Chapter 229 - Back To Normal

After leaving the courtyard, Vincent helped Delaney to their room where she laid down to rest.  While she did he called for the servants to prepare their things to go back to the city house.  Even though Ian was already asleep by the time the Duke went to check on him, Vincent had his things packed up as well.  He wouldn't leave the castle without their friend.

By the time Delaney and Ian were both awake again everything was ready to go and the grand Adair carriage was waiting outside for them.  Vincent sent word to Sophia and Daniel that they were leaving and the King came down to say goodbye to them.  He looked upset and uneasy but tried to force a smile to his lips when he saw them.

"I must thank you for coming," he said quietly to Delaney, Ian, and Vincent, "Especially after the... the terrible way I treated you the last time you were at court.  Without you coming forward and telling me the truth of all you had discovered those evil women might still be free and may have killed even more people.  You truly saved your kingdom."

Vincent and Ian bowed and Delaney curtsied.  When they stood straight again, Daniel came forward with a hand outstretched to Ian.  They shook hands and Daniel looked at him seriously.

"You are a good man Captain Black.  My ships and their crews will always be happy to help you if ever you need it.  You need only send me word and I will order them to follow you."

"Thank you, your majesty," Ian said quietly, his surprise clear on his face.

Next, the King moved to Delaney and took her hand in both of his.

"Lady Adair you are a very brave and loyal woman to come to court on such a mission with your husband when you knew it might not end well.  If there is ever anything at all my wife and I can do for you please do not hesitate to ask us.  Sophia would have liked to say goodbye to you herself but she's very upset after the loss of her sister."

"I understand," Delaney said quietly, "Thank you your majesty and please send her my love."

Daniel smiled warmly at her words and gave her hands one last gentle squeeze before moving to stand in front of Vincent.  The cousins looked one another in the eye for a long moment before at last, Daniel moved.  He opened his arms wide and embraced Vincent in a tight hug.

"I'm sorry Vince," he mumbled against the other man's shoulder, his voice hoarse, "Please forgive me."

Delaney watched as her husband slowly moved to embrace the other man.  They stood there for a moment until they let go and Daniel stepped back to look at his scarred, loyal cousin who he had known all his life.

"I forgive you, Danny," Vincent said, "We're family."

A relieved smile broke across the King's face, "Thank you for that.  And I promise I won't ever forget again all you've done for us.  I owe you my life and this Kingdom owes you even more.  I'll make sure they know it."

"Danny you don't have to..."

"No Vince," Daniel shook his head now, his gaze serious, "I should've done more when you won the war for us.  The stories were told by your men but I should've done more to show my gratitude myself so all the kingdom would know.  I won't make that mistake again."

Vincent's scars grew darker red, giving away his discomfort, but he gave Daniel a small smile and nodded, "Thank you."

Daniel stepped back again to look at the three of them, "I hope to see you all here again very soon."

They all smiled and said little things about coming back to visit the King and Queen soon but Delaney knew she, Vincent, and Ian were all thinking the same thing.  None of them wanted to step foot in that castle again for as long as they could help it.  Vincent may have forgiven Daniel for what he had done but their relationship would never be what it had once been.

-

When they arrived home to the city house they were surprised to find the few servants that were there were lined up just inside the doors, waiting for them.  They clapped and cheered for their master and mistress as well as the pirate they had once been so uneasy around.  Ms. Bird was constantly dashing away her happy tears.

Vincent smiled at his people and took his wife on his arm, helping her up to their bedroom.  Delaney felt relief wash over her when she sat down on the couch and tucked her feet up beside her.  They were safely back in their own home again.  The people poisoning the heirs had been caught and taken care of.  The King and Queen were both very grateful to the Duke and Duchess now.  There were no threats left that they had to worry about.  At last, they were safe.

Vincent called for Harris and spoke to him for a moment in the hallway before he came back in to join his wife on the couch.  Delaney smiled at him and scooted over until she could snuggle up against his warm chest.  A chuckle rumbled through her husband's chest as he wrapped an arm around her and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry I've needed so much taking care of this last week."

"Don't apologize," Vincent shook his head, "Normally it's me needed to be taken care of so this is a nice change."

They sat there together for a long while, not talking but just enjoying the comfort of being together again.  Sometime later Harris knocked lightly at the door.  Vincent called out to thank him but didn't tell him to come in.

"What's going on?"  Delaney asked curiously.

"Come with me," he smiled and got to his feet.

Vincent helped his wife up and took her hand in his, leading her into the room that was off theirs.  Delaney was happy to see he had had the servants prepare a nice hot bath for her.  He left her in Ms. Bird's care.  The maid helped her out of her gown and into the steaming water.  The duchess relaxed while her hair was washed and towel-dried.  Ms. Bird braided it into a long braid before pinning it up in a loop around the crown of her head.

All the while she was working, the maid chattered on and on, thrilled that her mistress and master were home safe again and saying what a wonderful future the two would have.  By now, most of their closest servants had heard what had happened with the poison Delaney had taken thinking it would help her have a child but had had the opposite effect.

Ms. Bird never said out loud that she knew but it was obvious from the way she talked about the Duke and Duchess having a bright future with many babies.  Since she had been taking the medicine Opal gave her, Delaney actually allowed herself to feel hopeful too for the first time in a long while.

Once the maid was finished and had left, Delaney's heart leaped in her chest when her tall, handsome husband walked through the door.  She giggled and bit her lip as she watched him pull off his shirt, revealing his strong, muscled chest.  His black hair fell down to brush his shoulders when he untied his breeches and slid them off as well.

Vincent sank into the water, sending little waves over the side and making Delaney laugh.  He moved forward through the water with one hand on each side of her, holding him up.  She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down until she felt his breath against her chin.  Her heart fluttered in her chest as his soft lips met hers in a slow, delicious kiss.

-

That evening they ate dinner together with Ian in the dinning room.  They were all happy but quiet, still not quite used to things being back to normal again.  The servers were quick to supply them with anything they thought the nobles might need, even before they had to ask.  It seemed everyone was just happy to have them all home safe.

That night Delaney slept in her husband's arms without any bad dreams.  When they had breakfast downstairs with Ian they all relaxed a bit more and began to talk a bit more.  By their third day home at the city house, things felt as if they were going back into a normal rythmn.  Ian was healing nicely and he and Delaney were both getting their energy back.  Each day passed and they were able to go longer and longer before they had to stop to rest.

As the days continued to pass, Delaney asked her husband when they would return to Edgewood.  Vincent said he wanted to make sure she and Ian were both fully recovered before they left the house.  Delaney smiled fondly at him and kissed his cheek.  She knew he was worried about sending Ian out into the world alone before he was able to defend himself.  They would wait at the city house until the Duke felt the Pirate was well enough.

It turned out though the day Ian would leave them came sooner than any of them had expected.