Chapter 176 - Friends

Ian carried Ilona practically tucked under his arm and she fought against it, trying to get free as they headed down the hall and away from the Queen's rooms. Delaney lifted her skirt a bit so she could try to keep up with Ian's long-legged stride. Even carrying his thrashing older sister he managed to be faster than Delaney with her skirts.

"Let go of me!" Ilona nearly shouted at her brother, "Do you not see what she did to my face? She's going to pay for this!"

"Quiet Ilona!" Ian hissed, "Do you want to be thrown in the King's Prison?"

"Let me go!" she grew louder, "That bitch can't get away with this! I am Captain Black!"

"Yes well there are several of us, "Captain Black"s" Ian rolled his eyes, "But if you don't get a handle on your temper and shut your mouth I can guarantee you there will be one less of us."

"What's going on?" someone shouted at them from the side as they passed another hallway.

Delaney turned and relief wash over her when she saw Mason rushing towards them, worry and confusion on his face.

"Ian wait!" she grabbed his arm, bringing him to a stop.

He turned and also saw Mason. Delaney rushed towards the prince and he followed her.

"What happened here?" Mason demanded when he saw the state of Ilona's face, "She's going to need stitches."

"You're future wife did this to me! She attacked me!"

Mason's eyes went wide and he turned to look at Delaney, "Anna did this to her?"

"Yes," she confirmed quietly, "She thought Ilona was trying to seduce you."

Mason looked shocked and swore loudly before turning back to Ian, "Take her to my rooms."

Ian nodded and headed off in the direction that the Prince had come from, the sounds of Ilona protesting echoing through the halls. Delaney stood by Mason, waiting to walk with him when he followed but instead he turned and marched towards the Queen's rooms.

"What are you doing?" Delaney hissed, hurrying to catch up with him and grab his arm, "You can't go in there."

"Why not?" Mason demanded, turning on her, "She says she is to be my wife doesn't she? Well I'm not going to stand by while "my wife" treats people this way."

"She's a nasty person Mace," Delaney agreed, "But remember what you told me? If you go in there upset with her she's going to worry you might not agree to marry her."

Mason stared at her, his expression still angry, but at least he didn't move. She swallowed and continued.

"That wouldn't be good for you... especially not if you want to... "

Delaney trailed off, dropping her gaze from his. He stood clenching and un-clenching his fists. She didn't know if he would listen to her but she hoped he would. If Sophia was already worried about him running away, Mason showing even more contempt for Anna would only make her all the more fearful. What if the Queen decided to take more drastic measures and do something like lock him in his rooms? Delaney anxiously waited to see what Mason would decide to do.

At last, the Prince gave an exasperated sigh and turned toward his rooms again. He held out his arm for Delaney but kept his eyes straight ahead. He was angry but she took comfort in knowing it was not directed at her. She had to bite her lip to keep from smiling however, seeing Vincent's cousin behave just as he did when he was angry.

Mason marched back towards his rooms and Delaney had to hurry to keep up with him. Everyone that came upon them could tell by his expression that this was not the time to bother him so they were quick to move out of the way. At the doors to his rooms a servant scrambled to open it for him and only barely missed being knocked aside.

In Mason's sitting room they found Ilona on a couch with her arms crossed and an expression that mirrored the anger on the Prince's face. Ian was kneeling in front of her examining the cuts and keeping a cloth pressed to the larger one on her forehead. Mason and Delaney stepped up and joined him in his studying.

Mason reached out and pushed aside the cloth on her head to look at the gash she had gotten against the table. He hissed when he saw it. Ilona's chocolate eyes stayed on him.

"I'm going to call for the doctor," he said, straightening up, "That needs to be looked at."

"I'm fine," the wounded pirate argued, "And I will be even better once I'm allowed to go back and finish this with that horrid woman."

"You're not fine," Mason replied in annoyance, "And if Delaney won't allow me to go give her a talking to then you most assuredly won't be."

"Do you not see what she's done to me?" Ilona demanded.

"I do!" Mason said loudly now, making them all jump, "I see what's been done and I promise you Ilona Black that I would like nothing more than to go and throw that bitch from this castle but it isn't up to me! I have no power here! I am a second born prince who will only have a purpose if my brother truly does fail to ever have an heir. For now though I am nothing. and have no say in the matter."

They were all silent as he stared at them. He turned and left the room again, leaving them behind to watch after him. Even Ilona was quiet then and when Delaney turned to look at her she saw the woman's fury had been dulled. She looked down at her lap now with an expression close to sadness.

"We should go home," Delaney shook her head, "Sophia and Anna aren't going to be pleased if they find us still here. Especially not in Mason's chambers."

Ian nodded, "We should but I think he's right that her head is going to need stitches."

"Can't we go back and just have a doctor meet us there?" Ilona asked, "I want to get out of this dress."

Delaney looked down and saw the pink dress was now torn in several placed and had both dirt stains from where Ilona had fallen and blood stains from the blow to her head. Delaney felt sorry for the other woman. She knew that, even though she hadn't said so, Ilona had been very happy with the lovely dress and how beautiful she had looked in it. Now it was ruined.

"Mason's already gone to get the doctor so I suppose now we should wait," she sighed, "Let him stitch up your head and then we'll leave."

Ilona grumbled but nodded and took the cloth from Ian so she could hold it to her head herself. She leaned back in the chair and Delaney was surprised to see tears shining in her eyes. Realization suddenly struck the duchess as she looked at the scratched up face that this was all her fault. Guilt sunk into her heart.

"I'm truly sorry for all this Ilona," she apologized quietly, "This is all my fault. I never should have asked you to come with me."

Ilona frowned, "Do you think it would be better if she had done this to you then? I mean no offense Delaney, but out of the two of us I think she would have been able to inflict more damage on you."

Ilona smirked with those last words and Delaney looked at her in annoyance. Ian stood beside his friend and couldn't help but chuckle. Delaney sighed and a smile crept over her face as well.

"I won't admit to that," she countered, "But I'm still sorry this happened all the same."

"Don't be sorry," Ilona sighed, "It isn't your fault. Besides, I was always planning on coming with you."

Delaney looked confused, "What do you mean? You hated having to come to court to speak to Daniel and wearing dresses and having your hair done up. Why would you have gone with me if I hadn't made you feel like you had to?"

"Because," Ilona shrugged, dropping her gaze, "I just would have. Once I knew you were going to have to come back to see the Queen I had planned to come back with you... although yes, I would have preferred to not wear a dress."

"I don't know why," Delaney shook her head, "We weren't able to convince Daniel or Mason to help you with the King of the Red Lands. You don't owe me anything."

Ilona didn't reply but now it was Ian who smirked.

"Ah well I think I know why," he chuckled, Ilona's eyes snapping to his with a glare.

Delaney looked to him too, waiting to hear the explanation.

"She would have come because although my cold-hearted older sister may not openly admit it, she now considers you, Lady Delaney Adair, a friend."

Delaney felt her heart warm at that and turned to look at Ilona. "Is that true?" she asked with a giggle, "Are we great friends now?"

Ilona rolled her eyes, "Of course we're friends now you silly woman."