by Aubrey Brown
George, bring me a blanket.
I will bring it presently, my lord.
He set her in his lap as he sat upon a chair and warmed her near the fire for a few moments. His butler brought in a warm blanket as requested. George quit the room without another word. He knew his master well, and had learned not to question.
As George left the room, he studied the strange girl. He moved her hair away from her face, and time seemed to stop. She was indeed pale, but her lips were full and her face slender. This slip of a girl was not precisely a girl. She was a woman. He felt something akin to warmth spread through his chest, which was odd since his heart stopped beating exactly two hundred years ago.
Gabriel Saxon-Worthington, the Earl Halverson, was born in the year 1620, to a very wealthy and prominent family in Ireland. He was reared by his Christian family and had believed in God until the year 1655 when a woman of nobility took him to her bed and changed him into the monster he was now.
Gabriel stared into the face of the pale woman and saw color return to her cheeks. He once again tried to read into her mind, but found his efforts blocked once more. He shifted her in his lap and found she was petite, but curvaceous. A puzzle was afoot here, and he wanted to know why this woman had run her horse through the rain only to end at a stranger’s home, a castle no less. This story was a mystery that needed to be solved.
* * * *
The morning of Emma’s wedding day showed bright and cheerful. Her father was waiting for her to come downstairs to break her fast and then dress, when an upstairs maid came running down the stairs.
“My lord, my lord, she is gone. Mistress Emma is gone.”
The baron sat stock still in his seat. Emma was gone? No it could not be.
“What do you mean she is gone? Go search the house for her, she must be here!”
He ran behind the maid and encountered Lily crying in Emma’s room. The sheets looked as if she never slept there. He threw open her bureau and found some of her dresses missing.
“Where is she? Where is my daughter?” he screamed.
“We do not know, my lord. She vanished.”
The baron ran down the stairs just as his valet came upon him, “My lord, one of your horses is missing. The stable-boy counted only eight this morning.”
His heart stopped inside of his chest. The duke was expecting his daughter to be at the church within a few hours.
“Search the grounds, she could not have gone far, go now!”
As his servants dispersed he sat heavily into his chair and worried his fingers into bleeding.
Hours passed, and there was no sign of Emma. Guests were gathering in the church, and the baron had to tell the duke that his bride was missing. He made his way to the church with a heavy heart.
As he entered he saw that guests were seated. The cream of the ton was seated with the duke standing at the back of the church.
“Your grace, we need to speak in private,” he said.
“Where is Emma, Westlake?”
“That is the matter of which we need to discuss,” he pleaded.
They walked into a dressing room, and the baron began. “Emma is missing. She was not found in her bed this morning. Some of her clothing is gone, and no one knows her whereabouts. I have had a search party and Bow Street Runners looking for her, however, she seems to have disappeared.”
The duke looked carefully neutral, but the feeling of mounting fury was in the air.
He backed Westlake into a wall and said, “Are you saying that my bride has run away from her own wedding?” At the baron’s nod, he continued. “And you say you have been searching for her all morning, why did you not come to me immediately? The whole of the ton is waiting for a wedding that is not to happen today.”
“Your Grace…”
The baron was stopped by the duke’s hand upon his neck. “You will find her, and you will bring her to me. I have made an investment in your so-called properties as well as others. You will either find her, or I will have you arrested for fraud and sent to debtor’s prison. You will eventually hang from the gallows for this. Do you understand? You will as well explain to everyone that Emma is very ill and must wait to be married until she is better. I shall hire my own searchers. They can be very persuasive.”
As the duke was speaking he was gradually tightening his grip upon Westlake’s throat. He was barely able to breathe. He now knew that Emma was right about the duke, but what could he do? He did not want to be hanged. So he nodded his head and expelled a breath once he was released. With fright, he ran from the room and headed toward the guests. He composed himself to speak. He was to start the search for Emma this very day.
* * * *
Early morning’s light shown bright into Emma’s tired eyes as she squinted against the harsh rays. She had a moment of panic when she realized she was in an unfamiliar room. Her heart sped, and her thoughts reeled. Moments later an older woman entered the room with a washing bowl, and one of her dresses ironed and ready to wear.
“Morning, miss, just a moment, and I will help ye wash and dress. George has asked that ye are to be directly taken into the parlor for an interview. My name is Anne.”
Emma’s mind rebelled against standing up to wash and dress. She was just able to keep from vomiting.
“Is there any advice you can give me about his lordship?” Emma asked.
The aging maid turned to her and stated, “He is the best employer I have ever had. Is that why ye are here then, for employment?”
“I heard word he may be seeking a governess?”
“Aye, he has two children who need attention. Master James and Lady Rose,” she muttered.
That statement, even given in a harsh grumbling tone, was reassuring. There was employment to be had here. When she saw the castle at first glance last evening, it looked foreboding, not at all the kind of place a gently bred woman would reside. It was the perfect domicile to hide from her father and the abusive duke.
Dressed and composed, Emma quit the room to follow Anne to the parlor, where the butler was waiting with tea. Emma had never thought she could or would be hungry again, but her stomach gave a protesting growl at the small fare on the tray.
“Anne, it would seem our guest is famished. Send a more robust meal from the kitchens.”
Surprised by his notice of her state, Emma was asked to be seated.
George was direct and quick to the point. “We are curious as to why a young lady would come upon our residence late at night, and during a summer storm?”
Emma was prepared with a story she thought upon for weeks.
“I heard of the need for a governess in this home, and I felt to hurry was of the essence since I have not been able to find employment with any families of nobility. You see once the lady of the house ascertains me, I am immediately judged and sent away. I am in need of employment and hoping to gain such with his lordship.”
Silence filled the room as a new tray was brought in with a few sandwiches and cut fruit. She looked upon the tray with longing, however, took proper bites in front of the butler.
“I see. There is a position of governess here. The children were left to Lord Halverson from a dear friend. The children have suffered greatly since the death of their parents. They are in need of a helping hand and teaching,” he said.
“Might you have references?”
Emma’s heart slowed. She had not thought of that. She was unfamiliar with the hiring process.
Emma knew she must have a struck look in her eyes at his question. He seemed to look more closely at her. She just hoped she had not given herself away.
“No matter, at the moment, we need someone to start immediately. The children are in the nursery. May I suggest you think upon lessons for today, and we will have you meet with them this evening? Please meet his lordship in the dining hall for supper this evening.”
At her affirmative nod, the butler left her to break her fast.
Emma sat in silence as she ate qui
ckly, her mind in a whirl. She had gained employment to a man of which did not interview her for the post. It was in fact daylight, and his lordship was not about; the rumors of Lord Halverson’s absence during the daylight hours were indeed true. And then something struck her. The butler did not ask for her name.
* * * *
Gabriel was in a dead sleep. It was symptomatic of his kind. He slept during the daylight hours, to awaken as the sun closed over the horizon. He was never conscious of the happenings around his home, but today he felt a new presence. Vibrant and beautiful warmth in his home, he tried to reach out to the feeling, but found himself closed off. Frustration roiled through his body as he cursed his undead state. He had never been able to feel someone during the daylight hours, and he suddenly felt the need to claw his way to consciousness. This woman, of which he was sure George had taken care of, would be staying in his home. Feeling relaxed, he willed himself to a deeper sleep.
As night approached, Emma’s nerves were on end. She had thought over her lessons as a child, and had come up with some suitable instructions. The children were twins and were the age of nine, a boy and a girl, named James and Rose. Anne had warned her that they were spirited children. She could handle spirited children. Emma had given much of her time to the local orphanage. She was always able to keep a firm but loving hand upon them.
Emma approached the dining hall and found she was alone. She was about to turn around and leave when she bumped into George.
“Lord Halverson will be in shortly. Please sit and start your supper.”
“Will the children be joining us?” Emma asked.
“They have already eaten and have retired for the evening. His lordship wanted to speak with you before you meet them.” With that George quit the room.
Emma took a seat at a chair that was pulled out for her by a footman. She ate her primary course in silence. It was twenty minutes before Lord Halverson entered the room. The world spun, and Emma felt tingling begin at the base of her spine and then up to her woolly brain. He was the most handsome man she had ever encountered, even at court. He was tall and well built, not lean to say, and definitely not overweight. His hair was as black as midnight and his eyes were the color of deep chocolate. His skin was pale in color, adding a very interesting contrast to his dark hair and eyes. He was wearing a white linen shirt, a deep-burgundy waistcoat, a crisp cravat, a black double-breasted coat, and lastly, tight-fitting trousers that left little to her mind’s wondering.
“Are you well, miss?” A voice with a deep timbre suddenly clouded her foggy brain.
“I am, my lord.”
Gabriel was taken aback by her beauty. Color in her cheeks provided a delicious addition to her petite yet curvaceous body. Her hair was the color of the sun he missed so much, and her eyes were as blue as the clear sky. She was once again wearing a demure day dress in a dark color, however it did not detour his knowledge of what lied beneath the frock.
He took a seat next to hers and began, “May I have your name and where you hail from?”
“Mercy Goodwin, my Lord, and I come from Sussex,” she finished.
“Why have you come to my home? I have not properly advertised for a governess. Where did you hear of the position?”
There were so many questions, and this man was direct.
“I heard of the position from a passing stranger. I was in need of employment. I have no family left and need to make a living. When I heard of the possibility of gaining such a position, I had to take a chance. As I told your butler, noblewomen look upon me and make judgments,” she finished quietly. She hoped he took her word for truth. She needed to stay here. With his gaze upon her, she felt a pull toward his eyes, a pull she had never felt before.
Gabriel felt himself a man of good judgment. One did not live for two hundred years without becoming acute to those who lie. He searched her face and tried to feel her mind, but was blocked yet again. The wall in her brain was not as solid as it had been the other evening, he felt a slight tug against his powers, which was a sign her mind was opening. Plus, he noticed a bruise marring her delicate cheek, less so this evening, but it was still there.
Curious, he thought.
“George has warned you that you will be on a trial. However, you must sign some paperwork of nondisclosure. I am a very private man with many quizzical habits, you understand.”
Emma nodded her head in agreement. She was willing to sign anything as long as it garnered the position.
Fool, Gabriel screamed inside of his mind. This woman was hiding something. He could feel it. He should not make a decision based upon his love for puzzles and a beautiful face. Mercy Goodwin was the most attractive woman he had ever laid eyes upon. He felt his cock stir at the sight of her sitting in a dower dress. She should not have this kind of effect on him. Nevertheless, she had and did. He bargained with himself over the fact that James and Rose needed a guiding hand, and this woman was the only woman available.
“You shall start your duties in the morning. You are to see to the children’s lessons and be assured they are in bed at an early hour. I will not be in residence during the daytime. I will expect a full report on their progress every evening, is that understood?” he asked.
“Indeed, my lord. However, every evening…”
“Aye, you will meet me here every evening to tell me how my wards are faring.” At that statement, George walked into the room and filled a glass for him. It was a very bright-red liquid that looked to be wine, but was in fact cow’s blood.
“Are you finished?” Gabriel asked.
“Aye, my lord.”
“Then I suggest you retire to your room. Your duties will begin early tomorrow morning.”
With that said Emma quickly stood and quit the room. Butterflies flew vastly inside of her stomach at his person and his voice. Emma felt as if she was in very big trouble and was not sure as to why. She was undressed for bed, and another thought struck her. The house was completely devoid of mirrors. She was too ill earlier to notice. Now that was very odd indeed.
Chapter Three
Morning came quickly, and Emma was dressed and readied in the schoolroom for her charges. Two little people walked in and stopped at her presence, a small boy and an equally tiny girl. Both were of fair hair and skin. They looked at her as if she was a crazed monster ready to attack them. To put them both at ease, she stretched her arm out to their desks and said, “Sit please, let us get to know each other before we start our lessons.”
“We don’t want you here,” the little girl said.
“We don’t like governesses,” the boy whispered.
Willful children indeed. “Really, why, may I ask? One has to learn their cursive and history and languages if one would like to function within society. Would you both not like to marry and have a family?” she asked in wonder.
The children were silent for but a moment when the girl exclaimed, “We shall stay here with Uncle Gabriel forever! I don’t like boys either. Yuck.”
James stayed silent and stared at Emma in open admiration.
“All right, I now know you want to stay here with your uncle, but would you not like to make him happy? He wants you to learn everything you will need to know. He is paying me to make sure you learn correctly. You would not want to make him disappointed or sad would you?” Emma asked.
Rose stopped and thought for a moment. “I suppose not.”
“I like you…what is your name?” James asked.
“Miss Goodwin, and you are Master James and Lady Rose. Let us sit and begin our day. I will quiz you on what you should already know and see where we need to start. Is that agreeable to you both?”
As the children sat in their chairs, they nodded their heads, but Rose still held rebellion in her eyes. Emma could see she still had much work ahead of her with these two.
She then heard footsteps clear the hallway. It must have been George checking in on her. Rightly he could breathe a sigh of relief. She had these children well i
n hand.
At the end of the school day, Emma was ready to tear her hair out. These children had been neglecting their studies. There was much work to be done. However, she was up to the task. When the dinner hour struck the children were instructed to take their meal in their rooms. They looked heartbroken and lonely. Emma felt their pain, for her father had instructed her to eat in her room as well. She wanted to say something. However, she knew her place as hired help. There were boundaries one did not cross.
Emma walked to the dining hall much later in the evening after she saw to the children’s needs. They were in bed at a proper time, and Emma could relax a moment before she spoke with the earl. Her head began to pound slightly as she gasped for air. She had had these persistent headaches before and knew this one would last for hours.
She sat down in a seat and was surprised to see the earl walk in shortly behind her.
Gabriel had been standing at the door when she initially walked in. His ability to form into animals and mist was a gift and a curse. He floated high above the hallway as simple air. He saw through the wall as she touched her forehead and gasped. He tried once again to touch her mind and found it closed even tighter. It would seem that her headaches were stopping his ability to read her thoughts.
He formed into his natural state as he walked into the room. As they made eye contact, he felt a sizzle go through his veins. There was something about this woman, who set his blood afire.
He walked to his customary seat and watched as George poured his evening drink. “How are the children faring this day?
“We had a challenging day, the children are…” She stopped her sentence, feeling guilty. No one wanted to hear their children were struggling. In addition, she was afraid she was going to lose the contents in her stomach.
