Chapter 140 - Facing The Future

"Where did he go?" Miles asked Delaney, his own anger bubbling up now, "I'm going to go speak to him."

Miles was pacing back and forth in front of them now, looking very much like his older brother. Delaney sat on her couch with Cora beside her holding her hand to comfort her. She had only just managed to get her crying under control but tears still slipped down her cheeks now and then when she a thought about something Vincent had said popped into her mind.

"Don't do that," Cora shook her head at her husband, "If he's anything like you and he's angry, trying to talk to him right now will only make things worse."

"So what then? It's fine that he shouts at her and threatens their marriage like that?"

"No," she sighed, "Obviously that wasn't right. But we know it is not Delaney that made him angry in the first place so I'm sure he will come back soon and apologize to her."

Miles gave a harsh laugh, "I think you underestimate the Adair temper."

Cora rolled her eyes, "No if it were your temper I wouldn't say that but we are talking about Vincent and he's a lot more rational."

Miles frowned and rolled his eyes at her now. "I'm going to go find him."

"Not yet," Cora repeated louder, "But when you do talk to your brother Miles, tell him to stop bringing up this stupid deal. It's hurtful to both of them and obviously, they're never going to go through with it."

"Vincent has every intention of going through with it," Delaney said quietly, "He's told me that throughout our marriage. Even after we fell in love. He has reminded me many times that if we aren't able to have a baby then we won't remain married."

Her brother and sister-in-law looked at her gravely and Miles shook his head before looking away.

"He can't be serious though," Cora looked from her to Miles, "They love one another just as much as you and I do. Anyone can see that."

"Yes and it's because Vince loves her so much that I know he is very serious," Miles sighed, dropping into a chair across from them looking suddenly exhausted.

"But how could he just end their marriage? You would never be able to end our marriage."

Miles leaned back in the seat, not meeting her eyes, and rubbed the back of his neck. "I suppose that depends... If I thought there was a chance for you to have a better life and have everything you ever wanted without me then I would definitely think long and hard about it."

"You would never actually do it though would you?" Cora demanded with worry clear on her face.

"Probably not," Miles sighed, turning back to her, "But that's because I'm selfish and... a bit weak. Vince is strong and good. He will live with the pain of losing her if he thinks that's what it takes for her to be happy."

"So you're saying he's doing the right thing? You are on his side?" Cora looked at him incredulously.

"No, no," he quickly raised his hands in surrender, "I am only trying to answer your questions. I'm not on a side."

"Yes you are. We're on her side."

"Alright yes. Good. I'm on her side."

Cora frowned at her husband and Delaney couldn't stop herself from giggling at them. Surprised, they both turned to look at her and their faces relaxed into small smiles too.

"That you both for coming to check on me," she said sincerely, dashing away the last of the tears from her eyes, "You'd better go now though before he comes back. I don't want him to get angry at you as well."

"Are you sure?" Cora asked gently, "One of us could wait with you."

"It's alright," she sighed, "Thank you. You both need your sleep."

They all stood then and Cora quickly hugged Delaney before stepping back and giving her a sad smile. To Delaney's surprise, Miles also pulled her in for a hug, holding her for a moment before letting her go.

"I'm sorry about all this," he said seriously to her, "I don't think I've ever said that to you but I'm sorry Vince got hurt so badly in the war and it has caused you both so much pain. Every day I wish I could have done something to stop it."

"Thank you Miles but it wasn't your fault in any way and he would completely agree with me. You're a good brother."

They walked to the door and he left first. Cora paused just before closing the door and looked back at her.

"If he is still angry when you see him again try to remember it's not you that he's mad at," she said, "He's angry that things are the way they are and he can't fix them."

Delaney nodded and smiled back at her friend, now sister-in-law, as she closed the door behind them.

Alone again, she walked to their wall of windows and stared out at the cliff and the ocean beyond. The full moon lit up the world and she hoped she might catch sight of her husband down below but all she could see were the guards at their posts and the citrus trees swaying in the breeze.

With a sigh, she returned to her bed and crawled beneath the covers. She pulled her knees to her chest and for the first time, allowed herself to think over what Vincent said about their future. Delaney had always simply dismissed the idea that they would never have children but now she let the terrible possibility sink in.

When she was younger she had never given much thought to having children. It was just expected that she would. As she grew older the idea of having a little person or two that were part of her had made her excited. When she was old enough to get married and waiting for Vincent to get back from the war she had realized she truly wanted to have children of her own to love and raise with a man she loved.

Now it seemed the problem might be that she would have to choose between either those future children or the man she now loved. She might not get to have both. Vincent was right. Delaney was young and healthy. If her husband had been young and healthy as well then surely they would be pregnant by now. He wasn't though. He had dragon poison in his veins. Maybe he really wouldn't be able to give her a baby.

The thought made her heart ache and she pushed it quickly from her mind once more. She couldn't give up. Not yet. She loved her husband completely and didn't want to lose him. They hadn't been trying to get pregnant for that long and there were still almost eight months left for them to try. That was plenty of time.

Besides, there were still things she could try that might help her. Delaney's eyes floated to the books that hid the little bottle of potion. If she began to worry too much that he would not change his mind about her deal then she would take it. She would use everything available to her.

Vincent might be so angry and upset that he would accept defeat but she would not. She would have to keep her hopes up for both of them.

Delaney settled back in bed to wait for Vincent to return. She wanted to talk to him even if he was still angry. She wasn't sure exactly what she would say. It would depend on what he said to her. But she wanted to talk about it now so they didn't have to spend the night with it heavy in their hearts.

She hoped he would be calmed down when he returned though. Her heart ached and she wanted nothing more than for him to hold her in his arms and kiss her and assure her everything was going to be fine.

After a little while when he had not returned, Delaney pulled out the red book about the Adairs and took up at the spot where she'd left off the last time. She had come to enjoy reading about her husband's ancestors and all they had done for the estates, including Edgewood which was now home to her.

Eventually, she could not fight it and she fell fast asleep, the book slipping from her hands and settling onto the blanket next to her.

-

The next morning Delaney woke up, stretching like a cat as the morning sunlight streamed in through the windows. She reached out across her bed for Vincent, realizing she had fallen asleep while waiting up for him.

When her hand found nothing, Delaney opened her eyes and looked over at his side of the bed. He wasn't there and the bed was still made as it had been the day before.

He had never come to bed. He had never come back to her.