When Twilight Burns

Six: A Crowded Parlor

Victoria knew it would only be a matter of time before the news of James’s arrival spread. But even she didn’t account for the efficiency of the gossip trail spread by the house servants-as evidenced by the presentation of Lady Melly in St. Heath’s Row’s parlor scarcely past noon the next day.

She wasn’t alone. She’d brought reinforcements in the form of Ladies Nilly and Winnie… and a bulging portmanteau.

“Hello Mother,” Victoria greeted her, trying to sound more glad than she felt. “I thought you were going to the race today with Lord Jellington.” Lady Melly’s beau had nearly lost his position when she was in Rome, being wooed by a handsome vampire. A vampire who’d turned out to be Sara Regalado’s father.

“I thought it would be best if I-we,” she added, gesturing to Nilly and Winnie as if their presence might protect her from Victoria’s annoyance, “paid a call to determine whether you’d recovered from your fright yesterday.”

“Indeed,” squeaked Lady Nilly, her pale, slender hands fluttering at her throat. “I cannot even imagine how you must have felt after seeing that poor girl! Why, I’m sure I’d not sleep for a week, for fear of the nightmares.”

“Ah, nightmares,” inserted Lady Winnie in a rather carrying voice. Her hand hovered over the plate of cinnamon-iced almond biscuits that had been summoned at the instant of their arrival-despite the fact that they were three hours early for afternoon calls. “I know all about them, I do. Why, I daresay, that visit to Rome put me in a state, for I’ve nary slept a wink since the trip. I spend all night tossing and turning, dreaming about vampires and other horrific things.” She paused in her search for the perfect biscuit-namely, the largest and with the thickest swirl of icing-to pat her hand over the saucer-sized silver and gold cross she wore pinned to the side of her bodice. Its weight caused the blue floral muslin to sag slightly, pulling the scoop neckline off center just a bit.

“Vampires!” Nilly had no compunction about her selection. She slipped right in and swiped a most promising treat right from under the duchess’s poised hand. “I declare, I’m certain we must have talked about this before and you’re quite mistaken, Winnie. I’m the one who has been dreaming about vampires ever since Rome! You’ve only started since I told you about my dreams-the dark, cunning men, swooping down in dark halls, cornering me-”

Victoria found it necessary to interrupt and, from long experience, knew that the best tactic was to completely change the subject. “Mother, I’m feeling quite well today, after all. Thank you for your concern. I truly do appreciate it.” She tried not to glance at the portmanteau. Perhaps if she didn’t see it, it would leave with her mother without fuss.

Lady Melly leaned forward and patted her daughter’s ungloved hand. “I’m delighted to hear it! Now, of course, since you’ve recovered, you’ll be able to attend the Twisdale’s garden party tonight with me. I’ll call Melvindale in-she’s waiting in the carriage with my trunks-and she’ll-”

“Your trunks?” Victoria was aware that the pitch of her voice was sharp as a roof’s peak, but she didn’t care. Her control of the situation-along with the almond biscuits- was rapidly disappearing.

“Of course, my dear. You simply cannot go on as you have, even though you are a widow. One night is fine, especially if no one knows about it-which is possible, since I came as soon as I heard-”

“Mother. Thank you.” Victoria struggled to keep her composure in the face of the runaway curricle that was her maternal parent. “I don’t need a chaperone. I-”

“Oh, but Victoria, of course you do! You still must protect your reputation if you want to marry again,” said Lady Nilly, spraying almond crumbs with abandon.

“Perhaps you might even catch the eye of one of the most eligible bachelors to grace our Society,” added Lady Winnie with a familiar gleam in her eyes. “After all, you’ve already had the pleasure of meeting him, and it would be so much simpler-”

Whatever Victoria might have said to puncture the duchess’s-and, clearly, Lady Melly’s-outlandish hopes was forever lost as the tall white doors to the parlor opened.

“The Marquess of Rockley,” intoned Lettender.

As one, the three older ladies surged to their feet and turned toward the new arrival. Victoria steadied the tea table, then turned to greet James.

He looked rough and windblown this morning, just as unkempt as he’d done yesterday with the exception of his clothing. Apparently the staff had seen to more than just gossip, for he was dressed from head to toe as befit his station.

Victoria refused to let herself look too closely, for fear that she might recognize some of the clothing as Phillip’s… and it was just better not to. She still had his cloak and one of his tall hats stuffed in the back of her wardrobe, and she often used them when she went out at night dressed as a man. She fancied they still carried the scent of his lemon-rosemary pomade.

By the time Victoria rejoined the conversation, James and his American drawl had been fussed over by the three ladies, and he was on the sofa between Ladies Winnie and Melly. In other words, exactly where they wanted him.

“So you see, my lord,” Lady Melly was saying, “we certainly will take advantage of your hospitality while my daughter sees to her personal affects being prepared for removal-which I’m certain will take several weeks to be done properly, of course-but it simply isn’t done for her to stay under your roof without a chaperone.”

“I’d be delighted to have you here,” James was saying with what appeared to be complete sincerity. “I wouldn’t want to do anything to ruin Mrs.-er, Lady Rockley’s reputation.”

“And aside of that, the duchess and Lady Petronilla and I would be honored to help you sift through those”- she gestured to a tray overflowing already with new invitations-“and determine which ones to accept, and which ones might be best ignored, if you follow my thinking,” Lady Melly said with a knowing look. “In fact, we were just about to discuss our plans for this evening, which include a garden party at the Twisdale residence.”

Victoria could sit back no longer. “Thank you very much, Lord Rockley”-how horribly odd it felt to say that to a stranger-“for your hospitality, but I have already decided to move myself from St. Heath’s Row, which I should have done immediately upon my return.”

“Victoria, I can hardly bear to tell you this, but… the roof at Grantworth House-it’s being repaired. A huge tree branch fell on it, just over the place where your chambers were, and it won’t be habitable for weeks.” Lady Melly looked over at James, who appeared to have the tiniest nag of a smile at the corner of his mouth. Thank God he seemed not to be as gullible as he appeared. “So there is no place for you to stay at Grantworth House-”

“I’m so sorry to hear about the repairs. That’s the first I knew of them,” Victoria returned with an exaggerated sweetness in her voice. “And what a sacrifice for you to offer to stay here when there is such a crisis at home. But, I meant to say that I have already begun to make arrangements to move to Aunt Eustacia’s old town house. If you recall, she deeded it to me upon her death.”

Lady Melly’s face fell like a ruined soufflй, and Victoria could actually see the thoughts whirling about in her mind as she tried to extricate excuses and arguments. “Oh, dear, Victoria, but your aunt’s town house is in such an unfashionable part of Town. Why, it would be much more convenient to stay here at St. Heath’s Row. There’s plenty of room-”

This time, it was Lady Melly’s contentions that were cut off by the opening of the tall white doors.

“Miss Gwendolyn Starcasset, Mr. George Starcasset, and Signorina Sarafina Regalado,” said the butler in perfect pronunciation. He looked immensely pleased with himself.

Victoria realized her mouth had begun to sag open, and she snapped her jaws shut as she rose, along with the others, to greet these wholly unexpected guests.

George Starcasset looked much the same as he had the last time she’d seen him, when he’d been pointing a firearm at her as he ushered her through the hallways of the Palombara Villa in Rome, where the demon Akvan had made his hideout.

George was older than his sister, but his face bore a trace of youth that gave him dimpled cheeks and a cleft chin. He wasn’t an unattractive man, by any stretch, but his hair was a flat flaxen helmet that curled up at the ends, and his sideburns were too short. Overall, he merely made Victoria want to pat him on the head and send him off to play with his wooden blocks.

He wasn’t an especially adept villain either, for the one time he’d had Victoria alone and planned to ravage her at gunpoint, it had been much too simple to distract and disarm him. So much so that Victoria hardly credited herself with the escape.

But there was something different about him now… something harder and more confident as he swept his attention over her. There was a knowing look in his eyes, and a hint of challenge.

She had no worries that he might divulge the specifics of their last few meetings-not only would no one believe it (well, no one except Lady Winnie and Lady Nilly), but those events would definitely not show him in the most esteemed light. Perhaps his self-assured air was because he knew his presence had taken her by surprise, or perhaps it was because of the lovely young woman on his arm, who was clearly managing the event.

Sara Regalado flounced across the parlor in her perfectly tailored butter yellow day dress. Even Victoria, who was not one to care much for style-at least, not any longer-took notice of the fine Alenзon lace dripping from the wrist-length sleeves, and the three rows of rosettes and lace decorating the hem of her skirt. The fabric alone was worth notice, for the design of bluebirds and spring green ivy wasn’t stamped on it, but embroidered in painstaking detail.

“Victoria,” Gwen was whispering once all the introductions were made, pulling a chair closer to hers. “I couldn’t wait to meet him! I heard he arrived yesterday, and he seems divine. His accent is so… rustic.”

Clearly, Lady Melly wasn’t the only one who had designs on reinstating Victoria as the Marchioness of Rockley rather than merely the Dowager Marchioness. And since George appeared otherwise engaged, Gwendolyn wasn’t wasting any time.

“Lady Rockley, is splendido to see you again,” said Sara in her accented English. She smiled prettily, but Victoria didn’t trust the glint in her brown eyes. “Forse, we might do the shopping together, on Via Fleet, is it? Perhaps you and I and our mutual friend?”

“Our mutual friend?” Victoria replied. She was damned if she was going to talk to her about Max-let alone admit that she had no idea where he was hiding. For all she knew, Sara had aligned herself with Lilith and was looking for Max herself.

The thought-absurd as it was, for how would Sara find Lilith? And why?-made her blood run cold.

“Why, si, was it not… Mrs. Withers, ci credo. Mrs. Emmaline Withers?” The glint turned to laughter in those brown doe eyes, hard and knowing. “Did I not meet her in Roma? Is she not a friend of yours? The povero widow?”

Before Victoria could reply, her mother leaped into the fray. “Emmaline Withers? Why, I don’t know any Mrs. Withers, Victoria. What have you been keeping from us.” It was quite pointedly not a question, but a statement. The crease between her eyebrows clearly told Victoria what her words did not.

But Lady Melly had nothing to fear, and Sara was well aware of it, for Mrs. Withers was merely the name Victoria had used during her visit to Rome. She had done so in order to keep her identity as Aunt Eustacia’s great-niece, a Venator, secret.

“I’m so sorry, signorina,” Victoria replied. “Mrs. Withers is no longer with us.”

“Pardon me, I am so sorry for your loss,” Sara replied in a voice as thick as the honey Lady Winnie liked to slop in her tea. “I have suffered a recent loss myself.” She lowered her face as if to hide a sudden tear, a flimsy lace handkerchief suddenly appearing in her hand.

Victoria had a sudden suspicion that she spoke of her father, the Conte Regalado, who had been wooing Lady Melly. But before she could divert the subject, Lady Nilly interrupted. “Oh, my dear, I’m so sorry. Who was it?”

“My father,” Sara replied, her face still obscured except for the hard, deadly look she lifted to Victoria. “He recently met his end because of a horrid woman who destroyed his heart. She is a murderess!”

Namely, Victoria. The one who had driven the stake into Regalado’s undead chest.

Well, at least she no longer had to wonder how Sara perceived her.

“Oh!” Lady Melly squeaked as if she’d just seen a mouse. “Regalado. Conte Regalado? Alberto Regalado?” Her face had drained pale except for the spots of red in her cheeks. “I feel rather… faint… could I… could it… he was…” Another handkerchief fluttered, appearing, surprisingly, from the tanned hand of James Lacy.

Victoria’s lips firmed. “Nonsense, Mother. I’m quite certain you had nothing to do with his… er… broken heart. Any man’s heart as fragile as dust is not worthy of your esteem. Now, shall I pour you some tea, Gwen?”

“Lady Rockley,” said George in his easy voice. “Understand you had an unsettling experience in the park yesterday.”

“It was horrid,” Lady Nilly announced, her spoon clanking against the sides of her teacup. “Why, there was blood everywhere.”

“And markings on her chest!” Lady Winnie added. “Three Xs, and her clothes were torn everywhere… as if some animal had mauled her.”

George’s eyebrows rose in unadulterated surprise. “You were there as well? You saw this horrible sight? Daresay, a sight like that would send m’mother to bed for a week.”

“No, we weren’t there, but I-”

“It was a terrible sight,” Victoria interrupted firmly. She didn’t know what George and Sara were up to, but she suspected they were quite aware of the details of what she’d seen. It was too much of a coincidence for them to arrive unannounced at her residence the day after she’d seen the results of a vampire attack-in the sunlight, no less. They were both members of the Tutela, and the only conclusion she could draw was that either they were well aware of the attack and wanted to see what Victoria had figured out, or they suspected there was vampire activity, and they were trying to confirm it. Either way, she was understandably disinclined to assist them.

But before she could respond by changing the subject, the parlor door opened again. “Monsieur Sebastian Vioget,” announced the butler, his nose lifted as though he smelled something a bit unpleasant. Lettender had not been fond of the French since his brother was killed at Waterloo.

Sebastian, a rakish grin on his face, and not one whit of surprise that the parlor was becoming overcrowded with members of two elite groups-the ton and the Tutela-strode easily into the room and went directly to Victoria’s side.

“Hello, my dear,” he said, bending over to place a kiss that screamed intimacy on her cheek. “You look lovely today.”

She was tempted to pull away, just to showcase the effrontery of it, but the look on her mother’s face was too much a work of art to destroy it. Lady Melly looked as though she’d swallowed a biscuit whole, and Lady Winnie, who was swallowing gamely and trying not to cough, probably had.

“Sebastian,” she said, giving him a sincerely melting smile. His was a friendly face, and at least she had no illusions about what he wanted from her.

She patted his properly gloved hand and gestured to a chair next to her. “Would you care to join us for tea before we take our ride?” Her voice was full of charm and invitation, but the look she sent him was pointed. They’d made no plans for a ride, or any other activity, but he was sharp enough to follow her lead. “I do realize it is a bit early for tea…”

If he sat down instead of taking her subtle cue to leave, she’d never kiss him again.

“Of course I should. We can ride later,” he said, sending her a disarming smile that, nevertheless, sent a little pang through her. Perhaps she should have let him coax her into bed last night. “I can always enjoy tea. And with such esteemed company.” He gave a little bow, then he turned to look at her, his eyebrows raised innocently. “You haven’t announced our wonderful news yet, have you, dearest?”

She was going to stake him again-and this time in the heart, mortal or not. Lady Melly’s breath was coming in short, wheezing pants, and her fingers had somehow curled around Victoria’s wrist in a death grip.

Before Victoria could extricate herself from that conundrum, there was a knock at the parlor door. All heads turned. The door opened, and Lettender’s long face appeared. “My lady, we have another visitor. He… er… wishes to speak with you.”

Victoria tensed, then felt suddenly jittery. Max, of course. He was the only person missing from this odd arrangement. “Please, show him in,” she said.

The butler stepped in and opened the door. The visitor followed him. “Mr. Bemis Goodwin. Of the Magistrate’s Bow Street Runners.”

Mr. Goodwin was tall and dark-haired. He had a face as sharp and angular as Max, but the arrangement of his features, though just as haughty, wasn’t nearly as attractive. His chin and nose were matching jutting points, his cheekbones like slanted plateaus, and his lips thin and red. But his eyes: they were sharp and dark and darted about as if determined to miss nothing. They flitted around, skittering over the little gathering, and finally settled onto Victoria.

“Lady Rockley, I require a word with you.”

“Thus, Lady Rockley, you were the one to find the remains of Miss Forrest,” said Mr. Goodwin. For the third time.

“As I have explained now twice, sir, yes, I came upon her unfortunate remains.”

“But there were others who had begun the search before you. They were, so to speak, ahead of you.” His eyes were narrow and black. She fancied they gleamed like those of a snake, ready to strike. Yet, they were intelligent. “So how could you know just where to look if they had not found her?”

Leaving the others in the parlor, Victoria had taken Mr. Goodwin to the marquess’s study, thinking she was making an escape. But the demeanor which pervaded the whippetlike man and his questions annoyed and unsettled her. “Are you suggesting that I somehow knew where Miss Forrest was before I discovered her?”

“You seemed to locate her quite easily.”

“She was beneath a tree, half hidden by a rock, near the creek. Anyone could have found her.” Victoria settled back in her chair and forced her fingers to uncurl. Ridiculous that he should rouse her as he had. The man was just doing his job.

The Bow Street Runners were the only sort of police-detectives in London, for Victoria’s countrymen had long been leery of giving up their freedoms by formalizing a police force. In fact, London was the only city in Europe without a formal police force. Certainly, there were the few members of the Night Watch, and a constable for every parish, but their responsibilities were only to report criminal activity if they witnessed it. The Runners were responsible for investigating any grievous crimes-such as murder or rape-and bringing the felons to the magistrate. They were also able to help victims of other crimes, such as fraud or robbery, to recover their losses-at their discretion. Regardless, it was unfortunate the Runner would be unable to help in this particular instance.

Vampire crimes weren’t recognized by the magistrate.

“Is there anything else I can help you with, Mr. Goodwin?” Victoria asked, ready to end the conversation.

As if recognizing her change of demeanor, he stretched his lips in a smile. “You came upon the mauled and destroyed body, and you had the presence of mind to call for assistance, Lady Rockley. Immediately. Apparently the sight of her torn flesh and spilled blood had little effect on you.”

“It wasn’t a pleasant sight, but I am not one to be overcome by feminine vapors.”

“What do you think happened to Miss Forrest?”

“I’m certain someone of your expertise would have come to the same conclusion as I: it appears that she was attacked by something bent on killing her.”

Mr. Goodwin’s eyes narrowed. “A vampire, perhaps?”

Victoria caught herself in midbreath, then exhaled slowly and evenly. “A vampire?”

“Do you believe in vampires, Lady Rockley?”

“I fail to see how my belief-or nonbelief-in the supernatural is relevant to the investigation into Miss Forrest’s death, Mr. Goodwin. I’m certain you must investigate every aspect of the situation, which is why it doesn’t follow that you’re wasting my time and yours asking me such questions.” The edge of her vision began to waver and she drew in an even breath through her nose.

Mr. Goodwin stood. He took up his black hat with long fingers and placed it precisely on his scalp. “Thank you, Lady Rockley. I wish you a good day.” He started to turn, and then slowly swiveled back to face Victoria, who had stood. “What happened to your husband, Lady Rockley?”

She felt her heart give an unpleasant little lurch. “He died at sea,” she replied automatically.

“That is the story that’s been given out.” He nodded. “What ship was he sailing on?”

“Your questions are not only becoming tiresome, but an outright waste of my time. These matters are of the public record. And, as they can have no relevance to your investigation regarding Miss Forrest, I believe we are done.” Victoria looked pointedly at the study door, gesturing the man toward it. “Good day, Mr. Goodwin.”

“The ship The Plentifulle, it was, or so has been reported. And your husband left his new wife less than a month after the return of your wedding holiday? Suddenly? Without notifying even the servants?”

Victoria drew herself up in all haughtiness. “Mr. Goodwin, I’m not certain how your household is run, but here at St. Heath’s Row, the servants do not grant permission for the master’s comings and goings.”

“I see.” He pulled his hat brim even straighter, and gave a little bow. “Thank you very much for your assistance, Lady Rockley.”

With loathing, Victoria watched the man go. Such a prig, and he had pulled on her strings enough to make her feel unsettled. She, a Venator of two years, who had faced demons and vampires and multiple undead, had been set off balance by a mere Bow Street Runner.

But why on earth had he been asking her about vampires?