Page 61 of Wynter's Bite

“That’s enough of that,” one of the vampires growled, breaking them apart.

Justus sighed and lifted the packs from his shoulders and set them at her feet before reaching into his pocket and handing her his purse with its meager coins. “This should be enough for a meal and a room for the night. In the morning, send a post to your uncle, telling him of your delay. Do not travel alone.”

Bethany nodded, even though she had no uncle, so she wondered if he was stalling for time, or trying to send her a hint. Her eyes widened. Justus must be referring to the Lord of Cornwall. Yet how would she send him a letter when she did not know who he was? Or did he wish her to indeed keep going to Cornwall? She chewed her lower lip, struggling to discern his meaning.

The vampires pushed them further apart as she struggled to shoulder the heavy packs.

“Take her to the inn,” the lead vampire said. “We’ll meet you at His Lordship’s home.”

With that, Bethany and Justus were taken in opposite directions. She peered longingly over her shoulder and studied the direction Justus’s captors were headed.

“Come along, Miss.” The vampire escorting her tugged at her arm, making her almost drop one of the bags. To her surprise, he offered to carry one of them for her.

Far behind them, she heard one of the other vampires say, “So it was like that, eh? Why didn’t you make her privy to your circumstances?”

“You know why,” Justus said gruffly.

She saw one last flash of his dark red hair in the moonlight before he and the others faded into the shadows. She made note of the landmarks and the direction they’d gone.

“Come along, woman.” Her vampire escort tugged on her elbow.

Bethany jerked her arm from his grasp and shot him a glare. “Just because you are vexed with being saddled with the duty of escorting a woman to safety does not mean you have to be so rude.”

To her surprise, his features softened. “You are right. I apologize for my poor manners. What is your name?”

“Beth,” she replied, knowing he’d think that was short for Elizabeth. “What of you?”

“Edward,” he said stiffly, not indicating whether or not it was a real name. He glanced at her from the corners of his eyes and she shifted her gaze downward so he couldn’t mesmerize her. “I do wish you’d tell us more about what you were doing with that rogue— er man.”

“And I wish you would tell me who you people are and what you intend to do with Justus!” she fired back.

Edward chuckled. “It seems we are at an impasse.” They walked in silence for a while before he spoke again. “You really love him, don’t you?”

Too taken aback to lie, she nodded.

He regarded her with a pitying look. “Most unfortunate. I advise you to do your best to forget him. Find another beau.”

Bethany refused to dignify that with a response and they walked the rest of the way in silence. Edward left her side the moment they entered the closest inn.

The innkeeper frowned at the idea of renting a room to a woman alone, but reluctantly agreed once he saw Bethany’s coin. However, he insisted that she stay in her room and keep the door locked until daytime. That suited her fine. Glancing at the vampire making his way to a cluster of men crowded at the bar, she prayed he would linger awhile longer.

It took all of her effort not to run up the stairs behind the servant who escorted her. And the moment she was alone in the Spartan room, she thrust the window open and peered out. A tree sprouted near the edge of the building, but unfortunately, not by her window. Breathing a prayer, she made her way out the window and kept her feet balanced on the narrow ledge. Not daring to look down, she inched her way along the wall. If her tremors returned, she would tumble down and break her neck.

After an eternity of shuffling along, her pulse pounding as she crossed each adjacent window, Bethany at last reached the tree. Her breath escaped her lungs in a whoosh as she saw a thick limb within reach. It would be just like the times she’d climbed down the tree in her bedroom window in Rochester.

No, not quite. She uttered an unladylike curse as she remembered she still wore skirts. But there would have been no time to change into trousers, even if she’d had them. With another deep breath, she hopped carefully onto the branch, grasping the one above her as she teetered a moment.

Further grumbles ensued as she untangled her skirts from the other branches and knotted them as best as she could around her knees like awkward pantaloons. She nearly fell out of the tree on her last knot. Recovering her balance, she made her way down the tree, the skill coming back to her like second nature.

When she reached the ground, Bethany’s spirits lifted when she saw that the front door of the inn was in view from her hiding place behind the trunk. She’d be able to see the vampire leave. ...If he hadn’t already. She shook her head, refusing to be brought down with hopeless doubt. With luck, she’d be able to follow the vampire.

She grasped the talisman that Kallia, the Roma woman had given her, saying a silent prayer to whatever deity or patron saint it appealed to.

The talisman must have answered her, for only moments later, Edward left the inn and walked unhurried down the road in what looked to be the same direction Justus’s captors had headed. Bethany unknotted her skirts and followed behind trying to remain at a distance so he wouldn’t spot her.

A few times she had to duck against the wall or into a nearby alley to keep him from seeing her if he glanced behind. To make matters worse, another attack of the shivers rained down upon her making her feel like a palsied old woman as she shuffled through the shadows.

A carriage rolled down the intersection, blocking her view. When it passed, the vampire was gone. Bethany’s heart sank. Which way had he gone? When she reached the splitting roads, she looked in both directions, but saw no sign of him.

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