“Yes, my lady,” he answered sleepily.
She exhaled at his reply. “Oh, thank the heavens! I was afraid Sir Percy had found me here.”
Panicked by her possible meanings, he asked, “Does Sir Percy often hold you like this?”
“No, of course not. You’re just suffocating me with your heavy arm, so I feared you might be him. I mean I hoped it was you. I mean, I just didn’t know for sure.”
“Are you having those pre-wedding jitters I keep hearing about?”
“Most definitely.” Beon detected a note of emotion in her voice, confirming that she had been crying as Sir Lyndon had said.
She was pretending to be strong, but he knew better. “What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong?”
Chapter 18
Misplaced Lady
Sophia must’ve fallen asleep crying, she thought, as she blinked her eyes open. When she suddenly became acutely aware of movement behind her, her eyes widened. She was lying on her side, facing the wall but she could tell that someone was there with her, in her bed. Was it Sir Percy, come to claim his prize? Was it actually her wedding night? Perhaps she’d blocked out the entire day’s events…or was this another nightmare?
An arm came around her and squeezed. Holding her breath, she lay perfectly still. The man’s arm was so strong and heavy Sophia began to feel trapped. When the person clutching her relaxed and his breathing became slow and steady, she decided to venture a peek.
Turning her head slightly, she looked over her shoulder. Reality came crashing back and Sophia remembered where she was.
“Beon?” she asked, needing to know for certain that it was him.
“Yes, my lady.”
Exhaling in relief at the sound of Beon’s voice, she felt the tension slip free of her body. “Oh, thank the heavens! I was afraid Sir Percy had found me here.”
A long pause came before his next words. “Does Sir Percy often hold you like this?”
“No, of course not. You’re just squishing me with your heavy arm and so I feared you were him and not you. I mean I hoped it was you. I mean, I just didn’t know for sure.”
“Are you having those pre-wedding jitters I keep hearing about?”
“Most definitely.” Except it was far worse than he even knew.
“What’s wrong?”
“What isn’t wrong?” she asked, wondering if he could hear how upset she had been.
“Care to tell me about it?”
“Your arm is still making it difficult for me to breathe,” Sophia said.
When he released her, Sophia sat up, and Beon slowly followed suit.
Drawing her knees to her chest, she wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on top. “It’s good to see you. Is it that obvious something is wrong?”
“It’s good to see you too. And yes. Have things improved since Percy kidnapped you away from me?”
Things had only gotten worse. But just being near Beon made her feel safe again. Or safer, at least, and most of her panic receded. “Was it hard for you to listen to my advice and stay away?”
“Of course it was hard. Pure torture might be a better way of describing it. At first, I wasn’t going to stay away, but I’m not an idiot. I knew if I was to defeat Percy then I needed a better plan than just whisking you away in the middle of the night.”
“I’m sorry to sneak into your chamber... I just needed somewhere no one would find me.”
He frowned at her. “Has Percy harmed you in any way?”
“He’s only talked to me.”
“About what?”
“About his curse, which he doesn’t see as a curse at all.”
“He might be right.”
“What do you mean? How could you know anything about it?”
“Seth told me.”
Sophia looked at him and waited for him to explain, but when he didn’t, she asked, “And who is Seth?”
“Seth is Sir Lyndon. That’s his first name apparently,” he said with awe in his tone.
“You spoke to the ghost of Sir Lyndon? That’s almost more absurd than discovering Sir Percy is a vampire.”
“No, Sir Lyndon is alive and—”
Impulsively, Sophia slapped Beon soundly across the face. How could he not have told her this?
Beon blinked and rubbed at his cheek. “What was that for?”
“I’ve been grieving him...and watching Eva grieve him! Why did you keep this from me?”
Beon gaped at her and then said, “Wait a minute…slap me again.”
“You’re not making any sense at all.”
“Again, please.”
Growing annoyed, Sophia slapped him but good across his left cheek. “Satisfied?”
“Ow,” he said as he rubbed at the red handprint forming on his face.
Resisting a laugh, she asked, “Striking you actually made me feel better…is that strange?”
“A little,” Beon said, smiling. “At least I know that I’m not dreaming.”
Sophia stared at him while she tried to process the meaning of that. “We’ve been sitting here talking, and you thought you were dreaming?”
He shot a crooked smile her way. “You are here...in my bed, aren’t you? I just had to be sure it wasn’t a fantasy that only existed in my head...well, that and the fact that Sir Lyndon is alive. It’s all quite amazing. Especially since he is now a vampire.”
At that news, words failed her. When the silence stretched on, he asked, “You’re very quiet. Are you going to slap me again?”
“Should I?”
“Do I deserve it?”
“If you don’t explain yourself further, then yes.”
“Sir Percy turned Sir Lyndon into a vampire for an army he’s building. I mean, I suppose he also saved Sir Lyndon’s life. He really was dying. One bite from a vampire does it, I guess.” Beon studied her face and then asked, “You don’t seem as surprised by this as I thought you would be.”
“I am surprised that Sir Lyndon is still alive, but not about Sir Percy turning him into a vampire because he plans to do the same to me.”
“For his army?” Beon asked, sounding rather bewildered by it.
“No. As his bride.”
Anger made the muscles in his cheek flex.
“What are we to do? I don’t want to marry him...I’d rather die...”
“Please, don’t say things like that.”
She released her knees and turned to face him. Fighting a return of the tears, she took a breath, lifted her eyes to his, and admitted, “I went to Father, and he refuses to listen. I tried to be strong, but just ended up making him angrier than I’d ever seen him.”
Beon’s eyes went wide with alarm as she turned her face to the light. “Sophia! Who did this to you?” he asked, gently turning her chin with his fingers to examine the bruise.
“Father,” Sophia said, touching her cheek. She hadn’t realized it had left such a visible mark.
Beon’s face went a dark shade of red just before he slammed his fist down on the bed and the wood slats beneath them creaked under the strain as if they might snap. “I will challenge him. I will go to him and fight him to the death!”
Beon stood and made for the door but Sophia scrambled from the bed, captured his arm and pulled him back. When his face turned toward her, she kissed him.
For a moment, Beon was the only one in the world who existed. Every single worry and fear fled her mind for that blissful stretch of time.
When Sophia finally released Beon from the kiss, he said, “Let me avenge you.”
“I can’t allow you to challenge my father. I want to be with you, forever, not send you off on an errand that could get you killed. Now, what is your plan to get us out of here? You have a plan, don’t you?”
“I do. That’s all I’ve been thinking about.”
“Well, let’s hear it.”
Beon nodded and looked toward the closed door. He swallowed hard and then, practically whispering, sai
d, “Sir Lyndon...Seth, please come to the door.”
Suddenly, a gust of wind caused the door to rattle. Once the wind calmed, the door rattled again with three slow knocks.
“Come in,” Beon said.
The door creaked open, and there, as large as an oak, stood Sir Lyndon.
Beon awoke to a loud ruckus in the dormitory hall. Soon after, a harsh pounding sounded on his chamber door. Lord Gall burst into the room with two of his guards. They scanned the room quickly.
Lord Gall was clearly furious about something. Beon’s first thought was that someone had caught Sophia on her way back into the castle and she had confessed to being in his chamber. Beon momentarily felt like an idiot for not thinking of that strategy sooner. Had Sophia claimed to be ‘ruined’ by Beon, they would have been forced to wed. On second thought, however, Lord Gall was so desperate for money and the prestige of joining houses with the Percy clan he cared nothing for propriety. It’s possible he still wouldn’t have budged.
“Where is she?” he spat.
A flood of anger returned, his fingers curling into fists. Beon wanted nothing more than to punch the man in his arrogant face for striking Sophia.
“I’ve no idea, my lord,” Beon answered, concerned for Sophia himself. Why did Lord Gall think she was missing? Had Percy taken her this time?
“You will rouse yourself and aid in the search immediately. If I find that you’ve had anything to do with this, you will be hanged.”
Lord Gall left in bluster of clattering steel and curses. Beon quickly got dressed, wondering where on earth she could be. This wasn’t part of the plan. She was to go directly back to her chamber, instruct Eva as to her role in the ruse, and then behave as if all were normal until just before the ceremony. Beon was starting to panic.
When he left the dormitory moments later, he could see the castle was abuzz with activity. Guests and guards alike were searching high and low, inside the tents set up for guests in both the inner and outer baileys, calling Sophia’s name periodically. Beon stood frozen for a moment, wondering if he should grab his horse and search outside the castle, when a female voice shouted, “Over here, my lord, she’s in the chapel! I found her, my lord!”
Beon dashed toward the chapel, along with many of the others who’d been searching. Please be all right, he silently prayed. As he arrived, Sophia was being led out of the chapel by a scullery maid, most likely the woman whom he had just heard shouting. Sophia looked both surprised and indignant. Lord Gall was upon her the moment he saw her.
“What do you mean by disappearing? We’ve had the entire village up after you!”
Sophia looked at him coldly and said, “I was praying for my salvation.”
Lord Gall went to grab her by the arm, but she shook him off violently. Beon was rather proud of the stand she was taking, but he was also concerned this would lead to Lord Gall hitting her again. Beon felt his body tense as he mentally prepared to stop him if he did.
“You will return to your chambers immediately and prepare for the ceremony,” Lord Gall seethed through gritted teeth.
“I demand proxy brides for my wedding. With rumors of monsters abroad, I fear for my safety.”
This statement brought whispers and grumblings amongst the crowd. It seemed they agreed with her sentiment. Lord Gall took in the audience gathered around them and acquiesced immediately.
“Then you shall have them. The bride must be safe on her wedding day.”
Beon was again impressed with how Sophia had comported herself. He considered it a stroke of brilliance to make her request a public announcement and force her father’s hand. “I hereby decree that all maidens in attendance at today’s festivities will be dressed in white and veiled.”
Sophia and her father made their way toward the great hall and into the main part of the castle as the rest of the people in attendance went about their business.
Beon had some preparations of his own to attend to. He felt emboldened by Sophia’s display of unwavering confidence and knew that she would execute her part of the plan without fear. Beon found himself highly attracted to this side of Sophia and smiled to himself as he headed back toward the stables to complete his morning tasks.
More guests arrived throughout the morning, but there were extra hands to help with the horses being brought in, so Beon took the opportunity to slip away and complete his preparations for the escape. Once back at the dormitory, he gathered up the stash of stakes, holy water, and crucifixes he and Sir Lyndon had used to hunt vampires, as well as some boy’s clothing left behind by the pages and squires who had not returned from the war. He stuffed them all into a sack and made his way across the bailey toward the kitchen to pick up strings of garlic.
“Master Everard. What a pleasant surprise.”
The cold recognition of the slithery voice sent chills up Beon’s spine. He turned to face Sir Percy and give a slight bow. “Good morning, my lord, and congratulations on your wedding day.”
“That’s very generous of you. I thank you, humbly. I do admire a man who can swallow his pride, but then I always knew you were a lad of substance, Master Everard.”
Beon’s cheeks flushed with anger as he managed to say, “You are most kind, Sir Percy, now if you will excuse me,” and he turned to leave.
“Before you go, I would like to present my sisters,” Sir Percy said, stopping him. As his teeth clamped together, he turned to face the blackguard once again.
The two women standing behind Sir Percy stepped forward, smiling. They had a sense of conceit about them and never broke eye contact with Beon as they curtsied. “Arianna and Irina de Percy.”
Beon bowed in turn. “It is an honor to meet you both,” he said, “but I thought you had four sisters, my lord. Where is the rest of your family?”
As soon as the words left Beon’s mouth, he inwardly kicked himself. Sir Percy’s ears pricked as the corners of his mouth turned up into a forced smile.
“Aren’t you the inquisitive one, Master Everard. How kind of you to ask after my kin. Our sisters have lived abroad these many years and are thus, unable to attend this blessed event.” There was an awkward moment of silence that hung between them before Sir Percy continued, “Are you traveling somewhere?”
Beon had completely forgotten about the sack he was carrying.
“Oh, no, I was told to clear out the dormitory to make more room for the servants of our guests.”
“Ah, yes, helpful to the last, aren’t we, Master Everard. I wonder if you can do one more thing for me. Call it a wedding gift.”
“I am at your service, my lord.”
“I’d like you to personally guard the front gate during the ceremony and subsequent festivities. I’m told my bride fears another kidnapping may be afoot.”
Percy smiled and Beon felt a wave of panic course through his entire body. Did Sir Percy already know of their plan? Had he discovered Seth was missing and captured him? Beon suddenly felt all alone, and now that Sir Percy intended to cut him off from the interior of the castle, he wouldn’t know if something went wrong.
“I will do everything I can to keep her safe, my lord,” Beon said, bowing his head in hopes of hiding his thoughts.
“Yes, you will, won’t you?”
Chapter 19
With the Devil’s Help
Sophia’s heart was pounding furiously as she and Eva got dressed in their white gowns. They didn’t speak a word but exchanged encouraging glances now and again. Sophia had decided not to go into the intricacies of Sir Lyndon’s ‘state’ with Eva since time was so short. She simply told her that he was, in fact, alive, had survived, and made his way back for her. Eva had been overcome with tears of joy. Now, after hearing the scheme for their escape, she was as focused as Sophia in the task.
Handmaids and servants were bustling in and out of her Mother’s old chamber, assisting the bride-to-be, as well as the number of other young women enlisted to be the bridal proxies. While Sophia had known that having multiple bride
s at a wedding was a fairly common safety precaution, especially amongst noble families, it hadn’t struck her until after she’d left Beon’s chamber how she could use it to her advantage. She might just be about to outsmart her father after all—and Sir Percy, too.
Aside from Eva, there was one more person Sophia had to entrust with her life in order for the escape to work, and that was Nurse. She was older now, but still spry…and still a loyal confidant to Sophia, like a kind and loving grandmother. Ever since Sophia’s mother had died, Nurse was given charge of the household duties and overseeing the servants. Everyone in the castle referred to her as ‘Madam Kemp,’ but she would always be ‘Nurse’ to Sophia.
A beautiful woman entered the chamber whom Sophia had never seen before. She had inky black hair and striking green eyes. There was something familiar about her Sophia couldn’t place. She strode right up to Sophia and greeted her with a smile.
“I regret we have never met until now, my dear. I am your aunt, your father’s sister, Sabine.”
“Oh, I’m very pleased to meet you,” Sophia said with a curtsy.
“You are lovely, my dear…so much of your father in you, but without the hard edges,” Sabine said with a wink. Sophia liked her aunt immediately. Sabine held out a parcel wrapped in linen and string. “I’ll leave you now…but I wanted you to have this. I made it.” With a wave, she was gone.
Sophia untied the string and opened the cloth. Inside was a beautiful bowl.
“Please put on your veils, ladies, let’s see how everyone looks,” Nurse commanded over the din in the room. Once all the girls had hidden their faces, the Nurse gave a nod of approval. “All right, I think we’re ready. All those who are not in the wedding party, please clear the chamber.”
That was their cue. Now that it was time, Sophia’s palms became cold and sweaty, and her heart began to pound again. In the bustle of servants leaving the room, she and Eva ducked behind the dressing panel in the far corner. Nurse had all the brides line up two by two in front of the large wooden doorway. She placed the two who looked most like Sophia and Eva in color and stature at the very back of the line. With all the girls in front of her, facing out toward the hallway, Nurse glanced back toward the dressing panel and blew a kiss.
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