Chapter 216 - Uneasy

The next morning it was as if a grey cloud hung over all of them.  When Delaney woke up she snuggled up against her husband and smiled until she remembered suddenly what this day would bring.  She wrapped an arm around his warm, muscled chest then and fought back tears as she waited for him to wake up.

Ian was sick from having too much to drink at Win's Club the night before.  He and some of the guards had all gone out together since they had a night off.  When Delaney walked down the stairs a while later with Vincent she spotted her friend sitting at a table with some of the other men with his head in his hands.

Delaney giggled and shook her head but when she turned to look at Vincent she saw he was watching the other man with a strange expression.  He saw her looking and he glanced her way before forcing a small smile to his lips and nodding towards Ian.

"Is everything alright?" Delaney asked her husband, "Well besides... besides the obvious thing."

"Of course," he answered a bit too quickly, as he moved to slide her arm from his, "I'm just ready to leave is all."

"But what about breakfast?" 

"I'm not really hungry my love... But you go eat.  My mother will be down any minute I'm sure, and she'll join you."

With those words, Vincent pressed a quick kiss to her forehead before leaving her as he headed outside.  Delaney stood staring after him for a moment in confusion.  Sighing and shaking her head, she went to join her hung-over pirate.

"You look very cheery this morning," she teased forcing herself to sound bright as she took a seat across from Ian.

"I am a pirate," he mumbled without looking up, "We are known for our drinking... but your friend Win... that man... that man is some kind of evil spirit."

Delaney laughed at this before asking their server to bring her tea and eggs.  They weren't home so there would be no grand breakfasts here.  She tried to keep her order simple so she didn't cause trouble.

"You should probably eat more than that," Ian commented, lifting his head to look at her.

"Oh, should I now?  And what have you eaten for breakfast?"

Ian looked away and she smirked knowing she had won.

"The idea of eating makes me feel sick," he answered quietly before Violet joined them at the table taking the seat beside Delaney.

"Well, Ian you look absolutely terrible," the dowager commented, "You're going to enjoy the long ride to come today."

Delaney covered her mouth as she giggled and Ian pursed his lips as he glanced over at her.

"I'm going to go find Vince," he sighed as he got to his feet and left.

Delaney and Violet ate and talked quietly until the carriages were ready and it was time to leave.

-

As they rode towards the King's City Vincent, Delaney, and Violet were quiet.  No one really knew what to say and no one wanted to talk about their upcoming visit to court.  They were all on edge and any other conversations they tried to have sounded hollow.

The silver lining for Delaney was that her husband didn't argue with her today about taking the medicine.  As soon as she brought it up to him he nodded and quietly agreed.  Taking the bottle from her when she offered it, Vincent took a drink and sat back as he waited for the medicine to wash away some of his pain.

When it did, he turned to look at his wife with the same sleepy smile before pulling her in closer to him and wrapping his warm arms around her.  Violet smiled softly as she watched her son with the woman he loved, happy as she had always hoped he would be.

-

It was midday when they arrived at the snow-covered city house.  The few servants that were there had done their best to get things prepared and were nervous when the Duke and Duchess walked in.  Delaney and Vincent were both quick to assure the people that the house was fine and they weren't expecting grand treatment.

The housekeeper staying at the city house had mentioned hiring a couple of locals to help while the Duke and Duchess were staying but they had said no.  After learning little William had brought in poison and could've poisoned them it made Delaney and Vincent both less than eager to have strangers in their home.

Their things were unloaded and everyone washed up.  They ate a small lunch with Ian now feeling well enough he could manage at least a few bites.  No one else ate much more than that anyway.

After they had finished, Delaney made her way up to their bedroom with her husband.  Vincent was quiet and lost in his own thoughts.  When they closed the door behind them, safely in the privacy of their own room, Vincent sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hands over his face and up through his hair.  Knowing the stress her husband was feeling, Delaney went and sat beside him, taking his hand into her lap and gently rubbing it with her thumb.

"I love you," she said quietly, not sure what else to say.

"And I love you."

She hesitated, "Daniel loves you as well.  He's loved you all your life."

"I suppose he does... but he's still the king."

"He will listen to us," she tried to assure him although her voice came out quiet and unsteady, "He will listen to all the evidence we have and he will do what's right."

"He doesn't have to do what's right Delaney... He's the king... I never would have worried about how Daniel would react to something but after the last time we were here I... I have no idea what he might do.  He might very well decide to kill me to cover up what his wife has done.  He could kill all of us."

Delaney swallowed hard and dropped her gaze to her lap.  She looked at her wedding ring shining back up at her on her hand that was holding his.

"I want to tell you something," Vincent said then, turning to look at her, "I've talked to Ian.  If something happens to me I've ordered him to take you away from here."

"What?" Delaney asked in confusion.

"If something happens and I can't be with you anymore... You won't be safe here.  So Ian will take you away from here to a place where he can protect you and you'll be safe from any harm the King or Queen or anyone may try to cause you."

"B-Back to Edgewood?"

"No," he shook his head, "My Love I've told him to take you away on his ship.  You'll be safe with him and his men.  He's going to take you far away from here to live somewhere you'll be safe."

"I don't want to talk about this," Delaney whispered and tried to pull her hand away from his but he held it tight.

"My Love I need you to promise me you will go with him.  I don't trust anyone to keep you safe as Ian will.  If something happens to me he will get you away from here.  Maybe he could take you to the Red Lands and you could find Mace.  It doesn't matter as long as you're far away and safe."

"This is why he was acting strange," Delaney frowned, "You already decided on this plan with him without talking to me about it."

"I talked to him first because I needed to know he would do it," Vincent explained, "Now please promise me you'll go with him, Delaney.  No matter what happens I will feel good knowing you'll be with Ian and he will be able to keep you safe even if I no longer can.  Please promise me you'll do this."

Tears fell down Delaney's cheeks as she looked at the handsome, scarred, face of her husband.  The man she loved more than anything else in the world.  She couldn't imagine life without him.  It would kill her.  But if it made him feel better knowing she would leave with Ian if the worst happened then she would agree.

"Alright," she spoke with a rough voice and nodded, "If... If something terrible happens I... I will go away with Ian.  But Vincent until that happens I won't leave your side."

He smiled softly and nodded, his own eyes bright with tears he would never allow to fall.  "Thank you."

Delaney moved forward and kissed him deeply then, holding his warm, scarred, face in her hands.  She tried to take in every detail of kissing him so it would always be in her memory in case she ever couldn't.

When they finally came apart Vincent moved and rang the bell for Ms. Bird and Harris so they could get ready.

It was finally time to go.