My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney wanted to ask Vincent what he meant but a servant had come in, interrupting them to ask if they should prepare Miles's room for him for the night. Vincent had told them to do so before giving Delaney's hand a squeeze and telling her he would see her at dinner.

Delaney had stood there, staring after him as he left, finding herself suddenly nervous. What had he meant? Miles was afraid Vincent would hurt her? She wondered if he had only just heard about their incident with the wolves.

In her room, Delaney rang for Ivy. The maid was quick to arrive and help Delaney change for dinner. Since they had a guest, Delaney agreed to have the woman do her hair.

"The younger Lord Adair has come to visit," she commented, "That's a pleasant surprise."

"Yes," Delaney agreed, studying the maids face in the mirror. The girl was wearing a small smile, the first Delaney had seen on her since she had come here.

"Do you know him well?" she asked.

"I do," Delaney replied, "I've known Miles as long as I've known my husband."

"He's... he's very handsome," Ivy spoke quietly, her smile growing.

It was then Delaney realized what was going on with her silly maid.

"He is handsome," she agreed, "Vincent was always the more handsome of the two, but Miles is good looking as well."

The girl frowned, "Lord Vincent was more handsome? I can't imagine that."

Delaney glared at the woman now, "Well, lucky for all of us your opinion is of absolutely no importance. They are two of the most powerful men in the land and you are a servant although you seem to keep forgetting that."

Ivy blushed red, looking down. "Yes my Lady," she agreed quietly.

As soon as her hair was finished, Delaney dismissed the maid. She watched her go, her angry gaze shooting daggers at the woman's back. She would have to discuss the maid with Mrs. Crouch. The girl needed to learn her place in the manor.

The bell rang announcing dinner, and Delaney's anger was replaced with an eagerness to get back to her husband. She laughed at herself, thinking like a silly schoolgirl with new feelings for a boy. Smiling warmly, Delaney realized then it was true. She was starting to develop feelings of her own for her husband.

Walking into the dining room, her eyes found him first and she bit her lip to keep herself from smiling like a fool. As soon as he saw her though, his eyes lit up as well. He stood and pulled her seat back for her. Delaney brushed her hand over his before sitting in her place.

She wanted to tell him about this newfound discovery of feelings but knew this would not be the time. Not here with his grim-faced brother sitting across from her.

Vincent sat and watched her curiously, a smile playing across his own lips, as their dinner was served.

"Where have all the servants gone?" Miles asked, interrupting their silent flirting.

"Oh, we leave only one in the dining room to serve meals," Delaney answered before Vincent had to, "We like it better like this."

Miles looked suspiciously from her to his brother. When Vincent didn't add anything, he went back to his plate.

"How is Cora?" Delaney asked after a while, "I miss her."

"She's fine though she misses you as well. All the women do it seems."

"Well, maybe I can have them all over soon," Delaney suggested, smiling. When she looked towards Vincent she found his face solemn. He didn't meet her gaze or pause from his eating.

Miles studied his brother then looked back at her, "Perhaps it would be better if you went and visited them."

Delaney looked at him in confusion, "Why couldn't I invite them here? This is my home now."

Miles glanced at Vincent then shrugged before going back to eating. Delaney frowned, looking from one brother to the other.

Outside, thunder rumbled through the clouds. Delaney smiled, loving the storm, but when she turned to look at her husband she found his eyes were closed and his jaw clenched. She looked across at Miles and found him watching his brother too.

Delaney reached out and lightly touched his hand which made him jump. His eyes flew open and landed on her.

"Are you alright?" she asked quietly as lightning flashed outside the window.

Vincent swallowed, and nodded, "I'm fine I just...I just think maybe I need to go to get some rest."

"Want to have a drink in your room with me?" Miles tried as another rumble of thunder sounded.

"No," Vincent replied quickly before Miles could say anything else, "No, thank you, I-I think I just want to try to sleep."

Miles nodded, looking down at his plate while Vincent stood, hissing through his teeth. He moved to leave but Delaney stood quickly.

"Vincent?" she called quietly after him. He turned to look back at her in confusion.

Delaney felt her cheeks warm in embarrassment then, "Will you... Will you walk me to my room?"

Understanding dawned on his face then and he moved back to her, limping stiffly.

"I'm sorry my Lady," he apologized, and held out his arm for her, "I was just distracted."

Miles frowned at them, "You need him to walk you to your room? Can you not find it on your own after all this time living here?"

Delaney blushed deeper red, feeling all the more foolish, and tried to stammer a reply.

"I'm sure you can remember our father always escorted our mother to bed every night," Vincent answered first.

"Yes but our father was in love with our mother," Miles stated cooly.

Delaney felt a stab in her heart and her stomach turn in knots. Looking up at Vincent, he glared at his younger brother and opened his mouth to reply but nothing came out. Finally he just turned, taking Delaney with him, and left without another word.

Delaney was red with embarrassment and wished she hadn't mentioned it. What if he had meant it as a secret thing between them? Now she had embarrassed herself as well as him. She felt her stomach turn and her heart begin to race. What if he got angry with her now?

Vincent moved slowly up the stairs, jaw locked against the pain. He didn't try to speak to her and Delaney worried about saying something wrong. At her door, she stopped and wracked her mind for something to say to him.

"Can I... can I stay in your room with you tonight?" Delaney blurted out without preamble.

Vincent's mouth fell open, caught off guard. His eyes flickered over her face. Thunder sounded closer to the manor as the storm picked up.

"N-no," he answered quietly, "No you can't."

Delaney felt as if he had slapped her. She stepped quickly back from him, hitting her back into the bedroom door. She dropped her eyes from his, opening and closing her mouth but unable to form any words.

"O-oh... of course," Delaney stammered, her heart racing in her humiliation, "of course... I apologize... that was... that was stupid of me..."

"No Delaney I..."

"No Vincent," she shook her head quickly, not able to make herself look at him, "You don't need to explain. I understand. It was stupid of me. I just thought that over the last weeks maybe we... it was just stupid."

"Delaney..."

"Please stop," she looked up at him then with tear rimmed eyes, her hand searching behind her back for the doorhandle, "You don't need to make excuses to save my feelings. I understand. I'm sorry I asked and I promise I won't bother you with it again."

"Wait!," he reached for her just as her hand found its target and she pushed the door open.

"It's alright," she managed as tears began their trecherous escape, "Good night Vincent."

Delaney pushed the door closed before he could say anything else and before she made a bigger fool of herself than she already had. Safe in her room, she pressed her back to the door and let herself finally give in to the tears. Quietly crying, she slid down the door until she was sitting in front of it.

Hurt and humiliation overwhelmed her. Delaney felt her heart ache. She had thought he might have been starting to feel the same way about her as she was about him but it wasn't so. She had been stupid to think so.

The worst part was, it was all her own fault. How could she ever expect him to have feelings for her? After all the cruel and hurtful things she had said and done to him. After she had run out of the hospital and refused to come back. After she had begged and pleaded to never have to marry him in the first place.

Vincent had been loyal to her and if she hadn't been so foolish maybe they would be curled up in bed together watching the storm instead of sleeping alone in their own beds. Maybe they would have been in love.

Into her mind crept the haunting words from the witch. It felt like a lifetime ago since she had heard them. Things could end happily for her but it all depended on her choices. Delaney felt like her heart might break. She had made the wrong choices.

Now she would have to live with them.