Page 75 of The Highwayman's Bite

At least Bonnie was as efficient a driver as Jeffries and they arrived at the inn at a quarter to seven.

“Would you like me to accompany you?” Bonnie asked. “Another woman’s presence can be reassuring.”

Aldric shook his head. “Stay with Jeffries.”

The last thing he needed was one of his people to witness an emotional outburst if Vivian was indeed traumatized by the events of her abduction. Or worse, fear or revulsion at knowing what he was.

Aldric froze in the doorway of the Owl Inn. Just as promised, Vivian sat at the polished wooden bar, nursing a cup of ale, and reading a newspaper. His heart and lungs suddenly felt like they were clamped in a vice. Until this moment, he’d never realized how much he cared for her, how much he’d worried for her safety.

From her straight spine and relaxed shoulders, she appeared unharmed, though the downward turn of her lips and the crease between her brows radiated melancholy.

“Vivian?” he said softly.

She turned and Aldric braced himself for a look of fear, accusation, or both.

Then, to his disbelief, she rose from her seat and ran into his arms. “Uncle, I am glad you came.”

He marveled at her lack of fear of what he was. Not caring that they were in a public place, he kissed the top of her head. “I am sorry I did not pay the ransom sooner,” he whispered. “I was—”

“Rhys explained your reasonings,” she said with an offhand wave.

“Oh?” His eyebrow lifted. This rogue presumed to know his mind? “Let us depart and you can tell me what he said about my reasoning at home.” He set a guinea on the bar, took her elbow, and led her outside.

Vivian squinted curiously at Bonnie and the sleeping Jeffries, but before she could question that, Aldric handed her up into the carriage. Now that they’d left the inn, with its miasma of food and beer and humans, the other vampire’s scent radiated from Vivian. Aldric suppressed a growl. His primitive instincts to find the interloper and drive a sword through his heart clanged through his head like the peals of a bell.

His niece seemed to sense his ire, but held her tongue through the rest of the ride. Aldric was thankful for that, since he did not wish for Bonnie to be privy to just how sticky this situation had become.

And Bonnie was indeed squirming with curiosity. Aldric gave her a warning glare as Jeffries was awakened near Gordon’s Tavern. She departed with a bow that was more cheeky than meek.

“Who was that woman driving the carriage?” Vivian asked.

“It’s not important right now.” Aldric leaned forward and spoke to Jeffries. “Please take us back to Thornton Manor.”

“Very good, my lord. And may I say that it is a delight to see Miss Stratford again?”

“Thank you, Jeffries,” Vivian called up from her seat. “I’m pleased to see you as well.”

The remainder of the ride home passed in silence, but once they arrived at Thornton Manor, Vivian asked to see Madame Renarde.

Aldric shook his head. “She is recovering from her illness and still resting, and we must talk.”

Once they were seated in his study, Aldric poured them each a glass of wine. As she sipped her wine, he studied her, frowning at her shabby attire, ungloved hands, and wistful eyes. The reek of the other vampire continued to taunt him. The cad hadn’t Marked her, but he may as well have. “Now what exactly did this rogue tell you about my end of our dealings?”

Vivian spoke in a soothing tone, as if to placate Aldric. “Rhys said that you originally believed him to be a human, and so it would be damaging to your reputation as a Lord Vampire to allow a mortal to best you.”

That was true, yet Aldric stewed with vexation that a strange vampire had been able to assess him with such accuracy. “Why did he even bother trying to explain my original refusal to pay?”

“Because at first I was hurt and thought you did not care about me.” Vivian regarded him with a sad smile. “He wished to assure me that you did.”

Aldric closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Ever since he’d found Vivian to be missing, and received the first ransom letter, nothing had gone as he’d expected. This rogue, Rhys, had been concerned about his captive’s feelings. Yet another indication that Rhys was too soft to be in the business of kidnapping. Sadly for him, that horse had already left the barn.

Soft as he may be, the rogue had still abducted the blood kin of a Lord Vampire and extorted money. And from what Madame Renarde had said, Rhys had likely done more than that.

“Did he feed on you?” Aldric demanded, eager to gather up sins to lay at the rogue’s feet.

“Twice.” Vivian lifted her chin as if proud of the fact. “Once when he showed me what he was. The second time was because I asked him to so that he did not have to risk going out.”

“How do you know it was only twice?” Aldric pressed, even though part of him knew it was cruel. “A vampire usually banishes his victim’s memory after he feeds.”

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