Chapter 208 - Vincent

Delaney felt her heart pounding as she watched out the window and saw all the men riding up. There were dozens so she knew Vincent must be there with his guards. Miles had told him everything and now he had come home.

Cora and Violet had rushed from the room to go outside to greet the men. Delaney's fear of her husband's anger kept her anchored in place by the windows. She gripped the window ledge and closed her eyes. Her breaths were coming in quick gasps. He was going to be so upset with her. This man who had her heart could so easily crush it.

Outside, most of the horses were headed towards the stables but about half a dozen were coming to a stop in front of the grand steps that led to the doors. She couldn't quite make out who the men were from here but she didn't need to. She knew who they were.

The first man slipped down from his horse and stumbled forward, catching himself against another horse before other men jumped down to help him. Delaney felt her breathing catch for a moment. Who knew how long the men had been riding without stopping in order to get here tonight. Vincent would be in great pain after such a ride so it would be him who fell.

Unable to let her fear keep her away any longer, Delaney lifted her skirts and rushed from the sitting room and out through the doors. The cold air hit her like a slap to the face but she didn't let it stop her as she hurried down the snow-covered stairs towards the man she loved. She could see now Ian and Miles on either side of a dark-haired man who had his head hung low so his face was out of view.

She was halfway down the steps when suddenly Vincent looked up and his green eyes met hers. Delaney slowed and came to a stop, her gaze not leaving his. Her heart was racing to the point it felt it would burst from her chest. Her hands were trembling and the one holding the stone railing gripped it tightly.

For a moment, no one moved. Everyone waited to see what Vincent would do. They waited to see if he was angry with her. Would he shout at her? Would he be so angry she had gone behind his back and taken the potion he would send her away from Edgewood?

Suddenly, Vincent pushed himself away from the other men and walked quickly to the steps, limping hard with a pained expression cutting across his face. He made it up two stairs but watching him hurting Delaney couldn't take it any longer and rushed down the rest of the way to meet him.

She came to a stop in front of him, her heart still racing and her breaths coming quick. His beautiful green eyes stared deep into hers and his expression was unreadable beyond the pain from his leg. He took another step towards her and she felt her fear increase again. He moved until he was on the step right below her, bringing their eyes level. He was so close now she could feel his warm breaths against her cheek.

Feeling tears stinging in her eyes, Delaney gently shook her head.

"Vincent I... I'm so sorry I..."

He cut her off, leaning forward until his mouth caught hers in a deep, tender, kiss. The relief of feeling his love washed over her and made her unsteady. She melted against his chest, feeling his arms wrap around her. Her body tingled and the taste of him silenced all thoughts of anything that wasn't the two of them at that moment. Time seemed to stop for the length of their kiss and everything else was gone, unimportant.

Finally, Vincent rested his head against hers but didn't let her go. Delaney kept her eyes closed as her head swam with dizziness from kissing her husband. Slowly the rest of the world settled back around them and she could feel the cold sinking back into her skin where ever she wasn't pressed against her warm husband.

When she opened her eyes at last and leaned back to look at him she found his gaze on her, studying her closely. Delaney blushed at the attention and dropped her eyes. He hooked a finger under her chin though and tilted her head up until she looked at him again. His expression was serious.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh... of course... it's just chilly out here but I'm..."

"That's not what I meant."

She looked at him in confusion for a moment before she realized what he meant. She turned away now and took a step back from him. Vincent immediately took a step forward to stay close to her though and hissed at the pain it caused him.

"Miles told me everything," he said quietly, his voice raspy for a moment from the pain, "Are you alright? Has the... has the poison made you sick?"

"No," she answered but didn't meet his gaze, "I'm alright. I don't think it did anything but... but keep me from becoming pregnant... Nothing else feels any different."

A shiver cut through her from the cold and Vincent quickly unclasped his cloak and hung it over her shoulders, wrapping it around her.

"You should go in before you catch a cold."

Delaney nodded and turned to walk back up the stairs. He came slowly behind her, the pain from his dragon wounds making him have to give great focus to simply moving forward.

Miles had taken Cora inside but Violet and Ian stood at the top of the stairs watching the Duke and Duchess. When Delaney reached the top, Ian stepped quickly forward and crushed her in a tight hug. Tears stung her eyes as she hugged him back.

"Why didn't you tell me about the potion you foolish girl?" he whispered against her hair, "I'm your best friend. You should have told me. I could've taken it to one of my father's people and had it checked."

"I... I don't know," she shook her head as tears slipped down her cheeks, "I was embarrassed and... and I trusted the Queen and..."

"It's alright," he sighed, "I'm sorry. I just feel like I should've protected you."

"You couldn't have protected me from that," she assured him, "I got it before we had even met."

"Yes that was when I was the one that was supposed to be protecting her," Vincent said quietly, coming up behind them.

Delaney turned to her husband in shock. "What? No... Vincent, you couldn't have...."

"Let's go inside," he spoke over her, not meeting her gaze, "It's cold out here."

"Vincent..." Violet tried, reaching for his arm but he pulled away.

"Please mother," he shook his head, "Let's just go in."

Not sure what else to do, Violet turned and did as her son had asked. Ian hesitated, looking at Vincent for a moment before he turned his gaze back to Delaney. She only shook her head and turned towards the doors as well. Ian followed her, leaving Vincent to painfully make his way in on his own.

-

Inside, Vincent told the rest of them to go to bed. He said it was late and cold and it had been a very long day. They all hesitated and Miles opened his mouth to argue before his brother cut him off.

"Nothing is going to change between tonight and tomorrow," Vincent said loudly, "I want to go to my bed with my wife."

Being dismissed, the others could do nothing but head to their bedrooms as commanded. Vincent didn't move as he watched them all head up the stairs. Delaney waited anxiously a few steps away from him. She dreaded what was coming when they were alone in their room. Surely he would have many angry things to say.

Vincent didn't move until they heard the echo of the last door closing. Then he turned to her, offering her his arm. Delaney swept forward and linked her arm through his before they turned towards the stairs.

She watched her husband as he worked his way up the many stairs. Sweat beaded on his brow and he closed his eyes and locked his jaw against the pain. His scars were fiery, angry, red and she could feel the heat radiating from his skin. Her heart ached and she longed to help him but she didn't know how. All she could have done was get Miles or Ian to help him up but she had a feeling he wouldn't accept the assistance in his current mood.

After a long, agonizing trek, they finally made it to their bedroom. Vincent reached out for things to lean on as he worked towards their bed. At last, he made it and collapsed fully dressed. Delaney rang for Ms. Bird and waited but as minutes ticked by and the maid didn't come, she decided the woman must have been occupied and worked to get out of her dress on her own.

She watched Vincent in the mirror as she pulled the hairpins from her hair. He clutched his bad leg where the wound was on his thigh and she saw a few tears escape his smashed closed eyes. His breath was coming in hisses between his clenched teeth.

Wracking her mind trying to think of a way to help him, she suddenly remembered the medicine Opal had given her for her husband. She hurried to the shelf where she had left it. Taking it, she moved to Vincent.

"Here," she said quietly, "Take a small drink of this."

"What is it?" he managed, eyeing the bottle.

"It's a medicine from Opal. She sent it to help you with your pain when riding in the carriage."

"What?" he demanded, "I'm not taking that Delaney. Get it away from me."

"W-Why?" she stammered, "Vincent if it can take away some of your pain then..."

"My God," he hissed, "Have you learned nothing from your dealing with witches?"