My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney and Vincent righted their appearances as best as they could without calling for Harris or Ms. Bird and walked downstairs arm in arm. Before they reached the bottom of their stairs though they realized who this guest was and why they were left standing in the entryway instead of being invited into the sitting room to wait.

"Lord and Lady Adair," Ilona Black said, bowing to them gracefully.

Behind her were a pair of boys that Delaney immediately recognized to be some relation to Ian.  They looked almost exactly like him but younger and wirier.  They both bowed awkwardly, looking nervous.

"Captain Black," Vincent greeted her, "Are you looking for Ian?"

"Oh no," she shook her head, "I was actually hoping to speak to the two of you."

Delaney stared at the woman and felt anger simmering inside her.  It was because of this woman that she had had such a terrifying night and her husband was so battered.  Because of Ilona Black, most of their guards had quit and the rest of the servants left hated Ian.

As much as she disliked her and didn't want her in their home, Delaney couldn't help but pause and admire the woman.

Ilona wasn't dressed like any woman Delaney had ever seen.  Like a man, she wore nearly skin-tight breeches made of some soft-looking brown material.  On top of that, she had a grey shirt with little silver vines stitched into it and a corset over that.  She wore high black boots and matching glove-like things with holes for the fingers.

She had a very curvaceous figure that she displayed with the bodice of her top being cut very low. With long, thick brown hair that fell in waves over her shoulders and long black lashes framing chocolate eves, she was stunning.

Beyond her clothes and beauty, there was something else that set her apart from every other woman. On each hip, she wore a long sword in a leather sheath. One look at this pirate woman and Delaney could imagine she used them. She remembered what Ian had said about his sister having to be the best at things.  He had specifically mentioned swords.  Being able to wield two swords at once would surely move you towards the best.

"You'll forgive me if I don't offer you to come in and sit with us," Vincent said cooly, "Given our short history I think things will be best if we both stay where we are."

Ilona took a deep breath but didn't seem surprised.

"Very well," she replied with forced cheerfulness, "Right here is fine."

She hesitated as if she didn't actually have anything to say. Eyes roaming the room, she caught sight of the boys behind her and lit up as if she'd landed on an idea.

"These are my younger brothers," she gestured to them, "Jamie and Nick.  They're members of my crew.

"Oh?" Delaney spoke to her for the first time, "So were they members of your pack of men that invaded our beach and battered my husband?"

The curtain of friendliness dropped from Ilona's face revealing her annoyance for a moment before she was able to recover.

"No, "she replied, "They stayed on the ship last night.  They're still quite young."

"Ah," Delaney nodded as if in understanding, "So they will learn how to terrify and raid once they're older then?"

"Delaney," Vincent said quietly, "She is still Ian's sister."

Delaney frowned at the woman but took a breath and worked to calm herself.

"Last night is actually the reason I've come here," Ilona lifted her chin under their unhappy gaze, "I wanted to... I wanted to say I was sorry... for what happened..."

"You're sorry," Delaney repeated, "You're sorry?  Do you not understand the enormity of what you did last night?"

"I understand that it was terrifying for you both and that it will not be something easily recovered from.  Raiding homes was a bad decision but I can't take it back.  All I can do is apologize and assure you it won't happen again."

Delaney opened her mouth to speak again but Vincent quickly spoke up first, "You're brother is very dear to my wife so because of that we will accept your apology.  Our forgiveness however won't be so easily given."

"I didn't expect it to be," Ilona shook her head, "But I appreciate you letting me at least apologize.  If the roles were reversed I don't know that I would be so kind."

"I'm sure you wouldn't be," Delaney replied coldly.

"Ilona?"

All eyes went to the stairs then where Ian was now walking down, glaring at his sister.  His eyes moved from her to the boys behind her though and his expression changed quickly.

"Nick!" he grinned, "Jamie!"

Ian opened his arms wide and the boys pushed past their sister to go to him.  He crushed the first one in a hug before releasing him and doing the same to the second.  They all spoke quickly to one another in their pirate language and Delaney couldn't stop the smile that tugged at her lips as she saw how happy her friend was.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ilona was watching them too with a very small smile of her own.

"These are two of my younger half brothers," Ian told Delaney and Vincent.

"That's what Ilona said," Delaney informed him.

Ian rolled his eyes, "Yes well I'm sure she brought them in an attempt to make me less angry with her.  I haven't seen them in nearly a year.  They used to be part of my crew when they were younger."

Delaney was surprised to hear that.  Looking at the boys she thought they could only be fifteen or sixteen and Ian had said they had been with Ilona for a year already.  She wondered how young they had been when they were put to work on the ship.

"What do you want?" Ian asked his older sister, turning to her, "I would have thought after last night that you wouldn't push your luck by coming here again."

Ilona frowned at him, hands on her hips.  She tossed her hair back over her shoulder and Delaney was surprised to see silver hoops dangling from her ears.  It made her look even more the pirate.

"For your information Ian, I came here to apologize to the Duke and Duchess.  You just missed it."

"Ah well, I'll never believe it really happened then.  You don't know how to apologize."

Ilona crossed her arms, "Don't be childish."

"Well," Vincent cleared his throat, "If you have said what you need to say then Ilona I believe we are finished."

"I actually have just one more thing," she said quickly, turning back to them.

Ian moved to stand by Delaney, crossing his muscular arms over his chest and looking at his sister suspiciously.  The younger boys took a place beside Ilona and looked around at the others curiously.  Delaney realized then that Ian had said they were his half brothers.  If only his mother had made her children learn English then Nick and Jamie probably didn't understand a word anyone else was saying.

Ilona took a breath and looked at Vincent evenly, "Some of my men were in the village earlier and they had a bit of a scuffle with some of your guards.  Except I found out after that they weren't your guards anymore because they had left your employment."

Beside Delaney, Ian dropped his gaze.

"These men said they told you to send away my brother but you wouldn't.  Is that true?"

"It is," Vincent answered, "Ian is a good, loyal man.  He's done nothing wrong.  All of the blame for last night's happenings lies with you."

"I am aware of that," she replied evenly, "And I am grateful for your kindness to Ian.  That kind of loyalty isn't easily gained.  But I imagine it wasn't easy to give up so many guards given your rank."

"We will be fine," Vincent said, "We can hire more once we return to the King's City tomorrow."

"You don't think those guards might try to cause trouble for you?  Since you took the side of a pirate over them?"

Delaney swallowed and looked up at Vincent.  She hadn't considered that.  If he had he hadn't mentioned it to she or Ian.  Her husband's frown grew deeper.

"If they do we can handle them," Vincent replied, "Some of the guards didn't leave."

"Do you have enough to take with you and to send along with your servants to protect them when they go on ahead to the city?"

"What concern is this of yours Ilona?" Ian interrupted then, "It's your fault the Duke has this problem at all."

"Yes, Captain Black I would like to know why you are suddenly concerned with the safety of myself and my people?" Vincent studied her, "You weren't concerned last night."

Ilona raised her chin and looked at him seriously.

"Well... it just so happens I have a proposition for you."