Page 37 of The Pureblood Daughter
“Is that what you’re doing? Protecting me?” Adelina whirls around to face her lady’s maid, long morning dress swishing about her feet. “I thought I could trust you.” Tears well in her eyes, and a few slip down her cheeks.
“You can. Once we get through this, everything will go back to the way it was.”
“Nothing will go back to the way it was.” Dashing the tears from her cheeks, Adelina laughs humorlessly. “You betrayed me.”
“For your own good, Miss Gray. You must believe me.”
“How is this for my own good?” She gestures to the door, with two footmen posted in the hall at all times and a lock to keep her from slipping out. “I’ve become a prisoner in my own home, and all for what? Atonic? It’s senseless, Rose. If you know something I don’t, I demand you tell me. What does my father intend to do? Is Lord Rosetti in danger?”
The question feels ridiculous coming out of her mouth; there was a time when she’d have laughed at the idea of her father hurting a mouse in the kitchen, but now she doesn’t know what he’s capable of. Remembering the anger in his eyes, the crash of the porcelain as he struck the teacup to the floor... It still makes her wince.
Rose opens her mouth, then seems to lose her words. They stand there in silence as the wind rattles the windows and rain begins falling from the darkened sky. With every moment that passes, Adelina feels more and more alone.
Sighing, Rose takes a step back. “I’m sorry, Miss Gray. Truly.” She places a hand on the doorknob. “I’ll be up in a few hours with your dinner.”
“Don’t bother,” Adelina mutters, turning back to the window. “The sting of betrayal has left me with no appetite.”
The door closes, and the lock clicks into place. Now alone, Adelina braces her hands against the windowsill and stares into the storm.
Lord Rosetti? I need you to hear me!
She digs her nails into the wood and squeezes her eyes closed. Her father’s words come back to her once again.
“That abomination will cease to breathe...”
Adelina whirls around and paces the length of the room. Her white gown trails behind her, swishing softly across the hardwood floors. He can’t mean to hurt the viscount... can he? It’s absurd. But why the threat, then? To pain her? Perhaps. But his hostility toward the viscount started after that first afternoon in the garden and hasn’t wavered since. He’s never had anything unkind to say about any of the other gentlemen in high society, and she expected him to be delighted that a viscount was showing interest, but no. Something else is going on.
Gaze falling to her writing desk, Adelina ceases her pacing, and her eyes go wide.
The bullet. The silver bullet.
She’s no research material to reference, but if memory serves, silver bullets are used to kill...
Vampires.
It’s almost too mad to warrant consideration. But so too are fangs in a viscount’s mouth, or his voice in her head. If she didn’t know any better, she might think she was losing her mind.
Hands trembling, Adelina rushes to the window and looks outside. The rain is falling harder now, and Celeste certainly couldn’t fly in such a squall, so it’s unlikely she’ll visit tonight. If she can’t get through to Lord Rosetti, will it be too late?
Can you hear me?she calls out in her mind, closing her eyes and picturing herself whispering the words into the viscount’s ear, her lips brushing his skin.I need you... Theodore.
Even thinking his name sends a shiver down her spine.
His response is immediate.
I’m here. What do you need?
Tears of relief spring to Adelina’s eyes, and she covers her mouth with a hand to keep from crying, for the footmen would most certainly hear.
You’re in danger. My father is—
Are you hurt?he asks, and though he’s merely a voice in her head, he sounds concerned—concerned and... angry.
No. But I’m locked in my room. The footmen won’t let me leave.
I’ll be there soon.
Wait. It’s not safe. They’ll not let you in. You must stay away.
