Chapter 193 - The Fall

Delaney stood in their bedroom in confusion, staring at the door her husband had just closed behind him. She didn't understand what had happened. He had seemed to be enjoying kissing her just as much as she was enjoying it but then he'd just left.

Biting her lip, Delaney walked over and sank lightly down on the side of their bed. She wondered if she had put too much pressure on his marks. Her hands had been against his chest. It wouldn't have been as bad as when Anna had slapped his scarred cheek but then she didn't really know what it took for them to cause him pain. How much was too much?

Taking comfort in the fact he hadn't seemed angry with her, she walked to her writing-table and slid open the little drawer on top. She took out her bottle of potion from where she had hidden it away and held it up to the light shining in through the windows. She sighed. There was less than half the bottle left. She felt hopeful that she wouldn't need more of the potion but she regretted not getting more from the Queen before things had gone badly.

Delaney took her dose and hid the bottle away again. Going to the mirror she checked her reflection, straightening her hair and skirt from her encounter with her husband. She smiled as her fingers lingered against the skin of her throat where he had kissed her. She would be happy to go to bed with him that evening and enjoy more of his kisses.

-

Back home and the mistress of the great manor again, Delaney decided if Vincent was diving right back into work then so would she. She called for Mrs. Crouch and sat with her in the sitting room, making menus and lists of things that needed to be cleaned and repaired before the winter. Delaney asked the housekeeper if there was anything the servants really needed and the woman suggested a few things that the Duchess approved.

"And how is little William?" Delaney asked after the boy they had brought back with them from the castle, "Is he getting along alright?"

"Oh yes my Lady he's a sweet thing," Mrs. Crouch smiled, "He's a bit thin but you know Mrs. King's cooking will fix that in no time."

Delaney laughed and agreed.

"Does he have plenty to wear? The clothes he wore the night of the fire were mostly ruined I believe and I didn't know if he had any others."

"Penelope got some things from her mother that don't fit her younger brothers anymore but he might need a bit more when it gets colder."

"Alright," Delaney nodded, "Well I will see to that. Can you also send some coins along to Penelope's mother for the extra clothes?"

"I would be happy to. That's kind of you my Lady," the housekeeper smiled, "And how are you if I might ask? Did you have a pleasant summer by the ocean?"

"I did," Delaney looked dreamily out the window as she thought of her days alone on the beaches with her husband, "It was quite a lovely time up to the end. I'm sure the others told you about the pirates."

"Yes my Lady," the older woman nodded, "But I've met Captain Ian Black and he seems like quite a fine man. Lord Adair seems to like him too."

"He is a fine man and very loyal. Vincent and I consider him a close friend now. I consider his sister Ilona a friend as well even though she was the Captain that sent those men to our shores that night. She just made a serious mistake and has tried to make up for it."

"That is quite a grand mistake to make My Lady," she housekeeper said with a bit of skepticism, "But if you think she's good then so do I and so will my people."

"Thank you, Mrs. Crouch."

-

Delaney was in the dining room first once their midday meal was announced. Ian and Vincent walked in together only a few minutes later, deep in conversation about something or other. She took the opportunity while Vincent was distracted to study him and see if he looked tired.

His bad leg was bothering him already more than she had expected it to but Ian was walking along slowly beside him, not rushing him. He did look like he was probably tired but she knew he wouldn't be tired enough to agree to lay down for a nap with her.

Bringing their conversation to an end, Vincent, at last, turned to Delaney and smiled warmly, leaning down to give her a quick kiss before taking his seat at the end of the table. She was relieved to see he at least seemed to be recovered from whatever the trouble had been that morning so she put it from her mind.

While they ate Delaney listened to Vincent and Ian discussing horses and other livestock and what they each thought could be good future investments for the estate. Every now and then she would comment or they would ask her for her opinion but otherwise, she just enjoyed listening.

After they were finished eating Vincent headed to his study to work and Delaney took Ian on a tour around their enormous but beautiful home. It ended up taking the whole afternoon so they finished just in time to rest a bit and get cleaned up before dinner.

At dinner, Ian would question Vincent about things they'd seen in the house and even Delaney found herself asking about things as well. Her husband was proud of his family line and happily answered everything.

When they were finished Delaney was happy to take Vincent's arm and head to their bedroom for the night. His limp was hard but she stayed with him. Harris and Ms. Bird were waiting for them and it wasn't long before she was curled up in bed with her husband again.

"Did I hurt you this morning?" she asked quietly as they lay in the dark with only the light from the fire and the moonlight through the windows.

"No," he assured her, "No my love I just... No.. you didn't hurt me."

Delaney could tell he wasn't telling her something but didn't push it. Instead, she brought up something else she'd been thinking about.

"Can we go back to see the fairies soon? And Mabon the unicorn?"

Vincent chuckled, "Of course love. We will just have to wait a little bit for my leg to feel better. I don't know that I would be able to make that trip as I am now."

That's fine," she assured him, "I just wanted to go before it gets too cold."

Delaney lay in bed talking to her husband and eventually kissing was involved and then soon they were doing more than kissing. She was relieved her husband seemed to be past whatever had been causing him to act strangely while they were at the home of Felicia and Rose.

-

Days passed and more leaves turned bright colors, causing the valley down below Edgewood to look like a beautiful painting. The weather was beautiful but there was a hint of cold to it to remind them all winter was coming.

Vincent finally recovered from his time traveling back from the ocean house and Delaney felt relief flood her as she watched him stroll easily down the hallways in front of her. It was still harder for him around dinner and he would limp when they moved to go up to their bedroom for the evening. It didn't bother Delaney though. She was just happy he seemed to have recovered from the worst of it.

Ian made friends with some of the men in the stables and Delaney now knew if she couldn't find him inside then that would be where he would be hiding. Since they were home and safe though she didn't often pull him away to help her with things. She had her husband and that was all she needed.

As the Duke, Vincent's estates were keeping him very busy and now that he was recovered he was planning a trip to visit the other estates and inspect them. Delaney didn't like the idea, still feeling like he was pushing himself too hard but there was nothing she could do. The estates didn't run themselves.

Her husband did agree though that before he left for the other estates he would take her back into the woods to see the unicorn and fairies. Delaney looked forward to that very much.

Almost everything seemed to be going nearly perfectly now. Delaney was happy and when she looked at her husband she could see he seemed happy too. It was as if they had settled into married life at last.

Their happiness couldn't last forever though. One rainy gray morning while she was getting ready, Delaney made a discovery that broke her heart.