When Twilight Burns

Three: Wherein Our Heroine Succumbs to a Maternal Threat

There was nothing to wrap the corpse in but her coat, and Sebastian’s too, which Victoria immediately demanded. Although the body was cold, he couldn’t have been dead for long, as the pools of blood around him had not yet completely dried. Oddly enough, neither bugs nor other vermin had yet discovered the destroyed flesh.

“Who is it?” Sebastian asked. His sensual voice was clipped, no doubt by anger at her sharp accusation. It wouldn’t be guilt. Not Sebastian.

Victoria cared little for his sensitivities. She had said what needed to be said, even though it angered him.

“It’s Briyani, Max’s Comitator,” she told him. “Kritanu’s nephew.”

Victoria carefully wrapped up the young man, who’d been perhaps only five years older than her own two decades. He’d been a smart, sharp fighter, brave and skilled. It had been he, along with his uncle, who had helped her and Max escape from Lilith during a terrible fire.

Not a Venator, no, but Briyani had been just as important in the fight against the undead. He had been Max’s Comitator-his assistant, valet, and an expert who trained him in the Indian martial art of kalaripayattu.

Truth be told, both Max and Briyani had learned their skills at the hands of Kritanu, who had been Eustacia’s companion and trainer for fifty years. But Briyani, who had been training since he was ten, had been working with Max to keep his skills honed for more than eight years.

And now he was gone.

She hoisted Briyani’s body over her shoulder, frowning when Sebastian made a move to assist, and said, “I’ll do it. Heaven forbid you should get blood on your shirt.”

“I’m exceedingly appreciative of your consideration,” he replied. But the usual self-deprecating tone was missing. “I’ll just be a moment.” He loped back over to the throne and began to put it all back the way it had been.

The burden heavy on her shoulder, Victoria walked slowly toward the exit as thoughts tumbled through her mind. She could find out later from Sebastian what he’d found behind the throne-if anything. But for now, she had other worries.

The last time she’d seen Briyani, he’d been in Rome. How had he come to be in London? Was he with Max? Did that mean Max was here? Why would he come to London when he hated England?

Did Max know Briyani was missing?

How was she to let him know about his trusted friend and companion if he was in hiding from Lilith? And she had to tell Kritanu, as well.

Tears welled at the corner of her eyes. She used her free hand to swipe angrily at them. This was part of her life, part of her choice. It would never get easier.

While the London ton danced and ate and copulated and gossiped, this evil happened. All the time, beneath their silken slippers and buffed boots.

Sebastian returned to her side, silent and grave.

“Did you get what you came for?” she asked, unable to keep a fringe of disgust from her voice.

He gave a brief nod and, to her surprise, held up a ring between his thumb and forefinger. She caught his gaze, one of those rich topaz eyes framed almost perfectly by the ring, which was thick and made of copper. She’d seen one exactly like it, braided with twisted copper strands, hidden away at the Consilium.

“One of Lilith’s rings,” Victoria breathed. There were only five in existence, and the Venators were in possession of one of them-now, two.

“I shall accept your gratitude later, once we’re quit of this place.” Head high, shoulders straight, he led the way from the underground chamber, back out into the foul sewers.

“I daresay, Victoria, I’ve asked thrice for your opinion on this lace.” Gwendolyn Starcasset’s voice at last penetrated Victoria’s reverie. “You look exhausted, dearest. Are you certain you’re feeling well?”

What could have been a petulant tone was as gentle and concerned as that of a young mother, drawing Victoria back to the gilded, laced, and overstuffed private sitting room of the Starcasset residence like a remonstrated child. An untouched tea service sat on the small walnut piecrust table next to the rose-upholstered divan on which she sat. Lemon biscuits and poppyseed scones, along with chestnut cakes, decorated a small, delicate platter. Despite her particular fondness for lemons and chestnuts, Victoria was unmoved.

Gwendolyn, one of the few young women Victoria had befriended during the Season during which she’d met and married Phillip, sat across from her in a wide-armed chair. Her spring green day dress and cornflower ribbons made her appear young and fresh in contrast to the maturity and weariness that seemed to weigh upon Victoria. Gwen’s pale blonde hair was twisted high at the back of her head, with two generous locks rolled into sagging curls on either side of her face.

Victoria never had to worry about sagging curls, for her mane was composed of thick, springy ones, yet she knew that her coiffure wasn’t nearly as elegant as her friend’s. At one time, long ago, it would have been a task labored over with great care. But now, she barely allowed her maid to pin it into a chignon.

“I’m so sorry, Gwen,” she said. “I must confess, I am a bit tired and still recovering from the headache that kept me away from the Bridgerton soiree last night.” Not to mention the task of taking care of the corpse she’d brought home. She couldn’t exactly walk across the front threshold of St. Heath’s Row carrying Briyani’s mauled body. With Sebastian’s help, she’d managed to get it into the small chapel on the grounds, unseen. This morning she’d sent word to Kritanu, who was living at the town house Aunt Eustacia had bequeathed to Victoria. She didn’t know when she’d have the chance to talk with Kritanu, but at least he could be with his nephew.

The only thing that had been simple about last evening’s events was bidding Sebastian good night; she’d expected him to attempt to make his case for why-and how-she should thank him for finding the ring.

He must still have been angry with her for her cutting comments when she found Briyani’s body, for he hadn’t even tried to steal a kiss when he let her off. She couldn’t remember the last time they were together that he hadn’t attempted to tease or coax her into some sort of intimacy, even when she was angry or annoyed with him. Even earlier that evening, in the sewers, he’d made an attempt.

“We missed you, and of course everyone was asking everyone else if they’d called on you, or had seen you.”

Victoria discarded all thought of Sebastian and smiled. “I hope you told them a great tale.”

Gwen smiled back, showing deep, delicious dimples. She looked a bit weary too, or perhaps it was merely the stress of her upcoming nuptials. “Of course-I told them that you were remaining in seclusion until my wedding. Now, everyone will be even more eager to attend.”

“As if marrying the Earl of Brodebaugh isn’t enough of a reason to entice the entire ton and half the king’s court to attend. His style and flair is superb, and his family is certain to spend hugely on the wedding.”

Victoria may have been in Italy for nearly a year, but her mother had made certain she’d not fallen behind in Society gossip. And now that the Prince Regent would be crowned George IV in a matter of weeks, there was even more to gossip about-such as his wife, Queen Caroline, who’d recently returned from years of self-exile in Italy. Despite the scandal that had surrounded her over the affair she’d conducted with her Italian servant, Bartolomo Pergami, the queen had been welcomed back to England by the masses-purely because George was so unpopular, and he hated her.

Victoria dutifully pushed away her grief and weariness, and her potent dislike for nearly everything related to her old life of balls and fetes and musicales, and leaned closer to Gwen. “The lace is very fine, and I think it will be lovely on a wedding gown.”

She wished she really did give more than a fig about these things, but it was difficult to worry over tatting and trims when Briyani lay dead and she hadn’t been able to see Kritanu yet. He was staying at the home he’d shared with Aunt Eustacia here in London; the place where Victoria would move upon leaving St. Heath’s Row-which was yet another thing she needed to attend to.

“Oh, dear, Victoria,” her friend sighed in mock annoyance. “But you haven’t been listening to a word I’ve said, have you? This lace, this beautiful Brussels lace, isn’t meant for my wedding gown… but for my wedding night. That is why I invited you here, to the private parlor. Why, see, I’ve even had the drapes drawn!” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

“Ahh!” Victoria picked up the lace again. It was quite lovely-an eggshell white, shot through with shiny, glittering silver thread, tatted into the most intricate miniatures of loops and knots and scallops. “The earl will no doubt find himself speechless with delight.”

“I do hope so.” Gwen beamed, and for a moment, in the glare of her happiness, Victoria was shocked by pure, unadulterated envy.

It shot through her like a bolt of lightning: envy that she’d never have an ignorant life with a man she loved, and who loved her (for it was clearly a love match between Miss Starcasset and her wealthy earl, despite the fact that he was more than two decades older than she). The ugly feeling roiled inside her, threatening to burst free in the form of snide remarks and accusations that she didn’t really mean.

Victoria dropped the lace when she realized her fingers had crumpled it, and a sting of tears surprised her. She forced herself to take a deep breath, to smile, to look at her friend’s beaming face and ask herself: Why shouldn’t she be happy? Some of us have to be. I’ve more than enough angst for both of us.

“And George may soon follow-as you can imagine, my mother has been nagging at him for years now,” Gwendolyn was rattling on. Miraculously, she hadn’t noticed or recognized Victoria’s lapse, saving her from another explanation that would likely make no sense.

But Gwen’s words served also to catch Victoria’s attention, snatching her back to their conversation. “George? Your brother has returned to London?” She lifted her teacup.

The last time she’d seen George Starcasset had been in Rome, when he had imprisoned Victoria, Max, and Sebastian-capturing them for the demon Akvan. Victoria didn’t know when or how George had become involved with the Tutela, the secret society of mortals that protected and served vampires, but he had become a nuisance. When he wasn’t trying to seduce her, he was handing her over to the undead or a demon. And not doing it very capably.

When Max had taken on the task of destroying Akvan, George had disappeared during the melee that followed, and was presumed dead.

Apparently, that was not the case, if he was planning to attend Gwendolyn’s wedding.

“Oh, yes. Mother and I hadn’t had any letters from him for more than a month, then about three weeks ago he returned from his Grand Tour of the Continent. Then he spent a week at Claythorne Manor before arriving here in Town. I hope you don’t mind my saying so,” Gwen continued, “but I confess, I always harbored the hope that you and George might form an attachment, Victoria.” She held up her hands as if to ward off any response her friend might make, adding, “Not now, of course, for it’s not even been two years since Rockley died, but… well, he seemed quite smitten with you during the house party at Claythorne, and you didn’t seem put off by him at all. And then he followed you to Italy, and I thought-”

“No, indeed,” Victoria replied politely, thinking that the only off-putting thing about Mr. Starcasset was that he’d sneaked into her bedchamber during that very same house party-after inviting vampires to the estate. Oh, and that he’d planned to ravish her at gunpoint when they met up in Rome. No. She didn’t find him terribly off-putting at all. More like an annoying gnat.

“But, alas, it appears my fondest wishes will never come to fruition… unless… you can distract him from that Italian woman he seems to have developed a tendre for.”

“Italian woman?” There was only one person that could be. Victoria set her tea down-it was cold, and she’d put too much sugar in it.

“Signorina Sarafina Regalado,” said Gwen. “Aside from the fact that she is disrupting my plans to have you as a sister-in-law, I rather like her myself. For all her English leaves much to be desired, her sense of fashion is quite good. She’s been a blessing as I prepare my trousseau.” If that was a veiled criticism of Victoria’s inattention, it was belied by the sparkle in her friend’s eyes.

Victoria raised her brows and reached for a lemon biscuit. “Blessing” was not quite the word she’d use to describe Sara Regalado. But Gwen was indeed right-Sara had a deep love for fashion, and debates about which lace to adorn which gown, new fabrics, and how long a hem should be dominated her every conversation. And the woman seemed to collect fiancйs even more quickly than shoes. Less than a year ago, she and Max had been engaged.

Supposedly.

Victoria had never been able to get a straight answer from Max as to whether he had arranged the betrothal in order for him to be accepted by the Tutela, or a real engagement. It had been vital for him to pretend to be wholly loyal to the Tutela, as well as Nedas, in order to get into the inner circle of vampires and close enough to destroy the demonic obelisk. He’d even had to do the unthinkable in order to be accepted: execute Aunt Eustacia. Knowing that, it shouldn’t surprise Victoria that he’d go so far as to get engaged to a woman who was part of the Tutela… but how much further would he have gone?

The one time she’d pressed him about whether he really would have married Sara, Max had replied, “If it was necessary, I would have.”

Victoria had never actually asked Max if he’d loved his fiancйe-for if he had, he must have been devastated by the fact that Sara’s father, the leader of the Tutela, had been turned to a vampire.

Not to mention the fact that the lady in question seemed to enjoy being around and fed upon by vampires. Victoria had staked the newly undead Conte Regalado herself several months ago when he turned his attentions to wooing Lady Melly. But she wouldn’t be surprised if Sarafina had taken her father’s place-either as the leader of the Tutela, or as a vampire herself.

And now, Sara had arrived in London, ostensibly as George Starcasset’s fiancйe.

And Briyani had been found in a hidden vampire lair. In London.

It couldn’t be a coincidence.

Because of her late nights patrolling streets where the undead might be found, Victoria wasn’t often about during the day. Normally, she spent much of sunlight’s hours catching up on her sleep, practicing her fighting skills with Kritanu, and avoiding her mother. But today she had to make an appearance.

Ironically, the cream of London Society lived much the same schedule as a Venator-sleeping late in the day, often till noon, then rising and dressing for afternoon calls. Late in the afternoon, they returned home to dress for the evening’s events, which could include the theater, a dinner party, or a ball, wherein they ate and danced and gossiped until the early hours of morning.

Victoria’s visit to Gwendolyn today had been made rather earlier than usual. They’d had luncheon together in the private parlor strewn with bolts of lace, silk, and ribbons.

After leaving the Starcasset residence, Victoria fulfilled her mother’s demand to join her for her own afternoon calls. Lady Melly was no longer content to wait for her daughter to make her own entrйe back into Society, and she’d threatened to bring droves of her friends down upon St. Heath’s Row if her daughter didn’t cooperate. Thus, she sat Victoria on the least comfortable chair- which also happened to be the focal point of a room over-filled with parlor chairs, twittering ladies, eaux de toilette of the most sweet scents, and poorly hidden nosiness.

“We are so pleased you’ve returned from your journey to Italy,” crooned Lady Winnie, the Duchess of Farnham and one of Lady Melly’s two cronies. She enveloped Victoria in a smothering hug against her shelflike bosom, her plump arms stronger than they looked. “We had a lovely time visiting you there, but the ton was calling, and of course, we had to return.” When she released Victoria, she moved smoothly to scoop up three little ginger biscuits and a lemon scone.

Victoria smothered a smile. Fortunately, Lady Winnie wasn’t able to recall just how much fun they’d had visiting her, thanks to Aunt Eustacia’s special golden disk. With Wayren’s help, Victoria had been able to eliminate any memories the ladies might have had about their attempt to hunt down and stake the Conte Regalado. Lady Winnie herself had carried a wooden pike as thick as her arm.

“It was quite exciting to be in Rome-or shall I say Roma?” added Lady Petronilla, rolling her R enthusiastically. Lady Nilly was one of Lady Melly’s closest friends, and a surrogate aunt to Victoria. “The Carnivale was astonishing, but I daresay the King’s coronation will be even more of an event. I’ve heard he’s spending upward of forty-four thousand pounds… on his robe alone!”

“I never had the chance to give you my condolences personally, Lady Rockley,” said Mrs. Winkledon, wedging herself between Ladies Melly and Nilly on the sofa. “About the loss of your dear Rockley. A love match it was, was it not?” Her sharp eyes matched her sharp nose, which nearly quivered with curiosity, as if she expected Victoria to admit that she hadn’t actually loved Phillip. Not that it should matter, for few ton marriages were love matches. In fact, it was almost considered passй to love one’s spouse.

“Thank you, Mrs. Winkledon,” Victoria replied. “I do miss Phillip terribly.” That was at least the truth.

“An accident on a ship?” asked Lady Breadlington, leaning in with a smile. Her teeth, flat instead of curved across the front of her mouth, looked as though they’d been kicked in by a horse. “How terrible that he perished in the cold sea, on his way to-where was it? Spain? His body was never found, was it?”

“No, indeed,” Victoria replied. Unless you counted the pile of ash that had poofed all over her bedchamber. She kept a bit of it in a small container on her dressing table. “But we had a burial service anyway… and, forgive me, but I cannot recall if you were in attendance?”

“Oh, no, I’m so sorry, my dear lady, but we had already repaired to the Country by then. Grouse season.” Lady Breadlington had the grace to look abashed, which had exactly been Victoria’s intention.

Most of the twenty or so women who crowded the Grantworth parlor were not close friends of Victoria’s mother. They were here because they couldn’t stand not to be the first to see the infamous Lady Rockley, who’d married, shockingly, for love, and whose husband had died tragically little more than a month after their wedding. And who hadn’t been seen in Society since, even after her year of mourning.

“Odd,” grumbled elderly Lady Thurling, her shiny, knobby fingers closed over the top of her walking stick, “last time I saw Lord Rockley, he claimed he would attend my granddaughter’s wedding in four days, and yet two days later”-she paused to catch a wheezing breath-“sets off on a voyage without his new wife. And never comes back.” She glared at Victoria with watery blue eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

She’d said exactly what had been on everyone’s mind.

Victoria made what she hoped was a sad smile. “Yes, indeed, it was tragic. He was called away and hardly had the time to say good-bye, and I… well-”

“We thought at the time Victoria was in no condition,” Lady Melly interrupted with a properly sad smile of her own, “to go with him.”

There was a small chorus of sympathetic gasps, and then eyes became rounder and hands began to grasp at and pat Victoria’s, and even a nose or two-the pointiest ones-tinged a bit red on the tips.

Nothing could have been further from the truth, except that it had been Lady Melly’s baseless hope, but Victoria was delighted to have the conversation rerouted. She glanced surreptitiously at the watch pinned to Lady Thurlington’s dress. It was the only one large enough to read from across the tea table, but it was fastened upside down so that the elderly lady could look down and easily read it.

Half past three. She’d been here only an hour.

Victoria endured another twenty minutes of sly queries and sympathy coated more thickly than the iced basil cakes before the opportunity for escape presented itself.

“A turn around the park?” she said. “Why, Mr. and Miss Needleton, I should greatly enjoy that.” She was up and out of her seat before her mother could protest.

Mr. and Miss Needleton-a brother and sister-and their other companion, Miss Durfingdale, were the only visitors who had not been overly inquisitive, and were also in close proximity to Victoria’s own age of twenty.

When Lady Melly opened her mouth-surely to argue-Victoria surged forward to hug her, effectively smothering anything she might have said. Her nostrils filled with the sweet yet comforting milk rose scent her mother always wore, she whispered, “I heard Mr. Needleton has more than forty thousand a year.”

Lady Melly stiffened under her hands, but when she pulled away, Victoria saw that her mother had a most calculating look on her face as she examined the unfortunate Mr. Needleton, whose squashed nose resembled anything but his name. Even though Victoria had inherited a generous income from both her husband and aunt, Lady Melly was of the mind that one could never have too much money. “Have a lovely time, my dear.”

As Victoria left the room, the last thing she heard was, “-so glad to see her get out with young people her own age. It’s been far too long, and-” The door closed, and she was with her new companions.

Victoria would have preferred driving her own curricle alongside the Needleton carriage, enabling her to divest herself of their company as soon as was polite. But Miss Needleton was to have none of it.

She was no more than a wisp of a girl, with flyaway hair of a nondescript brown, and soulful brown eyes. In addition, she had an excuse that made it impossible for Victoria to decline her request that she ride in the carriage.

“I knew Rockley when he was a young boy,” Miss Needleton said. “Perhaps if you sit next to me, I could tell you some stories about him.”

Curiosity won out, of course. Victoria climbed into the carriage with the help of Mr. Needleton, whose pale cheeks flushed with pleasure as their gloved hands skidded against each other. Smiling at him, and settling her day dress skirts so that they didn’t infringe upon his sister’s or Miss Durfingdale’s, she realized how easy it could be for her to slip back into this world. Perhaps too easy.

If her mother had her way, Victoria would be intent on finding a new husband in order to provide Lady Melly with grandchildren (and an heir to the Grantworth estates). Instead all she could think about was what that copper ring meant to Sebastian, and whether he meant to give it to the Venators, or keep it for some other reason. And how to find Max to tell him about Briyani. And what George Starcasset was doing here in London with Sarafina. And how she felt about Sebastian.

How she really felt about Sebastian. A warm flush spread through her. Whatever her feelings, it was clear that he made her skin tingle and her head light-even when he wasn’t around.

Victoria realized with a start that her hands had clasped tightly together, and that Mr. Needleton-ignoring his sister’s agenda for conversation-had been expounding quite profusely about the merits of a certain filly at the Derby, and why he expected she should take the cup.

The oaks and cottonwoods were thick and stately as the carriage turned past the stucco villas and into the Outer Circle of Regent’s Park. When Victoria and Phillip had driven through here, John Nash had just begun the park’s redesign. Though it wasn’t near completion, the park already showed his influence, with its sweeping pathways and havens for waterfowl.

“Miss Needleton,” Victoria said when the young woman’s brother stopped for a breath of air, “did you say that you were acquainted with my husband as a young boy?”

“Yes, my lady,” she replied. “His mother was a friend of my mother’s, and we spent two summers together when I was seven and he was perhaps thirteen. He was frightfully fond of raspberries, though his mother forbade him to eat any, for they gave him a terrible rash. I recall how he convinced me to go berry picking with him one day-”

Her story was interrupted as the carriage approached that of another high-strung vehicle. As was expected, the Needletons stopped in order to greet the others. It was Gwendolyn and her earl, Brodebaugh. He seemed vaguely attentive to his adoring fiancйe, but kind enough to agree with her when she pressed him for his thoughts on the weather. This was the first time Victoria recalled meeting him-although, according to Gwendolyn, he’d attended the Straithwaite musical the summer of their debut. They exchanged pleasantries for a short time. When the Needleton carriage was ready to move on, another conveyance had approached, and the conversation was extended. Victoria waved to Gwendolyn as Brodebaugh drove away, wishing she’d invited herself to ride back with them, for she didn’t anticipate extricating herself any time soon.

For now that word had spread from carriage to rider to curricle that the Marchioness of Rockley was in the Needleton vehicle, everyone seemed to converge on their path.

Victoria’s mouth was tired of smiling and her palms were sore from the score of her nails biting through her cotton gloves. She was just about to suggest that they return to the Grantworth home when someone screamed.

They all turned to look toward the terrified cry, which had been cut off in a sort of bubbling way. It had come from the direction of a far distant clump of thick bushes and grass that had not yet been subjected to Mr. Nash’s attentions. Victoria bolted to her feet, causing the carriage to sway-but she caught herself before she hurtled out of the vehicle like a madwoman. Miss Needleton looked up at her in astonishment, for apparently it had never occurred to her that she might be of assistance.

Of course it wouldn’t. Women of the ton let everything be done for and about them. Victoria remained standing, however, as Mr. Needleton and several other men leaped from their vehicles, dashing toward the cry of distress.

“Oh, my,” Miss Durfingdale squeaked rather belatedly, and Victoria, who had nearly forgotten her existence, looked at her in surprise. Was she knocked for six by the scream, or the equally amazing speed at which the men had moved?

“Perhaps they may need assistance,” Victoria said, lifting her skirts to climb carefully down from the carriage- an unusual feat for a woman, but one that she was well accustomed to performing. “If she is in distress.”

Miss Needleton’s mild protestations ringing in her ears, Victoria hurried as quickly as she could through the tall grasses in the wake of the men. As soon as she was out of sight of the carriage, she thrashed through the brush, heedless of her new muslin day dress, and found herself running down a small incline. At the bottom, a creek trickled beneath scattered trees. Ahead of her, she heard the men running and calling to each other, but she remained silent as she ran pell-mell down the creek bank. There’d been no other cries from the victim, and at last Victoria came to a rushing halt when she reached the small stream.

Panting, she looked around for some sign of trouble, but saw nothing but dappled sunlight over the smooth stones scattered in the creek. Just then, a splash of pink caught her attention behind a massive, felled tree trunk.

It took her only a moment to reach the crumpled figure, and when she did, Victoria gasped in shock. Blood spattered the grass around her, staining the pink gown that had caught her attention. When she turned the young woman over, Victoria stared down at the horror.

The victim’s bodice had been torn away, and the flesh of her chest and over her collarbones was marked with three large Xs, gouged into her skin. Fresh blood seeped through the fabric and oozed from her wounds. But what caught Victoria’s attention were the four small marks on the girl’s blue-white neck.

Vampire bites. Fresh ones.

In the middle of the day.