Page 14 of Until the Heart Stops
Slowly, I lowered the scroll without opening it. “I am quite well, thank you.” Taking a deep breath, I leaned down to try to catch his eye. “Thanks to you.”
His throat bobbed and I wondered what it was that made him feel so uncomfortable. The hand on his silver-tipped walking stick flexed, the movement rippling up to the firm set of his shoulders. “I’m sorry I did not see it sooner.”
Offering him a small smile, I returned to the scroll, unfurling it. “You arrived when it mattered most. That is what’s important.”
He gave no reply, but the heat of his attention returned to my face as I read the beautiful handwriting flowing across the fine parchment.
Mademoiselle Searah,
As you have given no reply to my previous missive, I can only assume my frankness has had the unintended effect of offending you further. This was in no way my intention and I beg you to accept my sincerest apologies.
I frowned. Had I been offended? Surprised, yes. Wary, absolutely. But no…not offended, at least, not truly.
However, I find myself in the unfortunate situation of being too stubborn to accept defeat without a resounding rejection. Last night you were a vision and around your neck you wore a gem that has allowed the flame of hope to survive, perhaps foolishly, inside my chest.
Put me out of my misery, my darling, I beg of you.
Sincerely,
Your ever faithful servant
So he had been at Eamon’s ball. I flicked through the dozens upon dozens of vampires I’d seen but I couldn’t settle on a single one.
“Have you a reply for our mutual friend?” Callum asked after I’d read the note three times through.
He was the picture of relaxation, obviously having not read the message. Any lingering inclination that he might have been the mysterious patron vanished. If anything, Callum appeared irritated by being the messenger.
I re-rolled the scroll and placed it inside my ledger for safekeeping before drawing out a fresh parchment. The quill in my hand was long past its use, the nub now rounded and dull. He had asked me what I needed and though my true answer wasto know who you are, I had a feeling to ask would get me nowhere. And regardless of the small voice in the back of my head that urged me toward caution—to reject him and settle the matter once and for all—I continued to return to the plea again and again.
The flame of hope.
It was a warmth I had not felt in quite some time but desperately wanted to feel again.
My lord,
If it’s not too much trouble, I find myself in need of more quills.
Mlle Searah
Chapter 6
The next evening a beautiful box appeared on my counter when I’d stepped inside Adrienne’s parlor for a moment.
As was the theme, the parcel was silver and larger than I’d been expecting, but instead of a scroll, a folded piece of parchment was adhered to the top with the same black seal. I peeled off the letter, inspecting the wax for any insignia which might give me a clue as to the identity of my mysteriouspatron, but there was nothing.
Mademoiselle Searah,
Forgive me for my boldness. Or perhaps do not.
I might like punishment if it came from you.
Sincerely,
Your ever faithful servant
I chuckled at the note before frowning at the brevity of it, even turning the parchment over to see if anything waswritten on the back. But there was nothing else. Tucking it inside my ledger so the wind didn’t blow it away, I opened the beautiful box.
The quills were extraordinary. Three black feathers lined up in a row, complete with silver tips that would take quite a while to dull. But it was what they rested on that had my brows rising.
