Chapter 132 - Scheming From Bed

The next morning when Delaney woke up she knew right away she had managed to catch a cold the day before. She felt achy, chilled, and tired. She was coughing, had a fever, and she couldn't manage to breathe through her nose.

Vincent was unhappy to see it and immediately called for Ms. Bird. The old maid sighed and said this was exactly what she had been afraid of. She put warming stones by Delaney's feet and brought up a bottle of sickly sweet medicine she said would help her feel better. The kitchen sent up bowls of soup for each of her meals.

Delaney wasn't the only one sick. Mason was and so was Constance. It was joked about that Cora and Miles might have been sick as well but no one would know as they so rarely left his room since coming home.

Delaney and Constance might have been left to suffer through the cold with only the help of the Adair servants but with the crown-prince ill as well a carriage was sent straight to the King's City to fetch one of the royal doctors. Mason tried to insist this wasn't necessary but his servants wouldn't hear of it.

Vincent stayed close by Delaney all day making sure she had enough to eat and drink as well as crawling into bed with her when she was starting to get chills again. Like Mason, Delaney tried to insist she would be fine but her husband was too anxious.

The following day they were all still sick but thankfully the royal doctor had arrived. He saw to Mason first and was in his room for quite some time. Once he'd finished checking over the crown prince he was sent to see the duchess.

Delaney felt tired but kept herself awake to answer his questions about how she felt and where things hurt. He looked her over and left her with a bottle of medicine just as he had Mason. He went to see Constance after and Delaney didn't worry about staying awake any longer. She rolled over and fell fast asleep again.

When she woke up next it was getting late in the evening and Vincent was sitting at a desk in the corner looking over some paperwork. Seeing his wife was awake he smiled and went to her side. He sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair back from her face.

"How are you feeling now?" he asked with concern, "Any better?"

Delaney sighed, "I still don't feel well but I imagine after a bit more sleep I will start to."

Her husband kissed her cheek, "Of course you will love. Sleep and take your medicine. I will be right here if you need anything."

She smiled at her handsome husband and reached one hand up to touch his cheek, feeling the heat from his scars against her chilled fingertips. He took her hand and brushed a kiss over it before tucking the blankets back around her so she could sleep.

The good thing about being so tired and stuck in bed meant she had lots of time to spend with her new little pets. Whenever she was awake she would have Ian bring in the little sugar gliders in their pouch. He had been taking care of them while she was ill and teaching a maid how to as well.

"The girl, Penelope, Lord Adair recommended to help with the animals has done very well so far," Ian informed her on the afternoon of the third day of her being sick.

"That's good to hear," Delaney smiled as she lifted one of the boys from their pouch and then the other, "You will have to teach me as well once I'm able to get around again."

"Yes," Ian nodded, "You look better today."

"Thank you. I'm starting to feel better. Vincent has actually left this room to see to his work as well."

"As he should," Ian agreed, "Where is he off to today?"

Delaney giggled as one of the sugar gliders dashed up her arm to snuggle up on her shoulder. "We have a small citrus orchard nearby that he wants to check in on today I think. Then tomorrow or the day after he's going to go to the village to look at the fishing boats."

"You own fishing boats as well?" Ian asked curiously, "Does Lord Adair know much about them?"

"I don't think so," Delaney shrugged, dislodging the pet on her shoulder, "I don't know that he's ever spent much time around ships. They seem to have been his father's interest more than his."

Ian was quiet as he thought about her words. He reached out and caught one of the little animals that had gotten away from her and was scurrying across her quilt. He handed it back to her and cleared his throat.

"You might recommend Lord Adair take me with him to inspect the boats when he goes. After all, I doubt you have anyone who knows as much about them as I do besides the fishermen that sail them. I could tell the Duke what questions to ask them to ensure they aren't keeping anything from him."

"Really?" Delaney asked in surprise, "You wouldn't mind going to help him?"

"Why not?" he shrugged, "It's not like I'm busy guarding you while you're stuck in bed."

Delaney smiled brightly, "Thank you Ian that would be lovely. I will suggest it to Vincent although I'm sure he'll be happy to have you."

"Good," the young pirate nodded and moved to scoop up the sugar gliders, "I will go find Penelope then and tell her she'll need to keep an eye on these two, the snake, and dove on the day I go with the Duke. She's probably in the kitchens now."

"Will she be able to take care of them all properly?" Delaney asked worriedly, "She has only been working with you a few days."

"I have no doubt she will. Pen's very smart and quick to pick up on the things they need. She's been very helpful and listened well. I trust they will all be fine with her."

"Pen?" Delaney questioned the nickname, her eyes lighting with curiosity as she looked at the young pirate.

"Penelope," Ian corrected himself, hurrying to put the pets back into their pouch.

Delaney smiled slyly as she watched him. The normally expressionless Ian now seemed almost flustered.

"Penelope is quite a lovely young lady wouldn't you say?"

Ian's eyes snapped to her and he frowned, "Yes... she is lovely."

"She seems very sweet too. And as you said yourself she's very smart."

"What are you getting at?" his frown deepened.

Delaney giggled, "Oh nothing. Just commenting on her virtues I suppose. She's one of my favorite maids."

Ian stared at her but didn't say anything. After a moment he rolled his eyes at her and left the room with the pouch in hand.

As soon as he was gone Delaney leaned over and rang for Ms. Bird. When her maid came to her room Delaney sat up excitedly and told her to close the door.

"What is it my Lady? Is everything alright?"

"It is," Delaney grinned, "But I have discovered something and I want your help."

Ms. Bird's own curiosity lit up her eyes and Delaney told her to pull up one of the chairs and sit.

"You know the maid Penelope that Vincent tasked with learning from Ian how to take care of the new pets?"

"Yes," Ms. Bird said with a bit of a grimace. She was not a big admirer of animals in the house.

"Well, I think Ian might be smitten with her!" Delaney exclaimed.

"Really?" Ms. Bird looked as surprised and excited as Delaney had been, "That would be wonderful! Penelope is a kind young girl and I have thought before she might be a tad sweet on Ian as well. Ever since you had him start eating with the servants."

"What luck!" Delaney clapped her hands together, "We need to do something to give them both a little push in the right direction."

Ms. Bird, ever the fan of meddling, nodded, "What could we do?"

The duchess and her maid sat going over ideas until they settled on one at last. As soon as Delaney was well enough she would plan a trip into the village. Since Ian is her guard he would go with her. Delaney would have Ms. Bird come to help her shop and Ms. Bird would insist on another maid joining them to help carry things.

The duchess herself would say that it is Penelope that should go. No one would question or contradict her.

"You should offer to do her hair for her tomorrow," Delaney suggested to Ms. Bird, "That way she'll look especially lovely when she sees Ian."

"Good idea," her maid nodded, "That way I can do it for our trip into the village as well and it won't seem suspicious."

"I will say I want her dressed her best since she will be accompanying me," Delaney grinned.

"What about Ian? How will you convince him to dress up a bit nicer?"

Delaney giggled and shrugged, "I will come up with something."

Just then the door to her bedroom opened and Vincent walked in. Ms. Bird jumped to her feet and quickly replaced the chair in its place. She smiled and excused herself, leaving Delaney alone with her husband.

"What was all that about?" Vincent asked grinning as he walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed beside his wife.

"Oh nothing," Delaney gave an overly innocent expression, "We were just scheming"

"Scheming?" Vincent chuckled, "I hope I'm not the target."

"You're not," she giggled, "Ian is actually. We plan to set him up with Penelope."

"Oh good. I had hoped those two might like one another."

"Vincent Adair!" Delaney gasped in surprise, "You mean you were playing matchmaker when you set her up to take care of the animals with him?"

Vincent's eyes flashed with mischief, "You said yourself we do have very kind girls working for us and he is a good man."

Delaney laughed and threw her arms around her husband's neck, kissing him deeply. She sat back in the bed and told him the plan she and Ms. Bird had come up with. He laughed but agreed it sounded good.

"With you and Ms. Bird determined to find him love the man will surely be married before we return to Edgewood."