Chapter 178 - The Feast

The next day the skies were overcast and by midday, the rain had begun to drizzle down on the land. As always, Vincent was anxious from the storm and went to the windows over and over to look out and see if he thought it might get worse. His wife reminded him they had the medicine Ian had gotten for them and that would fix everything. He didn't need to worry. That didn't stop the Duke's worry, however.

Delaney and Vincent told Ilona and Ian about their plan. They both seemed genuinely surprised the duchess wouldn't be going with her husband but they understood that it was dangerous at the moment. Besides, Ilona wouldn't be safe there anyway after the last visit. Even though it made sense, that didn't mean Ian was happy about leaving them behind while he went to a silly feast with Vincent. Luckily it was important to him to keep the Duke safe as well. He agreed to go and leave the women home.

As Delaney watched Ilona she saw the pirate woman looked unhappy and almost anxious with the plan. Once they were finished she followed Ilona upstairs to the bedroom and her friend did not hesitate to let her in. She closed the door and they both went to the little table and sat down, taking a moment to watch out the windows as the rain continued to wash the land.

"What's wrong?" Delaney asked her, "Why are you upset with the plan? I thought you would be happy to never return to the royal court again."

"I am," Ilona sighed, "I just thought we would all go together to this and look out for one another. I don't know that I like Ian and Vincent going on their own. Something could happen."

"They are both quite capable of taking care of themselves and each other. Besides Mason will be there too."

"The Prince?" Ilona rolled her eyes, "Excuse me if I don't have faith in a pampered prince being much use to them."

Delaney laughed, "One day I will have to tell Mace you referred to him as a pampered prince. I don't think he'll find it as funny as I do though."

Ilona frowned, still not looking convinced by the plan. Delaney didn't know how to convince her either. It was strange though to see the normally steadfast pirate woman looking anxious. Delaney felt she was overreacting to them just attending a feast but she assumed it was because Ian was at risk. The woman had just lost two of her siblings recently because of her bad decisions.

Ilona sat back in her seat and looked out the window again. Delaney studied the stitched-up gash on her head. She thought it looked like it was healing nicely but there would still likely be a scar. It would take much more than that to take away from the beauty of the woman's face though.

"Try not to worry," she comforted her friend, standing and getting a deck of cards from the shelf, "Play a few hands with me, and then we will go see how the men look once they're dressed up for the feast."

Ilona sighed and shook her head.

"I'm sorry Delaney," she apologized, "I think maybe the weather is getting to me. I think I need to take a nap for a while."

"Alright," the duchess nodded slowly, surprised by this answer, "Get some sleep and we can try again later. We'll have as much time as we need after both the men are gone."

Ilona nodded but her expression was uneasy.

-

Soon it was time for the men to get dressed to go to the feast. Delaney went to her room and sat cross-legged on their bed as she watched Harris dress up her handsome husband. As soon as he was finished and turned to look at her, he looked so very attractive that Delaney wanted to take his clothes right back off and have him to herself for the evening.

Harris left the room so Delaney went to Vincent, kissing him deeply and hungrily. A small groan escaped him and he pulled her closer. She felt the heat of him through the thinner parts of her dress and the even hotter scars beneath her hand that held his face. She had grown to love that feeling.

Vincent pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes once their lips had parted. Delaney giggled at him but her own head was still swirling from their kiss.

"You're going to have to go," she whispered to him, "Or else you'll be late and your entrance will be even more noticeable."

Vincent gave an aggravated sigh but nodded, "Alright let's go downstairs and see if Ian is ready."

Delaney hooked her arm through her husband's and they went down together to find not just Ian waiting for them, but Ilona too.

"I came to see you both off," the pirate woman informed Vincent with a smirk, "And wish you good luck of course."

Vincent looked at her in amusement, "We won't need luck, Ilona. The scarred, dragon-killing Duke and his companion, pirate captain, and son of the pirate king? We sound terrifying just by reputation alone. I'm sure no one would dare bother us."

"Well still," she grumbled, "They would be even less likely to if I was there as well."

"Stop Ilona," Ian frowned at his sister, "Everything is going to work out fine. Even like this."

Delaney thought that was a strange way to word things but she supposed his sister knew he meant they would be safe.

"All the guards will be on watch until we come back," Vincent said seriously to the women, "If you need anything from them they've been told to follow your orders."

Looking outside, they saw men standing watch in the rain, undoubtedly chilly in their soaked clothes. Some had managed to find places to keep watch from beneath trees and under the eves of the house. There was no pretending it wasn't a miserable assignment though.

"We'll be fine my love," Delaney smiled at her husband and squeezed his hand, "Go now. The sooner you leave the sooner you will be home again."

Vincent nodded and leaned down to kiss her before turning to head out into the rain. Delaney waved at Ian who waved back before hurrying to follow the Duke to the waiting carriage. She stood with Ilona until the carriage drove away out of sight.

The bell for dinner rang within minutes so the women went together to the dining room where they ate mostly in silence. Delaney could see her friend was still anxious so she invited her to go to the sitting room and play cards and have a drink of wine.

"That sounds nice," Ilona said, "But let's play in your room instead. That way we will have a view out the window of the street in case they come back again."

"Alright," Delaney nodded, "We can do that. Come on. Let's go upstairs."

"You go ahead! I have something I want to say quickly to the guards before we go up."

"Really?" Delaney frowned, "What are you planning to say?"

"Oh nothing serious," Ilona smiled over her shoulder as she walked towards the door, "Go on up and I will be there in just a moment!"

Delaney frowned after the woman but sighed and went upstairs. Ilona had been acting strange all day and she could only imagine it had something to do with Ian and Vincent going to the feast without them. Or perhaps she was feeling guilty about her siblings that were being held by the Red King. Or maybe she was worried about what her father would do to her when he found out all she had done.

Delaney realized there were actually many things that could have her friend on edge.

The duchess went up to her bedroom where she set up the cards at the little table in front of the windows that Ilona was referring to. They would both have a good view from here. They would know as soon as the carriage arrived.

A few minutes later a damp Ilona walked in to join her. She grinned and quickly sat down and picked up her cards.

"Sorry about that," she apologized, "I just wanted to give them a quick message. Now I'm ready though. Let's play."

The women played one hand after another, all the while Ilona continuously checked outside to see if anything was there. Time ticked by but the carriage still didn't return. Soon even Delaney was getting anxious and set her cards down.

The women were watching outside as the rain now came down heavier and the guards backed up until they were all standing with their backs pressed to the house to try to protect themselves from the elements.

When an urgent rapping came at the door both women jumped. Before they could reply, the door flew open and a wide-eyed Ms. Bird rushed in followed by Penelope.

"My lady you have to see this!" Ms. Bird exclaimed, "Penelope and I were straightening up across the hall and you have to come to look!"

"What is it?" Ilona asked but they were both already hurrying to follow the maids. They rushed across the hall to a bedroom that was being closed up before they returned to Edgewood. Ms. Bird and Penelope ran to the window and stepped back to allow Delaney and Ilona to look out and see what they had seen.

Delaney leaned in close to the glass and stared out into the now near pitch-black darkness. At first, she didn't see anything as she looked down around their property. Then the sight of something in the distance caught her eye. She looked up and gasped in shock.

The castle was burning.