“What do you mean?” I licked my lips. Did I? I couldn’t tell. “Don’t you like kissing me now?” If he didn’t, what would I do?
“I will always love kissing you.” He did it again to prove it. But I didn’t miss the look of almost distaste that crossed his face. “Blood. You’re right. That should set you to rights. If the poison lingers in your system, we know my blood will heal you.” He offered his vein. “Take as much as you need. I can always find someone to drink from tomorrow night.”
I hesitated. Just touching him might expose him to the evil inside me. I stared into his eyes. Jeremiah wasn’t afraid of that, not at all. I meant that much to him. I fought tears and made light of things to keep the tears from spilling.
“You’ll drink from someone like Brianna, the scullery maid? I saw her giving you a look that made me want to toss her down the well.” I was relieved when he smiled before I pulled him down and licked that vein pulsing in his throat. When I struck, he sighed, as if it pleased him to give me his blood. I’m sure it did. We enjoyed nourishing each other. I held onto him and savored his taste. There was no change there.
Jeremiah Campbell was life to me and I craved it. I drank mindlessly until I realized I was being greedy. I finally pulled away and licked the wound clean.
“Thank you.” I touched his pale face. “I hope I left you enough to see you through until morning.” I kissed his cheek. I was afraid to touch his lips. “I will give it time to restore me.” I yawned again. “Good night, Jeremiah.” I rolled over and closed my eyes. How did I feel? Like a mortal? For a moment I almost wished… No, I had made my choice and there was no going back.
Jeremiah’s arm snaked around me and he pulled me in. “Good night, my love. Don’t worry, you will be fine. I am sure of it.” He kissed my bare shoulder then his arm went slack. He’d fallen into his death sleep. I waited for mine while I stared into the dark room. And waited. What was wrong with me? Finally, my eyes began to close. It was sleep but what kind?
“Lady Anne looks a treat, mistress. Come and see.” Mercy finished my hair and stepped back. “You will outshine her, I’m afraid.” She giggled. “Jolie gave you the most beautiful dress!”
“I do love it.” I smoothed the bodice that sparkled with beads. I had always loved red and looked well in it. Jolie had made it fit perfectly and left off all of the extra ornaments like sleeves and collars that were in fashion. The dress was simple, cut low in front, and flattering to someone with a full figure like mine. Mercy was right. I’d never looked better.
“Madame daVinci is already with the bride. They are waiting for you.” Mercy began to straighten the room. “Such finery!”
“What about you, Mercy? Are you getting married this day?” I picked up the painted fan Flo had given me. She’d come by as soon as we’d risen after sunset to see how I fared. The fan was a present she said to say how sorry she was that she hadn’t gone with me to see the witch. She’d felt guilty. I tried to make her feel better but hadn’t turned down such a beautiful present.
“Oh, mistress, I am!” Mercy put her hands to her pink cheeks. “After the bishop is done with Lady Anne and the captain, he’s to marry Colin and me. Can you believe it? He’s a bishop, not a village priest. Come from a castle nearby. So fancy.” She looked down at her swollen stomach. “We didn’t tell him the babe isn’t Colin’s. The bishop gave my sweetheart such a scolding! And Colin just took it, standing there with his arm around me.” She wiped away a tear. “I love him so.”
I hugged her. “I am happy for you. I have come to see that Colin is a good man, deserving of greater responsibility. He will provide well for you and your child.” I pulled out a pale blue shawl with silver stars that Jolie had made for me but I knew would suit Mercy better. “I want you to have this to wear with your wedding dress. I think it will look a treat with your dark hair.”
“Oh, it is beautiful. Much too fine for me.” She stroked the silk.
“No, it’s not. Nothing is too fine for you.” I picked up a purse I’d asked Jeremiah to fill that evening. He’d been very generous. He liked Colin and knew him well since both he and Mercy came from Dollar near the Campbell Castle. “This is from Jeremiah. He hopes you two will have a long and happy life together, wherever it may be.”
Mercy’s eyes widened when she felt the weight of the purse. “Oh, mistress, Lord Campbell is such a fine man. I know you love him, just like I love my Colin. How did we get so lucky?”
“I ask myself that question every night.” I hurried to the door. I had yet to kiss Jeremiah since I’d awakened this evening. I could only hope I had regained my familiar taste. Too bad that for some reason I’d overslept. Because I still held some poison inside me? I prayed not. Jeremiah had been gone from our bed when I’d finally opened my eyes. It was a worry. At least I wasn’t tired now, just eager to get on with what promised to be a busy night.
“I hope I’m not making Lady Anne late for her own wedding. Is the chapel decorated?” I was ashamed that I’d never even been inside.
“Holly and the maids have been busy. It looks very fine. They found some spring flowers and leaves and made the altar pretty. There are no seats so the guests will have to stand but the bishop has promised to keep the ceremony short.” Mercy followed me across the hall to the solar.
Colin stood in the hall. “There you are, Mercy. What is that you’re wearing? You look very pretty.” He glanced at me, then grinned and pulled Mercy in for a hug.
“Oh, Colin, just see what I’ve got. This shawl from Mistress Gloriana and a purse from Lord Campbell for both of us. Feel the purse!” Mercy put it into his hand.
“My! Lord Jeremiah shouldn’t have done this. He pays me generous wages as it is.” Colin kept his arm around Mercy. “This is enough to buy our own cottage in Dollar if that is what you want, lovey.”
“Maybe, someday.” She leaned against him. “I am happy here for now. Aren’t you?” She looked up at him.
I cleared my throat. “Run along, both of you. I will see you later. I want to be a witness at your wedding. Be sure to let me know when it is set to start.” I opened the door to the solar.
Lady Anne’s mother was weeping into her handkerchief while Anne herself was trying to console her. Flo stared out the window. She looked beautiful in another of Jolie’s creations. Hers was green to match her eyes. It fit her body perfectly. I had no doubt that Jolie would one day be a famous dressmaker no matter where she decided to ply her trade.
“What’s amiss?” I looked to Lady Anne first, but she nodded toward Flo when her mother leaned against her. “Flo? What happened?”
“That beast Clyne sent Lady Rose a letter. He is claiming a broken heart. That he will kill himself if Rose doesn’t come to him.” Flo threw up her hands. “Why she cares if he lives or dies, I don’t understand.”
“She still loves him.” Lady Anne said from across the room. “I don’t understand it either. He wants her to bring him the last of her jewels. It is his greed again, not love, that moves him, I just know it.” She finally stepped away from her mother. “Mama! Do you really intend to ruin my wedding?”
“What? No!” Lady Rose mopped at her wet cheeks. “But Clyne will do it. Kill himself. He is just that selfish. I will have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life.”
“Ah, so you are not so heartbroken as you are worried you are sinning in some way.” Flo smiled. “This, I understand. The priest has been here, hasn’t he?”
Lady Rose fell into a chair. “Yes. He is right. I belong with my husband. How can I stand by and allow him to commit a mortal sin?”
I’d heard enough. “Lady Rose, the man I met here would never kill himself. He was too arrogant, sure of his worth, to ever leave this earth willingly. Do you agree?” I watched her closely.
“Oh, you are right. Clyne has always thought he was better than everyone around him. Even the king! He has ancient bloodlines and is kin to the Stewarts. A run of bad luck? Someone cheated he’d say. Good luck? Oh, he was
the most skilled player who ever picked up a card.” Rose blew her nose. “He will say anything to get his way. I’ve caught him in the most outlandish lies!” She fingered the rope of pearls at her neck. “He’s after the last of my jewels of course. They won’t last a sennight in his hands.”
“Then this threat is one of his lies.” I handed her the shawl that matched her dress. “Lady Anne, are you ready to leave for the chapel? I believe it is time for you to get married.” I picked up the fan I knew Flo had painted for her as another wedding present. “Are you carrying this?”
“Yes, yes I am. It is so pretty.” Lady Anne adjusted her own shawl. She was dressed all in blue, a lovely gown that suited her. Flo and I had insisted she get something made by Jolie while she was here and she’d picked out a style without beading, claiming the captain didn’t like such embellishments.
“Lady Rose? Are you ready to take your daughter to the chapel?” I had to ask the question. Rose kept fingering those pearls. Was she thinking of letting them go to that man?
“Yes, I’m ready.” She wiped her eyes, then gathered a prayer book and a fresh handkerchief. “Clyne will be fine. I will ignore his empty threats. He always manages to come about.”
“I’m sure he will. Jeremiah can send someone to make sure he gets on the next ship as he promised.” I was surprised he hadn’t already done that.
“I cannot care what happens to him.” Lady Rose kissed her daughter’s cheek. “Tonight, we are celebrating Anne’s wedding. Let’s proceed.”
“You both look beautiful.” Flo finally stepped away from the window and gestured for me to come close to her. She leaned in to whisper. “Glory, I see a ship. It is still far away. I hope it doesn’t mean anything.”
I stared out the window. A ship? Were we being attacked? No cannon boomed and the guards in the towers weren’t sounding an alarm yet. Flo and I had vampire sight and the ship, if it indeed was one, was barely a dot on the horizon. Still, I had a feeling… If no one sounded an alarm soon, I would tell Jeremiah what we’d seen.
I looked again. One dot had turned into three. My stomach pitched.
“If we say anything now, Anne will never get her marito .” Flo gripped my hand in warning. “They are still so far away. They could turn, you know. Go on down the coast.”
“Yes, I know. But we can’t ignore the possible danger.” I glanced over my shoulder. Anne and her mother were waiting by the door. “Let’s hurry this along then tell our men what we have seen.”
“It may be nothing.” Flo waved her fan as she turned away to join the other ladies.
“Or it could be something terrible.” I flipped open my own fan. My face felt hot as the witch’s warning haunted me. Three ships? Who else would be coming here? It had to be the pirates, bent on revenge. The one they really wanted was me. I tried and failed to put on a smile as I followed the women to the chapel.
21
T he chapel did look very nice, though it was small and would have been dark if it had not been for the dozens of candles set along the walls. The small altar was placed in front of a single cross made of carved wood. It had been decorated with dozens of spring flowers and leaves. The bishop wore a long white robe, heavily embellished, and a conical hat. I was surprised at how formal he looked. He seemed prepared to preside at one of the grand abbeys in Edinburgh.
“Where did this priest come from?” I whispered to Jeremiah as we waited for the ceremony to start. I was not familiar with the procedure but he whisked Anne and the captain over to an alcove to sign the register as soon as we arrived. It became clear to me that this was an important part of the ceremony.
“Not a priest, a bishop. I don’t like it, but the only man available who could marry the two was staying at the MacDonald castle. He came from there. Look at him. He’s one of the king’s spies, I’m sure.” Jeremiah glowered, not an appropriate look for such a happy occasion. On his other side, Lady Rose was weeping again.
“Why didn’t your man put Clyne on a ship to France, Jeremiah? He caused more mischief tonight and sent Lady Rose a letter.” I passed her a fresh handkerchief.
“There wasn’t one in port. You can tell me what he’s done later. Here comes the bishop.” Jeremiah put on a solemn but approving face. He was standing in for Captain Burnett as his best man. “I cannot believe what I’m seeing.”
A group of men and a lady entered the chapel from a side door. They were also dressed in finery. The men wore kilts similar to Jeremiah’s. But that certainly was not the Campbell plaid I’d come to recognize.
“Is that—?
“Robert MacDonald and his bride.” Jeremiah had his hand on his sword. He’d explained that, as best man, tradition held he be ready to defend the groom from anyone who might interfere with the wedding. Was this what he would use as an excuse to start trouble?
“What could they want here? I doubt they know either Lady Anne or the captain.” I liked Robert and Fiona and was glad she looked so well. When we’d left Edinburgh, she’d been secluded after claiming she’d lost their child. Naturally, it had been a hoax since vampires can’t sire children. Fiona had desperately wanted to marry Robert and had used the ruse to get the king, her very close cousin, to insist upon a wedding. Then King James had sent them to this island with the charge to get along with the Campbells. Jeremiah’s own appointment as Guardian of the Coast had been a reward for losing Fiona as a potential bride.
The reward of a fine title had been the one bright spot in the situation. Living together here? Not an easy task when the Campbells and the MacDonalds were sworn enemies. I heard the laird, who stood behind me, curse when he saw the MacDonald party.
Jeremiah turned to warn his father. “Da, we cannot start trouble. I gave the king my word I’d stop this feud with the MacDonalds.”
“I am head of our clan, son. Or did you forget it?” Angus glared at Jeremiah. “If I want to lop off the bastard’s head and stick it on a pike, I’ll damn well do it.”
Flo gripped his father’s sword arm. “And ruin the wedding? No, you will not. Lady Anne has dreamed of this night. Spoil it and I’ll be done with you.”
“You don’t understand, leannan . One of that clan killed my oldest son.” He glanced at Jeremiah. “And others dear to my heart.”
“I am sorry, mio amore , but this is not the time or place to get your revenge. The son you have left here has asked you to behave. Will you do it?” Flo stared up at him, obviously saying more with her eyes.
“Listen to her, Da. You know how I feel, but I must put my feelings aside and greet MacDonald as a guest. We will have a reckoning someday, I promise you. But not tonight.”
Jeremiah pulled me forward to greet the bishop and his entourage. “Sir, thank you for coming.” He nodded. “MacDonald.” He kissed Fiona’s cheek. “Fiona, it’s good to see you looking so well.”
“Lord Campbell.” The bishop smiled at everyone as if this was a wonderful evening. “I know you are anxious for us to start the marriage ceremony. Shall we proceed, sir?”
“Yes, of course.” The captain held Lady Anne’s hand and eyed the lofty group that stood near the altar. He didn’t know those who had arrived but now had more witnesses than any of us had bargained for. He was clearly surprised at the way they were all well-armed and glowering at each other.
“Captain, Lady Anne, may I present the Earl of Leven and his countess who have honored us with their presence.” The bishop made the introductions and everyone did the necessary.
“Fiona, you look beautiful.” I was delighted when she rushed forward to grasp my hands.
“I was about to say the same about you, Gloriana. I must know the name of your dressmaker.” She turned me around. “I have never seen such exquisite workmanship. Look at me, I am drowning in fussy lace and could barely fit into the carriage. Robert complained all the way here.”
“It is very pretty lace.” I did admire the full sleeves on her silver gown. “How long is the journey between our castles? Jeremiah won’t consi
der a visit, though I was hoping we’d make one soon.”
“It is a few hours. Not long at all.” Fiona leaned in. “I had to remind Robert that the king has spies who will report if we don’t make an effort to show unity here. He cannot forget that feud. When he heard the bishop was requested, Robert decided this wedding was the excuse he needed to come and show support for the fight against the pirates.”
“You’re sure the king has spies? Jeremiah just mentioned it but it’s a good reminder that he must pretend to get along with Robert.” I knew it was unlikely Jeremiah would set foot in a MacDonald stronghold though.
I was sorry about that. Fiona knew I was a vampire and I liked her. I really enjoyed having a female friend to confide in who knew what I was. I didn’t fool myself that Flo would stay much longer.
Fiona frowned. “I heard you were attacked by the pirates and wounded. I’m glad to see you seem healed. How do you feel?”
“I am fine now, thank you.” I gestured for Flo to join us. “It was an ordeal, I don’t mind telling you. But come, meet my friend Madame Florence daVinci. Flo, this is the Countess of Leven, Fiona MacDonald.”
Flo sank into one of her court curtsies. Fiona matched her. Soon they were talking like old friends. In Italian. I realized we were keeping the wedding from going forward and gestured to Jeremiah. He was busy keeping his father from hurling insults at Robert.
“We must let the wedding proceed. Can you do something?” I realized Jeremiah had managed to call in some of our own guard, besides my ever-present Valdez, and the chapel was now crowded with armed men.
“Of course.” He raised his hands and shouted. “Attention. We are ready to begin.” There was a quick shuffling of feet and everyone settled into place. The bishop stood at the altar with Jeremiah and Captain Burnett in front of him. Lady Anne had her mother by her side. Anne did look lovely and I was happy to notice that the captain couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
Soon they were saying vows. Jeremiah kept his hand on his sword and eyed the MacDonald group warily as if sure they had evil intent. Malcolm had just slipped a ring on Anne’s finger when we heard shouts from outside.
Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Page 26
