Rises The Night (The Gardella Vampire Hunters 2)
Page 32
The Countess Guccioli looked none too happy when they emerged from the curtained alcove, but she did not bear down upon them as Victoria expected her to, ready to snatch her lover from a poaching woman’s hands.
Instead, she did something utterly unexpected. She turned all of her charm and beauty and coquettishness onto the two gentlemen sitting next to her, and flicked not an eyelash nor the twitch of a nose at her lover. She utterly, blatantly ignored him.
Victoria watched her in fascination. She had not had very much experience in the womanly arts of flirtation, but it seemed Countess Guccioli was a master at it. Poor Byron. He was fairly miserable by the time Victoria was ready to leave…which was two hours later.
She had called for Oliver and the carriage and was stepping out of the villa’s door, ready to draw in a deep breath of night air, when she felt a presence behind her.
“Do you leave us so soon, signora?”
“Count Alvisi. Is it not a lovely night, with the stars out? And, yes, I am sorry, but I’m feeling rather fatigued. Nevertheless, I had a gorgeous time this evening.”
He was the same height as she, with the same swarthy Italian coloring that Max had. But his eyes glittered just a bit too much, and his lips curled in a most dismaying manner. And he smelled ridiculously, hideously, of lavender water.
Either he had bathed in it, or he’d gotten much too close to a woman who’d bathed in it.
At any rate, Victoria was near the end of her patience and was prepared to set him down quickly and thoroughly should he become friendly. And friendly was what he had in mind, if the direction of his gaze was any indication.
“But you did not get what you came for, did you?”
She looked sharply at him. He nodded delicately and smoothed a hand down the front of his shirtwaist.
“What do you mean, sir?”
“I had the pleasure of overhearing a portion of your conversation with our wonderful host.”
“Indeed?”
“How you wished to meet a real vampire.” He stepped closer, bringing lavender and…was that lemon?…with him.
“I should think it would be fascinating. Do you think they truly exist?”
“I know they do. I’ve seen them.”
She widened her eyes and emitted a girlish squeal from her lips. “Truly? Where have you seen them? Are they dangerous?” She dropped her voice. “Have you been bitten?”
“I have. Would you like to see my scars?” He showed her, and true enough, there were four little marks on his neck. Rather recent, in fact.
“How? Where?”
“We have a little…group. We see the vampires and we spend time with them—only a few of them, mind you. Because we understand them, you see. They are the most misunderstood creatures I have ever met.”
“I can only imagine! People for years have thought of them as beasts. But they aren’t, are they? Are they as romantic and dangerous as I have dreamed?”
“They are. And if you like, I can arrange for you to join us some evening.”
“I should be most grateful, Count Alvisi.”
He slipped something hard and flat into her hand. “This will be your token of admittance. I shall notify you of the date and place.”
She looked down, already knowing what she would see. A Tutela amulet.
Most grateful indeed.
+ 10 +
In Which Lady Rockley Acquires an Acute Dislike of Lavender
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