Page 29 of Wynter's Bite

Chapter Twelve

Justus awoke for the night with his heart pounding with excitement. Tonight he would ask Lord Wickshire for Bethany’s hand in marriage. Eager to be on his way, he rose from his bed beneath the house and selected his finest garb from his antique wardrobe.

Once dressed, he left the house, stopping only to pick a bouquet of flowers from his overgrown garden. He hurried to the village to seek his meal, not wanting his hunger to interfere with the night. As it was, finding a suitable victim, a drunk wandering down Market Lane alone, took far longer than Justus would have preferred. He looked at his watch and cursed as he saw that it was a quarter of nine.

He had to hurry if he hoped for Lord Wickshire to admit him. He did not dare acknowledge his worst fear, that Lord Wickshire would refuse his suit in the first place. For the first time, he regretted purposefully leaving his estate in disrepair to dissuade people from paying calls. He would convince Bethany’s father that despite outward appearances, he was more than capable of supporting Bethany financially.

As he neared Bethany’s home, sadness weighted his steps as he recalled that he would have to leave shortly after the betrothal contract was signed. He hoped that Gavin would at least let him remain long enough to host an engagement party. That way, everyone in Rochester would know that Bethany was his.

Either way, he vowed to make the most of every moment he and Bethany had together.

Just as he approached the manicured drive to Wickshire Hall, a heavy weight slammed into him, knocking him from his feet.

Justus growled in rage. How dare a rogue presume to attack him? To be lurking here by his love’s home? He would kill the bleeding sod!

A powerful knee dug into his back as the figure of another vampire seized his arms, pinning him. Justus roared and bucked, but it was no use as his wrists were shackled behind him. When he was hauled to his feet, Justus gasped as he recognized the vampires who’d captured him.

“Cecil? Benson?” His mind swam with confusion. “What in God’s name do you think you’re doing?”

Benson surveyed him coldly. “You are under arrest, by command of the Lord of Rochester.”

“What the hell for?” Justus demanded, wondering how this could be happening.

Benson’s frown deepened. “For telling a mortal what you are.”

Dread churned his gut. “The secret is safe with her, I swear. Rochester permitted me to Change her after we are wed. She will never tell anyone.”

Cecil spoke at last, eyes ominous. “I’m afraid she already has.”

“No,” Justus whispered, arms going slack in his restraints. “She would never.”

Benson shook his head. “She has. Their neighbor, Lord Tench told everyone. Apparently she was already betrothed to him. So I’m afraid the chit played you for an utter fool. God, how could you lose your head like that?”

All the fight went out of Justus at hearing that Bethany was betrothed. Why had she never told him?

“We’re fortunate that Tench thought nothing of the girl’s talk of vampires. He’s declared her to be a raving lunatic,” Cecil said as they led him into the woods, away from view. “Well, all of us are fortunate, but for you.”

Justus didn’t need Cecil to clarify his meaning any more than he needed to ask where they were taking him. There was only one penalty for revealing oneself to a mortal: Death.

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