Share

Chapter Five

last update Last Updated: 2021-08-31 02:59:08

The arrival of the earl’s groom brought his request back to the forefront.  I had no choice but to comply with the summons.  I smoothed my hair under my cap as best I could and wiped my hands in the folds of my apron.  It may seem silly, but I was meeting Duncan’s father and my natural desire was to make a good impression.  Why?  I couldn’t say.  It just was.

My mind whirled as I followed the young man up the wooden stairs of the tavern to the Earl’s room at the end of the hall.  I’d never been on this floor of the inn and couldn’t help feeding my curiosity a bit.  The walls were covered with flocked paper and appeared smooth and well kept.  As we progressed down the hall with its well tread-upon floorboards, I noticed the doors grew further and further apart; indicating that the rooms they led to were slightly larger and intended for their more important guests.  This made sense since the noise of the tavern was also quite muted this far back in the building. 

The groom had barely tapped his knuckles against the polished oak door when it swung opened. The earl’s valet bowed and motioned me to enter.  I passed by him hesitantly while I scoped the room for the earl.  I found him sitting in the shadows on the opposite side of the room.  He was so near the thick tapestry draperies; he could have easily been lost in them, had he chosen to be.

I stood motionless while the valet stepped quietly out into the hallway and carefully closed the door behind him. 

We were alone.

I don’t know exactly how much time passed in silence.  It was probably less than what it felt like, but it was long enough for panic to start spreading through me.  My legs threatened to turn to rubber and collapse at any moment while my arms felt like they’d been filled with lead.  Not only couldn’t I move them, but their weight was bound to pull my torso to the floor with swiftness when my legs finally gave out.

That was exactly what was about to happen when he spoke and stopped the process with three little words, “Good evening m’ lady.”

I stood frozen, unable to make sense of his statement. My panic was immediately transmuted to curiosity. After an even longer interval of silence, during which I managed to regain control of my facilities, he spoke again.

“I fretted you were lost to us forever.  ‘Tis splendid you found your way back,” he continued.

If there was ever a time when I could admit to being stuck on stupid, this was it.  I had absolutely no idea what he talked about and no idea how to respond.  So, I just stood there like an idiot and stared at this shadowy figure that obviously had me confused with someone else. I forced myself to relax enough to find my tongue.

“Might I know with whom I speak?”  I asked stiffly, while I searched my mind for an idea of how to correctly handle this situation.

This mistake in identity could actually work in my favor.

“Of course,” he said as he stepped slowly into the light.

My heart caught in my throat as I stared at the man who could have easily been Duncan’s older brother.  With the exception of a stronger jaw line, graying temples that blended in with his light hair, and lines that spoke of his years on earth, they had amazingly similar features.  His height was very close to Duncan’s.  If I stood them back to back, I think I’d be hard pressed to measure a half inch difference in Duncan’s favor.  Their body type was so similar they could have easily exchanged clothing.   What caught my breath in my throat were the eyes.  They were the same, piercing sea foam blue eyes that captured my heart and changed my life.

I suddenly felt very dizzy.

“Are you unwell?” he asked as he rushed forward to steady me.

I felt a twinge that could only be compared to a light electrical shock run up my arm as he held my elbow to steady me. It created an odd mixture of unsettling comfort.

He felt familiar; comfortable.

Yet, being near him also felt scary, and possibly a little dangerous.

Confusion mingled with frustration and fear as I pierced through to the recesses of my mind to somehow pull up the reason why I’d have this mixture of emotions and feelings when I’d only just met this man.  He obviously felt he knew me and I was apparently held in high regard.  This leverage could be used to get me close enough to Duncan to pull off what I’d come to do.

It was imperative that I said and did the right thing.  This was not an opportunity to waste.  I might not get another.

I grabbed my head and allowed my legs to go limp.

“Come, my dear,” he said with genuine concern as he guided me to a nearby silver and aubergine dauphine chair. 

I allowed him to lead me as I scrambled for a plan.

“Your time travels have clearly taken more out of you than anticipated,” he said softly.

Okay.  I wasn’t expecting that.  My body froze for a second before I collected my wits and went along with it.  Apparently the plan was working itself out without my brain getting involved.

“I believe so,” I replied weakly.

“I hate that you returned as this,” he said as he swept his arms over my person.  “I regret my duties prevented me from receiving you sooner.  There was jargogle of times and places. Please forgive me.”

“Fret not,” I replied with a weakness that wasn’t completely false.  The sudden change of events had literally knocked me off balance. “I require but a bit of rest.”

“Of course.  Let us get you home where you belong.  I have no doubt you long to burn those rags and soak in a soothing lavender bath. I shall send ahead to inform Elizabeth to be prepared,” he said as he walked toward the door.

I listened while he gave his valet, Jonathan, instructions on preparations for our leaving and did my best to release the tension that threatened to become a permanent condition in my muscles.  I wondered how long it would take before I was actually in that lavender bath.  I could already feel the water swirling around my tired bones and aching muscles.

When he returned, I grabbed both his hands in mine.

Startled, he gasped and knelt before me.

“What is it?” he asked gently.

“I beg your assistance with a difficulty that has arisen,” I said softly.  I allowed my eyes to brave his mesmerizing orbs.  I felt that the sincerity of contact was needed in order to pull off my ruse, “I have lost much of my recollection.  ‘Tis coming to me in bits and pieces, but I fear I shant know all I should know and people shall question me.”

He chuckled.

“Our house will ne’r think a thing of it,” he assured me. They are well aware of your mission and, although they might be surprised of such a side effect after several successful trips already completed without such a side effect, they shall remain loyally silent.”  He massaged his chin while he thought, “It might not do to have you enter society until you have regained your memory.  The house guests and staff are one thing… society…. hmm, ‘twould be best to take precautions.  I hope you agree.”

Wow, that was way too easy.  I had no idea who this lady he mistook me for was, but I wanted to thank her profusely for the opening she gave me into Duncan’s home and life.  With any luck, I’d be heading back to the future with my mortal honey by my side within the week.  Things were looking up.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Latest chapter

  • For Love of a Vampire   Chapter Thirty-Seven

    It was a week since I’d convinced Duncan to speed up my recovery by giving me some of his blood. He’d hesitated for fear of Rosalie’s concern of my turning vampire would occur, but he eventually gave in. I really didn’t need his blood to heal. I was healing well without it, but I didn’t tell him that. When I had Duncan’s blood flowing through my veins all of my senses were heightened and my powers more acute. I needed all the advantage I could get for what I was about to do.I’d managed to connect with Elizabeth’s spirit. She wasn’t as easy to summon as Isabelle’s, but I eventually managed. My heart ached as she told me how Lady Margaret learned of her association with me and arranged to have her killed. She laughed at the irony of how she’d feared losing her life to her vampire brother instead of her human mistress. The danger of being in Rufus’ company was so blatantl

  • For Love of a Vampire   Chapter Thirty-Six

    Isabelle stood next to me while we watched Lady Helen enter the tent and then flee back out of it shouting for help. Duncan cradled my limp body in his arms and rocked me back and forth. He was clearly at a loss of what to do.Rosalie rushed into the tent with Lady Helen close at her heels. She inspected my eyes and my breathing and announced I was still alive, but just barely. She rambled in outraged Spanish and Isabelle translated it to me. Apparently she was repremanding my almost dead body for being foolish enough to donate blood when the miscarriage took more than it should to begin with. She claimed I had barely enough blood flowing in my veins to support me after such an ordeal, let alone revive a vampire. I’m pretty sure she called me stupid, although Isabelle woundn’t own up to it if she did.I listened while they debated what to do. I was so close to death that if Duncan revived me with his blood the

  • For Love of a Vampire   Chapter Thirty-Five

    I held tight while her dragon carried us swiftly back to her encampment. During the flight, she filled me in on what happened during my absence.Duncan went into a rage, declaring his regrets about allowing us to convince him to let me go into the cave in his stead. This information was of no surprise to me. Even so, I was sorry to hear it.Lady Margaret was brought before the coven and her powers were bound. She was then handed over to the Earl of Winter Spring to do with as he will. The fact that she’d tried to kill his only heir and caused him to become vampire didn’t sit well with the earl. Although it was a crime punishable by death, he sent her to the dungeon instead. A kind man by nature, he couldn’t bring himself to hang the girl he’d accepted as his ward and helped raise.I’d lost track of the time and learned they’d been looking for me for the better part of a month. Rosalie actually complemen

  • For Love of a Vampire   Chapter Thirty-Four

    It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop on the grass twenty feet below. I was sure of it. This type of silence was abnormal and concerned me. I’d been locked in my room since Rufus discovered me at the cave, with only the information Elizabeth was able to share with me to tell me what was happening in the outside world. She’d yet to come to my room, so I waited impatiently.She was late.It was near noon before a strange serving woman brought my food to me. Since I was ravenous from not eating since the night before, combined with being pregnant with vampire child, I dove into my fare with very little thought as to why Elizabeth still hadn’t come to my room or why this strange serving woman was bringing me food.I failed to monitor my food intake and was soon feeling ill from gorging myself with a trencher made of fresh, crusty bread that was filled with perfectly seasoned mutton stew. I’d left nothing behi

  • For Love of a Vampire   Chapter Thirty-Three

    I was angry.I was angry at Duncan because he hadn’t mated with me vampire style to assure I’d be considered his.I was angry at Rufus because he had mated with me so many times since he’d brought me from the cave to his estate that I’d lost count.I was angry with Elizabeth because she wandered in and out of the room to tend to my needs, yet didn’t believe she could help me escape.I was angry with Rosalie for not being strong enough to battle and win against a dozen vampire witches by remote.I was angry with Isabelle for dying.I was angry with myself for stupidly being the catalyst for all of this by going back in time.In short, I was just angry.On top of that, my entire body ached.I was never as grateful to have Duncan’s vampire blood in me as I was when Rufus bedded me with such fury that I wondered if I’d survive. I’m sure, my body having only re

  • For Love of a Vampire   Chapter Thirty-Two

    I did my best to hide my nervousness as I walked into the mouth of the cave that felt more like the lion’s den. Elizabeth saw to it that I was dressed from head to toe in Margaret’s wardrobe. Her feet were slightly smaller than mine and the shoes pinched, but Rosalie was adamant that every article of clothing on my body have the vibration of the high priestess only. Vampires could smell and hear so much better than people. They had a sense of simply knowing that astounded the witches. Even with the precautions we were taking, there was still a good possibility one of them might discover the ruse for what it was.Capturing Lady Margaret was a relatively simple task. Duncan’s father simply sent her a request to meet in the family’s private library. Not realizing he was aware of her true nature, she walked right into the trap. Elizabeth confided that she worried what might happen, should Lady Margaret be exonerated by the coven, bu

More Chapters
Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status