My Once Handsome Husband

The next day Delaney and Vincent dressed and while they were eating their breakfast with Felix and Flora, Harris and Ms. Bird packed up their things. By the time the summer heat was starting to bake the land outside, they were nearly ready to leave.

Vincent went out to the carriages to speak to the men and make sure everything was as it should be. As soon as he had stepped away, Felix asked Delaney to speak to him in his study.

Delaney hesitated, looking out where her husband was talking to Harris by the carriages and pointing at something. If her Uncle wanted to speak to her in his study that meant that it was going to be a serious conversation. She didn't like the idea of having such a conversation without Vincent but Felix must have been waiting for a chance to speak with her alone.

Biting her lip anxiously Delaney followed her Uncle, not able to come up with a good enough excuse to get out of it. She stepped into his study and he closed the door behind her. Felix gestured for her to take a seat and she did so.

"I wanted a chance to talk to you where you could speak freely without worrying about upsetting your husband."

Felix looked at her seriously as he folded his hands on his desk.

"I've heard disturbing stories about your husband Delaney. They are so severe in fact, that along with his appearance and physical ailments, my lawyer thinks we have a strong case to put before the king to get your marriage annulled."

Delaney's mouth fell open, shocked by his words. "A-annul my marriage?"

"Yes. I've been told about you trying to leave Edgewood in the middle of the night and Vincent coming after you. It's said he can lose his sanity sometimes too. With those stories..."

"Those are lies," Delaney interrupted her Uncle, her anger at the stupid maid and her gossiping ex-friend bubbling up again, "He's never trapped me at Edgewood or come close to hurting me. Not ever."

Felix looked taken aback by this revelation. His mouth opened and closed, trying to think of how to respond.

"Those are the lies Selina is spreading about my husband and I. She heard them from a disgruntled maid I dismissed. Those lies are why I won't be speaking to her again."

Felix frowned then nodded thoughtfully, "I'm truly happy to hear that. I'm sorry she's spreading such vicious gossip but I'm so relieved that's all it is. Your Aunt and I have been worried sick about you. We've wanted to go to Edgewood since we heard the stories but we feared we would make him angry."

Delaney shook her head, smiling sadly at her Uncle, "Vincent is a kind man. He would be happy to have my family come and stay with us. Miles and my other friends were just there for more than two weeks. You should have asked one of them about those stupid stories."

Felix sighed, "I'm afraid we put our faith in Selina and trusted her to want what's best for you."

"That's alright," Delaney smiled with understanding, "No harm done."

Felix nodded and sat quietly, lost in thought. He studied Delaney for a time before cautiously continuing.

"You know Delaney if you still want free from your marriage we could find that maid and pay her to tell the King her version of the incidents she witnessed. You wouldn't have to even go there. I could go on your behalf with my lawyer. With those stories and his obvious impairments we could..."

"I don't want out of my marriage Uncle Felix," Delaney spoke quickly, shaking her head, "If I had had this chance before, maybe I would have agreed but I won't now. I love Vincent completely and he loves me. I want to be married to him."

Felix frowned, "But Delaney he clearly isn't well. When he walked in last night I thought he might fall from that limp. And there's still poison inside him. Not to mention those horrible scars. I don't know how you stomach looking at that every day."

Now it was Delaney who frowned but stood up, "If you'll excuse me Uncle, I'm quite finished defending my marriage to everyone all day. I love Vincent. The scars, the limp, none of those things bother me. We are very happy together and I have no interest in bringing that to an end."

Felix nodded, "I understand my girl. I just wanted to let you know it is an option that is available to you. If you are happy with your life with Vincent though we'll never speak about it again."

"I'm very happy with him. I would be happy if you could support our marriage now instead of continuing to try to break it. I know you were doing that for me but I just don't need it."

"Of course," Felix nodded, quickly agreeing, "But I must ask Delaney, what about the one-year arrangement you and he agreed upon? Is that still in place?"

Delaney sighed and crossed her arms, "For now it is but I'm hoping to change his mind. I want to be with him forever."

Uncle Felix came around his desk and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I hope then that you are able to convince him. If there is anything I can ever do to help you only need to ask."

"Thank you," Delaney smiled fondly up at him.

Just then there was a light knock at the door and Felix called for the person to enter. His butler opened the door and stepped back, allowing Vincent to come in. The tall man looked nervously between his wife and her Uncle.

"Uh, I'm sorry to interrupt. The carriages are ready to leave now but if you need more time we can wait."

"Oh no Vincent," Felix chuckled, "We're all finished. Besides my niece is eager to get back to your side."

A smile pulled at Vincent's lips as he looked down at her. Delaney stood and gave Felix a hug goodbye before she hurried to her husband. Taking his face in her hands, she kissed him sweetly before taking his arm and turning to leave.

"Oh Delaney," her Uncle called after her, causing her to pause and look back at him, "I'm so pleased to see you happy. And Vincent, thank you for making her so."

"I assure you sir, she makes me equally happy if not more so," Vincent smiled warmly at the older man before looking back down at his wife.

After saying their goodbyes, they were soon on their way again. Before they had left Edgewood Delaney had sent a message ahead to one of Vincent's cousins saying that they would be traveling by and asking if they might stay a night. The woman, Felicia, had replied right away that she would be delighted to have them.

Felicia was Vincent's cousin through his mother, so not someone born with noble blood. Violet's father had been a very wealthy merchant with one daughter and one son. Violet had married a nobleman and gained a title. Her brother however had inherited the rest of their father's wealth and married their mother's lady's maid.

Felicia and her brothers were what came of that union. Violet had seen to it though that her niece was sent to school as Delaney had been. Vincent's cousin had been at the school for two years while Delaney was but they hadn't spoken much, Delaney having her group of friends and Felicia having her own best friend she was inseparable from.

"Your mother arranged Felicia's marriage didn't she?" Delaney asked Vincent as they rode along in the carriage that afternoon, discussing the woman they would be staying with.

Vincent nodded, "She did. My mother used my father's connections to take Felicia to the King's court with her and introduce her to every eligible man she came across. Unfortunately, Felicia was a bit hard to manage."

Delaney smirked, "Someone related to you and your mother? Hard to manage? I can't believe that."

Vincent smiled, rolling his eyes at her sarcasm. "She made friends with the Queen's niece Rose and the two of them enjoyed causing trouble it seems. Mother still managed to find someone for Felicia though. She got married and became Lady Walters."

"But her husband died didn't he? In the dragon war?"

Vincent looked down at his hands nodding, "He did. They had just found out Felicia was pregnant again."

Delaney looked sadly at her husband. She knew because he had led the men into battle for the war he held guilt for every life lost, especially if it was someone close to him. She moved to sit beside him and took his hand. Leaning up, she kissed his scarred cheek and rested her head on his shoulder.

"She lives in their manor with Rose and the three children now. She had twins the second time. I don't recall their names I'm afraid. There are two boys and a girl."

"Rose," Delaney said thoughtfully, "Wasn't there some scandal around her? I thought I remembered hearing about it at a lunch."

Vincent sighed and leaned back, going tense for a moment when they hit a bump. Once he'd relaxed again he continued.

"Rose had a marriage contract with another man who was fighting in the war but he was much younger. When Felicia's husband died, Rose moved into the manor with her. After the war was over though I suppose she didn't want to abandon her friend. She pleaded with the King and Queen and had her marriage contract broken so she could stay with Felicia and the children."

"Really?" Delaney asked in surprise, "She's never been married then?"

Vincent shook his head, "Felicia has never married again either. They manage the estates together until the boys are old enough to take over. If Rose wasn't the Queen's niece it probably wouldn't be allowed."

Delaney considered this. She wondered what it would be like to have three children and no husband. It couldn't be easy but having her best friend living with her and helping her must have been a blessing.

Delaney dozed off leaning against Vincent's shoulder as she imagined what the women must be like. Soon she would know.