaney sighed, "I suppose you're right. I don't think he'll believe that though. Even though I do remember people being afraid of him even before his scars. It seems like he forgets that sometimes."

"I think his scars are still just new to him," Ms. Bird smiled, "Once he accepts them and stops hating them, it will be easier for him to go back to being the proud man he was before. And then the more people see him, the less they will be frightened by his appearance."

Her words sank into Delaney and she wondered if things really could improve if Vincent stopped hating the way he looked.

"I wish I could help him with that," she said as she began closing the boxes of jewels.

"Oh you can my Lady," Ms. Bird beamed, "You just have to help him see his scars differently. Did you know long ago men wore scars proudly? It was a sign of strength. They'd battled something and lived to tell the tale. The more scars your man had the braver and stronger he must be!"

"I'll have to try that," Delaney said seriously, "Anything that might help him I'm willing to try."

Ms. Bird packed up the boxes and took them back to where they belonged. Delaney took the little ring she had found and headed to find Vincent.

His study was dark and Vincent was sitting in his leather chair, with an elbow on his desk and his chin resting on his fist. He stared out the paned glass window, lost in thought. When Delaney walked in he sat up and turned, pleased to see her.

"Hello, my Lady."

"Hello, my husband," she smiled and his own smile grew, "I've brought a ring I wanted you to look at. I wanted to give it to little Benjamin for when he's older."

Vincent held out his hand and took the ring. He studied it and smiled, "This ring was made for Miles when he was small but he hated it. He still hates wearing rings. I'm sure he'd be happy to hear it was being passed on to someone else."

"Oh good," Delaney smiled and took it back from him, her fingers brushing over his, "Then I will give it to them when we do go to see the baby."

Vincent looked down at his hands, "I've been thinking about that... Are you sure you don't want to go on your own?"

"Absolutely sure," she said seriously, "You're my husband and I want to be with you. It doesn't matter when we go."

"But she's one of your best friends Delaney. Don't you want to go see her and the baby?"

"Of course I do," she sighed, "But not without you. I don't blame you for not wanting to be around a lot of people."

Delaney hesitated and thought over her conversation with Ms. Bird. She decided now was as good a time as any to start doing what she'd talked about.

"I know you hate your scars Vincent," she went on, "and you may not believe me when I tell you this, but I think you're handsome. In fact, the fewer clothes I see you in the better I think you look."

She said the last part with a giggle but he stared at her in disbelief.

"You've never said this to me before," he said quietly, "Why are you saying it now?"

She met his serious green eyes, "You've always been handsome. I think you're just a different kind of handsome now than you were before. It took me a bit to realize I actually like this handsome better."

"Your love of me taints your opinion," he sighed, leaning back in his seat.

"Maybe," rolled her eyes and smiled, "But Vincent if you hadn't been injured I would have married you right away and we would've spent our first night together in the same bed and I'd probably already be pregnant by now."

"Is that supposed to sound bad?"

"We wouldn't have taken the time to get to know each other and fall in love," she explained, "We would maybe have thought we loved each other but it wouldn't have been as good as the love we have now."

Vincent considered this, looking down at the desk between them, covered in his ledgers.

"I suppose you may be right," he agreed slowly.

"I am," Delaney giggled, "Now we can see that your injuries were a gift and not a curse. They've helped our marriage to be stronger."

Vincent looked up at her fondly, "I love you you know."

Delaney smiled, "I know."