His Ruthless Bite | Historical Paranormal Romance: Vampires (Scandals With Bite Book 4) (26 page)

“But I can stop the rumors!” She cried out in an agonizing plea. “I can—”

“Enough!” he snapped before his voice broke. The betrayal in her large eyes too much to bear, he looked away. “My decision is final. My first priority is ensuring our safety and seeking out the source of these suspicions. After all risk is eliminated, perhaps in a few years…”

He trailed off as Lenore rose from the bed, marched to her bedchamber, and slammed the door behind her.

Not even bothering to remove his clothes, Gavin fell back on his bed with a sigh. His cold, empty bed.

All of the trust he’d worked to build with Lenore was now shattered. The tentative bond they’d forged had snapped.

And he knew their relationship was only going to deteriorate further. Because he knew she’d find some way to disobey his orders.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips. He’d originally wanted her for his wife due to her loyalty, obedience, and being less inclined to cause a scandal. God, he’d been wrong on every count.

And yet, he didn’t want her any other way.

***

Justus ground his teeth as he listened to the men in the pub laughing over the eccentric doctor being doused with holy water. The foolish mortals had cast their suspicions on the wrong man.

Meanwhile, the rich were dancing and gallivanting under the roof of a real vampire and they were to mutton-headed to realize it.

Oh yes, he’d heard plenty about the big celebration at “the big house,” from what dishes were allegedly being served—of which neither Rochester nor his bride could partake much— to an item by item account of what all of the guests had been wearing.

Odd how things like that hadn’t bothered him before, when he’d been Gavin’s second and had attended many balls and musicales. He’d loved watching beautiful women alight from their carriages, their gowns making them resemble brilliantly colored birds from far off lands. He’d savored holding them close in a dance and the challenge of persuading a pretty young thing to allow him to lure her to a secluded area long enough for him to steal a kiss and a pint or two of blood.

Until he’d met Bethany. Until his world and heart had been turned upside down, and ultimately crushed. Until he’d lost her and everything else he’d ever known and loved.

And now that he was constantly on the run with no home and the only money he had was what he stole from the mortals he fed on— very little of whom were heavy in the pockets— hearing of the doings of the rich only served to disgust him. But he couldn’t get close enough to the upper crust to steal from them, much less feed on them.

And due to his own diminished circumstances, he was unable to bring himself to take too much from the poor folk he fed on, blood or money. Which didn’t seem to bother his compatriots, if their healthy color was any indicator.

Why did the poor carry so much fascination with the rich? Why did they love them when the wealthy didn’t give a fig about them, except to make their fortunes on their backs?

Justus shook his head and turned his attention back to the conversations as he sipped his ale.

“It is a good thing they didn’t try such a thing on Lady Darkwood,” Rolfe said. “His Lordship would have skinned their hides!”

Justus caught his eye and gave him a slight nod. This was what they were here for. To spread the seeds of suspicion, but to do it so subtly the people would think they came up with the notions on their own.

“Her Ladyship is no vampire!” a tavern wench yelled shrilly. “She is the kindest, gentlest soul I’ve ever met. She’s helped so many women in this village when the other noblewomen don’t pay us any notice!”

Oh good Lord
. Justus rolled his eyes. Just because vampires were monsters, that didn’t make them bad people.

“Aye,” another man said. “She helped my wife overcome her grief from losing our firstborn. Now we’re going to try again.”

“I heard she might be with child ‘erself,” someone else said with a salacious laugh. “And that’s why His Lordship wed her in such a hurry.”

No she’s not!
He wanted to shout.
He only wanted to spirit her away before you lackwits noticed her particular aversion to daylight.

“Well, the good doctor helped people too,” an old man said. “And today’s foolishness proved that he’s not some mythical blood drinking monster either, so let’s drop the matter and focus on more sensible subjects, like Saturday’s cricket match.”

Most of the men nodded, but a few were too deep in their cups to countenance a diversion.

“Maybe the doctor’s a witch!” a nearly toothless man suggested.

“I thought vampires couldn’t venture out during the day,” Rolfe said.

Justus resisted the urge to nod in agreement and instead shook his head in silent command. They didn’t want to draw too much attention to themselves. Strangers in the village were always met with suspicion. Let it remain on the doctor.

“They can’t,” a voice said with such cold surety that the hairs on Justus’s neck stood on end.

Slowly he turned his head to see who had spoken, and frowned at a large, muscled man with the most pitiless gray eyes he’d ever beheld.

Another stranger in the village.

Lenore fought the urge to glance over her shoulder for the fifth time as she headed up the path to Dr. Elliotson’s rented cottage. She just couldn’t abandon her friend. She had to say goodbye.

Taking a deep breath, she fought to keep the memories of last night from rendering her into a helpless mass of grief. She’d spent her entire day rest curled into a ball of impotent fury and grief as it was, only drifting in and out of a troubled sleep.

Last night had been so perfect, her first ball she’d hosted as Lady Darkwood, her dance with her husband, basking under his adoring gaze, full of promise. She’d veritably quivered with anticipation for him to make her his wife in truth. A perfect culmination for the gift he’d bestowed upon her before, showing her how much pleasure they could give each other.

Then the guests had left, she’d walked to him demurely, when all she’d longed to do was throw her arms around him and pull his head down for another of his spellbinding kisses. Everything had been perfect. She had her work to fulfill her soul and a man to heal her heart and body.

Then everything had been ripped asunder. Instead of giving her all of the joy and comfort he’d promised, Gavin took away everything that brought her happiness. The betrayal speared her like a blade through her heart. For a moment she’d even wondered if his previous permission to continue her work had been a lie to seduce her, just like that nearly forgotten boy had lied about marriage to get under her skirts. She’d quickly rejected such pettiness. For one thing, Ruthless Rochester was too powerful and handsome to resort to such tricks to bed a woman, and for another, the dangers he’d presented were all too real.

But that did not mean she could forgive him. Especially with his refusal to give her a chance to say goodbye to her friends and patients.

She’d spent her day rest huddled on her bed in grief and anger. And after night had fallen, and Gavin rapped on her door to offer to take her to hunt, she’d told him to go away, still unable to bear looking at him.

“Very well,” he’d said. “But you do need to eat. I need to look in on my people, and when I return, if you refuse to come out, I’ll break down the door. And don’t think of running off while I’m gone. I have guards surrounding the manor.”

The cold, commanding tone heated her blood with anger. How dare he speak to her like she was a child? And since her captivity and escape from Clayton’s rogues, she’d become adept at evading other vampires.

After his footsteps faded, she rolled out of bed and donned a gown, boots and cloak. Then she crossed the room and lifted the edge of a tapestry that concealed a boarded up window. Using her preternatural strength, she worked the board loose and quietly eased the window open, cringing as it creaked in protest.

She paused and listened. No one came to investigate the noise, and she was free.

Lenore
would
obey Gavin’s orders, but only after she said goodbye. After all, she reasoned as she made her way up the steps to Elliotson’s cottage, she didn’t want the doctor to be in danger if he came to the manor to inquire about her absence.

With a heavy heart, she rapped on his door, her thoughts in a jumbled vortex as she struggled to decide what to say.

Elliotson opened the door, his eyes widening in shock to see her. “Lady Darkwood. What a pleasant surprise!” Yet there was a wary look in his eyes that belied his words.

“May I come in?” Lenore said quickly. “I must speak to you.”

“Yes, of course.” He opened the door wider and ushered her inside. “I’ll put the kettle on for some tea.”

She shook her head, drowning in sadness. “I’m sorry, I have no time for that.”

He raised a brow. “That urgent, eh?”

“I’m afraid so.” Grief radiated from her in waves.

“Very well, let us have a seat anyway.” He led her into a small sitting room overflowing with piles of books, parchment and dirty tea cups. “I apologize for this abysmal mess. I’ve been too consumed with my research. I lost one of my journals and have been turning the place upside down to find it.”

“That is quite all right,” she said impatiently. Her nerves jangled with fearful urgency. If Gavin or one of his vampires saw her here… she couldn’t finish the thought.

Elliotson cleared a stack of books from a chair and she sat, her legs shaky. “Are you certain you don’t wish for a cup of tea? You look pale.”

She shook her head.

He sat across from her on a sofa next to a jumble of papers. “What is it that you wanted to speak to me about?”

“My husband disapproves of my work.” Her words came out flat as tears burned her eyes. It wasn’t exactly a lie. “So he has commanded me not to see you again.”

Was it a trick of the light, or did he look happy? Or perhaps he was only relieved that she did not bring up yesterday’s incident in the village? “I am sorry to hear that. You were the finest student I’ve ever had. Though I suppose this was to be expected. No man would be elated to hear that his wife was associating so closely with another man, much less mingling with those below her station.” His brows lowered in censure. “Have you disobeyed him now by coming here?”

She nodded, concealing a frown. What had happened to his pressing her to use her station to help? “I had to say goodbye.”

He made an odd harrumphing sound, whether in understanding or disapproval, she could not tell. “While I appreciate your kind heart, I do not want to be subject to Lord Darkwood’s wrath.” He rose from his seat. “Come, I’ll let you out back so you are not seen.”

“Tell our patients that I wish them well and that I will miss them,” she spoke through the lump in her throat as she rose to follow him.

“I will.” He patted her shoulder. “I am quite sure they’ll be just fine. I’ll see to their treatments, don’t you worry.” Again, that suspicious look of happiness flickered in his gaze. “Or at least I shall until I depart.”

Her steps halted. “Oh, you’re leaving?”

“Yes. The people here are too backward and superstitious to accept the full scope of my treatments.” The way his expression darkened made Lenore certain that he was referring to his abrupt baptism. “Not to mention the fact that I’ve neglected my responsibilities in London for far too long. I only have a few more experiments to conduct before I’m off for home. Now come along, you must leave before your husband finds you missing.” He grabbed her elbow and quickly marched her out the rear door.

“Goodbye, John,” she addressed him by his Christian name for the first time, and the last. “You were the best friend I’ve ever had and I’ll never forget everything you’ve done for me.”

“Yes, yes,” he replied in a clipped voice as he led her out the back door. “It has been a delight to know you as well, my dear.”

“Thank you,” she began, but he’d already closed the door.

His abruptness and seeming lack of concern for the fact that they would never see each other again stung. The tears that had burned her eyes fell freely now, chilling her face in the cool night air. Once more she remembered the gleeful twinkle in his eyes… and then his petulant frown when the village women chose to have Lenore treat them instead.

He’d been jealous. Why hadn’t she seen that before? He’d also been peeved when she’d expressed reluctance for some of his more outrageous experiments. And with her out of the way, he’d have free reign to indulge in them. No wonder he’d seemed pleased with her departure. And to think she’d thought him to be a close friend.

At least the women would miss her when she was gone, she sniffled as she walked down the road to her next destination. It broke her heart that she wouldn’t be able to tell all of them goodbye. However, she resolved to tell Alice and Mrs. Hanson, the two largest gossips in the county. And she had more than one reason for those choices.

Avoiding the market and village square, which Gavin’s vampires were doubtless guarding like hawks, Lenore instead went to the Woodward farm, where she found Alice closing her barn door for the night.