That sounds barbaric, marrying away your daughter to a client. But that was normal in the community. And from the way Madge talked, she didn't mind. I'd heard from Jewel that he was an attractive man, and Madge seemed ecstatic to get out of the mansion. Who could blame her? The mansion stood three stories high and was made of stone. Vines covered one side of the house, probably growing for decades. A butler was outside by the double doors, waiting for my arrival. I hoped he hadn't been there too long. Had Madge sent him out the second she sent her letter?
We came to a stop at the entrance, and my door was opened for me. The butler held out his hand to steady me as I stepped out. The second my feet were on the ground, my sister burst through the doors. She was as beautiful as she had ever been. Her hair was braided in a way that I had never seen before and must have taken focus to do. My mother's pearls were around her neck, her emerald green tea dress stopping just above her knees. Her heels clacked as she ran over to squeeze me in a large embrace.
She backed away and grabbed my arms. "I am so excited that you're here, El. This house is far too big for me to be in by myself all day. Antony is always away at business and he comes home in the evening. Meaning I have hours to try and fill and no clue what to fill them with."
I widened my eyes. "And you have free reign of the entire house?" She nodded. "I would be hosting tea parties and fashion shows and all sorts of mayhem. Tell me there's a staircase in there that would be perfect for mattress surfing."
She laughed deeply at this and I saw her eyes water. "We haven't done that since you were six and for good reason. It's so dangerous!"
I crossed my arms and made a fake pouty face. "You get married and suddenly you sound like mother."
A frown flashed across Madge's face and I worried that maybe I had insulted her. "That's someone that I hope will come to visit me soon. I haven't gotten a letter or anything from mother."
I frowned, but quickly hid it to try and cheer her up. "Well, of course you know mother's been busy trying to handle my crazy adventures."
My sister gave me a pointed look as she escorted me into her house. "About that. You need to be careful about who you befriend at those balls. Not all vampires are respectable people. And before you brush me and say I simply sound like mother again, I confess she was right about some things. And you'll learn that, eventually."
I decided it was probably best that I did not tell her about my failed attempts at socializing. Once with a boring drab of a man and once with a sociopathic lunatic. I looked around the entryway we had entered and it took everything in me not to let my jaw drop to the ground. This was a wide-open space with a large cascading fountain in the center, colorful koi fish swimming beneath the lily pads. There were a handful of lounges and couches for socializing and relaxing. I stared wide-eyed back at my sister.
She giggled. "There are some perks of this place. Unfortunately, there is no ballroom area. There are just more rooms than I can count that he claims are for family and friends to visit. But I found some are just filled with books. He likes to read like you do, but he reads historical military recounting, instead of your usual fairy tales."
My sister gestured for me to take a seat on one of the chaise lounges in the corner, and I happily did. A handmaid brought a tray with a collection of pastries and fruit. I grabbed a handful of grapes and plopped them into my mouth one at a time, savoring the sweet juices. "Will I get to meet this husband of yours?" I questioned with my mouth still full.
Madge was stiff in her chair and twiddled her thumbs as she took a deep and depressing sigh. "I'm afraid not. He's out of the country at the moment on important business. But I think that is for the better. I needed to talk to you about that, Eloise."
I halted eating my grapes and sat up straighter in my own chair. "Madge, what's wrong?"
The waterworks began as tears trickled down her cheeks. I jumped from my chair and squeezed in next to her to hold her as she choked out her words. "I love this house, El. I love the serving staff that works here. I even loved the balls as much as I pretended I didn't for your sake. But my husband is not the man, or vampire, mother made him out to be. And it's nothing against her, El. So don't go back home and start a row with her. I've figured out all the vampires are like this. They look down at humans. He looks down at me. I'm not really a wife, I'm an arrangement he made to keep ties with his blood trader."
"Madge, has he hurt you?" I balled my fists and wanted nothing more than to track this beast down and give him a piece of my mind.
She shook her head, sniffling. "He hasn't physically touched me, El. Not even in the way a husband should touch his wife. I barely see him except for dinner. But when I do, I can tell he's disgusted. He's as trapped in this as I am. But El..."
"What is it?" I rubbed her arms soothingly.
"I have it lucky compared to some of the other girls my age that I tracked down to check on. They were girls who wed vampires shortly before me." She took a deep breath. "A handful of them have not been heard from since their weddings. And a very small few that I was able to visit are nothing more than feeding troughs for their so-called husbands."
My hand stopped its soothing motion on her arm. I didn't know what to do or say. My sister was wracked with pain for those girls, even if she hadn't known them closely before they went their separate ways. I parted my lips to try and say something reassuring, but anything I could have said would have felt fake, like it was glossing over the problem.
"El, I can't stay in this house forever. I'm scared of what will happen if I do."
"Are you planning to run away?" I whispered, aghast. Antony hadn't done anything to her yet. If she ran away now, she'd become an outcast of our society. Or even worse. Mother wouldn't take her back in, that much I knew. This was a marriage she had arranged and her clients would find the whole thing scandalous.
Madge's eyes grew wide, and she scanned the room around us, making sure no one was eavesdropping. She motioned for me to be quiet. "You can't talk about it with anyone. I know someone who will help me. I will be fine. You can't ever give it a second thought."
"Madge... why are you telling me this?" I started to cry with her. This was supposed to be a joyous reunion with my sister, but it had turned dark far too quickly.
She heaved a sigh. "I could never keep a secret from you, Eloise. But I also tell you this as a warning." Her gaze stopped wandering and locked steadfast with mine. "No matter how charming they are, vampires are not to be trusted. It's a risk not worth taking. Don't fall for their elegance, their grace, their sophistication. See through all of that to who, or what, they truly are."
I unconsciously shifted my body away from her, putting distance between us. This was the worst timing possible, but, just as she couldn't keep a secret from me, I couldn't keep a secret from her. "I actually have found someone, Madge. He is a vampire, but he's completely different from the rest of them, I swear!"
The ending of my sentence spilled out hurriedly and with a loud exclamation at the end as she shook her head disapprovingly. She was far more like mother than I could ever explain to her. She wouldn't want to hear it, anyway.
I continued. "He's one of the younger vampires. He hasn't been filled with the same horrid thoughts as the others. He's kind and sweet, and he makes me feel a way that I could have never expected. Do you really believe there are no vampires at all who could be redeeming of their race?"
Her eyes turned dark, like quiet clouds hiding a raging storm. "There are some... who are worth loving. But they are not like us, El. They age differently, they experience life differently. There's no way to tell if they'll simply become like their predecessors. It's a risk I've chosen not to take."
There was a longing in her voice. I could feel there was someone on her mind. A vampire, no doubt. But I wasn't going to press. I grabbed her hands and brought them to my lips for a gentle kiss.
"So your mind is made up about all of this then?" My words almost begged her to change her decision and stay. But I k
new she was resigned to the choice she made.
She rested her head on my shoulder. "It is. I won't give you any details, but have faith in me, okay? Everything will work out in the end."
"I've always had faith in you, Madge. I know you will find your happy ending wherever it is you end up."
I could feel her body shaking ever so slightly against mine. I couldn't imagine the weight of all of this on her. She may be older, but she was still young. A girl her age should be daydreaming of children and throwing balls of her own. Not whether or not to flee the country to run from her marriage. Were all vampires truly that horrible?
Arden isn't. He's different.
"Eloise, if you believe this vampire is kind, then you have my blessing. Just promise me you will always be vigilant when dealing with any of them. Do not blindly trust."
I was surprised by her words, but grateful for them. "I promise." She relaxed against me at my reassurance and I continued to soothe her until she was back to her somewhat cheery self.
I spent the rest of that afternoon with my sister. Most of it was in chit-chatting or playing a board game in her bedroom. The entire day was overcast, however, with looming dread. After girlish giggle had the aftertaste of sorrow. I knew that when I walked out of that front door of her luxurious home that I would probably never see my sister again.
Ten
Arden
“You’re not taking me to another club, right?”
I could hear the mischievous smile in her voice.
“No, but I would suggest that you wear something you are not too worried about getting dirty.” I paused for dramatic effect. “I’d hate to be responsible for ruining your favorite outfit.”
She groaned good-naturedly. “Oh God, we’re not going rock-climbing or mud-wrestling, are we?”
I was momentarily shocked into silence at the mental image of Eloise all slick and shiny with sweat, her chest heaving up and down as she fought to catch her breath…
“—shirt is okay?”
I shook my head and focused back to my present. “Sorry, what?”
Her laughter sounded like clear silver bells on a cold winter day. “Jeans and a T-shirt. Yay or nay?”
“That’ll be fine. See you soon.”
As soon as the sun went down, I ventured out and picked up an inquisitive Eloise, who was dressed in a plain black t-shirt and a pair of jeans that hugged her curves.
I was going to have a hard time keeping my eyes on the road, that was for damn sure. Over the past few weeks, I’d seen Eloise relax around me more and more, the two of us becoming comfortable in each other’s presence.
“I guess no matter how much I ask you, you’re not going to tell me.”
“You would guess correctly.” I winked. “But if you must ask, this has something to do with a favorite topic of yours.”
Tapping her lip with a forefinger, she looked up, her brow furrowed. “A favorite topic of mine…”
Chuckling softly, I revved out of the driveway and southbound.
The drive wasn’t long, maybe about a half hour or so, peppered with the occasional comment from Eloise about a particular dog in another car or a funny billboard.
Normally, this kind of inane chatter would have made me want to undo my passenger’s seat belt and then stomp on the brake.
Normally.
But nothing about Madame Hart’s daughter was remotely normal.
I found myself laughing along with her, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Being with her, that is.
As if it was something that I had done a million times over… and would do for another million times.
But too soon, I drove into Sunset Grove’s gated community, with mansions that were even more stately than Eloise’s, all of them with their own security guards and fences covered with the most expensive security systems.
My destination was a large four story behemoth of a mansion at the end of a cul-de-sac, the house barely visible behind an eight-foot tall wrought-iron fence and a thick copse of towering oak trees.
Eloise let out a small sound of appreciation. “What an absolutely lovely house.”
I smiled. “Wait until you meet the owner and see what’s inside.”
Coming to a stop next to the intercom, I pressed the button.
“Arden de Charpentier, here to see Lady Beatrix.”
The muffled response could’ve been in Hindi for all I could tell, but the gates clicked open and slowly moved aside so I could drive in.
Beatrix Houlihan awaited us outside the front doors, a stately butler supporting her with a hand at her bony elbow.
“Arden, my boy!” she crowed in her high-pitched voice as she tottered forward to give me a hug. “It has been far too long since you’ve shown your face around here.”
She smelled like rose water and cookies, and I returned her embrace gently. “I’m sorry, Beatrix. I’ll make sure to come by more regularly. Work has been keeping me busy.”
She tut-tutted, patting me on the back as I withdrew. “Benedict is working you too hard. I really ought to have some words with the man. He’s also a lad who hasn’t been to visit me recently.”
I made sure Eloise wasn’t yet within earshot. She still thought I was an investor, and I’d kept my master’s name out of conversations in case she knew who her mother’s competitors were.
“Well, I do apologize on Jardin’s behalf, but…” I stood aside and made a little elegant bow to Eloise. “Please allow me to introduce Miss Eloise Hart. She is my guest this evening.”
“Oh!” Beatrix’s wrinkled lips formed a perfect o as she looked at the dark-haired woman standing somewhat shyly behind me. “My dear, what an absolute pleasure to meet you. You must be a very special young lady. Arden has never brought a guest before.”
I observed the interaction between the eighty-three-year-old former Hollywood starlet and a woman who was probably young enough to be her great granddaughter, and was pleasantly surprised to find that Eloise had an easy nature about her, speaking with enthusiasm with Beatrix as Beatrix led her into the house, the butler motioning me into the home with an arm folded across his waist.
Beatrix’s place was rather Spartanly furnished, but every bit of furniture and piece of art was of impeccable taste and very, very expensive.
We came to a stop before a set of doors at the end of the hallway in the east wing and Beatrix struck a pose, for a moment looking every bit of that elegant Hollywood star who had been the leading lady to every big name star a few decades prior.
“Are you ready?” she asked.
Eloise looked back at me with an excited grin. “I don’t know what it is!”
I did.
When Beatrix opened the doors with a dramatic sweep of her arms, I turned slightly to get a better look of Eloise’s face.
Her eyes went rounder than dinner plates as she slowly entered the massive three-floor library, all three walls stuffed from ceiling to floor with books, the fourth wall open to a stunning rose garden that was in full bloom.
All in all, it made quite a pretty sight.
“Oh, my…” whispered Eloise, hands rising up to her lips.
Beatrix cackled happily as she linked her elbow through Eloise’s and led her around the library that was about the size of the entire Hart residence.
The butler bowed, excusing himself to dinner preparations, and I took a seat on a nearby armchair, getting far too much enjoyment from the absolutely stunned look on Eloise’s face.
I don’t think she heard a single word of the old woman who showed her the various ladders and staircases that ran up and down the walls and dragged her to the several display cases that contained an original Gutenberg Bible, one of Da Vinci’s folios, and a complete first edition of Audubon’s The Birds of America.
Beatrix had been especially pleased with that purchase; it had cost her almost ten million dollars at Sotheby’s three years ago.
A maid came by with a Wedgwood tea set for the two
ladies and a glass of O Negative for me.
Beatrix really was an amazing hostess. Even Madame Hart could learn a few lessons from her.
A few minutes later, Eloise returned to me, a broad smile on her face.
“Did you know she has a first edition of Hans Christian Andersen’s Nye Eventyr og Historier?”
“Gesundheit,” I replied, setting my empty glass back on the tiny crystal tray it came on.
She gave me just about the most adorable smile I’d ever seen. “It’s one of his first collections of fairy tales, silly.”
Beatrix was pulled to one side by her butler, who held what appeared to be a dinner menu in his gloved hands.
No doubt discussing the menu for the night, to which of course we were the guests of honor.
If I could somehow manage to peel Eloise out of this room, that is.
I couldn’t help but wonder if I could ask Beatrix if she could arrange a tray for Eloise so she could eat and read at the same time.
Eloise bent down and gave me a quick peck on the forehead.
It gave me far more pleasure than I cared to admit.
“You remembered. Thank you, Arden. Thank you so much for this gift.”
I never cared much for books, but it made me happy to see just how happy she was.
I waved a hand nonchalantly in the air. “Go. Go and enjoy yourself. Pay me no mind, read to your heart’s content.”
Twin circles of pink riding high on her cheekbones, she spun on her heels and half-jogged to the other side of the room, no doubt already thinking of the books she would read.
We ended up eating dinner in the library, or rather Eloise did, while I sipped another glass of blood, courtesy of Beatrix’s excellent hospitality.
Kiss of Crimson Page 8