Chapter 183 - Unexpected Return

Delaney and Vincent looked in shock at the soldier who had spoken. The Captain frowned and stepped in front of him.

"If you want to help your husband you can go to the royal court and plead your case," the Captain said, "That's where he's headed now."

The soldiers moved to leave then, dragging their prisoner along with them.

"Vincent!" Delaney cried, looking around wildly, not sure what to do.

"Send riders to Captain Black's estate and to Miles," he called to her over his shoulder, "Send one to Bernard and your uncle and... and my mother."

"Please don't take him," Delaney begged the soldiers in tears.

"Do not come to the court Delaney! It's too dangerous!"

The bedroom was left empty then except for Delaney now standing beside her bed staring at the door in disbelief. Hearing something outside a few minutes later she rushed to the window and watched the men load her husband into the back of a little wagon with metal bars on the sides like a rolling prison cell.

"My Lady! Are you alright?"

Delaney turned and saw a wide-eyed Ms. Bird in the doorway wringing her hands.

"Help me get dressed," Delaney commanded, moving quickly from the window to her dressing area. She had to fight back tears and push aside what the man had said about Ian. She couldn't assume the worst.

"But... But my Lady the Duke said..."

"I know what he said!" Delaney snapped, "I won't let him go there to be sacrificed."

"My Lady it will be dangerous for you to go alone," a second voice said now and she turned to see Harris standing in the doorway but with his eyes averted so as to not see his mistress when she wasn't fully dressed.

"I don't have another choice. If they've... if they're going to do something to Ian I have no one else to go with me."

An idea dawned on the redheaded man and his face lit up.

"I'll be back," he said quickly, "Don't leave until I come back!"

Delaney didn't have time to reply before the man was gone. She didn't slow down though and Ms. Bird hurried to help her into a dress appropriate for the King's court. As soon as she was dressed she sat and the maid worked quickly, brushing out her hair and rolling it up into a style much simpler than her normal choices.

"Wear this, my Lady," Ms. Bird said, hurrying to her mistress with a necklace of pearls with a ruby the size of an egg in the middle, "This will remind them you are a duchess and your husband is a Duke who is almost more wealthy than them. The King needs to remember he is better off with Lord Adair as a friend than as an enemy."

Delaney was thankful for the older woman's support and fought back the tears in her eyes. She couldn't go into the royal court upset and weeping. She needed to draw on some of the stubbornness and pride of her youth to make her an intimidating figure.

Vincent had told her to send word to Violet Adair and if the woman was any closer, that would have been the best choice. No one knew how to be proud and intimidating like her mother-in-law. There wasn't time though so she would just have to do her best to behave as she thought the older woman would.

Delaney hurried down the stairs, nearly running into the servant rushing up the stairs to her.

"My Lady," he blurted out in surprise, "There's someone here to see you."

"Not now," Delaney said as she hurried past him, "Tell them they will have to call on me another day."

"But my Lady!"

Delaney rushed down the last steps and turned the corner before skidding to a halt. She looked on in shock at a familiar face standing before her.

"Oh no Lady Adair," Captain Luke Black spoke with a wicked grin, "I believe today is the perfect day for you and me to visit."

"C-Captain," Delaney stammered in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"I found him!"

Delaney looked past the pirate King to the redheaded valet behind him.

"I had only thought to find some pirates that were left here that might escort you but they took me up to a room where the Captain himself was staying."

She turned back to Captain Black, "Is this true? What are you doing in the city? Jamie and Nick have been trying to find you for..."

"They did find me," Captain Black informed her, "They told me everything and I came here to see what I could do. It seems though before I worry about saving my other two children I need to now first save my oldest son."

"And Vincent?"

"Yes," he chuckled, "That's a smart business decision. Now come with me in my carriage. You can tell me what's happened along the way."

The incredibly tall pirate with the long dark curls turned and headed for the door then and Delaney had to hurry to keep up.

Outside, his carriage was built for speed, painted completely black, and then adorned with silver anchors. All around the carriage was about half a dozen pirates on horseback, waiting to escort their King. Captain Black opened the door and helped her up and in before climbing inside himself.

A few moments later the carriage took off at a quick pace towards the castle, the other pirates fell in line around it. As soon as they were gone, Delaney began to tell the captain of everything that had happened at the court since they had gotten here after the summer. Captain Black listened intently and didn't interrupt.

When Delaney finished he nodded and was quiet as he thought this over.

"So my daughter has run off with the crown Prince to take him to the Red Lands to marry a woman he hasn't met so she can get her siblings back who were only captured because of her mistakes. Meanwhile, my oldest son and one of my business partners helped that Prince escape and now the fear is that his brother, the King, realized Lord Adair was involved. The King sent soldiers to take them by force."

Delaney blinked, "Yes I... I suppose that sums it up."

She hadn't mentioned that she didn't see what happened to Ian. If something terrible had happened she wanted to make sure of it first before worrying him.

"Very good," the pirate King nodded, "I needed to know the whole story if I was going to help you. I will think up a tale to explain this away."

"We... We can't lie to the King," Delaney whispered.

Captain Black smirked, "You may not be able to but I assure you I can. I will weave it in such a way that you won't have to lie. You need only to remind the King of all Vincent has done for him and anything Ian has done."

"Alright," Delaney agreed although she didn't feel good about it. She wondered if lying came easily to the pirate king. Perhaps that was how he had managed to keep his wife and his mistresses all happy for so long.

Captain Black saw her discomfort and chuckled, "Alright I won't start off directly into the lies but if things start to look bad I will interrupt."

Delaney thanked him and said she would feel better with it that way. The Captain shook his head as he chuckled.

They arrived at the castle and rode into the courtyard. Luckily it looked like most of the soldiers must have been occupied elsewhere. A group of six stood together looking up at the carriage and all the pirates with worry. Even though there was the same number of pirates as there were soldiers, the pirates were much more fierce and scary.

The door to the carriage was opened and Captain Black climbed out before helping out Delaney. The guards caught sight of her then and seemed relieved by the familiar face.

"Good afternoon Lady Adair," one spoke, "Who are your guests today?"

Delaney looked down her nose at the soldier, "This is Captain Luke Black and members of his crew. They are going to escort me to speak with the King."

"Oh," the closest one shook his head, "Well we're sorry to have to turn them away My Lady but pirates aren't to be allowed in the castle right now."

Delaney had to keep herself from swearing. Obviously, they had heard of the pirate captain already and there was no point in her trying to hide it. Now, this was just going to be more trouble. She remembered what she had thought about Violet earlier though and raised her chin.

"I understand you have a job to do but these men are here as my guests so they will be coming in with me."

"We will not let pirates in the castle, My Lady," the man grew loud in his arguing.

Suddenly there was a flash of silver and a blade appeared against the soldier's throat. Delaney looked in surprise and saw Captain Black was holding one of his daggers to the man.

"The Duchess of Edgewood, Lady Delaney Adair has informed you she will be going to the throne room escorted by me and my men. Now if you outrank her you can argue but otherwise, you had better shut your mouth now and move aside before I cut you down."