Chapter 141 - Boiling Over

Delaney rang for Ms. Bird but didn't wait for her to get there before she began getting dressed.  By the time her maid did arrive she was surprised to see her mistress waiting impatiently.

Ms. Bird could see the tension in the duchess and glanced quickly around the room, noticing Lord Adair was nowhere to be seen. Seeing the hint of redness still around Delaney's eyes from the night before the old maid was wise enough not to broach the subject of her absent husband.

Delaney dressed in a blue-green dress Vincent had ordered for her from the dressmaker the last time they were in the fishing village.  Ms. Bird pinned a few pearls here and there throughout her hair but Delaney was impatient to be done.

The moment she was ready she rushed from her bedroom and into the hallway running right into Mason who was passing by.

"Well good morning to you too Lady Adair," he chuckled, "Where are you off to in such a hurry?"

Delaney hesitated, thinking quickly to come up with an excuse.  Mason's room was even closer to theirs than Miles and Cora's so she couldn't imagine he hadn't heard Vincent's anger in the night.  She could only hope the prince had been asleep.

"Oh, I um... I just have a few things I want to do before we eat this morning," she lied and felt her cheeks grow warm because of it.

Mason's smile faltered for a moment and his eyes narrowed on her but he slowly nodded, "Alright well... I'd better let you be on your way then."

"Thank you," Delaney said quickly before turning and continuing on her way, only slowing enough that she would not look too improper.

The bell announcing breakfast rang just as she reached the end of the stairs and she swore under her breath.  She had hoped to speak to Vincent before they were forced to spend an extended length of time sitting at a table with all their guests.  With a quiet groan, she made her way to the dining room.

Inside she found Cora and Miles standing together whispering and smiling at one another.  When they saw her they both turned and looked at her expectantly.

"Well?" Cora asked nervously, "Were you able to talk things out?"

Delaney swallowed hard and looked between her two sweet in-laws.  Their concern for her was clear on their faces.  She didn't want them to continue to worry.

"Oh not yet," she answered with a small smile, "I fell asleep after you left and didn't get a chance to speak to him.  We will later though I'm sure."

Miles and Cora both nodded looking like they didn't quite believe her.  Cora forced a smile to her lips and hooked her arm through Delaney's and together they headed to their seats.

As everyone else filed in for the meal she watched the door anxiously for her husband.  One by one everyone else came in and took their seats until the only people missing were Violet and Vincent.

Minutes ticked by and everyone waited.  The servers hesitated, not wanting to begin serving the food before the master of the house had taken his seat at the head of the table.  At last, Delaney could stand it no longer and cleared her throat.

"Excuse me one moment," she said with a flash of a smile before she stood and walked briskly from the dining room.

Outside in the entryway, she found their butler and cornered him.

"Where is Lord Adair?" she demanded sternly.

"Why my Lady he-he went into the village early this morning."

The news hit Delaney like a slap and she took a little step back, "He did?"

"Yes my Lady," the butler nodded looking worried, "Did he... Did he not tell you?"

With those words, Delaney quickly snapped herself back into her role of duchess and mistress of the house.

"Of course he did," she forced a smile to her lips as she lied for the second time that morning, "It just slipped my mind.  Thank you for reminding me."

The butler gave a bow and Delaney turned and walked slowly back to the dining room, her heart feeling like it was about to shatter.  She had had a fight with her husband and he had left.  He never came back.  Then he left early in the morning without telling her and she had no idea when and if he would return.

Just before stepping back into the dining room, she paused to collect herself and paste a fake smile across her face.  The last thing she wanted was for everyone to know how angry Vincent was with her and what he had done.  It would make her look so terribly small.

Lifting her chin, Delaney joined her friends again and forced a little laugh.

"You won't believe it but I completely forgot Vincent had some business he wanted to take care of this morning.  We can go ahead and eat."

Everyone seemed to buy her lie except Miles and Cora.  Delaney took her seat and worked to try to calm her racing heart and keep herself from crying.

"Is everything alright?" Miles murmured leaning closer to her while everyone else was distracted by the food being served.

"Of course," Delaney assured him, her voice sounding hollow even to her own ears, "I just forgot he had something to do this morning is all."

Miles's brows lowered and he opened his mouth to say something else but at that moment Mason said his name and asked him something, pulling his attention away from her again.  Delaney felt relieved and thankful the prince had distracted him.

-

After forcing herself to sit and make small talk during breakfast, Delaney nearly leaped from her seat once their dishes were cleared.  She didn't wait for the others but threw an excuse over her shoulder about needing to do a quick task and that they should all go-ahead to the beach without her.  Once she was out of their sight she lifted her skirts a bit so she could hurry up the stairs.

Delaney walked quickly down the hallway to Ian's room and rapped on the door.  She was practically bouncing as she waited for him to open it.  When he didn't, she knocked again a bit louder and called his name.  Still, there was no reply.

Frustrated now she went down the hall until she came to a little enclosed spiraling staircase.  She took the steps quickly to the first floor and continued on down to the lower level.  As she grew closer to the bottom she began to hear talking and a bit of laughter.

Delaney burst into the servants' dining area and found some of them sitting together talking and enjoying some tea.  On the far side, Ian sat grinning and talking low to Penelope who was laughing at whatever he was saying.

"Lady Adair!" a footman gasped, being the first one to notice her standing there.  Immediately all the other servants shot to their feet, Ian included.

"I'm sorry my Lady did you ring for me?" Ms. Bird asked hurrying forward with wide, worried eyes.

"I did not," Delaney replied and looked past her to where her eyes narrowed on the young pirate.

"Isn't your purpose here to be my personal guard?" she snapped.

A frown creased Ian's face.  "It is."

"How exactly are you planning to do your job if you're spending your time down here flirting with maids?"

Ian didn't reply but his frown deepened.  Delaney knew he was doing nothing wrong and he didn't deserve her anger but her emotions were bubbling up and she couldn't get a handle on them quickly enough.

"Captain Black spoke highly of you but perhaps he was mistaken," she continued spitting venom, "I am about to leave and I noticed my guard was nowhere to be found.  I went to your room and you weren't there.  I thought perhaps you were taking care of some important business so I came down here to ask after you but low and behold, here you are wasting time chatting and not doing your job."

"Delaney," Ian spoke loudly but she didn't let him continue.

"Perhaps I should change my plans for this morning and instead ride to your father's estate and let him know I will be needing a replacement.  You can go back to him and I will take someone more responsible to be my guard.  You wouldn't mind it I imagine.  There are plenty of girls there you could flirt with."

Ian glared at her, eyes flashing in anger but Delaney's own anger was boiling now in an attempt to hide away her breaking heart.  Her icy glare was unwavering.  The servants around them stood with wide eyes and open mouths in shock.  They had never heard their mistress speak that way.  Let alone to Ian who she considered a friend.

"Well?" she demanded, "Are you coming or should I go tell your father that you are too busy chasing maids to do your job?"

The tension in the room was palpable as Ian considered his words.  He worked his jaw for a moment before at last, he stepped around the table, walking between the servants frozen in horror.  He stepped up close to Delaney until he was looming over her, his hand resting on the hilt of his massive sword.

"Lead the way duchess."