Chapter 164: The Beautiful Captain

  Delaney finished with Ilona and returned to her room to soak in the tub with her husband.  They went to bed still damp and spent their night in each other's arms.  She slept in peace, not haunted by nightmares as she had been.

  Vincent was stiff as he dressed for court. Delaney watched him with worried eyes but knew better than to say much.  When he moved to talk to Harris she was quick to take her dose of the potion.

  Ms. Bird came to help her dress before they went together to see to Ilona. The maid had been up late in the night sewing and up early to go for the seamstress's help. Together they thought they'd managed to complete the dress but they wouldn't know until Ilona tried it on.

  Delaney had told Harris to prepare a bath for Ilona this morning so she should be washed and clean by the time they arrived to dress her.  Ms. Bird was carrying the dress and actually seemed quite excited to be taking care of the pirate woman.