My Once Handsome Husband - Chapter 285

Delaney and Harris practically ran through the woods on the way back to their horses.  Delaney lifted her skirts so she wouldn’t trip but they still managed to catch on stray branches and she heard them rip.  She didn’t care though.  Right now the only thing she cared about was her husband.

Harris helped her up onto her horse but grabbed the reins before she could take off.  He looked up at her very seriously as the lantern illuminated his face.

“You need to be careful Delaney.  You can’t tear off on this horse like you would have before you were pregnant.  You have to be more gentle with yourself now so you don’t chance losing the thing you and Vince have wanted for so long.  Especially now.”

Delaney frowned at him, not appreciating him telling her what to do.  She knew he was right however so when he let go of the reins she took off at a quick trot instead of a full gallop as she longed to do.  He hurried to his own mount and was quick to catch up to her.

At Edgewood, the man was sliding down from his horse before it had even come to a complete stop on the gravel drive.  He hurried forward to help Delaney down before she tried to get down on her own and risked hurting herself.

“I’m not made of glass Harris,” she complained as he helped her.

“I know my Lady,” he said evenly, “But you’re not made of stone either and I promised Vince I’d look after you.”

Delaney bit her lip as she hurried up the stairs, feeling her heart warm as she imagined her sweet, protective husband being so worried about what would happen to her once he was gone that he enlisted so many people to look out for her.  She could only hope that now he wouldn’t have to worry anymore.  She just needed to get to the King’s City and speak to the witch.

“Delaney, you’re back!” Violet gasped and hurried forward as the younger woman came in through the front doors, “Where on earth have you been?  We’ve been worried sick.”

Delaney opened her mouth to answer but before she could, someone was calling to her from the top of the stairs.

“Were you out in the woods?” Miles demanded, making her look up at him as he came quickly down the steps, “Are you mad?  Do you know how angry Vince would be if he knew his pregnant wife had snuck away out into the woods in the night?”

“You didn’t tell him did you?” Delaney asked, looking between her mother and brother-in-law with worry.

“Of course not,” Miles frowned, crossing his arms as he came to stand in front of her, “There’s no point in waking him up just to worry him.”

“Your dress is ripped,” Violet looked startled by her discovery, coming forward to examine it closer, “And muddy.  What on earth were you doing in those woods?”

“You were going to see the witch weren’t you?” Miles looked at her with disapproval, “Why didn’t you tell me?  I would’ve gone with you.”

“Enough!” Delaney raised her hands in the air, “Both of you.  I’m a grown woman and can make my own decisions on what I’m going to do.  Of course, I went to see Opal Miles, and of course, I didn’t tell you.  We both know if I had, you never would have agreed to let me go.  You would have argued with me or told Vincent.”

Miles opened his mouth to argue but an icy look from Delaney shut him up.  She turned back and saw Duncan and Bernard coming to join them from opposite ends of the house, both looking relieved to see their best friend’s wife home safely.

“I’m hoping you will at least tell us why you went to speak with the witch?” Violet spoke up, “Since it was clearly very important to you.”

Now, Delaney couldn’t stop the smile that started to pull at her lips.

“Come with me to the sitting room and I’ll tell all of you the news.”

–

The friends and family filed into the lovely sitting room and took their seats.  Violet and Miles were together on a couch and Bernard and Duncan both sat in chairs.  They all faced their host who sat alone on another couch.  It didn’t take long for Delaney to relay the information the witch had told her.  The others listened with shocked expressions.

“Vincent never wanted to get help from the witches,” Violet commented quietly, staring at her hands in her lap, “I tried to convince him but he said magic was too risky.”

Miles gently patted his mother’s knee to comfort her.

“I know he doesn’t like magic,” Delaney nodded, “But if it’s magic that’s needed to save him then I’m going to get it.”

“Wait a minute,” Miles raised his hands in the air, frowning then, “First of all, it sounds like Opal was serious about it when she told you Helena might be able to save Vince but she wasn’t sure.  Second, it’s not going to be you that goes to get it, Delaney.  Vince is sick and you’re pregnant.  He’ll want you here.”

“What are you talking about?  Of course, I’m going to go get it.  None of the rest of you know Helena.”

“I do,” Violet countered nervously, “I met her when she was looking after you and Ian.  We talked some while we waited for you both to wake up.”

“Well fine then you can go with me if you’d like,” Delaney crossed her arms as she stared at him, “But I’m going either way.”

“No you’re not,” Miles argued, getting to his feet and looking down on her now, “If any of us is going then it will be me.  I’ll take mother if I have to but I’m sure I can speak to this witch on my own.”

“You can’t go, Miles,” Bernard spoke up with a sigh, “Cora is going to have your baby any day now.  She would never forgive you if you weren’t there when it happened and you know that.”

Miles dropped his gaze as if his upcoming fatherhood had momentarily slipped his mind.  He began pacing, running his hands over his face and through his hair like his older brother always did when he was under stress.  Delaney bit her lip as she thought again how similar they were.  She hoped that soon Vincent would be walking around tall and strong as well.

“I can go,” Duncan spoke surprising Delaney.  He had been silent any time he was around her.

“I can take Violet and we can go in one of the carriages,” he continued as he glanced around for approval.

“You can’t do that,” Bernard looked uncomfortable saying it, “You’re wife is already angry enough that you’ve been here this long.  If you don’t go home soon she’s likely to come here to drag you back herself.”

Delaney stared at Duncan curiously.  She had been wondering how he had managed to convince or escape Selina long enough to come here since everyone knew she thought nothing pleasant of Vincent.  Delaney was also fairly certain she had recently given birth to their baby.  She didn’t want to ask though and admit she still cared just a little about the woman who had once been her friend.

Duncan frowned from his place beside Bernard, “I let her have her way in many things so I can avoid the arguments but she’s not going to stop me from doing something that could save my friend’s life.  If there’s even a chance the witch can save Vince then I’m going.”

“Fine,” Bernard shrugged, looking unconvinced, “Then you and I can go with Violet.”

“And me,” Delaney reminded them, “I don’t care who doesn’t like it.  I’m going.”

The men looked at one another, uneasy, before a sound of annoyance escaped Miles.

“Delaney please stop.  You can’t go.  You need to stay here with Vince.  If this trip to speak to the witches leads to nothing then you will have thrown away days you could have been with him.”

“It’s not going to lead to nothing Miles,” she said seriously, “I know it’s not.”

“You don’t know that,” he looked at her desperately, “And you will never forgive yourself if you’re not here with him and something happens.”

“No,” she shook her head, “I will never forgive myself if I don’t go and I find out later that I could have saved him.”

He sighed and ran his hands over his face again, “Delaney…”

Miles didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence because at that moment the door to the sitting room suddenly opened and everyone jerked to look in that direction.  Harris rushed in, out of breath.  He searched the room until his eyes landed on Delaney.

“My Lady,” he panted, “I was just checking in on Vince and.. and please you have to come quick!”