Chapter 155 - Who You Are Now

Vincent slowly and painstakingly walked to their bed. He had to use the chairs and other things to keep himself upright but he did it. Once he lowered himself down to sit, Delaney came forward and helped ease his shirt up over his head and off.

She gasped when she stepped back and looked at him. Bruises were blooming on his abdomen and the unscarred side of his chest. Her hands flew to her mouth and tears filled her eyes.

"Please Love," Vincent held a hand out to her, "I'm alright it's just bruising."

"Wh-What did they do?"

"Oh Delaney, don't think about it," he shook his head sadly, "I was trying to keep them off of me. I assure you they look worse than they feel."

"I don't believe you!"

"Come here please. Come here and let me undo your dress so you can get into bed with me."

Delaney walked to him on shaking legs and turned so he could unlace her dress. Once he was done he pulled on it until it slid off and fell on the floor around her.

"Take all of this off," he said, "It's all dirty and torn... Besides I want to feel your skin against mine."

Delaney gave him a small loving smile and removed the rest of her clothes until she was standing bare before him. He got to his feet, bracing himself with one of the bedposts, and removed the rest of his clothes as well. Once he was bare too he held out a hand to her. She took it and he pulled her in against him, holding her tightly.

"I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to protect you," he whispered against her hair.

"I was afraid I would lose you," she said, her voice cracking as fat tears began to escape her eyes, "I've never been so afraid in my life and it was all my fault."

"It wasn't Delaney," he said seriously then, leaning her back so he could look down into her eyes, "Ian's right. It was all his horrible sister's fault."

"But the bonfire...."

"Anyone can have a bonfire, my love. You did nothing wrong. And it was because you thought to run and get Ian that we all escaped disaster."

Vincent didn't let her argue anymore. He eased himself slowly into bed and then pulled her down with him. He held her close and she found herself so happy to feel his warm skin against hers. She felt safe at last as she lay in bed with him. Her mind was still whirling however and she couldn't quiet it.

"Vincent?" 

"Yes Love?"

"Do you think... Do you think Ian has ever done anything like Ilona tried to do?"

"I doubt it," he sighed, "Pirates raiding homes along the coast is very uncommon here anymore."

"But he's... but he's probably led raids on other ships before right? And fought the men who tried to stop him?"

Vincent was quiet for a moment.

"Yes," he answered at last, "He has been a pirate all his life and is even the captain of a ship. He couldn't have gotten this far without doing that."

Delaney thought that over.

"Do you think he's... Do you think he's ever killed anyone?"

Vincent didn't answer right away. He stayed silent for so long she wondered if he had fallen asleep.

"Yes... I think he has probably killed people before."

"I never even considered that," Delaney admitted.

"I know," he said quietly, "But he is who he is my Love. If Daniel had gone to war with another kingdom while I was his soldier then I would have had to have killed people too. Maybe it's lucky for me that it was only dragons."

Delaney considered this. She had never known someone who had killed another person before. Ian was her sweet, loyal, friend so she had never stopped to consider he might have, even though she knew he was a pirate. She thought of the enormous, razor-sharp sword he carried and now wondered how many lives it had taken.

"I forgot how dangerous pirates could be," she sighed.

"I suppose I did too. I imagine though as long as Ian is with us we will always be protected from them."

"I want to go home," Delaney said then, "I don't want to stay at this house any longer. I want to go back to Edgewood where we're safe."

"Alright," Vincent nodded, "I will talk to the servants in the morning. If we can we will leave for the King's City tomorrow."

Delaney moved so she could kiss him. He held her there, kissing her slow and sweet. When he let go she curled back up against him and dropped off into an exhausted, heavy sleep.

-

Nightmares haunted Delaney's sleep. In each one she found herself running but unable to get anywhere. Behind her, pirates would be closing in on Vincent and in front of her, Ian would be asleep. She would try to call out to him but no sound would come. Vincent gently woke her more than once to tell her she was talking in her sleep and assure her everything was alright.

They slept in late the next morning and it was Delaney to wake up first despite her restless sleep. Her legs were achy and unsteady after their overexertion in the night. She lifted the sheet from her sleeping husband and bit her lip when she looked down on the dark bruises on his abdomen.

She called for Ms. Bird who was a nervous wreck when she came into the room. Delaney had to hush her and point out Vincent still asleep in bed. She knew he would be exhausted after their night and he had pushed his injured leg past its limits.

Ms. Bird seemed upset but she stayed quiet and helped Delaney dress. Delaney sipped her tea while her maid did her hair and wondered how she was going to go about taking her spoonful of potion with her husband asleep in the room. She didn't want to risk him catching her.

Luckily by the time Ms. Bird had finished her hair and was about to leave, Vincent was stirring. Ms. Bird whispered that she would send Harris up and Delaney quietly thanked her before going to sit lightly on the edge of the bed beside him.

"You look lovely this morning," he murmured with a smile.

He moved to stretch but winced and jerked to a stop.

"The pain is bad isn't it?"

"No," he shook his head, "No I'm alright."

"You're lying," she frowned, crossing her arms.

Vincent smirked and a chuckle rumbled in his chest, "I suppose it hurts some."

Delaney groaned and dropped her face into her hands. Vincent chuckled again and reached out to take her hand and pull it away.

"Don't fret my love, I'll be fine," he smiled, "I was battered much worse than this in the war many times."

"Oh wonderful," she giggled at his silly smile, "So my husband is used to being abused?"

"I wouldn't say it like that," he rolled his eyes, "But I toughened up over the years."

Delaney smiled down at him lovingly now and reached out to brush her hand over his cheek. He caught it and pressed a kiss to it.

"You are so different now than you were years ago," she said quietly.

"As are you."

"Do you like me better now or do you wish I was the young, carefree, wild girl from before the war?"

He grinned, "My love you are still young and quite wild. Why just last night on the beach before the pirates came you proved that."

Delaney blushed and looked down, making him laugh until he winced from the pain the jostling caused his ribs.

"I prefer you as you are now," he said more seriously once he'd finished, "I prefer you as my wife who loves me deeply instead of the young girl who liked me a lot but was probably a bit more interested in the lifestyle of parties and balls we could have together."

"My dreams were so small then," she shook her head, "I never thought of everything else we could have together if we fell truly in love."

"We were young. I was only more mature because I had to be. There were countless times I envied my friends who hadn't yet inherited their titles and estates and all the responsibilities that came with them. I would have loved to just spend my time at events with you."

"Well we can still spend as much time as you'd like at parties and events," Delaney smiled, "And it is even better now because afterward, we can go home together."

Vincent chuckled as he moved to sit up, "I'm afraid you would need the pre-war version of me if you wanted to do much in the way of parties love. With this damned leg, I'm of almost no use to you."

"Stop it," Delaney frowned as she watched him sit up slowly, jaw locked, "I like you better as you are now, no matter what. I wouldn't trade you for that version of you for anything in the world."

"I would trade almost anything to be that version of me again," he chuckled as a knock came at the door, "At least that physical version."

Delaney let Harris in and rolled her eyes at her husband. The valet looked at his master's injuries with concern before helping him up. Vincent limped hard, unable to put much weight at all on his bad leg even after the night of rest. Harris helped him behind the screen to dress and Delaney took advantage of the time to quickly take her dose of the potion. She was just putting the books back in place when they stepped back around again.

"Won't you consider staying in bed today?" Delaney asked him.

"No there's too much to be done before we leave for home. I promise I will take it easy though."

They made their way downstairs slowly and had breakfast. When they were finished Delaney was going to go to Vincent's office with him but found Ian waiting for her outside in the entry.

The young pirate wore his unreadable expression again and Delaney knew that couldn't be a good sign.

"May I have a word with Lady Adair your grace?" he asked Vincent.

"Of course Ian," Vincent nodded, sensing it was important, "By all means."

Delaney kissed her husband before turning to follow Ian. He headed down the hallway and hesitated before turning to the library and opening the door for her. Once they were both in the room he closed the door behind them and turned to look at her seriously.

"I can't stay here any longer."