Revenge is Sweet

by Berni Stevens

  ‘We’re supposed to go and admire our reflections.’

  Roxy looked like a mischievous elf. ‘Don’t worry, Luke’s fixed the staff. The downside is they’re all smitten with him now – even the sixty-year-old. He really wants to go home.’

  I smiled. ‘Let’s go twirl and put him out of his misery.’

  Luke’s eyes widened when we swished out into the lounge area.

  ‘If you tell Will anything about the dress I’ll have to kill you,’ I told him.

  He held both hands up in mock surrender. ‘Just get me the hell out of here, and I’ll tell him you’re wearing a pink tutu.’

  Rox and I did a couple of twirls and made like we could see ourselves in the mirrors. It felt really weird actually. We had no mirrors in the house at all, so the ‘no reflection’ thing didn’t come up too often. But the mirrors here were like the mirrors in a dance studio, floor to ceiling, and to see absolutely nothing just felt creepy.

  When we thought we’d ‘admired’ ourselves enough, we went back to change, and the relief on Luke’s face made me laugh. I arranged for the dresses to be delivered a few days before Christmas Eve, and we made our escape – after the staff had all pressed cards with their phone numbers on into Luke’s hands.

  ‘Who’s a popular boy then?’ Rox slid into the back seat of Luke’s car.

  ‘If you tell anyone, I might have to kill you.’ Luke’s terse reply sounded half serious.

  Waving goodbye to Luke and Roxy, I let myself in the front door. Will’s tall frame appeared immediately in the drawing room doorway.

  ‘I missed you,’ he said.

  ‘Good.’ I said, crossing the hall to wind my arms around his neck. ‘If you hadn’t, I’d have had to kill you.’

  Well that just slipped out, all the talk of killing tonight must have made an impression.

  ‘I can tell you have been with Roxanne.’ He lifted me off my feet to kiss me. ‘Slightly too flippant.’

  ‘Can we go out?’

  ‘Of course, where would you like to go?’

  ‘I would like to reclaim the cemetery as ours again. Lay the ghosts so to speak.’

  ‘A very intelligent idea.’

  We walked to the Circle of Lebanon, and stood for a moment with our hands linked, admiring the beauty of the huge cedar tree, which towered above the mausoleums. I glanced at Will’s profile outlined in silver by the light of the moon. He turned his head to look at me, and even after more than a year in his company, his handsome face still took me by surprise. His amazing eyes reflected the moon, giving them an otherworldly glow. He put a hand to my cheek and a flicker of a smile touched his lips.

  ‘Have I told you how much I love you?’

  ‘Not today.’

  He leaned down to kiss me and pulled me into his arms. ‘How very remiss of me.’

  ‘I hope you won’t get tardy when we’re married Mr Spooky.’

  ‘Tardy?’ He murmured against my hair. ‘I think not.’

  He drew back from me, his expression one of amusement.

  ‘What?’ Suddenly I felt suspicious.

  ‘I have always had a yen to make love to you here in the cemetery.’

  ‘In November? It’s cold.’

  ‘Vampires do not feel the cold, you said so yourself.’

  ‘Someone will see.’

  ‘No. They will not.’

  He grabbed my hand and took off at an alarming pace into a dense overgrown part of the cemetery, pulling me behind him.

  ‘Will …!’

  He didn’t answer, just pulled me further into the mass of ferns and shrubs. When he stopped, he shrugged off his leather coat and spread it on the mossy ground. I gave him a “you cannot be serious” look and he laughed.

  ‘Where is your sense of adventure Elinor?’

  ‘Staying inside my coat.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  Suddenly his body was pressed to mine, and just the scent of him instantly aroused my own body. He trailed soft kisses down my neck until I melted against him, and he slid my coat off my shoulders. Deft hands unzipped my sweatshirt and pushed that off my shoulders too, and before I could blink, both garments were on the ground.

  Will knelt in front of me, and slowly unzipped my jeans, his bright gaze never leaving mine.

  Then the jeans too, were pushed down to my ankles, and he began to kiss my stomach, his tongue licking lazy circles around my platinum belly bar. His hands cupped my bottom to support my weight as he worked his way lower.

  I burrowed my hands in the rich silk of his hair gasping his name again when his breath shivered through the thin silk of my underwear. His hands pushed it down out of the way. He kissed his way to the delicate centre of my body, where his tongue flicked inside and caused me to cry out.

  He lowered me to the ground where I lay trembling, and pulled my boots off first, then my jeans. His own clothes soon joined mine and he covered my body with his.

  ‘Are you warm enough?’ His voice whispered in my ear.

  ‘Make me warmer.’

  ‘Always a pleasure.’

  Chapter Forty

  December 16th

  The date of our wedding night seemed to be hurtling towards us at breakneck speed now we were in December, but strangely I didn’t feel nervous at all. I had no idea why, even with Rox asking me every other day whether I felt nervous. It didn’t make me flip. I was marrying Will, what could be more amazing than that?

  We’d chosen absolutely exquisite matching wedding rings in yellow gold, designed in the style – according to Will – of the engraved wedding rings of the sixteenth and seventeenth century. Well he should know, no doubt there had been plenty of choice jewellery handed down in his wealthy family over many decades. Perhaps his parents had worn similar wedding rings to the designs we’d chosen. It seemed fitting somehow, traditional wedding rings from a bygone age, rather than the plain bands favoured in this century. Will had found a place in Hatton Garden which made antique style wedding rings, and he paid through the nose to get them made in time for the wedding. Stevie picked them up today, the first of many ‘Best Man’ duties no doubt.

  Will had dealt with all the other arrangements with his usual impeccable efficiency. No wonder he was so good at stocks and shares, he never missed a trick. He remained secretive about the honeymoon destination however, and patience has never been a virtue of mine. I tried the, ‘I don’t know what to pack’ reason, but he simply smiled and said everything was taken care of. Eventually I stopped asking.

  Sunset saw me decorating the huge Christmas tree in the drawing room, which I’d begged Will to buy. Despite his protests about it being a waste because we’d be away, and that he didn’t celebrate Christmas anyway, he’d eventually relented, probably to stop me pestering him about the honeymoon. Naturally when Will buys anything, it’s always the best, so the tree stood at least eleven feet high, and filled the drawing room with an incredible smell of fresh pine and forests.

  Precariously balanced on the top of a step-ladder, I attempted to put a star on the top, when strong hands grasped me around the waist and swung me to the floor.

  ‘Even vampires can break limbs.’ Will sounded exasperated.

  ‘Control freak,’ I said pushing at his chest.

  ‘Give me the star.’ He held his hand out.

  I gave him the star, and he had it securely fixed to the top of the tree in seconds.

  ‘Elder of London seen decorating Christmas tree.’ I grinned at him.

  He gave an exaggerated sigh. ‘All I ask is a little respect.’

  I closed the gap between us and slipped my arms around his waist. ‘You have it, Mr Spooky.’

  He kissed the top of my head. ‘Somehow I doubt it. Shall we switch on the lights?’

  I nodded, and he obligingly flicked the switch so the hundreds of tiny white bulbs sprang to glittering life.

  ‘It’s so beautiful,’ I said.

  He draped an arm across my shoulders. ‘Yes it is. I am so pleased I t
hought of it.’

  I jabbed him with my elbow. ‘Heathen.’

  ‘And we are back to the lack of respect.’

  December 23rd

  Everything seemed to have been sorted for the wedding, although if it hadn’t been by now, it would be too late. Luke and Will had dropped me off at Roxy’s place just before dawn, and it felt strange to be without him. It reminded me of the time he’d allowed himself to be taken by Khiara in order to save me. Or so he’d thought. Will had balked at my being anywhere at any time without him or Luke, but had reluctantly given in when he found himself to be in the minority.

  Roxy and I had argued that we had stylists and hairdressers coming to do our hair and make-up and it made sense to be together. Heaven only knows how much they cost anyway, let alone if we’d been in different parts of North London, and on Christmas Eve too.

  I felt guilty about the accumulating costs, but Roxy assured me Will would barely notice a dent in his bank balance, although how she knew that, I had no idea. It didn’t come easily to me, spending someone else’s money, when I had always saved for whatever I wanted – and worked damned hard for it too.

  Half an hour before dawn, Roxy showed me to the spare room downstairs in the elegant terraced house. Left to my own devices, I reverently touched the beautiful wedding dress hanging outside the wardrobe, its transparent protective cover allowing me to admire it. The soft overhead lights picked up the expensive sheen of the ivory-coloured taffeta, and every one of the pearl beads stitched meticulously on the bodice. I didn’t think I’d ever seen a more breath-taking dress. Hanging next to it was my dark burgundy velvet cape, its hood trimmed with ivory coloured fake fur. I would be carrying a bouquet of dark red roses, and the hairdresser would twine dark red rosebuds in my hair. There aren’t many shades of red a redhead can get away with, but a dark burgundy, or claret, is one of them. Or would that be two?

  Roxy had promised to take some photos before we left the house tomorrow, and she assured me that vampires looked perfectly normal in photographs these days. I wondered why Will had never sought to take photographs before. Old habits die hard I supposed, and he just didn’t want records of himself anywhere. Of course early photography used silver backed film, which almost certainly wouldn’t have worked on a vampire, so he’d probably just got used to avoiding cameras.

  I reverently touched the dress’s cover again. One more night and then I would be Mrs William Austen. It felt strange to even think it.

  I really needed to get to bed. I could feel the approach of dawn like a weight in my head. Quickly undressing, I slipped under the duvet, once again feeling lost without Will, but found myself wondering again what he had planned for the honeymoon. It wasn’t as if we could go to the Bahamas and sit on a beach after all. Well not for long anyway. I sighed, wondering if I could ever rest. But one of the pluses of being a vampire, meant nerves and excitement would never keep me awake. Sure enough, once the dawn came, I went out like a light.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Christmas Eve

  ‘Ellie!’

  I struggled out from under the duvet, and opened my eyes at Roxy’s shout.

  ‘I’m up,’ I said defensively. How many times have we all said that when it wasn’t true?

  I went to open the door and Roxy, dressed in sweatshirt and jeans, held out a china mug. Will had clearly given her instructions.

  ‘Thanks.’ I sipped at the contents with my usual lack of interest, and Roxy laughed.

  ‘There are more interesting ways to feed you know.’

  ‘Not for me.’

  ‘Have you tried lately?’

  I shuddered. ‘Thankfully, no.’

  ‘Okay… fair enough. The stylist and hairdresser are due in about an hour, so you have plenty of time to have a bath or shower, whichever you want, the bathroom is free, and all yours.’

  ‘Thanks Rox. I am nervous now.’

  She gave me an impish grin. ‘What happened to all the, “but I’m marrying Will, I’ll never be nervous” talk?’

  ‘Just colour me stupid.’

  ‘Take my advice, have a long soak in a bath. Works wonders.’

  ‘Do you think Will’s nervous?’

  ‘Go and run the bath.’

  ‘But do you?’

  ‘I’ve never seen him look even remotely nervous, but then I’ve never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you. So my guess? Yeah, he’s nervous.’

  Strangely that made me feel a lot better and I obediently went off to get a bath. Roxy’s advice had been good, the fragrant bubbles and hot water soothed my jitters, and I felt much better when I’d soaked for twenty minutes.

  An hour later saw both Roxy and I having our hair done, mine in tumbling curls with rosebuds entwined, and Roxy’s its usual gleaming perfection, adorned by a pretty black velvet Alice band interlaced with dark red rosebuds.

  Luke came in just as we were having the finishing touches done to our make-up. He held out a long velvet box to me.

  ‘Will sent you this,’ he said. ‘It’s a wedding present.’

  I took the box and opened it. Inside, nestling against midnight velvet, lay a beautiful platinum and diamond necklace. It looked very old to my untrained eye. Three different sized round cut diamonds dangled from each other, and hung on a platinum chain.

  ‘It’s incredible,’ I said quietly. I looked up at Luke. ‘Thank you for bringing it. Is he all right this evening?’

  Luke smiled. ‘He’s the most nervous I’ve ever seen him in over a hundred years. I’d say he’s terrified.’

  Roxy and I exchanged glances and she grinned.

  ‘Should I phone him?’

  ‘Definitely not.’ Luke fiddled with his bow tie. ‘You’d only get Stevie anyway.’

  I eyed Luke in his black tux. ‘You look gorgeous,’ I told him. ‘A real heartbreaker.’

  He gave me a mock bow. ‘I have to look good to give the bride away. Are you getting married in sweatshirt and jeans?’

  ‘Tempting, but no. I’m going to change now.’

  Clutching the box with the necklace, I left the room to go and change. I couldn’t wait to put the dress on. Actually I couldn’t wait to marry Will. I hated being without him, and one night had felt like a week of nights. Something else I would never tell him.

  Roxy followed me into the bedroom. ‘I’ll zip you up and then you can zip me up. Do you want me to fasten the necklace for you?’

  ‘Please.’

  I took the necklace from its box and she placed it around my neck and fastened it. The necklace hung just where I could see it, so I could admire the different colours in the hearts of the diamonds whenever the light caught them.

  ‘It’s so beautiful,’ I said. ‘As if he hasn’t spent enough money.’

  ‘You sound like a wife already,’ said Roxy.

  ‘That sounded like an insult.’

  ‘Ellie get changed, you are the slowest person I know at getting ready.’

  I unzipped my sweatshirt and jeans and Roxy slipped the dress carefully over me, taking care not to disturb my hair. She zipped me up and walked around in front of me.

  ‘Absolutely, stunningly beautiful,’ she said. ‘Shoes.’

  She took the Louboutins out of their box, and handed them to me. It felt good to grow five inches in an instant. Then she handed me the velvet cape, and helped arrange it over my bare shoulders. Just as she had promised, she took several digital photographs and then showed me. I couldn’t believe the elegant stranger I saw on the small screen was actually me.

  ‘Will won’t recognise me,’ I said. ‘What do you think? Supposing he doesn’t like how I look?’’

  ‘He’ll be gobsmacked,’ she said, and began pulling off her own jeans. ‘The flowers are upstairs.’

  ‘Flowers?’ I’d forgotten the flowers. ‘Are they all right? Are they the right colour?’

  ‘Ellie, calm down. They’re perfect. Now zip me up.’

  I thought I’d feel better once I had the dress on, b
ut it just made me feel even more nervous. I had never been much good at dressing up for formal occasions.

  I zipped up Roxy’s dress for her, with hands that trembled. She looked beautiful.

  ‘Wow Rox, you look fantastic – Will might want to marry you instead when he sees you.’

  She gave a derisive laugh. ‘That man has only had eyes for you since long before Glastonbury 2011. Now go upstairs and let’s get the two of you married.’

  We went upstairs to Rox and Jake’s trendy living room, where Luke and Jake waited. Jake’s eyes fairly bulged when he saw Roxy.

  ‘Well, don’t you scrub up pretty?’ He said as he walked around her, patting her bottom on the way past. She thumped him.

  ‘Don’t touch what you can’t afford,’ she said, making him grin.

  ‘Car’s here,’ said Luke looking out of the window. ‘Ellie, you look incredible, by the way.’

  ‘Thank you. Flowers, where are the flowers?’ I looked around for the bouquets. ‘Roxy, where’s the flowers?’

  Roxy rolled her eyes at me. ‘Calm down Ellie. They’re in the hall. Now, shall we go?’

  Luke offered me his arm. ‘You appear a lot taller, so I think you must be wearing ridiculous heels.’

  I grabbed his arm with a grateful smile. How I would make the walk down the aisle of The Orangery at Kenwood I had no idea. A vision of myself losing my balance and hanging on to Luke for grim death flashed into my head.

  ‘Elinor.’

  Will’s cool, calm presence filled my head suddenly.

  Immediately, I felt calmer, as though I’d taken a deep breath. ‘Will.’

  ‘I felt your anxiety. Are you all right?’

  ‘Nervous.’

  His deep laugh caressed me like a velvet glove. ‘As am I.’

  ‘We’re on our way now.’

  ‘I look forward to seeing you in your wonderful dress.’

  ‘How do you know it’s wonderful?’

  ‘If it is not, I shall ask Ms Westwood for a refund.’

  I laughed aloud, and everyone looked at me. ‘Sorry. Will made me laugh.’

  ‘Weird,’ said Roxy, handing me my bouquet.

  Jake opened the door and with Luke’s help, I went carefully down the three steps to the path. Happily we all made it to the waiting limo without mishap.