Page 76 of Wynter's Bite

Bethany blinked at the woman’s American accent, then frowned at the intent way in which Justus was studying her.

Lord Deveril, meanwhile, looked almost abashed. “Lydia... this is not a very good time for introductions. Did Emrys not tell you to wait in the study?”

“No. I didn’t see him when I came in.” Lydia frowned. “Vincent, is something wrong?”

“Bloody hell,” Deveril growled.

Justus startled them all by laughing. “When did you get married, Deveril?”

“Three years ago,” Vincent replied gruffly, though the ghost of a besotted half smile curved his lips when he looked at his wife. “I am surprised you did not hear of it.”

“I was on the run,” Justus said flatly. “I’ve missed much that has happened over the last eight years. Though I did hear of the Lord of London’s scandalous marriage.” He straightened in his seat, his uncertainly replaced with confidence and a touch of amusement. “Tell me, was yours nearly as legally precarious?”

Vincent heaved a sigh. “The marriage itself? No. An incident during our courtship, however, invoked the wrath of the Elders.” His stern frown returned. “Which is why I am eager to keep further trouble from my domain.”

“Trouble? We’re certainly accustomed to that.” Lydia perched on the arm of his chair and twirled her finger around a lock of her husband’s long silvery hair. “Now are you going to tell me who these people are, and what sort of trouble they bring?”

Vincent sighed and inclined his head toward Justus. “This is Justus de Wynter, Viscount de Wynter, formerly second in command to the Lord of Rochester, and now a rogue exiled for revealing our secrets to a mortal.” He turned to Bethany with a humorless smile. “This is Miss Bethany Mead, daughter of the Baron of Wickshire, and the mortal in question. Ah, and she is an escaped patient from Morningside lunatic asylum, though de Wynter insists that she is quite sane.”

Lydia’s jaw dropped as she stared at Bethany with light brown eyes that appeared gold. “Why were you committed?”

“For telling Lord Tench that Lord de Wynter was a vampire when I was drugged with laudanum.” Saying it aloud made it sound even more foolish. “I’d fallen from my horse that morning.”

“Oh my!” Lydia breathed. “And you were in there for eight whole years? You poor thing!”

Bethany’s throat tightened at such sincere sympathy from a stranger. Perhaps she could sway Lady Deveril into persuading her husband to let them stay. As she observed the sweet, young countess, a thought occurred to her. She turned back to the earl. “Begging your pardon, my lord, but isn’t your countess human?”

Lady Deveril laughed, revealing tiny pointed fangs. “No, I am just so young that I do not yet convey that otherwordly power that my dear husband does.” She turned those intent golden eyes on Justus. “Why haven’t you Changed Miss Mead yet?”

Justus spread his hands in a helpless gesture. “Because if I do so without having a Lord Vampire grant me permission, I’d be breaking the law, and she would be a rogue like me, perhaps worse as she would be illegitimate.”

Was it Bethany’s imagination, or did the Lord of Cornwall flush?

Lady Deveril grasped her husband’s shoulders. “So you’ll make them citizens so Lord de Wynter can Change her and wed her, yes?”

“I have not yet decided,” Vincent said. “It depends on—”

Rapid footsteps echoed outside the solar before Emrys burst in. “The Lord of Gloucestershire is here. He claims that you are harboring his prisoners and demands that you turn them over to him at once.”

Bethany’s hope vanished like a dandelion puff in the wind. Squire Ridley had followed them after all. Would the Lord of Cornwall turn them over to him? Ridley would kill them, she had no doubt about that.

“His prisoners?” Vincent raised a brow and turned to Justus. “You did not tell me you were both arrested on your way here.”

“Only I was arrested,” Justus said. “Bethany rescued me from his dungeons.”

The Earl of Deveril gave Bethany an appraising look before rising from his seat and addressing his second. “And where is Squire Ridley?”

“Still outside in the courtyard with his third in command,” Emrys said. “I told him to come back tomorrow evening, but he refuses to leave until you come to the door.”

Vincent’s scowl deepened. “I hope it starts raining soon,” he muttered before turning to Justus and Bethany. “Follow me.”

They left the solar, staying behind the earl and countess until Lord Deveril stopped at a door that opened onto a balcony. “Stay there,” he ordered to Justus, Bethany, and Emrys.

The Earl and Countess of Deveril walked out onto the balcony and looked down. “Ridley, old chap,” he called out. “I am afraid this is not a good time. It is only three hours until sunrise, after all. Would you come back tomorrow evening?”

“I will do no such thing!” Ridley’s petulant shout echoed against the parapets. “You are harboring my prisoners. I demand that you deliver them to me at once!”

“And what prisoners would those be?” Deveril sounded bored.

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