Chapter 101 - Prepare For Court

The first evening in their city home, Delaney and Vincent decided they would just relax after their days of travel. And with that relaxing, Delaney decided they should take a nice hot bath.

Their tub was kept in a room off of their bedroom. Vincent told his wife it had been designed specifically for unwinding. There was a wood stove in one corner where water could be heated and a big window they could open to let in the breeze. Sweet-smelling candles were lit and soft towels laid out.

Once the huge tub was filled, the servants went back to their work, leaving Delaney and Vincent alone. Delaney smiled, taking her husband's hands and pulling him into the little room with her. He closed the door and together they undressed before stepping into the tub.

Vincent groaned as he relaxed down into the steaming water. He leaned back against one side and Delaney sat across from him, leaning against the other. She smiled seeing the pleasure on his face.

When Vincent opened his eyes again he held his hand out to her. She took it and he pulled her over to him where he washed her long hair and slim shoulders. Once he was finished she turned to face him and washed his hair as well before leaning in to kiss him. Vincent pulled her closer still and let his hands slide over her wet skin.

After enough kissing and touching, Vincent stood and wrapped a towel around his waist before helping his wife out of the tub and wrapping a towel around her as well. He took her hand and led her back to their bed where they let their towels fall to the ground and slipped beneath the sheets.

The servants didn't mind their master and mistress being preoccupied all day, as it gave them a chance to finish settling into the house. By the time the Duke and Duchess stirred for dinner, the city house was running as smoothly as Edgewood did.

The next morning Delaney woke earlier than Vincent for a change and slipped from their bed. She rang for Ms. Bird then had the maid join her in the room with the tub that was attached to their bedroom. So as not to disturb her sleeping husband, it was there that they planned what Delaney would wear that day.

Her stomach was in knots. Today, Vincent would take her to the castle where she would meet the King and Queen as well as countless other nobles. Vincent had done this since he was a child but this would be her first time.

At the school she had gone to with Cora, Constance, Selina, and Olive, she had learned all about the proper ways to behave at court. Knowing she would one day be a duchess, she had always known she would need the skills but now that she was on the verge of being tested, she suddenly wondered if she even knew that much at all.

Ms. Bird was nervous as well and she wasn't doing the best at not letting it show. She had never dressed someone to go to the King's court before. All of Delaney's most beautiful dresses were brought out for the two of them to look over and decide on. Harris was brought in as well since he would dress Vincent to match his wife.

Together, the three of them went through at least a dozen dresses, going over the pros and cons of each. At last, they decided on an indigo gown that hung off her shoulders. Harris assured the women he had something for Vincent that would match perfectly so he ran off, his work with them finished.

Going back into her bedroom to get dressed now, Delaney found her husband awake at last. Vincent sat bare-chested, propped sitting up against a stack of their pillows. He smirked at his wife when he saw her and told Ms. Bird to go ahead and go pick out jewelry for the duchess and he would send for her when she could come back.

"What? No Vincent she can't she has to stay to help me get ready!"

"She will help you get ready when I send for her."

"No, really I can't waste time. I need her to start on my hair and we are going to look over the jewelry together and..."

"Leave us, Ms. Bird," Vincent cut off Delaney, "I will send for you."

The older woman hesitated for a moment, looking between the Duke and the Duchess. In the end, her fear of disobeying the Duke won out and she hurried from the bedroom.

"Why did you do that?" Delaney demanded of him in exasperation, "I have so much to do before we go to court."

Vincent chuckled and held out a hand to her. Delaney took a few steps forward, but crossed her arms over her best, shaking her head.

"We don't have time to lay in bed any longer husband. We both need to get ready."

Vincent kept his hand outstretched, wiggling his fingers to signal for her to come to him. At last, Delaney sighed in defeat and came forward where he grabbed her. With a strong pull, he yanked her over onto the bed on top of him. Delaney gasped but he immediately flipped her onto her back and wrapped one strong leg and one strong arm around her, pinning her to his naked form.

Delaney frowned and pushed against his chest, "Let me go! I don't have time to roll around in bed with you."

A deep chuckle rumbled through Vincent's chest, "There won't be any rolling wife. I will pull this robe off of you right now and move above you."

With her frown deepening, Delaney tried to free herself again but Vincent caught her wrists and held them in one hand while he untied her robe and opened it with the other. She was left as bare as he was and he did move over her then, trapping her between his thighs and strong arms.

"I know you are anxious about meeting the royals," Vincent smiled down at her pouting face, "But I assure you they are going to adore you as I do. And I can promise you you will be the most beautiful woman there."

"I'm terrified husband. What if they hate me and ask that I never return to court? How would I ever take our children there to introduce them if I wasn't allowed in?"

"That will never happen," Vincent laughed again, "I promise you love. You need to just relax now. You're worried for the future of children we don't even have yet."

"But we will have them," Delaney said seriously, "I don't think I can relax just thinking of all the things that could go wrong."

Vincent smiled then and leaned down to kiss below her ear and then move down her throat.

"I have an idea then," he murmured against her cheek, "How about we do something I know will relax you and we can work on making those future children at the same time?"

A smile was beginning to pull at Delaney's lips when Vincent moved to look back down at her face again. He grinned and kissed her before bringing their bodies together. He made love to her slowly and when they were finished and content, he let her go back to her getting ready.

Sitting on the side of their bed before he got up, Vincent ran his hands over his face and up through his hair. Delaney watched him out of the corner of her eye as she brushed her hair. The teasing smile was gone from his face, replaced with a look of dread.

She knew her husband was not looking forward to going to court to be stared at and whispered about by all those people. He had contemplated not going at all but knew the King would have been offended. At last, Vincent pulled on his own robe and went to get dressed in the next room with Harris.

Ms. Bird didn't comment when she came back to the room a bit later. Instead, she helped her mistress dress and did her hair into an intricate knot on the back of her head, leaving a few wisps to frame her face. The maid had chosen a large necklace of diamonds and little diamond pins to stick into her hair.

Delaney sat still and let the older woman do her magic. Since she was a duchess and about to go to court, the last thing the maid pinned in place was the beautiful little tiara that belonged to the Adair family. Delaney had never worn it before and as she looked at herself now she couldn't help but smile. She looked like a princess.

When she sat down to eat a quick, light meal with her husband she was surprised Harris had been so right about their matches. Delaney was shocked to see they were both simply beautiful together.

Vincent ate in silence with his stress clear on his face. His scars had grown a darker shade of red with his worry. Delaney wished she could do or say something to help him but there was nothing that could be done.

Just before they were ready to call for their carriage, there was a knock on the front doors. Delaney and Vincent looked up from where they were finishing their tea. Without even waiting to be announced, the door burst open, and in strolled the crown prince.

"There you both are," Mason beamed, "Lord, Delaney if you aren't the most stunning creature I've ever laid eyes on!"

"Why thank you," Delaney giggled.

"What are you up to this morning Mace?" Vincent asked, forcing a smile to his lips.

"Well," Mason grinned with mischievous eyes, "I thought if this was your wife's first time to court, you should be able to arrive in style. I've brought the royal carriage and I thought I would escort you both."

"Thank you," Vincent looked down at the table in front of him, "You didn't have to do that."

"Nonsense cousin," Mason shook his head, "I thought it would be nice for both of you to arrive with me. Showing up at court as a personal guest of the prince gives you a bit of a step up above the rest. What do you say?"

Delaney guessed then that Mace was actually doing this for Vincent. Showing up with scars and his limp, he would be the target of whispered gossip and speculation. Some people could even be bold enough to say mean things directly to him. At least with the Prince, they would be protected from a lot of that. No one would want to risk making Mason dislike them in case he did end up King one day.

"I would love to go with you," Delaney smiled at the Prince, "For your company as much as for a ride in a fancy carriage."

Mason laughed, "Very kind of you Lady Adair. What about it Vince? Ride with me?"

Vincent hesitated as he thought it over. Delaney knew he wouldn't like the idea of accepting protection from the prince. He would prefer to just face and deal with his own problems. Vincent might also take the offer as some sort of pity from Mason which he definitely wouldn't like.

"Please can we love?" Delaney asked, going to take her husband's arm and kiss his scarred cheek, "It would be fun to show up at the castle with the Prince himself."

"It would," Mace grinned, "You know I'm fun Vince. Besides if you say no I'll have to take your wife along without you and that would mean you'd be leaving her open to shameless flirting from a royal."

He said the last with a wink for Delaney but Vincent looked up at him in annoyance.

"Alright," he gave in, "Let's be on our way."

"Perfect!" the Prince exclaimed and bowed low to them with one arm out in the direction of the door, "After you, Lord and Lady Adair."