Chapter 96 - May

Delaney was woken up by an unusual sound. She rolled over, blinking, and sat up. The sound came again and she smiled. Vincent groaned next to her and stretched, his muscles going taunt for a moment before he frowned and listened too.

It was the happy sound of the children playing outside. Delaney stood and walked to the window. Looking outside, she saw Felicia and Rose sitting on a blanket in the early morning sun. May was running around trying to catch a butterfly from the air and both boys were toddling around on not quite steady legs trying to catch her.

Vincent came up behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her waist and hugging her to him. He kissed her cheek and chuckled as he watched the children outside squealing with excitement.

"One day we'll wake up like this but it will be our own children outside playing," Delaney whispered to him, turning in his arms to face him with a sleepy smile before she kissed him.

Vincent smiled down at her, "That's a beautiful dream to have."

Delaney wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him again. Gently at first, they both grew more hungry as their hands explored each other's bodies. At last, Vincent scooped up his wife and carried her back to the bed with him, pulling the sheets over them as she laughed.

Sometime later when they were both content, they got ready for the day. Rose and Felicia were already waiting in the dining room when they came down after breakfast was announced. They ate and talked about Delaney and Vincent's plans for the rest of their trip to the ocean house.

"Have the children ever been to the ocean?" Delaney asked curiously as she ate a piece of bread with the honey they'd collected yesterday spread on top.

"They haven't," Felicia answered with a smile, "But maybe one day we will take them. I'm sure they would enjoy the water and the beaches."

"Why don't you come to stay with us in a week or so?" Delaney suggested, "You could stay in the guest rooms and there's a nursery. Our friend Bernard will have his baby son Benjamin there too so it won't be any trouble."

Felicia and Rose both seemed uncomfortable with the suggestion, looking at each other and then down at their laps.

"What's wrong?" Vincent asked with a frown, "If you're worried about the trip I can send our guards back to escort you."

"Oh no, it's not that," Felicia looked up, "It's just if we traveled that way Rose would be expected to stop and visit the Queen and be seen in court. We avoid it now because we don't travel but if they found out Rose had traveled through the city without stopping to see them the Queen would be very upset."

Delaney looked at them confused, "What would be wrong with Rose visiting court? I'm sure the Queen misses you."

"I know she does," Rose sighed, "But now when I go there it seems the first thing they try to do is set up a new marriage contract for me. I'm the Queen's niece so I'm valuable in setting up alliances and making them stronger. They don't seem to understand I don't want to marry."

"The last time we were at court I was seven months pregnant and they actually tried to find a husband for me too," Felicia laughed, "I'm afraid I was a disappointment to them as well."

Delaney and Vincent were both surprised to hear that.

Vincent frowned, "Well, I can have Miles come and escort you. Surely if you were traveling with him and just on your way through they would..."

"It's alright," Rose smiled warmly at them, "Thank you but we're alright for now. Maybe once we're both older and no longer good marriage material they will leave us be."

"If we travel there again, next time the King might insist on Rose being married," Felicia added, "So for now we stay home and hopefully forgotten."

Delaney and Vincent were quiet for a while as the women's words sunk in. At last, Delaney sighed.

"Well, we'll stop here again on our way home, and then all of you can come for a visit at Edgewood soon after."

Rose smiled happily at her, "That would be a lovely time. Thank you."

"It would be," Felicia agreed, "I haven't been to Edgewood since I was a small child but I have such fond memories of it."

"Well that's settled then," Vincent grinned at them.

"Now," Rose stood and winked at Vincent, "If you are both leaving soon then you will need to spend some time with the children first. Otherwise, May will be heartbroken."

Outside, Delaney sat with the women, playing with the two toddling babies, and watched as May showed her husband around the flower gardens. Tall, handsome Vincent in his black breeches and white shirt, his black hair tied at the nape of his neck, and the scars dominating one side of his face, holding the hand of a tiny girl with pigtails and a bright pink dress.

May led him from plot to plot, pointing out flowers and rambling about each one in her childlike way. Vincent listened intently to her though and his full attention made May very happy.

Delaney looked out at her husband and felt her heart swell. He was so wonderful. She liked watching him with the children and imagining him with their own one day. She had no doubt he would be just as much of an amazing father as he was a husband.

It didn't seem like very long after when Harris came and told Vincent they were ready to leave. May clung to Vincent's leg and begged him to stay and play with her. Delaney watched as her husband kneeled down, wincing at the strain on his leg, and looked at the child with a sad smile.

"We have to go now May but I promise I will be back very soon to play with you. Maybe I'll even be able to stay longer next time if your Mommy says that's alright."

"But I want you to play now," the child cried, crocodile tears sliding down her rosy cheeks.

Vincent hugged her to his chest and Delaney felt her heart ache. Every time she thought she loved her husband as much as she possibly could, he did something to make her love him even more.

Delaney kissed both of the babies on their little heads before hugging both Felicia and Rose.

"Thank you so much for having us," she smiled, taking one of each of the women's hands and giving it a squeeze, "It's been so wonderful."

"It's been wonderful having you," Felicia assured her.

"Come back as often as you'd like," Rose added.

Vincent thanked them and said goodbye as well before climbing into the carriage. May clung to her mother's skirt and waved goodbye to them even as tears streamed down her cheeks. Vincent watched them out the window for as long as he could see them, his face sad.

Delaney smiled lovingly at him and moved to sit next to him again.

"You made a very sweet little friend," she commented to her husband when he turned to look at her.

"I did," he sighed, "And now I feel guilty for leaving her."

Delaney laughed gently and pulled his hand into her lap, leaning up to kiss his cheek, "We'll see her again very soon."

"I want to see them often too," he said seriously to his wife, "The three of them don't have a father and they will need someone who can protect them. I'm sure Rose and Felicia do a fine job and they have their father's family as well but it's just something different. I have money and power and can make sure they are well taken care of in case anything ever does happen to their mother."

Delaney looked up at her husband fondly, "I think that is a wonderful idea and you are a wonderful man for wanting to do it."

Vincent smiled in relief and leaned down, kissing her slowly. When they came apart, he simply studied her, admiring her beauty.

"And now we are off to visit Win?" he asked after a time, "We'll rent a room for the night and go play cards with him?"

Delaney laughed, "You will play. I will win."

Vincent laughed at this as well, grinning at his wife, "I don't know wife. You've never played me yet."

"Ah well husband, I know my own skill. I will beat you."

"Maybe I will just let you win."

Delaney laughed, "You had better not. I will know if you do."

Vincent winked at her, "Well then it looks like we'll have to see if you're as good as you think you are."

Delaney leaned up and kissed him, letting her hands slide down his chest, "I assure you I will win my love. Whether it be by skill or by distraction."

She let her teeth lightly gaze over his lip, before moving closer to him and kissing him deeply again. Vincent groaned and pulled her into his lap.

"And what a distraction you are."