associations with the preternatural beings, and it was going to be hard to remain objective in my dealings with any vampire.
I dressed smartly in a dark brown skirt with tiny white pin stripes and a white shirtwaist blouse that buttoned up the front and sported quite a bit of see-through lace at the modest square neckline. I wore fashionable brown calf high leather boots with my dirk stashed safely inside. I also wore a small white velvet hat with a wide brown satin ribbon and a tulle train hanging down the back. I’d vetoed some of the more atrocious hats that had feathers and such, but hats were a huge part of fashion and I had to comply. A pair of white lace gloves and my butterfly cuff bracelet completed the ensemble.
I couldn’t quite bring myself to eat much, so I munched on toast and had a glass of tea before I had Zachary bring the carriage around to take me to the vampire’s home.
I expected a short drive through town, but I didn’t realize the vampire lived on the outskirts of the city nor did I take into consideration that travel took longer than I was used to. At least an hour later the carriage pulled up to a monstrosity of a home. Zachary opened the door to the carriage and handed me down. I thanked him and made sure he knew I wouldn’t be too long. I smoothed my skirts with only slightly shaking hands, felt for my thigh holster through my skirt for reassurance, took several deep breaths and then strode up the steps to the front door.
I gave the door knocker a few good raps and amused myself wondering if a bald hunchback or maybe a thin deathly pale grim reaper sort of person would answer the door. Much to my disappointment a very average, if not stiff and formal, butler answered. I handed him the calling card Elaine had had made for me. “Mrs. Sage Hannigan. I have an appointment with Sir Soren Blackwell.” I raised my eyebrow and purposely left off the vampire part of his title but couldn’t keep a tiny grin off my face when I thought of calling him Sir Soren Blackwell, Vampire Extaordinaire.
I was led into a sitting room to wait while
Sir Soren
was told of my arrival. I looked around the cheerful room decorated in shades of blue and rolled my eyes. This room was boring even for my taste, much less a vampire’s. Where was the black and red and the skulls? Maybe he reserved those for his torture chamber. I was grinning at my own clever self when the butler returned to fetch me to my, hopefully, soon-to-be employer.
The butler preceded me into another sitting room, this one a bit smaller and cozier. I scanned the room and noticed an adjoining door on the other side of the room behind a large desk.
“Sir Blackwell will be with you momentarily.” He poured a cup of tea, making it how I preferred and left me grasping the china cup. And sweat starting to trickle down the small of my back. I put my tea cup down and sat on a beautiful settee and closed my eyes to get a handle on my fears and to try and banish my self doubts for the time being. I felt a little more calm after a few moments and opened my eyes only to shriek like a little girl when I found myself looking up into the eyes of one Sir Soren Blackwell, vampire leader, and unfortunately, my annoying mystery vampire companion from the party the pervious night.
I narrowed my eyes at him but his devastatingly sexy grin only grew wider. “Mrs. Hannigan, how very nice to meet you.”
“Sir Blackwell, it seems I am at a disadvantage. I didn’t realize who you were last night and I see now that you knew the whole time who I was.” I raised my eyebrow, daring him to deny it. Of course he didn’t, he had no need to.
I stood up and before I could think, nearly stuck my foot down my own throat. “You knew I would be seeking your employment today and you were just playing games. Did you even plan on interviewing me at all or did you just want to see the look on my face when I realized who you were?” I
I dressed smartly in a dark brown skirt with tiny white pin stripes and a white shirtwaist blouse that buttoned up the front and sported quite a bit of see-through lace at the modest square neckline. I wore fashionable brown calf high leather boots with my dirk stashed safely inside. I also wore a small white velvet hat with a wide brown satin ribbon and a tulle train hanging down the back. I’d vetoed some of the more atrocious hats that had feathers and such, but hats were a huge part of fashion and I had to comply. A pair of white lace gloves and my butterfly cuff bracelet completed the ensemble.
I couldn’t quite bring myself to eat much, so I munched on toast and had a glass of tea before I had Zachary bring the carriage around to take me to the vampire’s home.
I expected a short drive through town, but I didn’t realize the vampire lived on the outskirts of the city nor did I take into consideration that travel took longer than I was used to. At least an hour later the carriage pulled up to a monstrosity of a home. Zachary opened the door to the carriage and handed me down. I thanked him and made sure he knew I wouldn’t be too long. I smoothed my skirts with only slightly shaking hands, felt for my thigh holster through my skirt for reassurance, took several deep breaths and then strode up the steps to the front door.
I gave the door knocker a few good raps and amused myself wondering if a bald hunchback or maybe a thin deathly pale grim reaper sort of person would answer the door. Much to my disappointment a very average, if not stiff and formal, butler answered. I handed him the calling card Elaine had had made for me. “Mrs. Sage Hannigan. I have an appointment with Sir Soren Blackwell.” I raised my eyebrow and purposely left off the vampire part of his title but couldn’t keep a tiny grin off my face when I thought of calling him Sir Soren Blackwell, Vampire Extaordinaire.
I was led into a sitting room to wait while
Sir Soren
was told of my arrival. I looked around the cheerful room decorated in shades of blue and rolled my eyes. This room was boring even for my taste, much less a vampire’s. Where was the black and red and the skulls? Maybe he reserved those for his torture chamber. I was grinning at my own clever self when the butler returned to fetch me to my, hopefully, soon-to-be employer.
The butler preceded me into another sitting room, this one a bit smaller and cozier. I scanned the room and noticed an adjoining door on the other side of the room behind a large desk.
“Sir Blackwell will be with you momentarily.” He poured a cup of tea, making it how I preferred and left me grasping the china cup. And sweat starting to trickle down the small of my back. I put my tea cup down and sat on a beautiful settee and closed my eyes to get a handle on my fears and to try and banish my self doubts for the time being. I felt a little more calm after a few moments and opened my eyes only to shriek like a little girl when I found myself looking up into the eyes of one Sir Soren Blackwell, vampire leader, and unfortunately, my annoying mystery vampire companion from the party the pervious night.
I narrowed my eyes at him but his devastatingly sexy grin only grew wider. “Mrs. Hannigan, how very nice to meet you.”
“Sir Blackwell, it seems I am at a disadvantage. I didn’t realize who you were last night and I see now that you knew the whole time who I was.” I raised my eyebrow, daring him to deny it. Of course he didn’t, he had no need to.
I stood up and before I could think, nearly stuck my foot down my own throat. “You knew I would be seeking your employment today and you were just playing games. Did you even plan on interviewing me at all or did you just want to see the look on my face when I realized who you were?” I
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