Page 45 of High Stakes

Mrs. Kerry poked her head in the door, looking between the two of us. “Are you ready to break your fast?”

Titus jumped up and put a hand on his stomach. “I’m always ready to eat!”

“Well, we’re always cooking, so don’t be shy to ask when you want something.” She smiled warmly at him, obviously entranced by his charms. “Do you need help, Eve? Are you feeling well enough to come downstairs this morning?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I answered. “I just need a few minutes to get dressed.”

Titus squeezed out the door and gave me a wave. When it came down to me or food, he would choose food every time. Mrs. Kerry started into the room. “Can I have those minutes alone, please?” I tried to keep my voice cheerful and not let my words knock her smile away, but they did anyway.

“Certainly,” she answered curtly, though with no malice. “I’ll just be outside.”

“I can walk down by myself,” I argued.

She raised one eyebrow and affected a polite façade. “I’m afraid I have very strict instructions not to allow you to do that.”

“Thank you,” I capitulated, resigned to my fate of having Mrs. Kerry for a babysitter. “I’ll be right out.” She backed out of the door and I heard her back rest against the stone wall outside. I threw back my covers and couldn’t help but huff out a laugh. How ironic was it that the very vamp I was sent back in time to kill was now my protector? The very same vampire who spawned thousands and caused irreparable damage complimented me and looked at me like I was the most interesting thing he’d ever seen in all his years.

Victor would be livid.

The dress and corset I wore last night lay at the bottom corner of my bed. I quickly removed my suit and dressed in them again. I needed to eat and replenish my fuel stores so I could get strong enough to shake whatever ailment was dragging me down. It was probably just a side effect of time traveling, like I thought. Women were different. If Titus was fine, I’d be fine, too. But I had to get strong, and to do that, I had to eat.

I smoothed the rich, crimson velvet and tried to tame my unruly hair before stepping outside, walking to the window where my eyes immediately found Enoch. He was in the garden with an older couple, laughing with them as the three plucked turnips from the ground. He gathered the bounty into a basket and waved at them as he carried the food into the castle kitchens.

I met Mrs. Kerry with a smile in the hallway.

“You’re looking well, indeed,” she punctuated with a nod.

“Thank you. I feel a lot better.”

Suddenly, Mrs. Kerry looked flustered. “Lord Enoch... he asked me to question you on something of a private nature. However, I’m not good at hinting at things, and would prefer to be direct, if it’s all the same to you.”

I slowed my steps, pausing in the long hallway. “What would he like to know?”

She glanced to my stomach. “Is it possible you’re with child?”

My brows shot up. “No, it isn’t.”

She rushed to explain, “It’s just that sometimes, women feel faint when it’s early on. And the woman might not even know she’s carrying a baby.”

We walked down a staircase and started down another corridor lined with tapestries depicting hunting scenes and austere men with flinty, proud, proper women.

“I understand how pregnancy affects the female body, Mrs. Kerry, but believe me when I say that it would be impossible for me to be pregnant.”

Her narrow lips formed an ‘o’. “I see. I’ll be sure to tell Lord Enoch.”

“I can inform him myself,” I answered shortly.

Her eyes widened as fear flashed across her face. “I’ll be discreet, Miss.”

“I have no doubt, but I’d rather address it myself. And, for future reference, I’d prefer him to ask me such things himself. I have nothing to hide, and very little offends me.”

“But it wouldn’t be proper—”

I walked into the full dining hall, the din of everyone’s chatter filling the space. Enoch’s eyes rose to meet mine. I rubbed a hand down my belly and watched his Adam’s apple bob when he swallowed. He stood when I got near, bowing. “Good morning, Eve.”

I smiled. “Enoch.” He pulled my chair out for me and scooted it beneath my bottom when I sat down. “Where is Titus?”

“He’s already eaten.” Enoch motioned to the corner of the room where Titus was involved in some sort of arm-wrestling match with a brawny man, and not surprisingly, Titus was winning. I rolled my eyes. “He lives and breathes competition.”

---