My Once Handsome Husband

Delaney stormed out of Selina's house and didn't look back even when the woman called her name. She turned and walked towards the enormous stables. All of the friends had played here a few times as children so Delaney still knew her way around.

Duncan's men all stopped to bow when she passed and asked if they could help her with anything. She asked them to point her in the direction of her husband and they did so.

The stables were tall with high ceilings. Delaney walked past stalls filled with beautiful horses of all different sizes, shapes, and colors. Turning a corner in the maze of the stables, she came upon Vincent, Duncan, and a few of Duncan's men. They were looking into a stall, laughing and talking about a new little foal.

Out of the corner of his eye, Vincent caught sight of his wife heading their way. He turned and walked towards her, his concern clear on his face.

"What's wrong?" he asked when she got to him.

"We're leaving."

Vincent frowned, "What happened?"

Duncan had joined them now and was looking at her in concern as well. Delaney bit her lip, looking back and forth between them. She didn't want her husband to know the terrible things Selina had said about him. He didn't deserve that. But part of her really wanted to tell Duncan exactly what his shrew of a wife had said about his best friend.

"I don't want to discuss it," she shook her head, "I just want to leave now please Vincent?"

"Delaney if Selina said anything to insult you, I apologize," Duncan spoke sincerely, "But I'm very glad you came. I was happy to catch up with your husband."

She smiled at the kind man and wished she didn't have to separate them. The last thing she wanted though was for her husband to remain here and continue to be a target for Selina's nasty words. She was sure they'd given the woman enough to gossip about by now.

"I'm sorry Duncan," she sighed, "But please come stay with us at Edgewood once we return. Then you can both catch up again."

"I will," he smiled sadly before sending one of his men to have their carriage ready and brought around.

He moved away, giving orders to his men and leaving Vincent still watching Delaney seriously.

"I'm sorry," she apologized quietly, "But I don't want to be here any longer."

"Alright," he nodded, "But we'll talk about this later."

Delaney sighed but took his arm when he offered it and escaped the stables with him. Outside, the carriage was just being brought around. Their man opened the door for them and Delaney said a quick goodbye to Duncan before getting in. Vincent clapped his friend on the shoulder and made him promise he would visit them soon.

Once Duncan had agreed, Vincent climbed into the carriage as well. Delaney's anger was still bubbling inside her so before the footman could close the door she got his attention. Without hesitating, she told him to take them to Lady Michael's home. The footman nodded quickly and hurried to pass on the word to the driver.

"What's going on?" Vincent asked her seriously, "Why are we going to this Lady Michael's?"

"I have something I need to do there," Delaney answered without looking at him.

"And you aren't going to tell me what that is?"

"No," she replied "It's just something I want to handle before we go back to my Aunt and Uncle's home. It won't take long."

Vincent didn't argue with her or pry for more. He sat back on his seat and tried to brace himself against the pain as the carriage moved quickly forward. By the time they pulled into Lady Michael's drive, Delaney had a plan.

The carriage pulled to a stop in front of a large greystone manorhouse and their door was opened.

"I'll be right back," she said quietly to her husband, "You don't need to come."

"What are you talking about?" he demanded, "I'm not just going to sit here. If you're going in then I am too."

Delaney hesitated. She didn't want Vincent to hear the conversation she was going to have. She knew he would not be dissuaded though so she leaned back so he could get out of the carriage first. He reached back and helped her out. As soon as her feet were on the ground, Delaney lifted her skirts a bit and hurried up the steps to the house. Vincent stayed beside her despite his worsening limp.

At the door, the butler opened it and let them in, saying that the Lady was in her sitting room. He led them there and announced their arrival to his mistress.

"Lord and Lady Adair," the grey-haired older woman stood and looked surprised. Her eyes landed on Vincent and went wide, staying there for a moment.

The woman may have been their elder and plenty wealthy, but the Duke and Duchess of Edgewood far outranked her. Realizing she was starring she looked away and quickly dropped into a bow before them.

"Oh please don't trouble yourself, Lady Michael," Delaney smiled sweetly despite her still bubbling anger, "I'm so sorry we dropped in unannounced but I promise we won't take up much of your time. I understand you've recently acquired a new maid, is that correct?"

"Y-yes your grace," the woman stammered nervously.

"Very good. Can you send for her please?"

"Of course," Lady Michael agreed quickly before hurrying to send her butler for the required person.

"Delaney," Vincent hissed quietly once the woman's back was turned, "What's going on here?"

Flashing blue-green eyes met his but she still didn't answer. She looked forward again as Lady Michael came back towards them. The Duke and Duchess didn't sit so neither would she.

It only took a few minutes for the maid Delaney had requested to arrive and she was not surprised to see a familiar face.

"Hello Ivy."

The red-headed maid caught sight of Delaney and then Vincent. Her mouth fell open in shock and fear. She stumbled to a stop just inside the door, her eyes shooting to Lady Michael then back to Delaney's icy stare.

"Ivy!" the older woman hissed, "Get over here and bow to the Duke and Duchess this minute!"

The girl hesitated before doing what she was told, dropping her eyes and walking over to stand in front of the pair. Her face was pale and her hands trembled.

"Lady Michael I was just meeting with a friend of mine nearby and I was told some rather distressing news about your maid," Delaney spoke with a cool tone, "Did she tell you she was my lady's maid before coming to you?"

"What?" Lady Michael looked at the maid in surprise, "No she told us nothing about that. I interviewed her myself."

Delaney smiled sweetly at the older woman, the expression falling away when she turned back to the girl. "I assumed as much. I'm sorry to tell you but it appears this nasty little miss is quite untrustworthy."

Ivy's head jerked up then, eyes wide, "I am not! I haven't lied about anything! I just didn't mention I'd worked for you."

"Omitting valuable truths makes you a liar Ivy. Besides, lying is not the only thing that makes someone untrustworthy," Delaney spoke coldly and took a step forward, "Sharing information and secrets that aren't yours also makes you untrustworthy."

Ivy lifted her chin in defiance, "I haven't told any story that wasn't mine to tell."

Delaney's eyes narrowed, "Any story about myself, my husband, or anything that occurred in our household is not your story to tell, and the fact that you thought it was, shows just how stupid you are."

Ivy glared at the duchess "I have every right to tell anyone all the horrible things I saw happen at Edgewood!"

"Ivy!" the older woman snapped but the maid ignored her.

"You have no right to make up wild lies and try to make my husband out to be a monster!"

"Delaney..." Vincent tried.

"They weren't lies!" Ivy cut him off, "I told how he chased you in the night and dragged you back to the manor before locking you in his bedroom! I told how he goes mad at night when there are storms and how he nearly killed you! Those things are both true!"

Lady Michael's face went pale as she turned to look at Vincent who dropped his eyes to the floor in shame.

"They are not true and you know it," Delaney snapped, "You exaggerated and twisted things until they were interesting stories you could tell to try to get attention. Now it's enough! You will not repeat your childish stories again."

"You can't make me stop telling people whatever I want to tell them," Ivy sneered, "And it doesn't matter what I say anyway. Anyone who looks at him can see he's a monster!"

Delaney's rage boiled over. She stepped forward quickly and pulled back her hand, slapping the maid so hard across the face that the crack of it echoed in the room.

"Delaney!" Vincent stepped forward and snatched his wife's wrist, pulling her backward.

Ivy stumbled and grabbed her face where she'd been hit. She looked up at Delaney in horror and when her hands moved away they revealed a bright red handprint across the side of her face.

Vincent let go of Delaney's wrist now and she took a step back towards the maid, her face stony.

"It seems you forgot who you were speaking to but now that you have been reminded I will also remind you of another important fact you've forgotten. My husband, the Duke of Edgewood, is the favorite cousin of our King. All it would take is a quick note from me, explaining your transgressions, and soldiers would comb the land until they found you and threw you in prison for the rest of your pathetic life."

The maid took a step back, her eyes wild with fear.

"When we leave here today, you will never again speak a single word about myself, my husband, or anything related to us. If you do I will find out and when I do you will wish you had listened to me today. Do you understand Ivy?"

The maid swallowed and nodded quickly. Delaney took a step back then and turned a sweet smile back to Lady Michael who was pale and watching things unfold with a look of disbelief.

"Lady Michael I think it would be for the best if you dismissed Ivy from your household," Delaney spoke to her with a sympathetic tone that was completely pretend, "Don't you?"

"Oh uh yes," the older woman hurried to agree, "Of course your grace. Ivy, you will pack all your things now and someone will take you into town."

"But my Lady!" the girl exclaimed.

"Go now Ivy!" Lady Michael commanded, pointing a boney finger towards the door.

With tears in her eyes, the girl ran from the room. As soon as she was gone, the older woman turned back to the beautiful duchess and the tall, silent duke.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble," Delaney apologized, "I hope you understand."

"Of course Lady Adair! It's no trouble at all! I'm sorry she was able to spread her nasty stories from beneath my roof!"

"It absolutely wasn't your fault. We will be on our way now though. Thank you so much, Lady Michael. I'll stop and catch up with you next time I'm visiting my Aunt and Uncle."

With those words, Delaney turned and met the serious face of her husband. She took his arm and together they walked out into the evening air. They got in their carriage and were again on their way.