Hidden (Marchwood Vampire Series #1) by Shalini Boland Page A

another country to
begin a dig, there are always stories surrounding the site. It is
normal and nothing to be at all worried about. Now, we are all
tired. It is late and things feel strange. We will feel refreshed
and happy again after a good night’s sleep.’
    ‘ Sleep?’ Isobel almost shrieked. ‘Sleep! I shall not sleep and
if I do I shall be plagued with dreams of demons and evil blue
eyes.’
    ‘ Oh,’ Isik looked mortified and rose to his feet.
‘Mademoiselle, you must forgive me. I knew this conversation was
not for your ears. Your mother is right. It is all superstitious
nonsense and you must pay no heed. Come, let us talk of happy
things and forget this talk of demons.’
    ‘ Isobel,’ Alexandre leaned across and whispered loudly to her.
‘Do not worry. I am here and I would never let anything happen to
my little sister.’
    ‘ Thank you, Alexandre. But I must say, I would not even have
to be in this terrible place if it were not for you.’ She turned
away from him.
    Alexandre
sighed, but did not try to justify himself again. He did not have
the energy. Instead, he looked across at his mother who he knew
would have a sympathetic smile waiting for him.
    Isobel’s
outburst had brought a hasty conclusion to the meal and an awkward
veil of silence hung in the smoky air.
    ‘ Aah well,’ Harold said, breaking it. ‘It is late. We should
probably retire. As your mother said, Isobel, things will look
better in the morning.’
    Everybody
murmured their agreement. Throats were cleared and noises made
about what a tiring day it had been and how they needed sleep if
they were to be fresh the next day. Isik wished everybody a
pleasant night and returned to the rest of his men.
    Before long,
Alexandre lay in his tent alongside Jacques and Freddie who had
fallen asleep remarkably quickly. His thoughts were a jumble of
whispered tales and soon he fell asleep to the rhythmic song of the
cicadas, the low voices of the guards and the soft click of dice
rolling on hard ground.

Chapter
Seven
    *
     
    Morris
deposited their bags on the large flagstones of the entrance
hall.
    ‘ I’ll leave you to it,’ he said and turned to Vasey-Smith. ‘Be
back later to drive you to the station. Last train’s at ten past
seven’
    ‘ Thank you,’ said the solicitor who had offered to stay at
Marchwood for a few hours until they’d settled in.
    Morris looked
over at Maddy. ‘My wife, Esther, she’ll call by tomorrow after
lunch to see how you’re getting on, but in the meantime, she’s
stocked the cupboards. Told me to tell you there’s a shepherd’s pie
in the fridge. Just needs putting in the microwave to heat up.’
    Maddy didn’t
think she’d ever feel like eating again, she felt so strange and
surreal.
    Ben
immediately zoomed off around the house to explore and Madison sat
down in the lounge or ‘drawing room’ as Morris had called it. The
shutters to the French windows were half-closed, angling shafts of
sunlight across the walls. The house appeared as beautiful on the
inside as on the outside, but Maddy felt somewhat dazed and small
as she perched on the edge of the green velvet sofa.
    Mr Vasey-Smith
sat opposite her in a regal-looking armchair, still immaculately
dressed, even after all that travelling. His dark suit was
uncreased and he didn’t appear to be remotely tired. He sat
comfortably in the armchair, exuding calmness and authority.
Madison, in contrast, felt crumpled and exhausted.  
    Ben burst back
into the lounge.
    ‘ The kitchen’s massive, bigger than Trevor and Angie’s whole
house and there’s a room at the back with a pool table and a darts
board and a weird game where you have to throw hoops onto these
hook things and there’s a tonne of bedrooms upstairs and they’re
all massive. I don’t know which one to choose, but I’ll let you
choose first, Mads, ‘cos you’re the eldest and …’
    ‘ Oh my God, Ben,’ Maddy laughed. ‘Calm down, bro. It sounds
amazing, but take it easy,