Page 45 of The Highwayman's Bite

He may call himself a villain and a monster, but he acted like a hero. Vivian couldn’t stop pondering the contradiction.

Once Madame Renarde finished her tea and was bundled up in her cot, Rhys built the fire to a cheery blaze that chased away the remaining chill of the cave.

“Thank you for caring for her,” Vivian said softly as her companion’s snores echoed off the stone walls.

Rhys gave her a slight bow. “It is nothing. Now I need you to compose the letter for your uncle.” He rose and went to one of the shelves, fetching foolscap, quill, and ink.

When the writing implements were set before her, he dictated what he wanted her to write. Vivian fought to keep her hand from shaking as she penned the short missive, coded to inform Uncle Aldric that she knew what he was. Rhys didn’t want her to say any more than that, explaining that the consequences of Aldric not paying the ransom were implied. Vivian added her own coded plea for her uncle to be discreet and merciful with Madame Renarde.

Rhys read the letter and nodded with satisfaction. “This will do. Now I must go out and feed before the sun rises. If I come across some food or goods that you may enjoy, I will fetch them for you.”

A laugh escaped Vivian’s lips, though it held a hysterical edge.

The vampire cocked his head to the side. “What is so amusing?”

“You’re going off to drink someone’s blood and collect sweets or fripperies on the way.” She shook her head. “I suppose it’s not amusing, but you must admit it sounds odd.”

“I suppose so.” He chuckled and started toward the door.

“Rhys?”

He turned. “Yes?”

“Do you hurt them, when you....?” She trailed off with embarrassment, not quite ready to describe his fangs sinking into someone’s neck. Her own flesh tingled at the memory of his bite.

His face contorted in what looked like pain, then he softened, regarding her with a long, almost tender stare. “No, I do not. Now you should sleep too. I extended our duel longer than I should have and you must be sore and exhausted.”

She was, and she ached all over from her exertions. Never had she pushed herself so much. She remembered wondering why Rhys barely seemed winded. Now she had her answer. Vampire. The word whispered in her mind as she watched Rhys walk out of the cave to seek his next victim. Though if it was true that he didn’t harm them, maybe victim wasn’t the right word.

Donor, perhaps?

With a long shake of her head, Vivian pulled down the bamboo privacy screen, shrugged out of her gown and into the oversized nigh shirt that Madame Renarde had laid out for her before the duel. Then she lay down on her bunk and stared at the shadows and dancing firelight across the screen.

Madame Renarde snored on. The laudanum had put her out like a lamb. Too bad Rhys hadn’t offered any to Vivian.

Sleep, Rhys had told her. Ha! How was she able to close her eyes after first learning that he was a vampire and her uncle was one as well? And then discovering that her best friend was ill? To top it all off, with Madame Renarde returning to Thornton Manor and informing Uncle Aldric that a rival of his kind held Vivian, and of all that had transpired, who knew how her uncle would react?

Which led to the most alarming realization that kept Vivian wide awake. After tomorrow night, she would be alone with Rhys, unchaperoned. Sleeping, bathing, eating, talking. All of those things would take on a different sort of intimacy, despite Rhys’s assurances to Madame Renarde.

Alone with a vampire. Her heart thudded beneath the blankets.

Rhys’s words earlier whispered in her mind: “...now that Miss Stratford knows that I’m a monster, I don’t think she will be in a hurry to welcome my touch.”

But was that true? Vivian recalled their kiss, then the times when he helped her mount the horse, the moment he pulled her against him to challenge her mocking his lack of villainy...and the closeness of their bodies as they’d dueled. Her belly fluttered as she relived each moment.

She wasn’t so certain.

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