My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney and Vincent found the Black siblings were already waiting at the table when they came in. Ian sat across from Delaney as he had when he ate with them before and Ilona sat beside him to avoid sitting by the Duchess. That left Delaney with the two younger boys sitting beside her. They both smiled pleasantly when she took her seat and she felt it was probably better for her this way anyway.

When the servers brought the food Delaney carefully observed them and was relieved to see they were no longer glaring at Ian or any of the others. 

The first half of their meal they ate in silence. Delaney kept looking up and meeting Ian's gaze. He seemed as uncomfortable with the silence as she was but she didn't know what to say. Vincent kept his eyes down, clearly not sure where to go from here either. What should you discuss at a dinner with so many pirates, including one that had sent her crew to raid your house and would have likely killed you?

At last, it was Nick sitting closest to her that spoke up. He looked at Ian and said something in their language, glancing at Vincent. Ian frowned and shook his head while saying something back. His younger brother argued and Jamie joined in as well.

Delaney and Vincent were now both watching the interaction curiously. Both boys continued to glance at Vincent as they spoke and Delaney realized whatever they were saying must have had to do with her husband. He apparently realized it too.

Vincent cleared his throat and the brothers trailed off midsentence and turned to him.

"Ian perhaps you should just tell us what they're saying."

"Oh no it's alright," he answered quickly, "They're just..."

"They want to ask you about fighting dragons," Ilona interrupted without looking up from her plate.

Ian tensed and Delaney saw him take a deep breath. She had no doubt he wanted to say something to his sister but wouldn't here at dinner with his friends.

"They... they do want me to ask about that but I told them they shouldn't bother you."

Vincent's green eyes landed on Delaney for a moment before they moved on to stare at the boys.

"Why do they want to know about fighting dragons?"

Everyone grew still now and looked to Vincent. Even Ilona put down her bite of food and turned to him, clearly intrigued. Delaney was surprised he was even thinking about talking about the war. She knew he hated the subject.

Ian glanced at his brothers, "They're young boys so I suppose they think it would be exciting and... and dangerous."

Vincent watched the youngest pirates and nodded slowly, "How old are they?"

Ian said something to the boys and they both replied.

"Nick is sixteen and Jamie is fifteen."

It was quiet as Vincent considered this. He took a drink of his wine and looked down at his plate for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck. At last, he looked up and met the gazes of the boys.

"You can tell them that fighting dragons is in no way exciting. Every moment you're within sight of one you know you're only a breath away from death. You're scared constantly and you can't sleep. You see your friends die or be maimed all around you and there's nothing you can do to help them. Then for me, I killed the last male in the colony and he sank his teeth into me and effectively ruined me. I can't move like I used to. I'm in constant pain. And I'm so hard to look at I scare strangers on the street."

Delaney felt a stab of pain in her heart and she looked down at her plate so he wouldn't see the pity in her eyes. He hated pity.

Ian paused before turning to his brothers and quietly repeating what Vincent had said in their own language. Once he was finished the room fell silent again and everyone slowly went back to eating.

"You're not ugly you know," Ilona said after a time, not looking up towards Vincent, "As pirates we value scars. Your scars tell a story of where you've been and what you have survived. The worse the scar the more amazing you must be for having survived it. I don't think I could ever trust a man who didn't have some decent scars."

Delaney was surprised by her words and looking across the table at Ian she saw he was too. She looked towards Vincent and although he kept his gaze down she saw he looked unsure but a smile tugged at his lips. She would never have guessed Ilona to be capable of being so sweet like that. She had only been harsh since they first laid eyes on her. But maybe she wasn't as awful as Delaney had thought.

-

After dinner, Delaney and Vincent let the others go-ahead to their rooms. She told Ilona she would be up shortly to help her look through dresses. Ilona gave a look of displeasure but followed her brothers upstairs. Once they were gone Delaney returned to her room slowly with her husband.

When they opened the door Delaney was happy to find Harris had gone ahead as she'd asked and had the tub filled so Vincent could have a bath and soak. Her husband looked at her with annoyance but a short time later when he was sinking down into the hot water he gave a groan of pleasure and smiled.

"You see?" she giggled, "I knew you would like this. Your body just needs to relax and I think it will help you feel better."

"Mmmm... you may have been right..."

Delaney smiled and leaned down to kiss him. He caught her with a wet hand and held her so he could kiss her deeply. Kissing her husband like that always left her head spinning so when she righted herself she had to hold on to the edge of the tub. Vincent chuckled seeing her reaction.

"Hurry and help Ilona find a dress so you can return and join me in here," he requested with a mischievous look.

"I'll try to hurry. Hopefully, she won't be a pain."

"I wouldn't count on it," he laughed.

Delaney went back into her bedroom and closed the door behind her. There she found Ms. Bird waiting with a pile of dresses. Ignoring the maid's objections, she picked up a few to carry herself and headed down the hallway towards the room Ilona was staying in. She paused in front of Ian's door and considered recruiting him to help her so they could get this over with faster.

"He needs to sleep my Lady," Ms. Bird said coming up beside her, "I haven't known Ian long but I've never seen him looking so tired."

"I know," Delaney sighed, "He's very worried and anxious."

"I know it's none of my business," the older woman spoke quietly as they continued, "But I do care about the man. He's always been kind to me. Is there anything I can do to help him?"

Delaney shook her head, "I think if you can help me get Ilona to look respectable that will be the best help you can give him for now."

Ms. Bird chuckled, "Well you know I'll be able to do that."

The women knocked lightly at the pirate captain's door and waited for her to open it. When she did she saw the armfulls of dresses and looked striken. Delaney couldn't keep herself from laughing and she rolled her eyes as they walked in.

"All these?" Ilona questioned, "I have to try on all these?"

"Well we need to see what best fits you," Delaney answered, "That way it will need less adjustments to be made."

Ilona swallowed and looked down at them with her big brown eyes full of concern.

Ms. Bird chuckled, "Don't worry my dear. Come with me and we'll get you into the right undergarments to start with."

Ilona looked as if she knew she was defeated and didn't bother arguing. Delaney sat back on the chair and waited while the maid took her behind the screen and began the process of helping her into the women's clothing. Delaney giggled quietly when she heard complaints as they worked but she knew Ms. Bird was equal parts patient and persistent. When they finally stepped out again Ilona was ready for the dresses.

Delaney picked out one dress after another and handed them to her maid who tugged and worked to fit them on the other woman. It was a struggle. Ilona had much fuller curves than Delaney even though they were about the same height. The pirate was overflowing from the bodices and the seams around her hips were pulled tight.

At last they came to one that fit Delaney a bit more loosely and was a different style than the others. It would still need adjustments so Ms. Bird took measurements and Ilona frowned at herself in the mirror. Her hair was a mess from pulling the dresses on and off and in she looked like she had weathered a storm.

"I don't know how you're going to pull this off," Ilona shook her head, "This is going to be a disaster."

"Hush," Ms. Bird chided her, "You've yet to see the magic I can manage with a needle and thread."

The woman sighed, "I hope you mean actual magic... because we're going to need it."