Chapter 135 - The Tea Shop And The Party

Delaney, Constance, and Cora sat at a small table in the tea shop after they had finished their shopping. It was a quaint little place with white walls and murals of flowers painted all over. The tea shop owner was a short, round, older woman with white hair and spectacles. She eagerly watched the noble ladies sitting and sipping their tea under her roof.

"I imagine she doesn't often get a duchess as a customer," Constance spoke quietly over her teacup.

Delaney smiled down at her own drink in her hands, "Sometimes it still feels strange to know I'm a duchess.  I just feel like Vincent's wife."

"Well that's good," Cora assured her, "That's how it should be."

Delaney's heart fluttered as she thought of her husband at home waiting for her. She found herself wondering what he was doing and if he was thinking of her too. She absently glanced out the window and caught sight of Ian sitting at one of the tables there with Penelope across from him. Ms. Bird was with them but she was pretending to be reading some little book while they chatted. There was a hint of a smile curling at the old maid's lips.

"They look like they might be enjoying themselves don't they?"

Cora and Constance followed her gaze and smiled when they saw the scene she was seeing.

"He looks like he is enjoying admiring her," Cora commented.

"And she looks like she's enjoying being admired," Constance chuckled.

Delaney nodded, "Well tonight will give them more time for that.  We're going to have the two of them at a table together and one of us with them.  If any of the other servants want to join we can put them at other tables."

"What do you think Vincent is going to say about our little plan?" Cora asked with raised eyebrows.

"He won't mind," Delaney assured her, "I don't think Bernard will either and I'm sure Mason will be thrilled.  The only one we have to worry about looking at us with disapproval is the ever-disappointed Lord Miles Adair."

Cora smirked and fluttered her lashes, "I can handle the younger Lord Adair."

The women laughed and finished their tea.  They joined the others outside and headed back for the carriage.  Delaney was pleased to see Ian and Penelope hanging back a bit and continuing to chat with one another.

When they arrived at the horses the handsome young pirate pulled himself up on his mount and made quite a nice view for the women.  Penelope's eyes lit up as she looked at him and she blushed a deep red when he turned and caught her.  She hurried to get into the carriage and Delaney had to keep herself from laughing.

At home again she asked their butler where her husband was and headed off to the little office in the ocean house.  She knocked lightly and opened the door when she heard him call for her to enter.  He didn't look up at first so she enjoyed a moment of gazing at him.

He sat at his desk with papers spread out, an elbow on the desk, and his head in his hand.  He frowned down at what was in front of him and scribbled some notes.  When he looked up and found her standing there he smiled and held his arms out for her to come to him.

"Hello my darling," he greeted her as she went and leaned down to give him a kiss.

Vincent wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her down until she was sitting lightly on his lap.  Delaney giggled and draped her arms over his shoulders.

"Well, what luck!  You only smell faintly of fish."

Delaney gasped at his teasing and playfully shoved his chest, "I don't smell of fish at all thank you.  I made sure we stayed a good distance from the fishing docks."

"Very good," he chuckled and kissed her hand, "Did you have a good time?"

"I did,"  Delaney grinned, "And I've come up with a lovely idea for tonight I've been dying to tell you!"

She told her husband all about the interaction with Penelope and Ian and how it had ended with her announcing she would have some of the servants upstairs tonight to learn how to play cards for themselves.  As she spoke the idea came to her that they could serve wine and maybe a little something to eat.  Their friends could all play too and mingle a bit with the servants as well.

"What do you think?" she asked when she was done, eager for his approval.

"Well," Vincent hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck, "It definitely hasn't been done before..."

"But that would be what made it so special," she insisted, "That we gave our servants a night with us almost like we were all equals.  It would give us a chance to get to know some of them better too and for them to get to know us.  Besides, you know how thrilled they would be at a chance to meet Mace."

"And we're doing all this so Ian and Penelope spend time together?"

"Well, sort of.  At least that was how it started.  But now I think it could be something good for all the household as well.  The servants are very loyal to you Vincent but they still barely know me."

He considered her and thought over her words. After a few minutes, he slowly nodded.

"Alright, my love I think it's a good idea. Let the kitchen know what snacks and wines you want and tell them we'll begin shortly after dinner. We can have tables set up in the ballroom. It's small but it will accommodate some tables and chairs just fine."

"Oh thank you!" Delaney exclaimed, hugging Vincent tightly and kissing him, "I'll go right now!"

She moved to stand up but he caught her and pulled her back down with a mischievous grin.

"Not just yet."

Delaney giggled before he kissed her deeply, cradling her face in his hands. She kissed him back and when she moved to stand again her head was spinning from it. He held her hand loosely as she walked away, letting her fingers slip from his when she was far enough.

-

In an excited flurry, Delaney and the other women made arrangements for the evening.  She laughed but was not surprised to find that both of her friends had brought decks of cards with them.  They had tables arranged and Delaney let their cook know what she would require for the evening. 

"I have a favor to ask you," Delaney said to Ian as it grew closer to dinner, "The musicians that played at your father's home.  Do you think there is any chance I might be able to hire a few for the evening with such short notice?"

The young pirate frowned at her, "You are going to great lengths with this.  I thought it was just supposed to be a lesson in playing cards?"

Delaney shrugged, "Well it was going to be but then I decided, why not make a real night of it?"

He crossed his arms over his chest, "You just decided to do this?  It has nothing to do with some plot you have come up with for me?"

"Oh come Ian not everything is about you," she laughed but her bright eyes were giving her away, "Now do you think there will be musicians available or not?  And do they only know music from your lands or do you think they would know something from here as well?"

Ian rolled his eyes and groaned like a disgruntled child, "I'll ride there now and find out.  But Delaney do not do something to embarrass me this evening or I promise you I will release Cora's snake into your bed one night when Vincent is up late."

Delaney gasped in surprise at his threat and then laughed.  Ian sighed and headed for the door without another look back.

"He's onto us," Constance chuckled, walking up to join Delaney now.

"Let him be," she laughed, "There's nothing he can do about it."

-

The nobles of the house got ready for dinner upstairs while the servants rushed about excitedly downstairs.  Delaney and the other girls had decided to dress in plainer gowns and keep their hair simple for the evening.  They didn't want to seem snobbish when spending time with the servants.

Vincent stood in the middle of their bedroom while Delaney looked him over.  She had wanted to ensure he didn't look too extravagant either although she knew that was not usually an issue with her husband.  Even in simple clothes, she thought he was deadly handsome.

The duke and duchess walked to dinner arm in arm and found all of their friends already waiting for them.  They sat and the servers brought in the dishes of food.  Once they were they were eating, Delaney and the other women happily told the men all the details they had worked out for the evening ahead.

"Are you excited sister?" Miles asked Delaney with an amused look.

Delaney felt her heart warm.  She liked it when he referred to her as his sister.  It made her feel like she belonged.

"I'm always excited for a good party," she replied.

"Oh it's a party now is it?" Mason teased with lifted eyebrows, "Well this evening is sounding better by the minute."