Chapter 133 - Boys Day Out And Girls Day In

After four days of being sick in bed, Delaney was starting to feel much better. Ms. Bird insisted she spend one last day resting though just to make sure. Mason didn't have an overprotective maid looking out for him so he was out of bed as soon as he was able to be.

Vincent had agreed with Delaney that it would be a good idea to take Ian with him to inspect his fishing boats. Mason and Bernard had both jumped at the chance to get out of the house so now they were going along too. Right before they were about to leave Vincent decided it was time his younger brother got some fresh air as well.

Delaney slipped out of bed and peaked out the door to watch her tall husband go striding down the hallway to the door to Miles's room. He rapped on it loudly. When no answer came he knocked even louder.

Mason and Bernard had come upon this while heading down the hallway so they laughed and hurried to Vincent's side. When Miles, at last, opened the door in his robe with his hair tousled, Vincent forced a serious face but the other men were grinning.

Vincent told him it was time for him to spend some time with his brother and friends. Miles had tried to argue but the other men were quick to jump to Vincent's defense.

"Cousin if you'd wanted a long honeymoon with no interruptions you probably shouldn't have returned to the home of your brother where so many others were already staying." Mason teased the younger man, one arm around Bernard's shoulders.

"He's got a point Miles," Bernard added, "If Mace and the girls hadn't have been sick you wouldn't have gotten even this long."

Delaney saw Miles did not look amused by their teasing but the others didn't care. Even Vincent had the beginnings of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Get dressed," Vincent ordered as sternly as he could manage, "The carriage will be ready to leave shortly."

He didn't wait to let his brother argue but turned and walked away. Delaney quickly and quietly closed the door before her spying could be noticed. She hurried back to bed and had just thrown the covers back over herself when the bedroom door opened again.

"You're not supposed to be out of bed yet," Vincent smirked at her knowingly as he closed the door behind him.

Delaney smiled sheepishly, "I just wanted to see if you would be capable of prying Miles out of his room or not."

He chuckled as he strolled over and dropped onto the bed beside her, "Mace is the only one in this house who outranks me and I don't mind reminding my younger brother of that from time to time."

Delaney giggled and scooted over closer to her husband so she could kiss him. He slipped one hand over her cheek, cradling her head in his hands. Vincent wrapped his arms around her and rolled with his wife until she was on her back and he was straddling her as he kissed her.

"Mmm maybe you should stay home in bed with me just one more day in case I get chilled again," Delaney murmured as Vincent moved to kiss over her cheek and down her neck.

He chuckled against her skin and kissed lower still, pulling her nightgown off her shoulder. His weight lightly rested on top of her and she twisted her fingers into his black hair. He moved back to her lips and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You'll have to quit now or I won't be able to let you leave this bed," she warned breathlessly before his lips found hers once more.

"Maybe I should put off my inspections until tomorrow."

Now it was Delaney who giggled, "You can't. Miles would never let you hear the end of it after you've made him get up and dressed to go with you."

Vincent groaned in annoyance and rested his head against her chest. Delaney smiled and brushed his hair back in an attempt to straighten it. When she couldn't get it she reached out and pulled the cord that would ring for Harris.

"I imagine he must get tired of having to straighten up your appearance all the time," she laughed softly as she took her husband's face in her hands and pulled him up so she could give him one last kiss.

He sighed and stood up. He was just making his way around their bed when there was a light knock at the door. Vincent called for his man to enter and Harris did so. The servant chuckled when he saw his master disheveled but with capable hands, he quickly straightened him up again.

"I love you, my Lady," Vincent said to Delaney once Harris had left and he was leaving as well.

"I love you," she said back before he closed the door behind him.

-

The men had not been gone for very long when another knock came at Delaney's door. She sat up in bed and settled her hair before calling for whoever it was to enter. She smiled brightly when Cora and Constance came in together.

Constance was still recovering herself so she wore her robe and was a bit pale and tired looking. Cora though was dressed in a soft blue dress with her hair pulled up nicely. She wore a large smile and she looked so happy that she might just float away at any moment.

The women came in and dropped down on Delaney's bed like they used to do when they were girls. As soon as they were settled Delaney and Constance demanded Cora tell them how things had been with Miles.

Cora blushed deeply but her smile never wavered. She told her friends how happy she was and how happy she thought Miles was. She told them how much she enjoyed everything from kissing her husband to just laying in bed and talking for hours. The other women smiled fondly as they listened.

As Cora talked about her time she'd spent with Miles, Delaney couldn't stop herself from thinking about her wedding day with Vincent. It saddened her now, knowing that day would never be a happy memory.

Miles and Cora were able to be happy and together from the very first day of their marriage while Delaney and Vincent had taken a long time to warm up to one another. She regretted these things so much now that she was so in love with her husband. At least they had learned to love one another before the year of Vincent's arrangement was up.

After a bit more chatting the women decided to have their little pets brought in so they might spend some time bonding with them. Apparently, Constance had had her dove kept in her room so the lovely cooing would wake her up in the mornings.

Penelope arrived carrying the pets with her and Delaney couldn't help but smile at the girl. The young maid was a curvier woman with wide hips and a bigger chest. Her hair was caramel colored and her skin was a deep golden-brown.

The maid blushed and looked down with nervousness upon stepping into a room with all the noble ladies. She gave them each their pets before excusing herself to get back to her work. Once the door was closed behind her, Delaney turned to look at her friends with excitement.

She told them of her discovery that Ian liked the pretty maid and that Ms. Bird thought Penelope liked him as well. Cora and Constance were both happy to hear the news. Delaney told her friends the plan to get the pair out of the house and together for the day and they were both immediately offering to help as well.

"We can go with you," Cora suggested excitedly, "We can help you to sort of nudge them together."

"You can't really depend on the man to make the move," Constance rolled her eyes, "He might be too stubborn. The best chance they have of getting together is if we help it along."

"Very well," Delaney giggled, "We can all go. We're bound to get them together anyway if we're all pushing for it."

"Have her come back and take the animals," Cora suggested sometime later, "I want to get a better look at her."

Delaney did as her friend suggested and a few minutes later the lovely Penelope was there again, this time to take the little pets and put them away. Cora and Constance both silently looked over the maid, passing judgment to see if they thought she was good enough for Ian. Once the girl curtsied and left, closing the door behind her, they were quick to spill their thoughts.

"She's so petite!" Cora giggled, "Ian is so tall he will dwarf her!"

"He'll only be able to dwarf her if her personality allows it," Constance countered, "She seems shy here with us but I have a feeling she's quite sure of herself with the other servants. I bet she wouldn't give Ian an easy time. I think he would like that about her."

"I think you're right," Delaney smiled, "If his mother and older sister are the captain and first mate of a pirate ship then I imagine he's used to strong women."

"We'll have to see how they get on together when we go into the village," Cora grinned as she leaned back against a bedpost.

Delaney nodded with eyes full of mischief.

"We'll have to wait and see."