Chapter 105 - The Twin

Delaney stared at the Prince in surprise. She was surprised she'd never heard this before but then again if it was supposed to be a secret, that would be why. Mason watched her, trying to gauge her reaction to his news.

"The Queen has a twin sister? Sophia is beautiful! Why didn't you marry the woman?"

Mason smirked, "My dear Delaney as you well know, appearance is not the most important thing about a person."

He glanced over his shoulder at her scarred husband and when he looked back at her Delaney was glaring at him.

"I do not appreciate what you're insinuating Prince Mason and I do not agree with it. My husband is very handsome."

"I wasn't trying to upset you," he said quickly raising his hands in surrender, "But you and I both saw the way the other nobles reacted to Vince because of his scars. At the same time, we both also know he's a good, honest, and kind man that any of them would be lucky to have as a friend."

Delaney's frown remained in place but she did feel her anger recede some.

"My point is, that Sophia's sister Anna was the opposite of your husband. She was just as beautiful as the queen but she much more selfish, had a quick temper, and a sharp tongue. Believe it or not, Sophia is actually the kind one."

"I do believe it because Sophia is kind," Delaney argued.

"You have known her half a day. Trust me when I say you may end up changing your mind," he countered.

Delaney crossed her arms as she looked at the Prince, "So you and your brother were meant to marry twin sisters?"

"That was the agreement. The girls didn't want to be apart so their parents had always planned to marry them off to brothers. With Daniel to be the next King, he and Sophia were married first. Then my father died and I broke my contract before I was forced to marry Anna. Neither woman has forgiven me."

Delaney didn't have a chance to ask anything else because at that moment her tall, handsome husband came strolling over with a smile.

"Should I be worried you're trying to steal my wife's heart Mace?"

Mason laughed, "Ah no Vince you know hearts are not what I am looking for. Besides anyone can see hers belongs completely to you. It would take more than an afternoon to sway it."

"It can't be swayed," Delaney smirked at him as she stood and walked to her husband.

Vincent wrapped his strong arms around his wife and pulled her in against his chest. He kissed her and Delaney could feel his smile against her lips. She kissed him deeper until she felt him press his fingertips into her skin, wanting to have her closer.

"Well," Mason cleared his throat behind them, "It looks like the two of you are ready to return to your own home now and likely your own bed."

Vincent chuckled and Delaney smiled sheepishly at the Prince's teasing.

"Come on," he waved for them to follow as he headed towards the castle, "I'll have the carriage made ready to take you both home. I may even escort you just to be sure you get there safely."

Vincent rolled his eyes at his cousin but followed him with Delaney by his side.

Guards escorted the royal carriage as they had that morning. There were no unexpected stops on the journey to return the Duke and Duchess to the city house which the Captain North likely appreciated. When they came to their stop, at last, Mason got out with them.

"Alright so before we say good night I have a plea for the two of you," the Prince looked at them with mischievous eyes again, "I beg of you, don't leave for your ocean house tomorrow. Stay here a bit longer and save me from the stifling hell that is my brother's court."

Vincent looked down at his wife and back to the Prince with uncertainty. "I don't know Mace."

"Come on Vince please! Delaney, beautiful gem in a sea of stones, please stay and save me from the misery!"

Delaney couldn't keep from giggling at the man's dramatics and Vincent chuckled, shaking his head. Delaney looked up at her husband. He groaned and ran his hands over his face and up through his hair.

"Alright," he sighed, "Alright Mace we won't leave tomorrow but I won't make any guarantees on how long we'll stay after that."

"Ha! Thank you, cousin. I will take what I can get!" Mason grinned as he stepped quickly to his carriage, "Now if you'll both excuse me I will say good evening. I'm going to go put together something to entertain us tomorrow night."

"Wait Mace we don't need anything to entertain us. We'll just stay at court with you and..."

"Nonsense Vince. I'm going to make the evening fun for you and our lovely Delaney. I'll send the carriage tomorrow evening to get you."

Mason winked at Delaney before he closed the door to the carriage and signaled for the driver to be on his way. Vincent sighed as he turned with his wife and headed into their house.

Once they were inside and the door was closed and locked behind them, Delaney felt relief flood her as she relaxed. It was strange how this house suddenly felt like home to her. Edgewood was their real home but being here with Vincent made this place feel very homey too.

"So tell me wife," Vincent smiled at her as Ms. Bird helped her out of her dress, "Was court as scary as you had imagined?"

Delaney walked to a chair in her underdress and sat so Ms. Bird could take all the pins from her hair and brush it. Vincent dropped onto their bed and sat up propped against the pillows.

"It wasn't what I had expected when I was younger but at least I was a bit more prepared after your warnings. Not to mention the warnings and stories from Felicia and Rose."

Vincent chuckled, "I think you were fine love. The Queen liked you very much it seemed and I'm sure Daniel did as well. And we know Mace likes you. The rest are just nobles and they were too busy ogling at my scars to notice much of anything else."

Delaney felt a stab at her heart at her husband's words. She had been holding on to a bit of hope that he hadn't noticed the staring as much as she had.

"What do you think Ms. Bird?" Vincent asked the old maid he'd grown fond of, "Aren't you sure your mistress did just fine at court?"

"Oh I don't have a single doubt, my Lord," Ms. Bird grinned at the Duke, "I'm sure you were both perfect."

"Well, there we have it Delaney. Ms. Bird said she's sure we were perfect and we know she's usually right about things."

Delaney and her maid laughed at this. Delaney smiled when she looked in the mirror and saw the reflection of Ms. Bird standing behind her with a happy grin.

They had decided to have their dinner in their room so once Ms. Bird had finished with Delaney's hair, Delaney pulled on her robe and moved to sit on the bed next to her husband.

She wanted to talk to him about the Queen's warning about Mason. After her talk with the Prince however, she wondered if he was right and Sophia had only said those things about him because of her hatred for him. But did the Queen hate him? She didn't know for sure. Mason's words were all she had on the subject.

"What did you talk to the King about this morning?" she decided to ask instead, "And what did you mean that you didn't want to fight any more battles?"

Vincent sighed and ran his hands over his face, "I don't want to tell you and worry you love."

Delaney frowned, "Those words alone are enough to make me worry. Is there another war coming?"

"No I don't think so," Vincent looked at her in annoyed defeat as he spoke, "At least not yet. There have just been a few people pass away recently and due to their status, the King is worried."

"Their status?" Delaney asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well my love do you remember how I once told you I was seventh in line to inherit the throne and I would never get it because so many people would have to die first?"

"I do," Delaney nodded, "You explained there was Mason and then five of his other cousins before it would ever get to you."

"Exactly. And so out of the five between myself and Mace, in the last several months, three of them have died."

"What? Three royals? How on earth did they die?"

"A different reason for each. One was thrown from a horse. Another got sick and could never recover. And then the other had an attack of the heart and they couldn't revive him."

"I can't believe it," Delaney whispered in surprise, "How did we not know?"

"News comes slowly to Edgewood. I had heard about one while I was visiting the estates but didn't know about the others."

"I don't understand what those deaths have to do with this "battle" you mentioned though.

"Well, that's just it Delaney. The King thinks they were murders. On the horse-riding accident, they found someone had cut one of the straps on the saddle. Then with the other two, the King sent his witches and they told him they could smell poison on the bodies."

"I can't believe it," Delaney shook her head, "If that's true then what did he ask of you? Did he want you to find the person that did it?"

"That yes," Vincent nodded, "But also love, he wants me to stay here so I can be guarded and better taken care of."

"But why? Aren't our guards enough?"

"Don't you see Delaney? The person is killing the men in line to inherit the throne. And now, without the three that have passed away, I'm fourth."

"F-Fourth?"

"Yes Delaney. Fourth in line to inherit the throne."