I tried to picture it in my head. “Well that explains the blaze.” I bit my lip.
He stroked my chin. “I have missed that.”
My eyes came to his, giving him a half smile.
“The one human quality I adored about you…besides your smile.”
I felt tears build up as he pulled me towards him, my head resting on his shoulder. “Bess…”
“I know. I am sorry, darling.” His voice was silky and smooth, not very loud, but not at all quiet. It filled my ears nicely, making me feel finally in place.
I sat up and wiped my tears away. “Then you…you scared the living daylights out of me.”
He smirked. “Now you know how I felt when I thought I had lost you.”
“Oh, so it is payback, I suppose?” My mouth scrunched to the side.
“I missed that also,” he laughed.
I smiled brightly, looking up at the ceiling. “It must be this house.”
He looked around the room. “You really miss this place?”
“Yes.” I nodded. “I feel…like myself again. I know you said that person is gone, that I am no longer Annalee Harding, but I do not think I can be anyone else.”
“Not even Annalee Moor?” he asked.
“Well, a change in name is possible,” I said, shaking my head. “But, overall, I will still be Annalee.”
“Perhaps we should move back,” he said. “I am sure we could make up some sort of lie to fool the townspeople. How about, Doctor Harding agreed to let me whisk you away because of Mister Pertrew? Sounds believable…what with the blaze and all.” He stroked my cheek with his finger.
I smiled. “Really?”
“If it will make you happy, then yes.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “Anything you want.”
I looked into his eyes. “Well, right now I want you.”
He laughed. “I do not think I have enough strength for that yet. Why don’t we get a proper meal? Then afterwards…perhaps. I hope you won’t mind the hard floor.”
* * * *
Vincent was able to quickly get us some fresh clothes, get us cleaned up after our meal and our stint on the parlor floor.
My eyes were on the looking-glass in the master bedchamber, the pink from my gown making my skin look like porcelain, my black hair falling in large waves neatly against my back. I had finally got all the blood out of my hair and off my skin as well as the dirt from my hands and legs. I finally felt slightly back to where I should have been.
I realized the soft, feminine color was much like most of the gowns I had worn previously. I may even have thought they were boring. But, when I thought back, I honestly didn’t think anything about my life when I was human was boring anymore. I just saw it as normal, how humans always live their lives. I was lucky to have it and stupid enough to abuse it.
Vincent walked through the room, his reflection bouncing off of the looking-glass, his new breeches and waistcoat shining in the light, beige, not quite pink, but it would still compliment my gown nicely. His hair was tied back with a ribbon, his neck cloth in place as he grabbed his frock coat and put it on.
I sighed heavily as I turned towards him. “You do not have to accompany me. I can do this on my own.”
He turned to me, walking up and placing his hands on my shoulders, rubbing them. “I want to go with you. Besides, Doctor Harding will want to check my wound.”
I nodded, looking back to the looking-glass, my gown simple with no trimmings, no embroidery, nothing bedecking it, just simple and smooth. It was topped off with a fichu, since the July weather was a little warm, even calling for me to wear a pink silk hat.
When we were both ready, our carriage was waiting for us. Vincent was amazing with his ability to acquire things, with a simple note to his advisor he could get anything and everything sorted out. We would be receiving our affects from Whittley in the coming days to fill the house again—as it was not even a few days before, even his old servants would be hired back.
We arrived at Doctor Harding’s office, where he would live while the authorities and fire brigade sorted out the mess at his manor. Would he return there once they sorted everything out? I don’t know. How he would clean up the mess, I don’t know either. It seemed odd my childhood home and my Bess were now gone.
We walked inside, Doctor Harding looking up to us from his desk, Higgins asleep safely in the corner, snoring loudly on a cushion. Doctor Harding seemed uneasy as we walked forward. He stood up and rolled up his sleeve from where it had dropped down.
“Mister and Mrs. Moor,” he said.
Vincent nodded his head. “Doctor Harding.”
“I suppose you have fully recovered?” he asked.
Vincent and I looked to each other as he spoke. “Yes, Annalee’s blood was more than a wise decision. It helped to heal the wound faster. I am nearly at one hundred percent today.” He smiled politely.
Doctor Harding nodded. “That is good. I would like to take a look at it, if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all,” Vincent said, shaking his head as he stepped forward, taking his frock coat off and handing it to me, as he unbuttoned his waistcoat and lifted his blouse.
Doctor Harding put on his glasses and examined it, touching it lightly, nodding. “Yes, well good. Completely healed. I am sure it will pain you for a few more days. I feel silly saying this to a vampire, but rest is key to recovery.”
Vincent smiled warmly. “Yes, sir.”
Vincent began to put his clothes back in order, while I stepped forward, looking at Doctor Harding. “Are you well?”
He looked at me, his heart slowing slightly as it had before, when Vincent and I were collecting my effects. “I am alright, whatever that is worth.”
“Where are you going to live?” I asked. “Everything is gone.”
He cleared his throat, crossing his arms. “Well, not everything. It was mainly the dining room, sitting room and foyer that took the brunt of it. My office and half of the library are still intact, as is the second floor.”
“So, you will plan to rebuild?” I asked.
He nodded. “I have considered it, yes.”
We went silent for a few moments before I looked back to him. “I have some good news. We will be moving back to London,” I said.
He shook his head. “No, Annalee. You should go back to Whittley. Stay away from here.”
My brow furrowed in pain. “Why?”
“It is not fair to those who lost you,” he said, looking at me seriously. “You cannot just pop back into their lives.”
I took a moment before I spoke. “I know I cannot make up for what I have done, for what I have put you through. I cannot take it back. I can only apologize to you, to my friends, to those who cared for me. But, I refuse to leave you alone here. I cannot do that. Bess…you are alone.”
I watched the tears glisten in his eyes, a lump sticking in my throat as I tried to keep mine at bay.
“I am the one who has done that to you. I just cannot…I cannot leave you like this. I love you far too much.”
“Don’t you mean my daughter loved me far too much?”
Tears began to spill down from my eyes. Vincent stood silent behind me, though I knew he was angry at what Doctor Harding said to me, father or not.
“No. I…I came to realize there is no separating Annalee of the past and the Annalee who stands before you. My past is the foundation for who I am right now. Just because my last name has changed and I am missing a pulse does not mean I do not still carry the same love I had for you before…right now. I will always love you, as I will always love Vincent and Bess, and even Deirdre and Peter.”
I didn’t notice but my voice had risen, I was nearly shouting at the top of my lungs as I fought back the sobs that kept sticking in my throat.
Angrily, I continued, “Now, we will tell everyone in town my death was a sham. I went into hiding because of Sean Pertrew and his threats, and came back when I heard he tried to attack you. Do you agree?�
�
He looked from the floor to my feet.
“Daddy, do you agree?” I asked through a sob.
He nodded, a tear rolling down his cheek. “Yes…Poppet.”
I smiled as more tears fell down my cheeks.
I nodded. “Good.”
I stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek before he quickly pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me.
“I missed you so much,” he said through sobs. “I thought I had lost you. Oh, Poppet, I thought you were gone.”
I nodded, sobbing hard as I wrapped my arms around him. “I am here.”
About the Author:
Stephanie O’Hanlon graduated from the Toronto Film School with aspirations of starting a career in film, but found herself drawn to writing. After self-publishing her first novel, a vampire historical romance, she decided to narrow her sights on
general historical romance, fuelled by her love for history, the 18th century in particular.
Now a full time writer, she lives in the city of Oshawa in Ontario, Canada. More information can be found on her Facebook page or her Blog.
Visit her online at:
http://www.facebook.com/stephanieohanlonwriter
http://www.stephanieohanlonwriter.blogspot.com
Also by Stephanie O’Hanlon:
Affaire de Coeur
by Stephanie O’Hanlon
eBook ISBN: 9781615728688
Print ISBN: 9781615728695
Romance Historical
Super Plus-Novel of 154,606 words
An unforgettable romance in the most scandalous of eras in history.
Paris, May 1770—in the midst of aristocracy—country girl, Madeleine Dumont is privileged to partake in social events while living with her friend Colette du Lorme, daughter of a Marquis. While following in the shadow of her popular and socially versed friend, she is caught up with her infatuation with a man—a Comte. Lucien de Laurent is one of King Louis XV’s favorites and established bachelor social recluse. How does a woman win such a man without playing the game?
Also from Eternal Press:
Silent Heart
Author’s Revised Edition
by Roberta Hoffer
eBook ISBN: 9781615729975
Print ISBN: 9781615729982
Romance Vampire
Novel of 80,000 words
Book One of the Silent Vampire Series. Filled with love, his heart lies silent.
Some believe in vampires; others do not. Sarah Abbott does. She accidently meets her Great-great-grandfather, Benjamin, who reveals her vampire family of deceased relatives. She is introduced to Carter who is her personal Guardian vampire. He’s loved her for the fourteen years he comforted her with soft humming through many a tearful night. Sarah falls in love with this exquisite immortal with piercing blue eyes.
Their love is in danger when Carter’s creator and nemesis, tracks him down and finds he is in a forbidden relationship with a mortal. Victor makes it his mission to destroy Carter and his family. Unequalled twists to the vampire existence occur which were never previously explored.
Have they made the right decisions? Good and evil collide as the pages bring more vampires with agendas of their own. You will cheer the good, detest the evil, and cry for the lost. Your heart will beat loudly as the story unravels but remember—it is your heart rapidly beating. The hearts of the vampires you come to love lie…silent.
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Out of My Grave Page 31