His Ruthless Bite | Historical Paranormal Romance: Vampires (Scandals With Bite Book 4) (21 page)

“Lady Darkwood,” Elliotson bowed and extended his hand for her to shake. “I am so happy you were able to come. Allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Crawley, Mrs. Reed, Mrs. Woodward, and Miss Thompson. I have been telling all of them about your great talent with this new way of healing.”

“It’s not healing,” she said quickly, ignoring Elliotson’s frown of disapproval. Lifting her chin, she clarified. “One cannot heal instantly from this treatment. However, it most certainly can help you heal over time. And this treatment is most effective for ailments of the mind and heart. I’m afraid we cannot mend broken legs or cure disease or anything of that nature.”

The women nodded in approval at her candid explanation. She understood their skepticism. Anyone promising a fast cure would be assumed to be a quack or a snake oil salesman. And most times they were right. She’d long wanted to dissuade Elliotson from even referring to mesmerism as healing or worse, a cure, but hadn’t mustered to courage to say so. Until now.

“Did the doctor heal you, my lady?” Mrs. Woodward asked pointedly.

Elliotson’s eyes widened with worry. He had never been able to mesmerize her. However, Lenore was able to give an honest answer. “My time with Doctor Elliotson has helped me overcome my own troubles in ways I’d thought unfathomable.”

The women glanced at each other in silent consideration before Mrs. Woodward, the apparent designated leader, stepped forward. “How does the treatment work?”

Lenore took a seat on the bench and gestured for the others to do the same. “First, we talk. You would tell Dr. Elliotson or me about anything that plagues your mind to the point where you have trouble sleeping, or your day to day life suffers. Then either the doctor or I will place you in a trance, a sort of waking dream, for lack of a better word.”

Mrs. Woodward’s frown deepened. “And what do you do to us once we’re in this trance?”

“We would encourage you not to allow your troubles to burden you, to guide you in gathering strength and peace.” Lenore kept her tone soothing and level. “You will finish the session feeling calm and relaxed.”

The farmer’s wife raised a brow. “How would that heal us?”

Elliotson answered. “The power of the mind is a marvelous thing. We’ll convince it to heal you.”

Mrs. Woodward leaned back with narrowed eyes. “And how do we know you won’t trick us instead? Steal our coin or make us bark like dogs like a magician at the fair?”

“It doesn’t work that way,” Lenore hastily assured them. “As the good doctor said, the mind is powerful. We can’t make it do anything you don’t truly want.” Well, Elliotson couldn’t. Lenore could, though she only utilized that power for her own safety. “Also, you may have a friend or more with you during the session to make certain of your well being.”

The last bit convinced them and all four women nodded. Mrs. Woodward offered to go first. “I would prefer to do this with Her Ladyship, if that is all right.”

Elliotson frowned for a moment, his pique at being rejected vanishing quickly with a broad smile. “Of course.”

“Well, I want Dr. Elliotson to do my treatment,” Mrs. Crawley said. “After all, he is a real doctor and surely has more experience.”

“You will be in good hands,” Elliotson assured, visibly placated.

Mrs. Woodward sniffed and rose from the bench. “I feel more comfortable speaking to another woman about my troubles.” Her shrewd blue eyes shifted back to Lenore. “May we speak in private at that table under the yew tree? Gwen will come with me.”

Lenore nodded even though she had no idea which of them was Gwen until Miss Thompson stood and joined her friend. Once they were seated at the other table, out of any man’s hearing, Mrs. Woodward, who implored Lenore to call her Alice, told her that she was a widow, managing the farm herself. A gentleman had begun calling on her, and though Alice had grown fond of him, her late husband had beat her so frequently that she couldn’t be near a man for very long before she had trouble breathing.

“I know exactly what that’s like,” Lenore told her, heart aching in sympathy.

Alice stared, slack jawed. “You do, my lady?”

“Well, I used to,” she said quickly, not wanting the woman to assume that Gavin abused her. Before Alice could inquire further, Lenore pressed forward. “Have you told your new beau about your former husband?”

“Beau?” Alice giggled. “You make me sound like a young Society miss. I’m nearly forty years old.” Her expression sobered. “No, I haven’t told Sam about what Frank was like. I’m afraid to. What if he thinks I deserved it? What if he thinks I was a bad wife and decides he no longer wants to see me?”

“You did not deserve such treatment.” Outrage filled Lenore to the point where she had to resist the urge to bare her fangs. Taking a deep breath, she spoke more levelly. “If this Sam truly cares for you, he will do all he can to reassure you and be willing to promise never to hurt you.”

Alice sighed, brow furrowed with doubt. “You sound so sure.”

“From what I’ve learned, most men see hurting women as repugnant.” She’d gained that knowledge from reading the minds of men when she fed on them. And knowing that not every male she encountered was a monster made it easier to sleep during the day. “Also, I had some misgivings of my own before I wed Lord Darkwood. Discussing my worries did much to alleviate them.”

Alice nodded, eyes wide in understanding. “Discussing them has done much to help them already. Sometimes that’s all somebody needs. A sympathetic ear and sound advice. I may not even need you to do your hocus pocus.”

“I agree that talking helps.” Though Dr. Elliotson did not when Lenore broached the possibility that perhaps talking with their patients helped them just as much, if not more, than mesmerizing them. “And I will not mesmerize you if you don’t want me to.”

Alice shook her head. “No, I want to try it. Maybe you can tell my mind to make me brave. Give me courage before I tell Sam.”

“Very well. Now look into my eyes and take ten even breaths…”

Gwen looked on with a combination of concern and curiosity as Lenore willed Alice to be full of confidence and courage. After that Alice thanked her with teary eyes and she helped Gwen overcome heartache from a jilted lover.

That was a little more tricky, since love was such a complicated matter, and broken hearts were hard to heal. Not for the first time did Lenore wonder if she’d ever fall in love… or if she already had. Whenever she thought of Gavin, her chest tightened, her stomach quivered, and she had an unreasonable urge to do everything in her power to make him happy. Was that love?

Lenore shied from the question and focused on Gwen.

Despite Lenore’s ignorance on matters of the heart, her efforts must have been sufficient, since Gwen and Alice praised her and vowed to tell their friends about her healing. The other two women appeared to be just as pleased with Elliotson’s treatments.

After the women departed, Elliotson clasped his hands together. “Splendid work, my lady. I vow we’ll have twice as many patients next time. And we’re one step closer to opening our own clinic.”

“Splendid,” Lenore tried to sound enthusiastic, but almost couldn’t manage. She knew Elliotson’s primary goal was to open his own mesmerism clinic to treat the upper classes and generate a tidy profit, but even though she knew he would need such profit to expand the parameters of his research and treatments, she couldn’t help feeling reluctant at the prospect of abandoning the common women who needed help the most.

Though she understood the practicality of his aims, Lenore took so much joy in helping the poor that it would break her heart for treatments and care to no longer be available to them. Not only that, but as a baroness… not to mention a vampire, her circumstances prevented her from doing more than she already was. “I must go home now. His Lordship may be waiting for me.”

Elliotson nodded. “Shall I walk you home?”

“No, my carriage has come.” Actually, Chandler would be meeting her in the village square in a half hour. Just enough time for her to find her prey and feed. Lenore captured Elliotson’s gaze. “You see my carriage. We say goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” Elliotson said dutifully.

“You see me get inside and drive away,” she willed the image into his mind. “You will wake up in thirty seconds and go home.”

The doctor nodded. “Home.”

After looking around for witnesses, Lenore took off in a flash. In London she’d hardly ever utilized her supernatural speed, but here in the country, she couldn’t fathom why she’d gone so long without it.

She found a quick meal in a farmhand walking to the nearest pub, jingling coins in his pocket as he whistled. By the time she made it to
the square, Chandler
was waiting for her with the carriage.

When she arrived home, Gavin had not yet returned. She couldn’t hold back the crushing tide of disappointment. Was this what he’d intended their marriage to be like? Him taking off to Lord knew where, leaving her alone until nearly dawn? Where had all the dancing, laughter, and smiles of their courtship gone?

He’d said the marriage was to be in name only, she reminded herself. And the courtship had been a display for the Quality’s benefit. It had all been false.

But that didn’t stop her from missing it. Especially when he was so warm and affectionate when they shared a bed. Surely that had not been feigned. Memories of what they’d done this morning flitted through her mind, the intent way he’d looked at her when she’d touched herself, his hardness in her hand when she’d stroked him, the mind bending pleasure.

A pang of longing flared in her loins. Surely that couldn’t have been a farce. After all, she knew he had something on his mind. He’d been distracted ever since he’d smelled rogues in the area. A tendril of unease coiled in her belly. Why hadn’t he told her what had come of his search? His anger last night made it clear that he hadn’t found them, but surely he could have confided in her.

Her lips curved in a knowing smile as it all became clear. Of course Ruthless Rochester would be reluctant to admit to any sort of failure. All Lord Vampires were proud, and he was the proudest she’d known.

Besides, she hadn’t told him about her meetings with Dr. Elliotson. Perhaps secrets in a marriage were normal. A light laugh trickled from her throat.
Nothing
was normal about this marriage.

Still chuckling, she headed to the parlor and went back to her mending, fighting the urge to glance at the clock every other minute.

It was almost dawn by the time Gavin returned. He froze in the doorway, eyeing her as she stitched his trousers with an unreadable expression. Just as Lenore began to ask what was amiss, that dark cloud returned to his countenance.

“I am sorry I am late.” His expression remained unreadable. “Do you need to hunt?”

She shook her head. “I’ve already fed twice. Once before paying calls and once before I returned home.”
Home
. She was growing to love the sound of that word.

“Shall we retire for the day then?” His voice sounded forced and somehow flat.

Studying the lines of stress and fatigue ravaging his noble features, she nodded.

Her breath caught in anticipation as they entered the bedchamber. Would she join him in his bed? Would he want her to pleasure him again? Liquid heat flowed through her body, accompanied by a shiver.

Gavin shrugged out of his coat and turned to her. “Do you need help with your gown?”

She nodded and turned around before he could see the naked anticipation in her eyes. Even the light motions of his fingers as he unfastened the buttons made her pulse quicken. And when he loosened her stays, every inch of her flesh came alive, crying out for his touch.

She could feel the heat radiating from his body across the mere inches that separated them. When he’d removed everything but her chemise, she was unable to resist the temptation any longer. Tentatively, she leaned back to press against his chest.

Gavin hissed as if burned. His hands grasped her shoulders, pulling her closer until she could feel his hardness. This time it didn’t frighten her. This time—

Abruptly, he released her and stepped back. “I can’t tonight. I…”

When he trailed off, she turned to face him. “Why not? Did I displease you last time when I...” Now it was her turn to trail off, unable to find words for what they’d done.

“No.” He shook his head vehemently, yet some hidden shadow remained in his eyes. “You pleased me
too
much. I merely have a great deal on my mind and need some time by myself.”

You’ve had the last eight hours to yourself
, she protested inwardly.

“Although if you do have another nightmare, I will be there in an instant, I promise.” He walked past her to open her door.

The distance stretched between them with every step. When the door closed, she felt like it severed one of her heartstrings.

***

Justus flipped through the pages of notes penned by Dr. Elliotson, the quack that Rochester’s bride had been associating with. He’d filched them after following the doctor home and feeding on him. But the sloppily scrawled words were nearly as incomprehensible as what he’d seen in the man’s mind when drinking his blood.