Page 1 of The Mistress, the Monster and the Marquess

Chapter One.

Lina hadn’t fed in weeks and was getting to the point where she needed blood. With a jaded eye she leaned against the pillar in her main sitting room, simply observing the men in front of her. Hopefully there would be someone looking for trouble—it would give her an excuse to drain them dry. Being over four hundred years old, her blood needs were minimal. Which meant she could wait for the perfect smell, the exact perfumed skin she desired to entice her to feed. Tonight, wouldn’t be one of those such moments, it seemed.

A high-pitched squeal from the back corner caught her attention.

She moved there, swift as lightning, before another sound could be made. “Take your hands off her, now.” She gripped the wrist of the slovenly dressed gentleman who was sliding his hand up the inside of Marie’s thigh and tried to rein her temper in. It wouldn’t be good business to harm him in front of everyone. Especially as she wanted to maintain her reputation of being a hospitable hostess.

However, Lina despised the gentlemen that came into her expensive, well-run brothel and treated her girls like common dock tarts. They may be whores in a whorehouse, but they were selling their wares and craft, and deserved to be chosen respectfully and then taken to a private room.

The man, whom she knew to be drunk and well into his late forties, turned up his lip. “I’m paying for her. I’ll do whatever I like.”

Lina smiled, her fangs tingling in her gum line and threatening to reveal themselves. Only years of focus and training stopped them from sliding out of her mouth with menace. She didn’t want to have to move towns again. There were rules about vampires exposing themselves, after all. “Sir, after you pay, you may take Marie to her room. But know this, I do not allow my girls to be hurt.”

Lina used a small amount of her real strength to squeeze the man’s wrist bones together. They made a sickening crunch which was very satisfying and made her crave more. How good would it feel to break his legs? she mused.

He groaned and nodded as he removed his other hand from Marie’s thigh.

Marie stood awkwardly and flicked her skirts down with practiced ease. She’d been born a noble lady but had since fallen on hard times.

Lina felt sorry for the gentle, well-mannered soul and tried to avoid giving her to men like him. “Actually,” she said, her decision made. This man will not have Marie. “Jane?” Lina turned and snapped her fingers, calling out to her most experienced whore.

Jane was as tough as nails and could withstand even their roughest clientele, though Lina promised her a rescue whenever needed. Jane pressed her full breasts that were barely covered by her chemise, into the gentleman’s side. “This way, sir,” she said batting her eyelashes. “You’ll love my room.”

The man looked back at Marie’s beautiful face, then down at Jane’s with a grimace.

When compared to slender and young Marie, Jane was certainly plain and definitely older, but she was buxom and what she lacked in youth and beauty she made up for with skill and enthusiasm. She was reliable and ensured each client left satisfied with their visit.

Lina smiled without humor, knowing exactly what the man was about to say. She wasn’t a mind reader like the others of her brethren, but she had empathy and had been reading facial expressions, body language, and scent cues for centuries. “I know you want Marie, sir, but these are my premises, and you will abide the mistress of the house. I can promise you; Jane will not disappoint.”

Jane dropped a hand to the man’s crotch and began to rub him while she whispered promises of pleasure into his ear.

They were gone in mere moments.

Lina inhaled deeply, relieved, and found her nose filled with the most incredible of aromas. It was akin to a mixture of honey and ambrosia, the nectar of the gods. It looked like she wouldn’t have to make do with just anyone’s blood tonight. Her ideal prey had arrived. She turned slowly, forcing herself to enjoy the hunt, to anticipate and savor the first time she looked upon him—whoever he may be.

And there he was. Her prey was beautiful, but then, they always were. Perhaps not to everyone’s taste, but always to hers. Though this one in particular was tall, broad, and handsome—a man who could easily steal the heart of anyone. He smelled simply divine, his warm blood pumping along his veins in time with his heart, an intoxicating rhythm that called to her as strongly and surely as any siren song. Yes, he will do just fine. “Can I help you gentlemen?”

There were four men in total in their company, all about thirty years of age. The other three were all red faced and overweight, with long foppish hair that reached to their shoulders.

Lina placed her hands on her hips and glanced up from under her long, dark lashes as she sashayed towards them. People considered her beautiful, she knew that without question. Preserved at a perfect age for both sexual appeal and beauty, her maker had been very clever, and she thanked him for the precious gift of immortality often.

Her gentleman stood in front of the assembled group and spoke for them all.

“We heard you were the best madam in all of London. My friends would like a woman each, please,” he said as he bowed to her with an almost imperceptible shudder, the scent of his arousal rolling off him in waves.

Her body quickened in response, and she salivated. “Of course, gentlemen. Please, come in, and find a girl you like. She will then escort you to her room.” Lina indicated the women around the room and smiled invitingly at her newest patrons.

She ran a clean and upper-class brothel. Each girl had her own room, her own sheets, her own toys, and Lina guaranteed their safety. She knew how hard it was to make a livelihood as a single female and could sympathize with every one of her girls. She couldn’t get them out of this life because she needed to also make a living too, but she could keep them safe and in enough coin to live comfortably. They only needed to whisper her name and she would be there.

As a vampire her hearing was exceptional, her strength unsurpassed by any human living or dead. No man hurt one of her girls and got away unscathed. She believed firmly that unsavory behavior should be rewarded with an equally adequate deterrent.

Each of the men surrounding her prey left him and found a girl. None of them felt dangerous. They just reeked of arousal and alcohol, which was a good combination for an easy night.

Her man remained standing in the center of the room, watching her with a lustful gaze.

“Do none of my girls catch your eye, sir?” she asked, twirling a lock of her long red hair tantalizingly around a slender finger.

The gentleman looked straight at her, his shoulders tall and proud.

---