My Lady Vampire - Book Three by Sahara Kelly

asleep.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Sidney glanced at Adrian over his glass of port. “I expect you heard the news?”
    “About the accident? Yes. Nasty business.”
    “There’s something you should know, Adrian…”
    Adrian stopped him with a wave of his hand. “If you’re going to tell me about the red-haired woman in the guest room, no need to.” He permitted himself a small smile at Sidney’s exasperated snort. “Any idea who she is?”
    “Not a one. Nor am I absolutely sure that she’ll recover. Her head injury is the most severe, and those are damned hard to deal with. I suppose it’s mostly in the Lord’s hands at this point. I gave her a little laudanum, but other than that there’s not much I can do.” Sidney looked sad.
    “If anyone can help her, Father, it’s you.” Adrian nodded reassuringly. “And she seems to be healthy enough.”
    He received a sharp glance from his father. “I was a little concerned that seeing her would be difficult for you, given her hair color.”
    Adrian shook his head. “My Nemesis haunts me with fire, Father. This woman has more of a dark smolder to her. I confess myself curious to know what color her eyes are.”
    “And who she is. That’s what I’m curious about. She has a wedding ring, her clothes are of good quality, and she’s well-groomed. Yet there is not one single thing amongst her possessions that gives a clue as to her name.”
    “The other woman did not survive, I heard?”
    Sidney sighed. “Correct. She fell awkwardly. Her neck snapped. T’was quick and painless, but still a waste of a life.” He finished his port and set the glass down beside him. “She will be interred at the churchyard soon. We cannot wait for our guest to wake. It could be days or even weeks. When--or I should say if --she does, we’ll erect a grave marker.”
    Adrian nodded. All, it seemed, was in order. Except for the mystery of the injured woman. “Would you mind if I sat with her for a while?” A smile crossed his face. “She might be the harbinger of this curse I’ve heard so much about. I’m curious.”
    And he was. This would be an opportunity to evaluate his responses to a woman without concern about his nature, or any input from her whatsoever. And she might talk in her stupor perhaps, or mumble something… Finding excuses for his request, Adrian buried the notion that perhaps the softness of her skin was luring him.
    He’d been lured enough by soft skin and heated hair.
    “Of course.” Sidney rose from his chair. “I have work to do, and it would set my mind at ease to know you were with her. Plus it would give the servants a break. With only two girls suitable to attend our injured lass, it’s getting wearing on both of ‘em.”
    Adrian nodded. “I’ll see to it.”
    “Good lad.”
    His father patted him affectionately on the shoulder and left the room with a smile. Adrian knew he was eager to return to his books and his studies. Picking up his own glass, he sipped a little more of the port and smiled.
    The slight hint of tasting something as simple as this rich liquid was a pleasure Sir Sidney had gifted him with--a gift that he could never repay.
    He wondered absently what their guest would taste like. A completely inappropriate thought, but one that slid seductively into his head as the port slid over his tongue.
    With a mental chastisement, he finished his wine and quit the room, an unusual degree of anticipation lurking in his mind.
    Who was she? Why was she without any identification? Who was the other woman in the carriage? Where was she from?
    All valid questions, important questions. So why weren’t they uppermost in his thoughts? Adrian had no idea of the answers to any of them. And yet there was one more question overriding his desire to solve this little mystery. One more question to which he was determined to discover the answer.
    What color were her eyes?
    - - - -
     
    Katherine sighed and stretched, aware of warmth and a