Rises The Night (The Gardella Vampire Hunters 2)

mething polite to say, so she stepped in to help him. “Mr. Starcasset, thank you for your assistance,” she told him demurely. She would not offer an explanation for her presence here.

He appeared to accept her lead. “Madam, may I escort you…home?” His attention moved from her to the street corner and back again, as though expecting to see another vehicle, or some other person or attendant. “Surely you must be…chilled?”

He’d removed his hat, which, unlike Victoria’s, had somehow not become dislodged during his interaction with the thug. Now she could see more of his handsome, though boyish face; one, that, with its strong chin and long narrow nose, reminded her uncomfortably of Phillip.

But George Starcasset, heir to the Viscount Claythorne, had more rounded cheeks, was golden-haired instead of dark-haired, and his eyes, though not a deep blue, were a lighter hue than the heavy-lidded ones belonging to her husband. Although she could not see them well in the low light, Victoria was aware they were the color of an angry ocean, for Mr. Starcasset had trained them upon her many times since they had met.

“I am not chilled, thank you, sir, and there is my hack as we speak.” She’d heard the creaking, and rumbling of Barth’s carriage as it careened down the streets several moments before it actually appeared.

“A hack? Madam, I cannot allow you to take a hack home in the middle of the night. Please allow me the pleasure to escort you to St. Heath’s Row.”

Victoria should be used to being called madam, but she was not. It made her eyes water because she bit her tongue instead of saying what she truly felt. The title might have been important to another woman, and certainly she didn’t begrudge the comfort and wealth she’d attained by marrying Phillip, but she’d have forgone all of it if she could still have him. And every time someone used the title, it reminded her of her loss.

For before Phillip, she had merely been miss.

Unexpectedly, her eyes dampened. Mr. Starcasset must have noticed, for he reached for her arm, guiding it firmly around his, and said comfortingly, “This has been a trying night for you, I’m certain, Lady Rockley. Please allow me to see you home in the comfort of my carriage.”

“Very well, Mr. Starcasset. Thank you for your insistence.” Victoria gave a wave to Barth, who had slid bravely from his seat and was not troubling to hide the stake in one hand and the pistol in the other. If nothing else, he was prepared for any eventuality, including protection provided by the large cross that dangled from his neck.

She turned to climb into the offered carriage and, in doing so, brushed against Starcasset.

“What’s that you’re holding?” he asked, reaching for the hand that still held her stake.

Victoria slid it back under her coat before he could grasp it. “A stick “

“I am certainly glad I came upon you when I did, madam, for I fear that stick would not have served you well in your defense against those thugs.” The carriage jolted as he climbed in after her.

“Indeed.” Victoria kept her response to a murmur and, shifting in her seat, slipped the stake into its pocket on the inside of her coat.

The carriage rumbled off, taking Victoria away in a much smoother, more sedate manner than she’d arrived in St. Giles. She and Starcasset sat in silence for a turn, Victoria mulling over the presence of another vampire that seemed to have run away from her…or, the thought struck her, perhaps it had wished for her to follow it.

“Lady Rockley, if I may be permitted to ask, how have you been faring these last months? Gwendolyn tells me you are still receiving only a very few visitors. I think of you often.”

“Thank you, Mr. Starcasset. Your sentiments are much appreciated. And as to how I have fared…it has been a long year, but I am of the hope and belief the worst is over. I told your sister only last week that I am preparing to make a full return to Society.”

In the low lantern light that bobbed in rhythm with the cobbled bricks below, his smile was exceedingly warm. “May I say I am very pleased to hear this. And I know Gwendolyn has missed your presence quite acutely at the functions this Season. But now that it’s drawing to a close, I’m sure you know we’re preparing to repair to Claythorne. And if I may not be considered too forward, I do believe it would be a great delight to my sister should you visit us there.”

“Indeed. How very kind of you, Mr. Starcasset.” Victoria found herself wanting to blush under his warm stare, which made it all too clear that he would be the one most delighted with her presence. “Gwendolyn did speak to me of it.”

“We were just talking Wednesday last in regards to our house party, which we make on an annual basis, as a celebration of the beginning of grouse season. Of course, last year you would have been invited, but…oh, forgive me, madam. It was not the best of times for you.” He brushed off the lapels of his coat in a nervous gesture. “Gwendolyn was musing aloud as to whether you would be able to attend this year. And how felicitous that I should have the opportunity to reiterate the invitation in person!”

Victoria forbore to point out that felicity had played little role in their meeting on the dark, dank streets of St. Giles. Danger and happenstance, perhaps…but not felicity.

“I am most honored and have already decided to accept the invitation,” she replied. Aunt Eustacia was right—it was time she shed the black clothing she’d been wearing. Of course, she would never be able to wholly embrace the dances and the fetes and the fashions and the teas that were part of Society as fully as she had done before…but perhaps she could find some sort of balance between her two lives.

Or perhaps she would be destined to the loneliness of walking the streets at midnight, instead of riding home with a handsome beau after a long night of dancing.

“I will be delighted to join you at Claythorne,” she added with real pleasure.

“Splendid! I shall tell her tomorrow that you have accepted, although” —he coughed genteelly— “I shall not divulge to her the exact circumstances as to how we have met up.” His lips stretched in a jovial grin.

“Indeed. I would and do appreciate your reticence in that matter.” Victoria smiled back at him, realizing his grin was so very pleasant as to make anyone want to join him in his humor. She hoped he would honor his statement and not share with Gwendolyn or any other person of their Society the fact that he had found her walking alone on the streets at night. Although she supposed if he did, few would believe him.

As she settled back in the carriage, it occurred to her to wonder, then, just exactly what had taken the Viscount Claythorne’s heir himself to those same dangerous streets during the same dark night.

+ 4 +

In Which Verbena Has Her Way