Chapter 120 - To Know Mason

Delaney stared at Cora in shock, "Constance and Bernard are... are getting married?  Why?  Are they in love?"

"They aren't in love.  They do care about each other though.  You know they've become good friends.  Constance loves baby Benjamin like her own and Bernard wants him to have a mother."

"But Olive hasn't even been gone more than a few months" Delaney protested.

"I know," Cora sighed, "That's what I said.  I don't think they plan to do it anytime very soon.  Bernard is still trying to learn to be without Olive.  But they've come up with the plan for their future."

Delaney sat back, frowning. She wasn't sure she liked the plan but she couldn't really fault them for the decision.  They both loved Benjamin and they had both loved Olive very much.  They had spent a lot of time together.

"I suppose I would rather Constance be Benjamin's new mother than someone else," Delaney gave in, "I'm glad you told me first.  When she tells me my first reaction won't be as bad as it might have been."

"Yes I think we should support her," Cora nodded, "Constance has always wanted to get married and have a family.  This is a gift for her."

"She'll take good care of Bernard and Benjamin too," Delaney added, "Maybe one day she and Bernard will have more children."

The friends sat back and were talking about other things when Constance came in and joined them.  It didn't take long for her to announce her news to Delaney herself.

Delaney smiled and said she was very happy Constance, Bernard, and Benjamin would all have one another. Constance was clearly relieved to hear this and hugged Delaney tightly.

Sitting, drinking tea, and talking with her friends, Delaney was reminded of when they were younger and she was happy.  She only wished Olive could have been there with them.  Her heart hurt remembering her friend she'd lost.

After a while, there was a knock at the door. Vincent came in with Mason, Miles, and Bernard. Delaney stood and went to her husband, leaning up to quickly kiss him. He smiled lovingly down at her and she was relieved to see him relaxed now.

Looking at the other men she noticed they looked more at ease as well other than Miles. But when Cora stood and took his hand, flashing her beautiful pearly smile, he couldn't help but smile back.

"Why don't we go show you the ocean before dinner?" Vincent suggested and the room rang with agreement.

The group of friends headed down to the beach. Delaney smiled happily as she listened to her friends' chatter with excitement once they caught sight of the beautiful blue-green ocean. She walked along the sand with her husband while the rest went on to the water.

Cora and Constance slipped out of their shoes and lifted their skirts. Standing on the sand they squealed with excitement when the waves washed over their feet and ankles. The men chuckled and watched but soon the women had convinced them to lose their shoes and join them.

Counting the people in the water, Delaney realized one was missing.  Looking back over her shoulder she saw the prince was wandering off down the beach in the opposite direction, shoes in hand.  Delaney told Vincent and he sighed.

"I'd better go get him."

"No wait," Delaney shook her head before bending to remove her own shoes, "Why don't you stay with your friends and let me talk to him.  If he's up to something he's more likely to tell me in an attempt to show off."

Vincent chuckled, "That's very true.  He likes you."

Delaney rolled her eyes, "Only because I am your wife.

Her husband reached out and caught her around the waist, pulling her in against him, "And what a beautiful wife I have."

Delaney smiled and he kissed her until her knees were weak and her head was spinning. He finally let her go and she caught her breath before heading down the beach in the direction the prince had gone.

Ian had been watching them all from the shadows of the cliffs but when Delaney split off from the rest of the group he followed her.

"Following the Prince now are you?" he asked from where he was walking a few steps behind her.

She sighed, "Just to see what he's up to."

"You'd better watch out with that one," Ian looked at her seriously, "I've heard rumors your Prince has been caught in more than one compromising position with a woman."

Delaney paused to turn and frown at him over her shoulder, "I won't be in any compromising positions and you'll be there as a witness to that."

Ian smirked, "I'm not sure your people will take the word of a pirate."

Delaney didn't reply as they'd finally caught up with Mason.

The cliffs weren't as high here and the prince was sitting on a large flat piece of stone that looked as if it had long ago broken free of the cliff-face.  He looked over at Delaney as she approached and to her surprise, only had a small smile to offer.

"Following me Lady Adair?," he teased, "Whatever will my cousin think?"

"Your cousin knows I'm here," she held her hand out and he helped her up next to him on the stone.

From a ways back along the beach, Ian frowned.

"Your man doesn't seem too happy you're here," Mason gestured towards the pirate, "But then, of course, it's because of the company you're keeping."

Delaney laughed, "Don't worry I think most people would say I'm better off in the company of a prince than a pirate."

He chuckled quietly, looking down at his hands in his lap, "I suppose it depends on the prince."

She looked at him curiously then, seeing his normal sparkle was gone from his eyes and his smile was more sad than happy.

"Are you alright Mace?  Why are you down here?"

"Why do you ask?  Did you miss me?"

Delaney frowned before she could stop herself but the prince chuckled.

"I'm only joking Lady Adair," he looked back out at the water again, "I know I'm not wanted here.  I just thought I'd give you and your friends some time to yourselves."

She looked at him in surprise, "What are you talking about?  We're happy to have..."

"Don't start lying to me now Delaney.  I've liked you since that very first night I met you at the club because you haven't lied to me.  There's no reason to start now.  At least not when it's just us here."

Now it was Delaney who looked down at her lap, not sure what to say.  She was surprised to hear the crown prince admit he was unwanted anywhere, especially with his family and friends.  He was quiet too, watching the waves roll in.

"I know people don't like spending much time with me," Mason continued quietly after a while, "I know when they say they do they're lying.  I'm too much.  My father always told me that.  Daniel though... everyone always loved spending time with Danny.  Miles and Vince included.  Spending time with me was the cost of spending time with my brother."

"I'm sure that's not true," Delaney tried, "Vincent loves you.  And well Miles... I wouldn't worry about Miles.  He doesn't like most people."

Mason chuckled, "That's true although I suppose I'm partly to blame for that as well.  I bullied him when we were children.  I guess I thought if I made him the butt of the jokes it would save me from becoming it.  He was the only one smaller and slower than me at the time."

Delaney thought about her now tall and rather handsome brother-in-law.  The idea of him letting himself be teased by anyone was hard to imagine.  Then again his hatred of being made to look foolish might have sprung from the childhood of tormenting.

"I don't think Vincent or I would have minded having you Mace.  It was just the unannounced drop-in that was a bit... unpleasant.  You're a prince.  At this very moment, all of our servants are probably running themselves ragged trying to get the house up to royal standards."

"Yes well being a royal is another sort of misery on its own," Mason sighed, "No one is ever truly themselves around you.  You can't trust anyone.  They all lie.  And if you're not... not the best at finding friends in the first place you will never learn because no one will ever tell you what you're doing wrong.  You won't realize you're doing things that are driving everyone mad until suddenly you can just tell they hate you and want you gone."

Delaney looked at him in astonishment now and felt a sadness in her heart for him.  "Mason no one here hates you.  I hope you don't think that.  It was a bit of a shock that you were here but we can all take it in stride and have fun anyway."

"But don't you see that's the problem?  I don't want to be something that people have to "take in stride" and "have fun in spite of".  I want to show up and people be happy I'm there and be able to have fun with me.  Vince is one of the kindest men I know and even he cringed when he saw me get out of my carriage today."

"I'm sure that's not..."

"Don't lie to me.  I saw his face.  I've known him all my life.  I know how to read his expression."

The handsome prince sighed and brushed a golden curl back from his forehead.  After a moment he stood up and dropped down from the rock into the sand.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have talked to you like this.  None of this is your problem to fix.  It's mine.  I'll go back to the castle tomorrow and leave you and Vince and your friends to have your fun."

He held his arms out to Delaney and she scooted down the rock towards him.  He took her waist in his hands and helped her down to the ground.  Taking his shoes in one hand, he held out his other arm to her to escort her back.

They walked along quietly for a while as Delaney thought over his words.  It was strange to hear Mason felt this way.  She had thought of him as some wild, carefree man who went and did whatever he wanted without having to worry about others.

She thought of the very first night she'd met him and how he'd had to escape from his guards to have some time to himself.  Vincent had said he liked to go about pretending to be someone else.  A normal man.  Her husband had said himself the Prince probably liked her more for being so honest when she'd first seen him.  Now she had learned he was right.

The same pushy man that flirted with women constantly, made people uncomfortable, and showed up uninvited however was also the same man that had done plenty of good things.

He had shown up to escort Delaney and Vincent to court.  He had known that it was Vincent's first time back and it wouldn't be comfortable so he had gone in with them to offer the protection of his presence and make things a bit easier for his cousin.

The Prince had stopped in the streets and handed out coins to the common children to help ease the burden of their families and he had given Delaney her own coins so she could enjoy it as well.

He had rescued Vincent and Delaney from countless awkward introductions by the king and queen to nobles who only wanted to gawk at the scarred duke.  He had found Delaney alone and nervous in the castle and escorted her to his sister-in-law's chambers.

He may have been a lot of trouble but he was also a lot of good too.

"Mace," Delaney said, pausing before they rejoined the others, "Don't go home tomorrow.  Stay with us for a while."

He smirked, "Don't pity me, Lady Adair.  I shouldn't have told you all that.  I wasn't looking for sympathy or to convince you to let me stay."

"I know that," Delaney looked at him seriously, "And I want you to stay.  Really."

Mason looked at her curiously, "Why on earth would you want that?"

Delaney giggled, "Because, your majesty.  You're not all bad."

He chuckled, "I think there are plenty of people who would not agree."

"Well their opinions don't matter to me," Delaney shrugged, "Stay.  Tonight you can play cards with the girls and I.  Once they see that you're a worthy opponent they will like you."

"Really?" he asked in surprise, "You all play cards?"

"Of course," she giggled, "You didn't think I was going to the men's card clubs alone did you?"

Mason laughed as they turned and continued back down the beach.

"You intrigue me Lady Adair," he grinned, "I will stay."