Chapter 164 - The Beautiful Captain

Delaney finished with Ilona and returned to her room to soak in the tub with her husband.  They went to bed still damp and spent their night in each other's arms.  She slept in peace, not haunted by nightmares as she had been.

Vincent was stiff as he dressed for court. Delaney watched him with worried eyes but knew better than to say much.  When he moved to talk to Harris she was quick to take her dose of the potion.

Ms. Bird came to help her dress before they went together to see to Ilona. The maid had been up late in the night sewing and up early to go for the seamstress's help. Together they thought they'd managed to complete the dress but they wouldn't know until Ilona tried it on.

Delaney had told Harris to prepare a bath for Ilona this morning so she should be washed and clean by the time they arrived to dress her.  Ms. Bird was carrying the dress and actually seemed quite excited to be taking care of the pirate woman.

When Ilona opened the door for them she was still dripping wet and looked almost distraught.  She had a towel wrapped around her that was keeping her mostly covered but Ms. Bird still pushed in and quickly closed the door, nearly catching Delaney's fingers.

"Miss Black you can't walk around in a towel." the older woman scolded, "Come along with me and I'll get you dressed."

Ilona looked like she might protest but it seemed no one was really foolish enough to take on the old maid.  Not even the pirate captain in front of her who sailed on the sea raiding ships and stealing treasure.  She looked at Delaney for one more moment as if she wanted to say something but Ms. Bird pulled her behind the screen.

The pirate woman was dressed quickly and then her hair tied back just so they could have a good look at the dress.  Delaney and Ms. Bird studied her closely while she turned in a circle in front of the mirror.  Ilona looked at herself then and a flash of a little smile lit up her face.  Delaney couldn't help but feel pleased about that.  She imagined it would feel so different but also nice to be in a beautiful dress, especially since the woman hadn't been in one since childhood.

"It's still a little snug on the top," Ms. Bird sighed with a hand on her chin, "Just don't go jumping about or certain parts of you might come clean out of the dress."

Delaney covered her mouth but the movement couldn't hide her laughter.  Ilona blushed and looked embarrassed.

"I don't intend to do any jumping at all in the King's court," she frowned, "I'm a pirate, not a monkey."

Ms. Bird now laughed lightly and a smile broke across Ilona's face as well until they were all laughing.  A light knock came at the door and Delaney called for the person to enter as she giggled.  The door eased open and Ian peeked in, looking at them in confusion.

"Have... have you all been drinking?"

"What?" Delaney asked in confusion but the question only made her laugh more.

"We haven't been drinking," Ilona shook her head at her younger brother with a smile, "Why would you even ask that?"

Ian frowned, "You're laughing... All of you... Together..."

Delaney looked towards Ilona.  They met one another's gaze and laughed all the harder.

Ian stepped inside the room and folded his arms over his chest as he studied them.  Delaney looked at him and was pleasantly surprised to see her friend dressed up for court.  Even his unruly curls had been reined in.  His deadly blade still hung from his hip as always.

"I don't see what's funny."

"Oh nothing," Delaney shook her head and walked over to the man and inspected him closer, "We were just laughing about something that was said.  You look very handsome.  Doesn't your sister look lovely?"

Ian looked Ilona up and down, "Is her hair staying like that?"

"Of course not," Delaney frowned at him, "We were just making sure the dress fit."

"Does it?" he questioned as he looked and Ilona blushed a rosy red.

Delaney grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the door, "Go ahead with her hair while I talk to Ian about how we want to manage the guards today."

She practically dragged the man out into the hallway and closed the door behind them.

"That wasn't very nice," she whispered with disapproval, crossing her arms.

"So this isn't a talk about the guards then," Ian commented, before pursuing his lips with annoyance.

"Of course not," Delaney rolled her eyes, "Talk to my husband about guards.  I just didn't want you to say anything else mean about the way she looks.  I think she might actually like it."

"Why should I care what she likes?  Or you either for that matter?"

Delaney sighed and looked away from him, "I don't know.  I suppose I shouldn't but she's your sister so you should.  I think I was just happy for her because she was happy with herself.  Every woman deserves to feel pretty."

Ian's frown eased back but didn't go away.

"Yes well, I'll worry about her feelings when I no longer have to worry about our other siblings' lives."

Delaney dropped her gaze.  She had nothing to reply to that and she didn't blame him for being worried.  She didn't know if it was truly all Ilona's fault but she wouldn't dare to get in between the two pirate siblings to try to find out.

-

Vincent was downstairs waiting for them when Delaney and Ian came down for breakfast to join him.  Ilona's breakfast had been brought to her in her room before her bath and Nick and Jamie had left early that morning.

"Are you sure there was nothing appropriate for your younger brothers to wear to court?" Delaney asked Ian as they all ate.

"To be quite honest there might have been but I don't think either of them was too keen on the idea of going to court dressed up," Ian smirked.

"Probably why they escaped so early this morning, "Vincent chuckled, "Didn't want us to find something for them and drag them along with us."

Delaney sighed, "I suppose things will go just as well without them.  They couldn't have talked to Daniel anyway."

-

They were just finishing up when a servant came to tell them the carriage was waiting outside.  Delaney sent him up to tell Ilona before turning to look over her husband as she stood.  Once she was satisfied that he looked just as handsome as he had before they'd eaten she turned to Ian and double-checked that he still looked nice as well.

"Alright," she nodded once she'd finished, "You both look perfect."

"As do you my love," Vincent smiled at her and she went to him to give him a kiss. 

When they finally came apart Ian had already gone on without them.  Delaney giggled and slipped her arm through her husband's as they walked out to join him.

They were crossing through the entryway, almost to the door when something caught Delaney's eye.  She turned to look up and smiled when she saw what it was.  Vincent turned to see why she had stopped and smiled as well.  Ian came back in to ask them what was wrong but when he saw their gazes he looked up too.

At the top of the stairs, slowly making her way down, was Ilona Black.  She wore a deep blue dress that was cut lower in the front than many of Delaney's dresses.  It fit her like a glove.  Her hair was twisted up into an intricate knot and a few chocolate-colored curls were left hanging down to show them off.

"Ilona you look breathtaking," Delaney beamed before turning to Ian and nudging him with her elbow.  He shook his head as if he'd just woken up.

"You do look lovely," he said quietly before dropping his eyes.

Delaney noted his cheeks blushing red and smiled.  Ilona blushed too but smiled happily at them.  When she reached the bottom of the stairs Delaney again gave Ian a push but forward this time.  He stepped up to his sister and held out his arm to her.  Ilona frowned at him in confusion for a moment before realization dawned on her and she tucked her arm in his.

"Are we ready then?" Vincent asked looking between them.

"We are," Delaney nodded, taking a deep breath.

They all loaded into the carriage and the duchess found herself sitting next to the beautiful pirate captain.  She looked down and saw Ilona had the letter held tightly in her hands.  Her breathing was quick and her face gave away her fear.

"Don't worry," Delaney whispered to her as Vincent and Ian talked, "You look perfect and the King will listen to you.  Daniel is a good King.  He will help you save your brother and sister."

"I'm sure he's a good king," Ilona whispered back, looking at her with wide brown eyes, "But that might mean he won't want to agree to whatever the letter asks for.  What if it isn't good for his people?"

Delaney bit her lip for a moment and turned the ring on her finger, "I'm sure if he can't agree to the terms he will offer something else or do whatever he can to help you.  He's a lot like Vincent.  They're good and help people who need them if they can."

Ilona nodded but didn't look convinced.  She watched out the window as they drove through the city until they came to the castle.  Delaney felt nervous herself and but knew this woman was much more so.  The stormy seas may not scare her but she'd never been anywhere like this.

All eyes were going to be on them.