Chapter 110 - Dancing And Wine

Delaney smiled at her husband as she walked back towards him on Captain Black's arm. When he looked at her with a smirk she knew Mason had told him the identity of his partner. 

"Thank you for letting me enjoy a dance with Lady Adair," Captain Black spoke smoothly to Vincent, "Now Lord Adair I would like to talk to you about our business too. Do you think your wife could keep herself occupied for a time?"

Delaney was surprised to hear that and looked from the pirate to her husband. Vincent hesitated, looking out at the crowd of people who were still only barely hiding their staring eyes. Stepping to Delaney, he kissed her on the head.

"I promised my wife I wouldn't leave her alone here. I want her with me so I know she's safe."

Captain Black turned to a group of men standing along the wall and spoke loudly to them in another language. They looked at one another and one stepped forward.

"This is one of my younger sons," the pirate king smiled, "Ian, this is Lord and Lady Adair, Duke and Duchess of Edgewood."

The young man bowed low to them, his face expressionless. He wasn't as tall as his father but otherwise, he looked like a younger version of the man. He had the same curly black hair but cut short, sun-tanned skin, and chocolate eyes. He was dressed similarly to his father as well except he wore a long-sleeve flowing white shirt under his red vest.

"Ian you will stay with Lady Adair until I tell you otherwise. You will be her personal guard. No harm can come to her. Let our people know." Captain Black turned back to Vincent, "There you are. Lady Adair is now under the protection of my son and my people. No harm will come to her."

Vincent, Mason, and Delaney all looked at the pirate in surprise before looking at Ian. Like his father, the boy had the same kind of wide-bladed sword on his hip. On his opposite thigh, he actually had four small blades strapped there. He was lean but his knuckles were large and scarred like a man that had been in many fights.

"Alright," Vincent nodded, "If you give us your word she'll be safe I will go with you to talk."

Captain Black turned to Delaney with a suave smile, giving them his word before turning and walking away. Mason grinned and winked at her before following the man.

"I won't be long," Vincent whispered to her when he pulled her into his arms before kissing her, "I don't think Captain Black is the kind of man I want to insult by refusing a meeting."

Delaney held his face and kissed him deeply before stepping back and letting him go on his way. She watched her husband follow the other two men. As Captain Black headed for the door nearly half a dozen of his men peeled away from the wall to follow him. She imagined they must be like guards.

Turning back to the blank-faced Ian, Delaney wondered what she should do now. There was no one here that she knew. To her surprise, the man moved and got more wine for her, taking a drink for himself as well.

Delaney smiled and thanked him. A hint of a smile flashed across his lips before it was gone again. She drank her wine and looked out on the dancing crowd. She wished Cora was there or Constance. Not only would her friends love this party but they would only make it more fun. Imagining Miles's disapproving face made her laugh as well.

The music grew louder and so did the talking as more wine was consumed. Delaney finished her drink and Ian had another one for her before she could even set down her cup. She giggled and took it from him, taking a drink and enjoying the warm, fuzzy feeling. He finished his before she did.

"Does being my personal guard mean you have to do things I say?" she asked Ian curiously.

The young pirate considered that for a moment. "It would depend."

"So you can speak," Delaney giggled, her face warm from the wine, "Well, I want to go dance and as my personal guard I think that means you have to go with me."

Ian stared at her, "I don't dance to this kind of music."

"No?" Delaney raised her eyebrows, "What kind of music do you dance to?"

"The music of my people. I can assure you these musicians won't know it."

"So you don't dance to this music or you don't know how to?" Delaney smirked at him.

"My father insisted we learn all kinds of dancing so we could join him in any courts he goes to."

"I'm afraid you're just going to have to prove it to me," Delaney laughed before turning and heading for the dance floor, working to make her way through the crowd.

The pirate King's men didn't clear a way for her as they had when she was with their captain. Her progress was slow and with the loud music and louder talking, the people around her didn't hear her ask them to let her pass.

She was about to give up when she felt a hand lightly touch her arm. She turned and looked up to find the serious-faced Ian. He stepped in front of her and pushed his way through the crowd, breaking the wave for her. Some of the men turned in annoyance at being pushed but when they saw who was doing the pushing they were quick to step aside on their own.

As soon as they reached the space for dancing, Ian turned and took Delaney and spun her out into the dancers with him. He moved swiftly and smoothly from one step to another. Delaney was surprised by how graceful he was as he swirled around the other dancers. She smiled and an ever so slight smile graced his lips.

They made it through one dance and Ian called out something to one of the other men in the language they spoke. Before the next dance could start the man arrived with a drink for each of them. Ian gulped his down and handed the cup back to the man.

Delaney took another drink as she caught her breath from the first dance. She managed about half of the cup before the next dance. She moved to hand the cup back to the man but Ian took it from her. He then finished off the rest of her drink and handed it over to his man. Without pausing, he took her hands in his and pulled her straight into the dance.

Delaney's head was more than a little fuzzy now as she spun around, holding onto Ian to keep from falling. His smile pulled on his lips as he watched her. All around them were his father's men with their ladies, dancing or talking and laughing. Most were talking in the other language so Delaney had no idea what they were saying.

After another dance Delaney was breathing hard and laughing. Ian held her under her elbows and guided her forward off the floor and through the crowd of people. They ended up at the table with drinks again.

"It might be best if you eat a little bit of something," Ian spoke to her over the music, "Stay here. I'll be back."

Delaney watched as the young pirate slipped through the crowd in the direction of another table. She turned her back towards him as she took another drink from the server.

"You're very beautiful," a man with sleepy eyes spoke as he stepped up to her. By his clothing and sun-tanned skin, Delaney could tell he was one of Captain Black's pirates.

"Thank you," she gave him a small smile and looked back at her drink.

"You should come and dance with me," he said with a smirk, "I can show you a good time."

"Oh no thank you," Delaney apologized, "I'm sorry but I think I've done all the dancing I can do for this evening."

"Nonsense," the man laughed and stepped closer to her, "I can see you can stand another dance."

"But I really can't..."

"You can," the man grinned as he caught one of her arms and held it tight, "And after a dance, I'm sure we could find something else to entertain us."

"Let go of me," Delaney whispered feeling fear leap into her heart as she tried to pull her arm away but found it locked in his grip.

"Come on beauty," the man frowned, "It's just one dance!"

There was a flash of something beside them then and Delaney smashed her eyes closed, afraid she would be hit by whatever it was.

From behind her, there came a sudden loud stream of speech in the other language. Delaney felt the hand on her arm release and when she opened her eyes she found a blade only an inch or two from her face. Her attacker was now wide-eyed and pleading quickly in the other language.

Delaney jumped back, slamming into her savior holding the sword. When she turned she saw it was a very angry looking Ian who was talking fast in his language. Whatever he said, the other man nodded in agreement and moved away from them. Delaney watched him until she saw him vanish through the doors.

When she turned back to Ian it was with a smile of relief. He slowly lowered the sword as he saw she was alright. Delaney thanked him and he only nodded.

"What's all this then? someone asked and Delaney turned to feel more relief upon the sight of her husband.

"It was just a little disagreement between myself and one of the other men," Ian spoke without hesitation, "We have it settled now. I'm sorry if you were afraid Lady Adair."

"Thank you Ian," Delaney said sincerely, "I knew you wouldn't let me be hurt."

Turning to Vincent, Delaney smiled but swayed on her feet. She leaned up and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him deeply, not worrying about who was watching. When they came apart, she swayed to the point of almost falling over. She giggled and Vincent caught her.

"I think it looks like we should be on our way home now," Vincent chuckled as he held her to him.

"But I want to dance with you," Delaney protested, her words a bit sloppy.

"My love you will fall over or be sick if you try to dance with me now," Vincent laughed and Delaney sighed loudly, "Come on. Let's go home."

Vincent took Delaney on his arm and they slowly headed for the door. He didn't notice that Ian was following right behind them.