Chapter 157 - Guards

Delaney looked into her husband's office and saw it was packed with guards. There were more than a dozen of them squeezed into the small space and Vincent was standing at his desk looking very serious as they spoke. Delaney glanced up at Ian and saw he looked uneasy.

"So you see my Lord we just can't continue working alongside one of those people," a guard was saying, "They're unsavory characters."

"Ian Black," Vincent said looking at him evenly, "You're saying Ian Black is an unsavory character."

"Well yes Lord Adair. He's a pirate after all. We've seen what they're like now firsthand."

"We've been able to see what Ian is like for more than a month," Vincent stood tall and was unwavering in his gaze, "And if you are referring to last night specifically, we saw him stand up to the pirates that were invading our beaches. He saved my life most certainly but probably many of yours as well."

Now the head guard scoffed, "We could have easily handled those pirates my Lord."

"Good," Vincent nodded, "So then you should be able to easily handle Ian if the need arises since he is only one man after all. I am correct?"

"Of course we could but that's not the point," the man argued, "You want us to be loyal and keep you and your family safe but you've invited a threat in to live with you."

"Who I invite into my home is none of your concern."

The guard raised his hands, "It isn't but as I said, all of us here discussed it and we've decided we don't want to be associated with the likes of him. I'm sorry my Lord, he may have you fooled now but he will show his true colors soon enough. He's no better than the ones that came last night."

Ian's eyes flashed with anger and he moved to step towards the man saying these things about him but Delaney stepped in front of him and pushed against his chest with both hands. Vincent caught sight of the movement and his eyes darted to them for only a moment before landing back on the men in front of him. His serious expression never changed.

He cleared his throat, "So if I am understanding you correctly... I need to send the pirate away or all the guards in this room are going to leave immediately... Does that sum up what you've said?"

"We hate to have to bring it to this my Lord but it has been on our minds for a while now. It will be safer here once he's gone anyway. Especially for Lady Adair. He follows her a bit too close sometimes."

Vincent's green eyes snapped to the man when he said those words but his anger was reflected in his wife.

"How dare you!" Delaney hissed, making half the men in the room jump and turn in surprise, "Who do you think you are?"

Ian glared at the man and didn't move to stop her when she marched quickly towards him. Vincent tensed, sensing what was going to happen before the others did.

"Delaney..."

"How dare you suggest something like that of a duchess!" she nearly shouted as she stood within a breath of him, "You are beneath me!"

The man looked over at Ian in disgust, "As is he."

There was a loud crack as Delaney's open palm hit the man across the face with all her strength. He stepped back quickly, cupping his cheek in his hand and looking at her in shock. Delaney lifted her chin and her blue-green eyes flashed with her anger.

The man turned to look at Vincent for support but the duke just chuckled and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well men," he shook his head, "I believe your terms were that you would leave immediately if I didn't send Ian Black away. Were they not?"

"B-but your grace," one of the other men stammered.

"No need to discuss it further then" Vincent reached into a drawer and pulled out a heavy purse of coins he dropped on his desk in front of him, "There is more than enough there to pay all of you what you're owed. You may see yourselves out."

Without another word he took his seat, pulled out some of his ledgers, and began reading over them and making notes. The guards looked from him to one another in surprise. Delaney and Ian smirked. Clearly, none of them had thought this was how things would go.

Delaney glanced over at her handsome husband at his desk and bit her lip. She was so pleased with him. She had hoped he wouldn't abandon Ian.

When time ticked by and none of the guards moved to leave Vincent looked up at them again expectantly.

"Was there something else?"

"Lord Adair," a man spoke up in disbelief, "You are truly willing to lose more than half your guards over one dirty pirate?"

Anger filled Ian's face and he moved to step toward the man. He caught sight of Vincent's serious gaze on him though and he quickly came to a stop again.

"One truly good man is worth a dozen that aren't," Vincent explained easily, "Last night Ian proved himself and I'm sorry none of you see it that way. Be that as it may, what I have learned from this conversation is that you are all afraid of one lone pirate. Obviously, in my position, I need guards that are made of sterner stuff."

The men could not have looked more shocked. Without saying anything, Vincent dismissed them once more by looking down at his papers. Delaney took Ian's arm and pulled him through the room over to stand by her husband's desk as the men left.

The very last man was the one who had done most of the talking and the one Delaney had slapped. He paused at the door and looked back at them.

"I hope you don't regret this one day Lord Adair," he said coldly.

"I can assure you I won't," Vincent replied without looking up.

-

"I appreciate you standing up for me but I don't know if you should have done that," Ian sighed later once the three of them were sitting together in the dining room eating their midday meal.

They had stayed alert until the last of the traitor guards had ridden away. The meal had been announced then so Vincent had told Ian to eat with them and he hadn't argued.

Two of their servers worked together to serve the three of them and Delaney caught them more than once staring coldly at Ian. She knew she and Vincent were going to have to do something about this but she didn't know what. Losing guards was one thing but she didn't know what she would do if a large number of their household staff walked out too.

"I won't be given ultimatums by people that have been in my employment for such a short time," Vincent said evenly to him, "When we were in the King's City coming here, Delaney and I had discussed an idea of hiring different men to be guards and work on our estates. Now it seems we will just need them sooner than we thought."

"It's a good thing we will be leaving for the city in the morning then," Delaney added.

She had hoped they would be able to leave today but after what had happened with the guards she hadn't pushed the subject. Besides Vincent was still in pain and she wanted him to get another good night's sleep before they traveled.

"Still," Ian looked up at them, "I'm sorry to have caused you so much trouble."

"You have caused no trouble," Vincent smirked, "But your sister on the other hand..."

Delaney laughed lightly as Ian groaned and shook his head, "I've apologized for her more than a few times in my life. What's one more?"

The three of them finished eating, talking easily amongst themselves. Delaney was glad to see Ian had finally begun to relax around Vincent and talk more. Once they were done she insisted her husband go lay down for a while to give his battered body a rest. Vincent didn't seem pleased by the idea but he agreed to soothe her worry.

Up in their bedroom, Delaney closed the door and walked to Vincent where he had just made his way to the bed and was easing himself down.

"Thank you for standing up for Ian and letting him stay," she poured out as soon as he was sitting.

Vincent chuckled, "I didn't know that you would forgive me if I didn't."

"I would have," she giggled, "Eventually."

He sat back in bed and pulled her down to curl up next to him. She gently kissed him, aware of his injured lip and her own from the night before.

"You were very attractive when you were in your office being the strong, serious, Duke," Delaney smiled at him flirtatiously.

"Was I?" he looked at her with eyes full of mischief.

"You were," she nodded, "I liked it very much."

"Ah well perhaps I'll have to dismiss our staff more often," he teased, "Who would you like to go next? The butler?"

Delaney laughed and he pulled her down to kiss him. Their kisses were just starting to get more serious when a knock came at their door and made them both jump. Vincent let out a loud growl of frustration. 

Delaney giggled and got up, hurrying to straighten her appearance. She went to the door and opened it and was surprised to find their butler standing before her. She had to bite her lip to keep from giggling, thinking of Vincent's offer to dismiss the man only minutes ago. Usually, the grave butler would have sent a footman to bring them messages so she knew something must be going on.

"What is it? 

"Well my Lady," he swallowed, "There is someone here to see you."