“Now how would you like to help me play matchmaker?” I walked to the door.
“It is a good way to take our mind off of our foolish men. I will do it. Are there reluctant lovers we must push together?” Her eyes were alight with mischief.
“I think Lady Anne and Captain Burnett will make a perfect couple, starting tonight.”
She looked down at her dress. While I didn’t worry about my wardrobe most nights, Florence always dressed as if she were going to a ball.
“I can make any woman jealous if I show her man my attention.” She pulled down the bodice of her dark green silk dress until it barely clung to her nipples. “What fun!”
I just shook my head.
Would we have to search for Captain Burnett? Or was he at the evening meal? With no idea what or who was headed his way. I walked down the steps to the great hall, Florence tripping daintily behind me. The smell of baking bread wafted up to me. Oh, but I wished… No point in thinking about that.
I smiled at the men waiting to be served. Ah hah! There was the captain, sipping ale and watching the stairs, for Lady Anne, no doubt. I was surprised she wasn’t here yet but saw no sign of her.
“Gentlemen.” I offered a curtsy to the captain. “I think you have met my new friend Madam daVinci, Captain Burnett.” I pulled Flo closer. Her curtsy made her bodice perilous. I expected her breasts to fall free at any moment. The pearl drew everyone’s eye, swaying between the mounds. Flo was too clever.
The captain’s eyes widened as he jumped to his feet to offer a bow. “Yes, of course, Madame. A pleasure to see them, um, you again.” His face flushed. “Please, won’t you join us for the evening meal?” He gestured at the table where two maids were laying out platters of steaming meats.
Colin appeared at my elbow. “Mistress Gloriana, I know you prefer to take your meals somewhere private.” He bowed and nodded toward the laden table. “But just look at what we shot today on our hunt. Fresh pheasant. Doesn’t it smell tasty?” He laughed and walked over to slap one of the men on the back. “Willum here wasn’t much of a fighter against Brian—got took down quick—but he can shoot with a bow and arrow almost as good as you can, mistress. Isn’t that something great?”
I laughed as Willum hurriedly got up from the table and made his bow.
“Well done, sir. I am sure I will enjoy some pheasant later, with Lord Campbell.” I turned to Colin. “We will have to put Willum on the battlements if we are attacked again. Or is he one of the men going on the ships?”
Colin looked around and came closer. “We are staying here, mistress, to guard you. It is important that we keep the coming attack a secret, says Lord Jeremiah. But how that can be when the king’s men have been seen loading the ships with every kind of weapon, I don’t know.”
He pulled me away from where the captain was talking with Florence.
“Colin, I’m afraid any spy the pirates may have has already sent word that our ships are coming.” I didn’t like thinking about that. But what could we do? Preparing three ships for battle would be impossible to hide.
Colin threw back his shoulders.
“You have naught to worry about. Master Fergus is here now and will see that the lads and I will be ready to take on whoever might come at us. That’ll be much easier with the drawbridge now working. It may be old but it is sturdy enough to keep out any but one of them flying night creatures.” He crossed himself. “Haven’t seen any of them hereabouts. Mayhap it’s just a story, passed around among the foolish.”
“Flying night creatures?” I grabbed his arm. “What are you talking about? You know we have shape-shifters with us from Dollar. Master Fergus himself is one. They can fly if need be. Are the local people saying they saw such creatures before we arrived?” The thought that the Irish might have shifters among them terrified me. It wasn’t a leap then to imagine they could have vampires as well. Jeremiah!
“Aye.” Colin nodded, his head bobbing so fast, I wanted to hit him on top of it to make him stop. He was clearly nervous. “These people haven’t just fought pirates. They lost cattle and people to strange creatures who breeched the walls and then took what they wanted. Some called them ghosts, spirits. Others laughed it off, promising it was just some enterprising lads who had learned about a secret passage into the courtyard.”
“You should look for such a passage. Castles usually do have some secret way to escape in case they are surrounded.” At least that was what I had been told. In Castle Campbell, they had tunnels that ran under the village. The laird talked about making rooms under the earth someday where the vampires could spend their death sleep. He had big plans to ensure their future safety.
“I’ll do that. Later.” Colin looked longingly at the table. “Right now, I’m waiting to break my fast. We cannot eat until Lady Anne joins us. She came through here a while ago, but Captain Burnett hadn’t arrived yet. She decided to visit Maggie and the baby first. She should be here any time now. I cannot imagine it would take that long to look at a babe.”
“I will fetch her.” I glanced back. Flo was laughing at something the captain said and leaning toward him in case he hadn’t seen enough of her breasts. He was clearly enjoying the view. Lady Anne needed to quit mooning over another woman’s babe and get back here to start working on making her own.
I tried to remember what Anne had been wearing. Nothing worth noting. Too bad. As usual, no one could outshine Florence. I was frowning as I stalked past the kitchen to Maggie’s room. The door was open when I got there and I could hear Anne talking to the baby.
“You are the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. We share a name, you know. I will make you a present, a pillow with your name on it. And a christening gown!” She looked at Maggie. “We can send for the priest, if you don’t mind. You do want her christened, don’t you? Or have you already done it?”
“Fergus’s ma wouldn’t let us leave Dollar without having her properly taken to church and put in front of the priest. A pillow would be lovely and any kind of gown, of course. You are too generous.” Maggie smiled at Lady Anne. “Don’t you look a treat holding the baby. Gloriana says you have been widowed more than two years. Time for you to look about you for a man to marry and start your own family, my lady.”
“I will.” Anne noticed me standing in the door. “Gloriana, isn’t the baby precious?”
“Yes, she is. I agree with Maggie. Time for you to get to work. The captain is in the great hall staring at Florence like he might gobble her up instead of the evening meal.” I took the baby from Anne and handed her to Maggie. “Fix your hair and take off that horrid apron.” I jerked down her bodice. At least she hadn’t put on one of her blacks, but the dull brown did nothing to flatter her.
“Oh, I am not used to wearing my dress so low.” Anne fluttered her fingers over the swells of her breasts. “He is staring at Madame daVinci, you say?”
“Yes, he is. But your bosom is as fine as Flo’s, I promise you. He seems to appreciate that in a woman.” I grinned at her flush but she looked down and put her hands by her sides, her shoulders back.
“Ralph always did say I had a fine figure.” She smiled.
“And so you do. Here now.” Maggie laid baby Anne in her cradle and picked up a fine piece of lace from her sewing basket. “I found this in Glory’s room. Torn from the hem of one of her new dresses.” She shook her head. “You are too careless with your clothes, my friend. But this is lucky for Lady Anne.” She pulled out a needle and threaded it. “I can attach this to the edge of your bodice and the color will bring out the roses in your cheeks, see if it don’t.”
“Trust Maggie, Lady Anne. She is magic with a needle, just like you are.” I walked over to tickle the baby’s tummy while the two women dealt with placing the lace and stitching it on. By the time they were done, Anne did look prettier, more alive. I ignored the stirring of my blood lust. Mortals, two of them, so close. No wonder I had a hunger. Well, I would be with Jeremiah later and had plans to make him very ha
ppy. He would surely return the favor.
“The men are going tomorrow by ship to attack the pirates.” I linked arms with Lady Anne. “Captain Burnett will be in danger. He could be killed!” I felt her stiffen. She did care for him.
“What can I do?” She stopped. “He must go, it is his duty. My years with Lord Ralph taught me that duty comes first.”
“Yes, a warrior must face his fears and often enjoys a good fight. But there will be real danger, Lady Anne. You might show him you care for his safety and offer to give him a fine fare-the-well.” I smiled and squeezed her elbow.
“Gloriana!” Her mouth dropped open.
“Come now. You are no shy maiden, Anne. He is handsome and has been seeking you out these past weeks, has he not?”
“Yes. We have had many delightful conversations. His father knew my father…” Anne’s eyes went soft. “He even grew up near my home. Someday he plans to go back there.”
“Perfect! Does his touch please you?” I watched color come into her cheeks then wash down toward the edge of her bodice. Anne did have a fine figure, full breasts and a slim waist. I’m sure the captain had noticed that.
“I have not minded when he takes my hand. He has even kissed my hand when he wished me good evening. He’s been everything that is courteous but he does seek me out. I thought he might be courting me but was afraid I was imagining it.” She closed her eyes. “A fine fare-the-well? Do you mean..?”
“You know exactly what I mean. You said you and Lord Ralph enjoyed lusty bed sport. Some women shrink from it but I don’t think you do. Am I wrong?” I was not going to say it. Flo would have, in her vibrant Italian and with hand gestures.
I took a breath. Warm blooded mortal. Stop it, Gloriana!
“No, I did like it. I, I miss it.” Anne gripped my hand. “What should I do?”
“It will be easy.” I did know men. “After the evening meal, invite him to your solar, ply him with brandy and let him know you wish to share your bed with him.”
“I couldn’t!” Anne gasped. “I have been with no one but Ralph. He was always the one who took the lead. What would I say? What would Malcolm think?” She shook her head. “He expects me to be a lady, not a brazen hussy, giving away my favors!”
I rolled my eyes. Spare me a lofty lady’s conventions. At least she had used his given name so the two must have made progress, become familiar. “Yes, he knows you for the lady you are. That you are lonely and have been faithful to the memory of your husband. You could tell him as much. Look into his eyes and lean toward him, inviting his kiss. Once that happens, you could take his hand and lead him to your bedchamber. Without words. The next move would be up to him. If he is the man I think he is, it will be a night for both of you to remember.”
“Oh, to be held in a man’s arms again.” Lady Anne sighed. “I will try. I can’t promise anything, but…” She started walking toward the great hall. “I will try.”
“That’s all you can do. Good luck.” By the time we got to where the men were gathered, I could tell Lady Anne was excited by the challenge. She walked up to where the captain still talked to Florence and almost pushed my new friend aside.
“Captain Burnett, I’m sure you are almost starving. I am so sorry to have kept everyone waiting. The housekeeper’s baby is so very dear.” She glanced at Flo. “My dear Madame daVinci, will you be joining us?” Her smile never wavered. She already knew Flo never ate at the table. If she wondered where and when the Campbell men and their women ate, she kept her questions to herself.
Captain Burnett looked a little surprised as Flo hastily handed him off to Lady Anne.
“So kind of you to ask, but I must go now. Gloriana has promised me a walk down to where the ships are loading. We must see if our men are too busy to play a little, right, amica ?” Flo walked over to me. “Captain, it was a pleasure talking to you, eh?” She fluttered her fingers at him then hurried me out the door. Once outside she started giggling.
“What is it?” I kept walking, taking the small door next to the drawbridge that led outside. Valdez caught up with us before we had taken more than two steps.
“I, how you say, warmed him up for her. Did you see how he stared at il mio seno ?”
“If you are talking about your bosom, of course I did. Every man in the hall stared. Your pearl dangling there was the finishing touch. They couldn’t look away.” I giggled with her, both of us laughing until we had tears in our eyes and had to hold onto each other. “Well done, my friend.” I gasped.
“Do you think she will go through with it? Invite him into her bed?” Flo shivered and glanced back at a frowning Valdez. He’d been watching us, not a bit amused by our silliness. “Oh, I miss Italia. The warm nights, the warm men. I should have brought my cloak. Valdez, could you run get it for me?”
“No, I could not.” Valdez stayed where he was. “You know you don’t feel the cold, Madame daVinci. You just like your velvet cloak and think it might be wise to cover yourself before Laird Campbell sees you showing your assets to every man in the great hall.” He ignored Florence’s gestures and spate of Italian. “Gloriana, are you comfortable? Do you need a cloak? I can send a lad for it.”
“I am fine. It is a beautiful spring night, despite your frowning face.” I opened my arms to the sky. “Yes, I think Lady Anne is going to seduce the captain. If she’s lucky, he will fall in love and demand marriage. Even better, he will plant a little bun in her oven.” I laughed again and started walking.
“Wouldn’t that be wonderful?” Florence frowned at Valdez. “You are a horrible bodyguard. You listen to our every word and disapprove like una vecchia nonna . Do you ever have fun? Quit glowering at us. Glory should replace you.”
“I offered to leave. She decided to keep me. Right, Glory?” Valdez bowed at her then kept pace with us.
They both had started calling me Glory. I decided I liked it, but I was still not happy with Valdez. I couldn’t deny he seemed good at what he did. This night he was watching the trail we walked on and keeping his hand on his sword. I had my knives and Florence seemed ready to shift at the first sign of trouble.
He could frown all he wanted. Flo made me laugh when she’d called him an old grandmother. Fine. Maybe that was what I needed to keep me safe. I just hoped as we neared the beach that no trouble waited for us there.
8
B loody Bay. I couldn’t get that name out of my mind as we arrived at the site where men were loading cargo into small boats. They were rowing out to the three ships sitting at anchor in the moonlight. Clouds scudded across the sky and the wind picked up as we approached the water.
Jeremiah and Laird Campbell were directing men who struggled to shove a large gun on wheels through the sand. It must have been horribly heavy. It took a dozen men to get the gun up and inside. The only way they managed was that they took it apart—wheels went in first, then the long barrel. Once in, the boat was so low in the water, I wondered it didn’t sink. Our men were so focused on the problem of lifting the thing into the craft, that they hadn’t noticed our arrival.
“Is that what I think it is?” I stayed back from the wavelets as the men pushed the boat further out then clambered aboard to begin rowing.
“Our new cannon. It will surely blast the pirate ships to bits. Our spies say they have a castle on a promontory looking over the harbor. If we get close enough to it, we can even do serious damage there.” Jeremiah had finally joined me. “I ordered it before we left Edinburgh but it only arrived today while we slept.”
“It’s as big as those on the ramparts at Edinburgh Castle!” I knew he had smaller ones on the ships already. He’d talked about them endlessly. Jeremiah did love his weapons.
“I am taking no chances. Those damned pirates have done enough damage here. We must wipe them out once and for all.” He frowned at the boat making slow progress, wallowing in what looked like rough seas to me. “I must go out and see to the loading. I didn’t expect you, Gloriana. You usually stay away from here
.”
“I didn’t want to distract you.” I gave him a quick kiss. “I know you are leaving tomorrow night and just wanted to see how you are preparing. The ships are riding very low in the water, Jeremiah. Are the soldiers already on board?”
“Aye. They are sorting out their battle placement so that we have everything ready. We will do our best to end this war tomorrow night.” Jeremiah squeezed my waist. “Captain Burnett has drilled them over and over again. He looked a bit ragged since he’s been working so hard—day and night. I told him to take tonight away from here and rest. He will need to be sharp tomorrow night.” He kept watching that boat then noticed how quiet I was at his side.
“Here now. You look worried. No need, my love.”
“I have news that may make a difference for you.” I would feel better if Jeremiah didn’t look excited to go into battle. Men! Why did the idea of fighting make his blood pound? Not that his blood didn’t pull me closer. I wanted him even more when he was like this—vibrant, eager to pick up his sword. Later I’d show him how he aroused me. Right now, I could only pull him away from where Florence and the laird were talking, Flo with her usual hand gestures.
“Colin told me the villagers around the castle have seen what they are calling flying night creatures.”
“Really. When? Recently?” Jeremiah looked up at the sky, as if searching for one.
“No, before we came here. I think they might be shape-shifters or even vampires. Things were stolen. The local people definitely thought the night creatures were responsible.” I was wasting my breath. Jeremiah was so worried about his cannon, he barely heard me.
He kept watching that cannon’s progress. It had arrived at the ship and ropes were being tossed down to the men in the smaller boat. Those waves were making things very difficult. A man almost went overboard.
Jeremiah finally focused on me again. “I would think that if the pirates had shifters or vampires in their ranks, they would have used them before. Like when you wounded their leader. Yet no one came after you then. Another vampire would have sensed you. You might have sensed them . I certainly didn’t smell any when we were fighting on the beach.”
Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates Page 10