Chapter 119 - Uninvited And Unexpected

Delaney and Vincent had been roused from their nap and quickly dressed. By the time the carriages came to a stop in front of the house, Vincent was downstairs waiting to greet them. Ian hung back in the doorway, ever watchful with his arms crossed, and his expression unreadable.

Vincent however was frowning. He saw the first carriage belonged to his brother and the second was Bernard's. The royal carriage was the one that didn't belong. He didn't have to wonder which of his royal relatives had shown up uninvited and unannounced.

"Vince!" Mason grinned as he practically leaped from the carriage, "I thought I would join you on your little sea vacation. I hope you don't mind?"

"Of course not," Vincent answered the only way you could answer a royal prince, "I wish you'd sent word though. We don't have a room ready."

"Oh don't worry about it at all," he grinned, and patted his cousin on the shoulder, "I'll take whatever they can make ready. I'm in no rush. Now, where is that lovely wife of yours?"

Mason headed inside and Vincent turned back to look at his brother who was helping Cora from the carriage with an irritated frown. Miles and Mason had never been friends.

"Why is Mace here?" Vincent murmured the question to Miles after greeting Cora with a smile and a bow.

"As if he'd tell me," Miles snapped, "We were at the city house for one night and I took Cora to introduce her to Daniel and Sophia. Mason was there asking questions about our plans and then this morning he was outside ready to leave with us."

Bernard had gotten out of the carriage behind them and helped Constance down. Vincent again smiled and gave her a quick hello before she walked past them and into the house.

"Did you invite Mace?" Bernard asked coming up to Vincent and Miles now, "We couldn't imagine you would have."

"Of course not," Vincent sighed, "I thought this would be a nice sort of relaxing time for all of us."

"Well the time for relaxing is gone now," Miles glared past his brother towards their cousin, "There's never any rest when Mason is around."

The three friends headed inside before they looked rude. None were pleased with their uninvited guest.

Ms. Bird hadn't been quite finished with Delaney's hair when the carriages arrived so Vincent had gone down on his own. Now that she was done however she hurried towards the stairs, stopping just out of sight to calm herself and walk down as if she hadn't been asleep only a short time ago.

Holding her skirt as she descended the stairs, Delaney almost stumbled in surprise when she looked down and saw the handsome prince smiling up at her with mischievous blue eyes.

"Well, good afternoon Lady Adair. Don't you look absolutely lovely as always?"

"Hello Mason," Delaney smiled after recovering herself. She hurried down the last of the stairs and curtsied before her royal in-law. "I didn't know you were coming."

"Ah well I thought I would surprise you," he winked, taking her hand in his and brushing a quick kiss on the top when he bowed low to her.

Delaney looked behind him to see Cora and Constance, both looking unsure. As Mason straightened up again, Vincent came in with Bernard and Miles. Bernard looked uneasy but Miles looked irritated, not bothering trying to hide it as he stared at his blonde cousin.

"Vincent and I are happy to have you," Delaney smiled at him before excusing herself to step past him to her friends.

Cora and Constance both smiled when they saw her and hurried forward for quick hugs.

"I'm so happy you both are here!" Delaney beamed, "It's absolutely wonderful here. You won't believe how amazing the ocean is. Vincent has even taught me how to swim!"

"Oh Delaney that's lovely," Cora gave her friend's hand a squeeze.

"We left for your ocean house as soon as we got word you'd arrived," Constance smiled.

"I'm glad you did. We're going to have so much fun."

"Hello sister," Miles greeted Delaney as he stepped up beside Cora.

"Hello brother," Delaney giggled before startling him by hugging him, "I'm happy you're finally here. You're going to have to show Cora everything just as Vincent showed me."

A small smile tugged at one side of Miles's lips as he nodded in agreement. Delaney said hello to Bernard as well while she went to loop her arm through her husband's. She felt the tension in him as soon as she did.

Looking up at his face he didn't look upset but she saw the muscles twitch in his jaw. She didn't know exactly why but she knew Mason must be the reason for all the unease. She bit her lip for a moment before pulling herself back into the mode of being the hostess and smiling at them all.

"Well, are you all tired from the ride or would you like to stretch your legs?"

"I think I'll go see if Benjamin is getting settled in alright," Bernard smiled at her before heading off towards the nursery.

"I should go with him," Constance added hurrying to catch up with him.

Delaney was surprised by her eagerness. She turned to look at Cora who smirked.

"I think we should go catch up while the men do whatever it is they do," Cora said with a quick movement of her eyes in the direction of the sitting room.

"That sounds perfect to me," Delaney looked up at Vincent, "Is that alright with you love?"

"It is," Vincent leaned down to give her a quick kiss, "It seems we all need to catch up."

"So we are to be parted from your pleasant company already," Mason protested.

"We are," Miles frowned, "You can enjoy our company."

The men headed off so Delaney quickly took Cora on her arm and headed for their sitting room, letting a servant know to bring them tea. As soon as they were seated and the door was closed she turned to her friend expectantly.

"Well? What is going on with Constance? And why is Mason with all of you?"

Cora sighed, "I don't know why he's here. I just met him last night. Miles doesn't like him at all."

"Really? Why not?"

"Apparently the prince used to torment him when they were children. He teased him quite a lot even when they were all training to be soldiers. You know Miles can't really take a joke when it actually is one. If someone was teasing him I'm not surprised he hasn't let it go."

"You rode with him in the carriage all this way. What did you think of him?"

Cora paused and considered this. "I think he's arrogant but only slightly more than Miles used to be. He doesn't seem to care about rules or manners much either. He was complimenting Constance and I the whole way here. I thought Miles was going to hit him."

"He does that to me too," Delaney sighed, "He never really says anything inappropriate. He's just sort of... consistent."

"What did Vincent have to say about that?" Cora asked curiously.

"He told me Mace is harmless but I should avoid being alone with him just so his reputation doesn't pull me down with it and start rumors about me."

"He probably is harmless," Cora shrugged, "Surely he wouldn't try anything serious with a woman who's married. Especially one who is married to one of his closest cousins."

"Well watch out then because you're not married yet," Delaney teased.

Cora rolled her eyes but laughed, "I think Miles would actually kill him."

Delaney laughed at this too and they both waited to continue as a servant had just come in to deliver their tea. Once she was gone and the door was closed againDelaney decided to tell her friend about all that had happened during their time in the city.

When she had finished Cora looked shocked.

"So someone is murdering heirs to the throne?" she asked with worry in her voice, "Miles is right after Vincent. They're probably both at risk."

"Vincent doesn't act like he's worried about it," Delaney frowned, "I haven't really asked him why. He did say he needed to tell Miles as soon as he could though. That's why he sent back some of our guards to escort you here."

"I wasn't sure why he'd done it but now I'm grateful he did," Cora said looking rattled, "And the Queen hates Mason too? Because he broke the marriage contract to her sister?"

"That's what he and Vincent say."

"How strange," Cora shook her head, "He seems like trouble."

"I suppose but I don't think the Queen is totally innocent either," Delaney countered, "She did take me to see that witch and get that potion."

"Oh yes," Cora sat up looking at her seriously, "Are you going to take it?"

"I don't know," Delaney hesitated, "I don't want to but I'm worried. I'm still not pregnant."

"Oh don't worry about that. You have plenty of time to have babies. There's no need to rush."

Delaney gave a weak smile but looked down at her tea in her hands. Not for the first time, she considered telling her friend about the agreement she had made with Vincent before they were married.

If she wasn't at least pregnant by the time they'd been married one year he would release her from their marriage contract. More than that, he would go to the King and request their contract be considered void. She would no longer be married and she would be free to find someone else. Vincent didn't seem to understand that she would never want anyone else.

Delaney looked at her friend and wondered if she knew. Miles knew. Had he told Cora? Delaney couldn't help but hope not. It was embarrassing now that she was so madly in love with her husband to admit she had ever agreed to such a foolish arrangement.

"Now tell me what is going on with Constance," Delaney decided to change the subject, "Why was she behaving strangely?"

Cora smirked, "She snuck into my room last night and told me. After we all left Edgewood and she'd returned to Bernard's home to help with the baby, she and Bernard had a serious talk."

"A serious talk?" Delaney raised her eyebrows, "About what?"

"You have to promise not to tell her I told you," Cora looked at Delaney sternly, "but you should also get a chance to prepare your reply."

"You're making me nervous," Delaney said, "I promise. Now tell me."

"Alright," Cora sighed, "Bernard and Constance have decided to get married."