Chapter 192 - Mirrors

Delaney woke early the next morning and slipped from their bed. Wrapping her robe around her she was quiet as she left the room and crept down the hall with bare feet. Her heart was brimming with happiness as she walked down the grand, high hallway that led to the stair from their bedroom. She paused here and there to silently greet some of her favorite paintings.

The smooth, almost warm, wooden railing felt nice beneath her hand again as she went down the steps. The entryway was empty except for a few maids straightening things. Delaney smiled at them and waved before continuing to the front door. She pulled it open, hearing its familiar groan like an old man lifting himself from a chair.

Stepping outside into the cool morning air she breathed in the smell of fresh grass and dirt and dampness. She listened to the sounds of the bugs and the birds and the horses in the fields. The mist clung to the valley below and the world was still a faint grey-blue from the sun not being up quite high enough yet.

This was Edgewood to her. This was her home and she loved it.

-

When Vincent awoke sometime later he was stiff and sore as he got out of bed. Delaney watched him anxiously from where she sat while Ms. Bird finished her hair. Harris made himself busy while he waited for his master. Delaney had noticed the man had a talent for being available the instant Vincent was ready for him but also never appearing to be waiting on the other man.

When her husband was dressed and their servants had left them, Delaney went to Vincent where he stood in front of the great mirror she had brought from her old bedroom. As always, he kept his gaze cast low, careful not to focus on his own face. He would make a quick check of his clothing and sometimes his lovely black hair but most of the time he avoided it altogether.

She hated that he couldn't see how handsome he was like she could. He was still where she had been right after the war. She hadn't been able to see past his scars at first but now things were different. She didn't see past his scars because there was no pretending they weren't there and she didn't want to. She hadn't loved the Vincent she knew before the war but she loved this one and the scars were part of him.

Her husband had yet to learn to love this new version of himself as she did. He longed for the man from before the war.

Stepping in front of him, Delaney took his face in her hands, meeting his eyes for a moment before leaning up to give him a slow, tender kiss and savoring the taste of him. She felt the heat in his gaze when she took her lips away from his. His breaths came quicker now. Seeing that look in his eyes always thrilled her and she bit her lip to stop herself from kissing him again.

"Are you sure you won't stay in bed with me and rest?" she asked again after he had turned her down already once that morning.

A little smile curled his lips as he slipped his arms around her waist, "Are you trying to seduce me, wife? Get me back in bed with you?"

Delaney giggled, "I would always prefer to spend my days in bed with you."

"Mmm," he leaned down to kiss her again, his lips hot against hers.

Now Vincent kissed his wife until her knees felt weak and her head spun. He chuckled when he moved away and she clung to him to keep herself from falling, her forehead resting against his chest.

"I have so much work to do my love," he murmured sadly, "I honestly shouldn't have left the estates as long as I have but now that I'm back I have to tend to them."

She looked up in surprise, "The estates? More than Edgewood? Are you going to go to the other estates as well?"

He dropped his gaze from her, "Not today. I... I don't know that I could make the journey... but soon I will need to."

Delaney shook her head, "But you're not supposed to push yourself now that we're home. You're supposed to rest and give yourself a chance to recover so the pain can get better."

"I will. I promise. But I can't right now. I have to take control of the estates and get things back on track."

"Can't someone else help make the decisions for now?" she demanded, stepping back from him and folding her arms.

"Delaney I'm the Duke," Vincent shook his head, "I am responsible for providing for us, everyone at Edgewood, and everyone at the other estates as well. If I make bad decisions or no decisions at all it means people will go hungry this winter. I can't afford to rest right now."

She frowned at him but knew she couldn't argue. He was right. She just didn't like it.

"I'll be careful," he assured her, "This morning I'm taking Ian with me to go through the stables but then I'll be in the study most of the day. You can come and check in on me if you'd like."

"I will," she stated, her frown unmoving, "And you know Ian will tell me if you do anything foolish while you're out in the stables."

Vincent smirked, "Yes I know the pirate will spy for you. Sometimes I'm not sure who that man is actually afraid of. The Duke or the Duchess?"

Delaney fought it but a smile cracked across her lips, "We aren't the ones Ian is afraid of. I think the pirate King is the only man he fears."

"You're probably right," Vincent shook his head, "Now will you come and kiss me before I go?"

"I don't know," she pursed her lips, "You're going to work even though you should probably be resting."

"Ah well if you don't kiss me now I will spend all day thinking about kissing you and be so distracted my work will take twice as long."

Delaney laughed lightly now, knowing he was teasing her. She stepped to him and gave him a quick kiss but he caught her around the waist and swept her back to him, crushing her lips against his. Delaney gasped at the hunger in his kiss and he pushed her back until she felt something cool and hard against her back.

He slid a hand around her head, letting his fingers weave into his hair to hold her in place so he could kiss her deeply. Delaney felt his other hand move down and around her waist, pulling her against him until she could feel the unnatural heat of him through the fabric of her dress.

Her husband gently nipped at her bottom lip and a moan escaped her. He kissed down her jaw and along her creamy throat. Delaney couldn't think of anything but the feel of his lips against her skin.

Vincent moved to kiss her shoulder and when he did he opened his eyes for just a moment. At that moment though he caught sight of a pair of eyes like green gems, looking at him from a face covered in a web of hideous red scars. The monstrous sight startled him and he pulled back from Delaney, standing up straight and blinking at his reflection in the mirror he had pressed her up against.

Quickly, he dropped his gaze and turned away from it but also away from his wife. He was panting from the kiss and closed his eyes as he tried to push the image from his mind.

"Vincent? What's wrong? Did I do something wrong?"

"No my love," he shook his head. He turned in one quick sweep to brush a kiss across her lips and then step towards the door and away from the hated mirror.

"I just... I just need to go. Ian will be waiting for me and I," he cleared his throat, "Well I don't want him to think I forgot him."

"But..."

"I will see you this afternoon," he called back to her as he walked towards the doorway, "I love you."

Vincent stepped out quickly and closed the door behind him. He didn't move for a moment but closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the cool wood of the door. Slowly, he raised a trembling hand to his face and let his fingertips lightly trace the scars there.

His thumb brushed over the one that made its way across his chin and he traced it out. He waited as his thumb moved, hoping it would quickly come to the end of the scar but it didn't. He continued to trace the scar far past the spot it had ended last time he'd looked. Far past the middle of his chin and out farther. It now reached beyond the other side of his lips.

The knowledge hurt him but he heard Delaney moving beyond the door so he turned and headed for the stairs, off to find Ian.

His limp was still very visible since he hadn't let himself have enough time to recover but he didn't want to slow down. Not yet.