Chapter 134 - Mischief And The Fishing Village

Delaney waited up excitedly that night for her husband to return. She ate one last meal of soup in bed for her dinner even though the kitchen was preparing a real meal for everyone else.

She heard the carriage arrive outside and hurried to the window. Looking down she saw her husband step out followed by Miles, Mason, Bernard, and lastly Ian. She smiled to herself seeing them all together. The pirate, the prince, and the noblemen.

Pacing back and forth beside their bed, Delaney waited for Vincent. When the door finally opened and he walked in she rushed to him and threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply. Only a moment later though she caught a whiff of him and jumped back.

"Goodness Vincent you smell like... like fish!"

He grinned, "Well, my dear I was at a fishing village inspecting fishing boats all day long so I suppose it was to be expected."

Delaney laughed and covered her nose, "You're not getting in our bed smelling like that Lord Adair. I'm going to have to order you a bath before any of the others are able to do so first."

She hurried and rang for Ms. Bird and Harris. She told them she wanted a bath prepared for her husband in the adjoining room right away. Vincent smirked as he watched his wife giving orders to their servants all while staying far enough away from him to not smell the fish.

Delaney gave in and let him go down for dinner while the water was boiled for his bath. She knew the other men would smell like he did so at least she wouldn't have to worry about any of them being embarrassed by one another.

Sitting impatiently on her couch she tried to read some more of the Adair family book while she waited. Ms. Bird and Harris brought in warm towels and sat them near the bath. Over servants went in and out carrying buckets and pots of hot water.

By the time the tub was ready Vincent had finished his dinner and returned to their bedroom. Delaney grinned mischievously at her husband before sending away their servants. Alone with him, she stepped close and gently pulled his shirt free of his breeches.

Gazing up through her dark lashes she saw a smile begin to curl her husband's lips. Her hands slid up along his muscled and scarred abdomen, the heat of his skin radiating. He pulled off his shirt and dropped it to the floor. His wife stood back and gazed at him as she had so often before, biting her lip.

Vincent chuckled and reached out to untie her nightgown. She moved just enough to let it fall to the floor around her. He gazed at her with a look of near disbelief.

"My love," he said quietly, "How you bewitch me."

-

Delaney and her friends dressed the next day and began the steps of their plan to get Ian and Penelope together. For the first time since they'd gotten ill and Cora and Miles had gotten married, all of the friends gathered in the dining room for breakfast. The women were excited but careful not to show too much eagerness and have Ian figure out that something was going on.

The newlyweds sat together and it lifted Delaney's heart seeing how happy they looked.

When they went to their rooms to put on the finishing touches for their wardrobes, Vincent laid back on their bed and grinned at Delaney. She sat still while Ms. Bird finished pinning up her hair into its intricate design.

The duchess allowed her eager maid to pin just a few pearls in her hair but she, Cora, and Constance had all decided they wouldn't be dressing too extravagantly. For one thing, they didn't want any of their very fine dresses to come home smelling like fish as the men had. The more important reason to them though was they did want to outshine Penelope.

Ms. Bird had been successful and gotten the girl to agree to have her hair done in a lovely style that morning. The plan was that as soon as the lady's maid was done with Delaney's hair, she would hurry downstairs and announce that the duchess had requested Penelope join them to help for the day. Ms. Bird herself would recommend that the girl dress nicely so as not to upset her mistress.

Once the maid was gone, Delaney turned to her husband with a disapproving look, hands on her hips, "Stop laughing."

"I'm not laughing," Vincent chuckled.

"You are laughing," she frowned as he pushed himself up off the bed.

Crossing the room to his wife he slid his arms around her waist and grinned, "I am only laughing at Ian. The poor fool has no idea what he's in for with all of you ladies against him."

"We're not against him," she argued, crossing her arms, "We're trying to help him. He deserves to find love like anyone else."

"Of course he does," Vincent agreed with a smirk, leaning down to give her a quick kiss, "Now go out and find it for him."

Delaney rolled her eyes at her husband. With a swish of her skirt, she headed for the door. He called out that he loved her and she paused to blow him a kiss and say she loved him too.

-

The women rode in the carriage, packed in with Ms. Bird and a pale, terrified looking Penelope. Delaney and her friends chatted about some of the things they wanted to look for in the fishing village. Vincent had told them there was a nice tea shop so they were determined to try it.

Delaney glanced over and saw Ms. Bird reassuringly pat the young maid's hand and she had to hide her smile by looking out the window.

The carriage traveled on a road that ran along the coastline. From her window, she could see the beautiful open ocean. As they grew nearer to the village she began to spot a scattering of finishing boats out on the waves.

The village was a decent size with quite a few little shops. Delaney imagined they probably made a good portion of their income over the summer when all the nobles like herself came to spend time at their seaside manors. Even before their carriage had come to a stop she had spotted several other women dressed like they must be from wealthy families although she didn't recognize any of them.

"Vincent or Miles might recognize them," Cora commented after Delaney had pointed the ladies out.

"You're a duchess my lady," Ms. Bird smiled proudly, "Unless one of those women is a princess or a queen then it will be up to them to recognize you."

Delaney looked fondly at her lady's maid and thanked her. Her friends agreed with the older woman and even Penelope perked up. The Duchess knocked on the roof of the carriage, signaling her driver they were ready to stop.

Ian tied up his horse and waited as a footman stepped up to open the door and help the ladies out. Delaney looked over at her young pirate's serious face and smirked. He met her gaze and frowned in confusion which just made her giggle before she hurried to turn away.

Excited at the idea of finding Ian someone to love, Delaney was equally excited to spend a day shopping with her dearest friends. The women linked their arms through one another's as they had when they were girls and strolled down the wooden walkways which kept them up out of the mud.

Going into a shop full of fabrics and ribbons, they enjoyed picking things out. Although the club was doing well, Delaney knew Constance didn't have the funds to spend as she and Cora did so she insisted on buying a few things for her.

Outside waiting on the walk, Ian leaned against a post while a bashful looking Penelope stood beside him. Delaney picked out a few things for herself and then found some lovely deep blue ribbon that would look perfect holding back the young maid's curls.

Not wanting to look like the favored the girl too much, she also bought a few other colors for the rest of the maids to share and a special pink ribbon for Ms. Bird as it was her favorite color. She had them all wrapped and billed to Lord Adair. 

Outside she presented Ms. Bird and Penelope with their gift and both women were thrilled. Delaney gave the rest of the bundle to Ian to carry and couldn't help but giggle at his annoyance. She knew he hadn't expected to be made to carry their purchases.

"Maybe I should buy ribbons and things to bring to the servants at Miles's home," Cora suggested, looking up at Delaney and Constance for approval as they continued on to the next shop.

"It would surely help to start you out on good terms with all of them," Constance agreed with a shrug, "Although I have no idea what on earth you would get all the men."

"Tobacco and playing cards," Ian spoke up from his place behind them, "If they're anything like the men from the Adair estates they will appreciate them."

"Well you should get the women cards too then," Delaney laughed, coming to a stop, "After all who encourages women to try cards and gambling more than we three?"

The other women laughed at this as well. Ms. Bird pursed her lips in lightly veiled disapproval but Delaney saw the younger maid's eyes light up.

"Penelope," Delaney smiled at her, "Do you know how to play cards?"

"Oh no my Lady," the girl shook her head, eyes dropping to the ground, "I've never tried."

"What about the other women? Do any of them play?"

"I-I don't think so. I don't know that the men do either."

"I highly doubt Ms. Crouch would allow it," Ms. Bird brought up the housekeeper to prove a point.

"Well, Ms. Crouch isn't here," Delaney countered.

"Nor is she the duchess and mistress of the house," Constance shot her own disapproval at Ms. Bird.

"That's settled then," Delaney clapped her hands together excitedly, "While the three of us are together we can teach whoever wants to learn, how to play cards just like Constance and I did during the war."

"Really?" Penelope asked eagerly.

"We would love to," Delaney smiled sweetly at her maid, "And Ian will help."

The pirate frowned and looked from one of the noblewomen to the next.

The three friends were grinning and it dawned on him at last that they were up to something.