Chapter 143 - By The Sea

The inn was dingy and dark but the owner was nice and happy to prepare a meal for them while her young son tended to their horses. One of the men insisted on remaining with the carriage while they were inside so the others sat on each side of Delaney like guards even though there were no other customers.

The men ate the stew they'd been served but Delaney mostly pushed hers around. She didn't feel much like eating. Not without her husband or her friends. Of course, she didn't feel like going home and being around anyone either. Not yet.

Once they'd finished she thanked the Innkeeper and went on their way.

"Are... are we going to continue on my Lady?" the driver asked once they were back outside, "It's getting rather late. It might be time for us to head back."

Delaney looked out at the ocean and sighed. If they kept going forward when would she have them stop? Would they go back? As things stood now it was already going to be dark by the time they got back to the ocean house.

She thought of the last time she'd tried to run away and Vincent had had to save her from the wolves. Would Vincent even come to save her this time if something happened? She wondered if he even knew she was gone. He was going to be angry with her when he learned she'd sent Ian away and that she'd then gone off on her own without him.

"We should turn back," she sighed, "You're right. It will be getting late."

Her men looked relieved to hear it. They helped her into the carriage and closed the door behind her. Delaney leaned back against her seat as they began the long, slow trip home. She was exhausted already.

-

Delaney dozed off and on as they drove along the coastline back the way they had come. When she was awake her mind would begin turning. Vincent was not going to be happy with her. He was already angry at her and now she had made things worse.

He could actually leave her. There were plenty of nobles she knew where the couples only spent so many weeks together a year and otherwise they lived nearly separate lives at separate estates. Vincent owned many estates. It wouldn't be hard for him to do that.

If he was really angry enough to leave her though it wouldn't just be a matter of being married but living apart. He would be bringing an end to their marriage completely. If they weren't together they had no chance of having children and then once their year was up their marriage was over.

Then there was Ian. She had been so cruel to him and he deserved none of it. He had always been a good friend to her. The whole reason he was down with the servants at all was that she had told him to be. His flirtation with Penelope had also been because of her pushing.

There was no way to know if she would ever see him again. He was a pirate. He could easily ride back to his father's estates and sail out to sea on his ship without looking back. He would never know how sorry she was.

With sadness filling her, she knocked on the roof of the carriage to signal the men she wanted to stop. Once they had, they opened the door for her and Delaney stepped down onto the dirt road.

"Is everything alright my Lady?" one of the men asked.

"Yes," she sighed and started walking towards the beach, "I just wanted to stretch my legs."

"Should we come with you?" the driver called after her.

Delaney called back that there was no need and she wouldn't be gone too long. The men didn't look happy about this but she was still their mistress and they had to do as she said. They decided to take turns keeping an eye on her though just in case.

Strolling towards the ocean the grassy ground below her feet slowly turned into sandy ground until there was no more grass at all. Delaney looked around until she found a piece of driftwood that had washed up on the beach. She sat lightly on it and pulled off her shoes until she had bare feet.

The warm sand squished between her toes as the ocean breeze ruffled her hair. Looking out at the open ocean, she wondered if there were ships somewhere out there just out of sight. It was calm and peaceful here and for a moment she wished she could just sit on this beach forever instead of going back to face what was waiting for her.

Pushing herself up from the driftwood, Delaney walked down to the edge of the water and let the waves wash up over her feet. The sun was starting to drop towards the horizon leaving the sky to turn beautiful shades of pinks and oranges. She took another step forward, lifting her skirts to keep them from getting wet.

A sound behind her made her turn. She looked back and saw the men waving their arms and shouting to her. Frowning, she looked around to see what they were so upset about.

It only took her a moment to spot the dark figures riding down the roads towards them. She froze in place, her heart beginning to race. They were so far from safety in any direction.

Delaney dashed across the sand to the driftwood and snatched up her shoes. Turning for the carriage she tripped and fell forward onto her hands and knees. Her skirts tangled around her legs and she hurried to right herself.

By the time she was upright again and took a few steps forward, the riders were close enough she could just make them out. Her men had apparently noticed this too because they had stopped calling for her.

She didn't move and watched as the horses veered from the road, riding down into the sand towards her. They continued at quick speed until they were almost upon her. Their riders then pulled on their reins, bringing the horses to an abrupt halt only steps from her. Delaney's heart was beating so fast and hard she thought it might burst from her chest.

Vincent swung down from his mount in one fluid movement and rushed to his wife. Delaney stood still with worry, unable to read his face to tell how angry he was.

He swept her into his arms, crushing her against his chest, "Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

"I... I'm fine," she whispered shakily.

"What in the hell were you thinking?" he demanded, "How could you run away?"

"I didn't run away," she managed, "At least I didn't mean to. I just woke up and saw you'd never come back to bed. Then you left early in the morning too without telling me and I just...."

"I'm so sorry," he whispered against her hair, "I'm sorry I didn't come back and I didn't talk to you. I was just so angry."

"I'm sorry too," she shook her head as tears slid down her cheeks, "I'm sorry for so much Vincent."

Delaney looked up at him then and gasped when she saw his eye on the less scared side of his face. It was swollen over his cheekbone and there was purple and red bruising around it.

"What happened to your eye?"

"We can talk about it later," Vincent answered quickly, his gaze leaving hers as he did.

She wanted to know right away but was more eager to kiss him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed deeply, him still holding her tight against his chest. They hadn't been apart for that long but Delaney realized how much she had missed him.

When he let her go she was a bit dizzy from the kiss but felt relief wash over her as she looked up at his handsome face. He had come for her.

Someone cleared their throat from beside them and Delaney turned to look at the other man who had come.

Ian stood holding the reins for the horses and watching her. He wore the unreadable expression which gave Delaney no hints about if he was mad or not. She walked slowly to him and looked up into his chocolate eyes.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, "I'm sorry I said all those hateful things downstairs and in the stables. I didn't mean them I just... I just felt like my heart was breaking and I was hurt and I took it out on you."

"I know," he sighed, "I should have realized something was wrong for you to speak to me like that but my temper got the best of me and I just got angry instead. I rode to my ship and paced around for a while and talked to some of my siblings. Once I'd calmed down I rode back to the house. That's when everyone realized you were gone and not with me or Lord Adair."

"I had planned to have you with me but once you were gone I was still too upset to change my mind."

"That was dangerous," he frowned.

"I know," she whispered, "I'm sorry."

The young pirate stared at her seriously for a moment longer before relaxing his face.

"I'm glad you're alright."

"I'm glad you came back," she said quietly, "Friends?"

"Of course," he smiled and she wrapped her arms around him, giving him a quick, tight hug.

Delaney stepped back then and smiled mischievously, looking between Ian and Vincent.

"As my friend, will you tell me what happened to my husband's eye?"

Vincent looked embarrassed and quickly dropped his gaze away from her. Ian chuckled and shook his head.

"I don't think that's something I should get in the middle of."