Twenty minutes later we drew up at Kenwood House and I gasped at its transformation. Thousands of tiny white fairy lights adorned the outside of The Orangery, and blood red and ivory satin ribbons looped through the palings of the surrounding white picket fence. Luke helped me out of the car, and I stood for a moment, admiring the beautiful Georgian conservatory. The floor to ceiling windows, which ran the whole length of the room, were ablaze with light from the chandeliers inside, shining out in all their sparkling splendour. I couldn’t believe Will had arranged all of this. It looked like the setting for a fairy tale. Not exactly traditional for vampires, but so very fitting for a duke.
Someone peered around the door and gave a signal to Luke. He looked down at me.
‘Ready Ellie?’
‘I’ve been ready my entire life,’ I said.
Chapter Forty-Two
Luke and I stood at the open door to the Orangery, with Jake and Roxy behind us. I handed my roses to Roxy to allow me to take off the cape.
‘I’ll take it,’ Luke held out his free arm, and I handed it across with hands that shook.
Music started up inside and I recognised Handel’s, Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, clearly Will’s little joke. I may be the dedicated rock chick he’d once called me, but I do know some classical pieces.
We began the walk down the aisle towards Will and Stevie, who both looked drop dead gorgeous, even from the back. Stevie glanced over his shoulder and winked, making me smile in spite of my initial panic, and the terror I felt in case I toppled off my shoes.
Our progress felt too slow for the music … the aisle too long … I glanced up at Luke.
‘Nearly there Ellie, don’t panic,’ he said quietly.
Sitting on either side of the aisle were probably the same people who had been present at the trial, not a very comforting thought, although I barely noticed them because my eyes were fixed on the back of Will’s glossy dark hair. I really wanted him to look round. Had he been advised not to I wondered? What was the protocol? But then, as if I’d called him, he turned around, and held out his hand to me as we drew close. Luke put my hand in Will’s and stepped back.
Will
Elinor came towards me like an exquisite dream. Tonight she is absolutely breath-taking, not that vampires have breath to take, although the sentiment remains the same.
The ivory dress clung to her tiny frame, only to flare out near her ankles in tiers of flimsy material. Her slim shoulders were bare, and the diamond pendant I had given her for a wedding present sparkled with cold blue fire against her creamy skin.
Someone had curled her glorious waist-length hair, and twined dark red rosebuds amongst the bright copper curls, to match the roses she carried. Tonight she even wore make-up, and her eyes shone like sapphire stars when she looked up at me from beneath darkened eyelashes. Truly, I have never seen her look more beautiful, or more enchanting. She could ask me for anything in the world at this moment and I would do everything in my power to get it.
Luke took Elinor’s left hand from his arm, and placed it in mine. Her hand felt so tiny, so fragile, and it trembled a little. She is so precious to me, I am forever thankful the fates made our paths cross.
Ellie
Leaning down to whisper in my ear, Will said, ‘I think Vivienne is safe from the refund demand.’
I smiled, and he continued, ‘You look so enchantingly beautiful, I am speechless.’
‘Doesn’t sound like it, Mr Spooky,’ I whispered back.
‘Still being cheeky, soon-to-be Mrs Spooky.’
A small laugh burst from me, and the tension immediately left my body. The registrar peered at me over the top of his half-moon glasses with a surprised look.
Anyone who has ever attended a civil ceremony as opposed to a more formal ceremony in church, will know how short the civil one is. One moment you’re single, the next you’re married. It all seemed a bit of a blur actually. I could only think about Will, and how incredibly handsome he looked.
He always looked good enough to eat, no matter what he wore, but tonight he had dressed in a black tux, dazzling white wing-collared shirt, and black silk bow-tie. The only colour about him was the vivid green of his amazing eyes.
When we came to the moment where we had to exchange rings, Stevie handed my ring to Will, who slipped it on my finger, and then raised my hand to his lips.
‘Ti amerò per l’éternità,’ he said softly. ‘I will love you for eternity.’
Stevie passed Will’s ring to me, and my hand shook with nerves and emotion when I tried to put it on his finger. So much so, that he had to help me, his hand strong and steady against mine.
‘My whole life I have waited for you,’ I said, and my voice sounded husky, quite unlike my own, ‘you are my world.’
He smiled, and I vaguely heard someone say he could now kiss the bride, but I was already clasped in his arms being thoroughly kissed, when the room erupted in applause.
When we drew reluctantly apart, he turned to face the doors, and pulled my arm into the crook of his, ‘Mrs Austen, please accompany me outside while they prepare this room for the celebrations.’
We walked slowly down the aisle to another piece of music by Handel, a joyful uplifting piece, which I recognised, but couldn’t name.
We stepped outside on the path just as an explosion of fireworks shimmered across the night sky, lighting up the Heath and illuminating the still waters of the pond at the foot of the hill.
‘Merry Christmas Elinor,’ said Will lacing his fingers through mine. He leaned down to brush my lips with his, before we both turned to watch the display in silence, and I knew I would remember this wonderful night forever.
Chapter Forty-Three
When Luke drove us through a gateway where a notice proclaimed, ‘Elstree Aerodrome,’ I knew we were going somewhere outside of England. Part of me felt terrified at leaving the country. What about passports? I had no doubt Will could arrange anything, but legal documents must surely be difficult – especially for someone of three hundred and thirty-six years old.
‘Do you wish to change out of your dress?’ Will asked me when the car slid to a stop.
‘Not really, although it would make sense.’ I felt reluctant to take off the beautiful dress and stroked the soft taffeta hugging my hips.
‘You can change on the plane.’ Will’s eyes gleamed. I had no doubt there would be plenty of help available with the changing.
‘What about passports?’
His lips twitched. ‘Elinor, you are ever practical. Everything is arranged.’
‘But we have to have validated photographs, and … we’re both … dead.’
‘Roxanne if you remember, took several photographs at your last fitting, including some before you put on the dress, plus there are ways and means of obtaining passports as long as one is prepared to pay for them.’
‘It’s illegal …’
Will burst out laughing. ‘And decapitating a several-hundred-year-old vampire is not?’
Fair point. I guessed I could put up with an illegally obtained passport, although a teeny tiny part of me still worried about getting arrested, deported, whatever, and then turning to dust in bright sunshine when the police of whichever country we were going to, carted me off to court.
Still smiling, Will tapped my forehead gently with his forefinger. ‘There are far too many worries flitting through there, and now you have a tiny frown.’
Oh he knew me so well.
‘All set Sir.’ Matthew appeared at Will’s side. ‘Ready when you are.’
‘Then let us go.’
Will walked over to Luke, they shook hands, and had a quiet murmured conversation for a few minutes. I walked over to join them, and reached up to hug Luke. He looked a little surprised at first, but then leaned down to kiss my cheek.
‘Thanks for everything Luke,’ I said.
‘You are both very welcome.’ He inclined his head with a smile. ‘And I’m relieved you didn’t fall off tho
se silly shoes.’
‘Me too.’
Matthew led the way to the plane, and we followed him up the steps, me with some difficulty in my long dress and ridiculously high heels. Will swung me up into his arms after watching me struggle up two steps, and carried me the rest of the way.
The interior of the plane was absolutely gorgeous … forget first class, this was clearly duke class or even royal. Plush dark red carpet covered the floor of the main cabin, and the sumptuous black chairs appeared to be made of leather. A huge TV screen dominated the front wall of the cabin and dark red curtains were pulled across all of the windows.
‘This is incredible,’ I looked around. ‘Who’s the pilot?’
‘Matthew,’ said Will. ‘He has been flying for many decades, he knows what he is doing.’
‘Could you fly the plane?’
‘Of course, but I would prefer not to on our wedding night.’ His lips twitched into a wicked smirk.
As if on cue, Matthew’s voice came over the speaker from the cockpit. ‘Take-off will be in ten minutes Sir.’
Will shrugged out of his jacket and undid his bow tie, leaving it hanging loose on either side of his shirt collar. He looked a million dollars and so incredibly sexy that I had a sudden urge to rip the shirt off him. His eyes met mine with an amused gleam.
‘May I help you unzip your dress?’
I narrowed my eyes at him. ‘Whatever you have in mind is going to be impossible during take off.’
‘I am eager to find out.’
He made a turn around gesture with his hand, and obligingly I turned. His cool hands held my shoulders and pulled me back against him.
‘Elinor, you have made me the happiest man in the universe tonight.’
‘Too much time with Byron,’ I murmured, as I felt him unzip my dress.
Carefully, he eased the dress to the floor and I stepped out of it, very aware of the tiny lace bra, sexy lace-topped stockings and the blue garter Roxy had insisted I wear. I turned to face him, and he raised his eyebrows.
‘Why Mrs Austen, I fear you are going to lead me astray.’
I laughed. ‘You’d better believe it Mr Spooky.’
Will bent down to pick up the dress and laid it carefully over one of the seats.
‘However, I think we might need to sit down for take off.’
He sat in one of the large armchairs and pulled me onto his lap.
‘Where are we going?’ I asked him for the umpteenth time.
‘Reykjavik.’
‘Iceland?’
‘Apparently it is fast becoming the party capital of the world, and at this time of year, is spectacularly good for vampires.’
‘Why?’
‘Because they have almost twenty-three hours of darkness in the winter.’
‘Can we just go to another vampire’s city without permission?’
‘We have permission. Ragnheidur and Fridrik are good friends of mine, and I happen to know they have arranged a few concerts in our honour.’
I wound my arms around his neck, and he dropped a kiss on the top of my head.
‘I might have to spend the flight practising how to pronounce their names.’
Will’s hand began to play with the lace top of one of my stockings. ‘What a waste of a private flight that would be,’ he murmured as he slid one finger under the lace.
The plane began to move smoothly down the runway, gathering up speed, and I tightened my hold on Will, as it left the ground and flew smoothly up into the night sky.
I couldn’t think of any night in my entire life – or since my death – that had been as perfect as this one, and as Will continued to investigate the lacy tops of my stockings, I began to unbutton his shirt.
‘Won’t it be cold?’ I said. ‘Iceland?’
Soft lips sought mine. ‘Vampires do not feel the cold, Elinor. You know that.’
Thank you
Thank you so much for reading Revenge is Sweet, I hope it lived up to your expectations. I really enjoyed writing more of Will’s and Ellie’s story, it seems there’s never a dull moment!
One of the nicest comments I had about Dance until Dawn was from a reader who said she was stamping her feet because she wanted a Will of her own. It’s lovely comments like this, which encourage me to keep writing. Just to know a reader has ‘fallen in love’ with my hero – in fact possibly loves him as much as I do – really inspires me. Knowing people are ‘out there’ reading my books is amazing too. It’s something I will never be complacent about. Readers are important. Without you, we authors wouldn’t exist.
If you have a moment, I would love it if you could leave me a review on Amazon, Goodreads or any other reviewing platform. Positive feedback is always hugely appreciated.
If you would like to contact me, the details are on my author page. You can find me on Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads. I look forward to hearing from you.
Meanwhile, happy reading!
Love
Berni
About the Author
Berni Stevens lives in a four-hundred-year-old cottage in Hertfordshire, England, with her husband, son and black cat. She trained in graphic design and has worked as a book cover designer for more than twenty years.
Books and art remain her passion, and her love of the paranormal began when she first read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, aged fourteen. She is now on both the committee and the book panel of the Dracula Society, a society for fans of gothic literature and film.
Berni has had several short stories published. Dance until Dawn was Berni’s first novel with Choc Lit, published in 2014.
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More Choc Lit
From Berni Stevens
Dance until Dawn
Book 1 – Immortals of London
Do you Believe in Love After Life?
At twenty-five, West-End dancer, Ellie Wakefield should be having the time of her life. The only problem is, since waking up in a three-hundred-year-old vampire’s leaky cellar, Ellie’s been very much undead. And to make matters worse, she’s found that an aversion to blood and a fear of the dark aren’t very helpful – especially when you’re a fledgling vamp.
William James Austen has fallen hard. He’s spent the last year loving Ellie from afar and now he’s finally able to be truthful about who and what he is. As the most powerful vampire in London, he’s used to getting what he wants. But this time, Will might just have bitten off more than he can chew.
Read a preview here.
Purchase from your eBook provider or visit www.choc-lit.com for more details.
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Read a preview of Dance until Dawn next …
Preview
Dance until Dawn
by Berni Stevens
PROLOGUE<
br />
Portland Hospital, London W1.
31 January
The only sound I could hear in the dark, quiet room was the gentle beep of the life support monitor. Elinor lay immobile and pale as death in the hospital bed, yet her exquisite face still looked perfect, framed with vibrant contrast by her glorious copper-coloured hair. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest showed that any life remained. How much of that life could be attributed to the machines in the room, I have no idea. Medical technology has moved ahead with incredible speed.
I remained in the shadows by the window, mesmerised by the sight of her – so fragile, so very still. How many times have I waited and watched for her outside the stage door? Hoping for a glimpse of her at least. I find it difficult to believe in this tragic turn of events.
For almost twelve months, I had watched Elinor dance on stage, admiring her energy and grace. I am almost ashamed to admit that I have become utterly infatuated with this girl. For me, the seduction of women is easy; it is rare my advances are rejected. This is not arrogance, merely a statement of fact. But for some reason this little dancer is different – I felt almost nervous to approach her, like a young inexperienced boy in the throes of a first crush.
After months of watching her from the shadows, I attended Glastonbury Festival because I knew she would be there. I watched her from afar, whilst enjoying the eclectic selection of music. Music appears to give her such joy. Against my better judgement, I even sat with her for a few wonderful, stolen moments. How long ago that feels now.
A few short weeks later, I happened to overhear a conversation at a party between some of Elinor’s friends, and I became determined to attend the event at all costs. She fills my thoughts. I could not have stayed away.
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