Vincent and Delaney ate dinner together, and he walked her to her room after despite how tired he was. She stood in front of her door and studied him, worried by his appearance, but he smiled at her and kissed her hand.

    He promised her he would be better tomorrow after some sleep and she needed to do the same. Delaney considered asking to sleep in his bed with him again but he looked like he might simply fall over any moment so she decided against it.

    Ivy came and helped her undress. To Delaney''s relief, the girl was silent although she did seem uncomfortable. The maid told her Mrs. Crouch had looked for her for their conversation but hadn''t wanted to interrupt her with the Lord.

    "I will speak to her another time," was all Delaney had answered, not wanting the girl to think she was getting away with her behavior but also not in a rush to bring it to the housekeeper''s attention now that her anger had receded.

    Laying in her own bed after spending a night in Vincent''s bed with him, Delaney felt strangely alone. She had slept alone her entire life before that night but now suddenly it seemed different.

    She shook her head and thought herself foolish. Her own bed was just as nice as his. She didn''t need to be with him to get a night''s sleep.

    Delaney spent her night tossing and turning though and wondering if Vincent was doing the same. She wondered if his injuries were bothering him. Then she felt stupid for letting it keep her awake.

    The next morning she woke and dressed quickly, dismissing Ivy''s attempt to do her hair and just braiding it over her shoulder instead.

    As soon as she could, she went to Vincent''s room and found him already dressed, propped up in his bed, looking at papers he had spread out over the blanket in front of him. He smiled when he saw her and gestured for her to join him

    She removed her shoes and climbed into the bed on the opposite side, scooting over until she was sitting next to him.

    "What is all this?" Delaney asked, studying the papers.

    "These," he sighed, running a hand through his hair, "are the records for some of our properties." He reached over and picked up a small pile and handed them to her. "These are the ones for the orchards I was telling you about."

    Delaney looked over the pages of writing followed by pages of columns of numbers. It was all foreign and ununderstandable to her.

    "These are for the pig farms I invested in before the war," he picked up another pile before dropping it back in its place, "And these are from the horses."

    He pointed to piles and told her what they were each for and explained these were only the ones he was trying to look at today.

    "The secret to the Adairs having as much money as we do, is we never stop trying to earn more."

    "Well, the Adairs are only as rich as they are because of your business sense."

    He shook his head with a small smile, "No, my father had us on our way up before he passed away."

    "Yes, but you took what he was doing and lit a fire beneath it. I don''t believe he would''ve been able to make the estates as successful as you have."

    "Well thank you," he chuckled bashfully, "I don''t know that you''re right but I appreciate the compliment all the same."

    Delaney looked at him as his eyes scanned the papers in his hands. The muscles in his jaw twitched as he focused.

    "Do you think you should rest some more before you start stressing yourself? How were your stitches this morning?"

    He looked at her with roguish green eyes, "My stitches were fine this morning my Lady. You can ask Harris if you want a full report."

    "And what about the rest?" she rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.

    "I really need to look over these," he groaned, but took her hand in his and pressed a kiss to the back of it, "But I promise I''ll try to stay in bed as much as I can for a few days."

    Delaney sighed and studied him, he was still paler and more tired-looking than she would like.

    "How about this," he said then, "How about I teach you about these? What to look for and what the numbers mean. Maybe having a second set of eyes on them could help me to see things I wouldn''t otherwise."

    She looked at him in surprise, "You''d really want to teach me about the management of the estates?"

    "Of course," he chuckled, "I taught Miles and you''re just as smart as he is. Probably smarter if I''m honest."

    Delaney laughed at this but was suddenly excited, "You know my mother used to help my father manage our estates. They did their best work when it was the two of them together."

    "I''m not surprised if she was as smart as her daughter," Vincent grinned and Delaney blushed.

    "This will be good for both of us," he continued, "I will teach you how to manage. You''ll like the challenge. And I''ll get someone to talk things through with to make sure I''m making the best decisions."

    Delaney scooted closer to him on the bed and took a stack of papers in her hands, looking them over and wondering how she would ever understand the gibberish.

    "Besides," he looked at his lap, grinning sheepishly, "It''s a good excuse to keep you here with me keeping me company while I''m stuck in bed."

    Delaney giggled, "Well if having me for company keeps you in bed until you''re good and healed then it works out for me too."

    He laughed and leaned back, "Let''s get started then."

    Delaney sat on the bed with Vincent and listened intently as he taught her about the management of the estates. The servants brought in trays for their breakfast and they moved to the table to eat but Delaney couldn''t keep herself from continuing to ask questions.

    She wasn''t starting from scratch. After all, she owned the club and had helped Constance manage it until she''d gotten married. But managing all the estates and their various businesses was so much bigger and more challenging.

    Before they knew it, the servants had returned with lunch. They napped in the afternoon because Vincent was tired, but when they woke up they went back to the papers and the accounts. The next thing they knew, the servants were back again with their dinner on trays.

    The pair wrapped up their day by relaxing on the couches with wine. Again, Delaney considered asking to stay in his room with him but found she couldn''t get up the nerve to do so.

    Vincent hesitated but at last, asked if he could walk her to her room. She had laughed and teased that it was just next door but still took his arm and let him walk with her. He kissed her hand and told her good night before she closed her door behind her.

    The next day went the same way. As did the day after. By the time they had been married nearly two weeks, Delaney and Vincent were becoming friends and Delaney knew more about the running and managing of the estates than she ever would have imagined.

    Vincent''s wounds were healed enough for the doctor to come back and remove the stitches. He praised Delaney for managing to keep the duke in bed and get him to a full recovery.

    Once the stitches were out and Vincent was feeling up to it, the two decided to go for a walk outside to get some fresh air and stretch their legs.

    After walking along for a while Delaney reached out and took his hand in hers. Vincent smiled down at her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

    "I have an idea for us for tomorrow," Delaney said as they walked through the stables now, looking at the horses.

    "And what is that?"

    "I think we should explore the manor," she suggested enthusiastically, "You can show me all the secrets I should know."

    He laughed as they came to a stop in front of Frost''s stall and he scratched the beasts head, "I suppose it''s about time you learn the lay of the place. I''m sure Mrs. Crouch is eager to have you take up the reins as the mistress."

    Delaney blushed, "Do you think I''ve been being a bad mistress of the manor?"

    "No," he smiled reassuringly, "We were just married so I''m sure she wasn''t expecting you to take over right away. I''ll show you everything tomorrow though and then you can meet with her."

    "Alright," Delaney agreed, feeling suddenly nervous at the idea of running such an enormous manor.

    "I''ll show you everything tomorrow though," he said as they continued on, "Then maybe this place will start to feel like your home."

    Delaney felt her heart warm thinking of that. It was strange how she had felt so sure she wanted an independent life and not to marry Vincent. Yet in such a short time being married, he had given her the possibility of one day feeling like she was part of a family and now to have a real home of her own as well.

    She had never realized how much she had wanted these things. It was as if they were secret holes in her life she hadn''t known were there.

    She looked up at Vincent with his raised red scars webbing out over his neck and face. How was it that this man could manage to give her things she didn''t know herself that she needed?

    She wondered if she would ever be able to give him something so precious in return.