Secrets of the Night Special Edition (110 page)

"A viable idea, nonetheless,” he said, smiling.” The only viable one.”

At a loss for words, she studied the avocado vase on the end table. With so many questions that nagged her, she didn't know where to begin, so . . . start at the beginning.” Something I've wondered about--when did you become a vampire?” 

"I suffered a mortal wound at the Battle of Hastings, an arrow in my stomach. That same night, I became a vampire.” A world of sadness defined his face and speech, but then he spoke on a forceful note.” Truly, I will tell you more of my transformation another time. For now, we should be on our way. We must arrive in
England
before dawn.”

"We're going to
England
? Well, at least I'll be able to speak the language.”

"I think not. English as spoken then was much different from the language now. But do not worry, you won't come into contact with others.”

"So what are we going to do?” she asked, not even trying to keep the sarcasm from her voice.” Make hotel reservations?” 

"Hardly, but finding a place to stay should present no problem.” He wrapped his arm around her waist.” Now, let us go.” 

"Wait! If we can go back in time, can we at least arrive in the summer? It's going to be real cold there now.”

"Even better. I know of a house we can stay at.”

"How do you know this?” 

"Because I lived in
England
then.” He took her hand and stood, drawing her up with him.

A hundred problems zipped through her head.” Clothes! All the things I'll need--toothbrush and toothpaste.”

Galan flicked his hand.” You will find clothes there. Please fetch your toiletries and let us leave.”

Not given much time, Stevie hustled to her room and grabbed her overnight case from a shelf in the closet, deciding on the spur of the moment she would take clothes with her. She threw toiletries into the bag, along with T-shirts, paperbacks, and quickie snacks she retrieved from the kitchen.” Okay,” she said after a few minutes.” I'm ready.”

With her hand enclosed in his, he frowned in fierce concentration, his eyes closed, his fingers gripping hers. A rushing sound bombarded her ears, like waves upon a seashore, becoming louder. An unseen force was drawing her back, back, back. . . .

England
, 1486

Clutching her overnight case as if it were the winning lottery ticket, Stevie stood with Galan outside an English manor house, too shocked to say a word. A jutting window--an oriel window, Galan called it--added local color to the front of the house, but the early morning darkness hindered her from seeing anything else.

She finally found her voice.” What do we do now?” she whispered.” Just barge in?” 

"I wouldn't put it that way,” he said in an even tone.” We are merely taking temporary custody of the house.”

"What about the owners? Something tells me they won't welcome us with open arms,” she said with another questioning glance around.

"The house is empty. Ownership of the house and the surrounding land are in dispute. The people who claim it--a wealthy wool merchant and his wife--have gone to
London
to argue their case to the king.”

"The king?” 

"Henry VII, on the throne for less than a year.” He took her hand.” Come now, let's settle in.”

She gave the house another doubtful glance.” What about servants? There's no one here now?” 

"As I said, the house is empty.”

"I'll bet the place is locked up tight as a bank vault.”

He grinned, his teeth shining white in the moonlight.” That presents no difficulty.” With a wave of his hand, he opened the front door.

"Wow! There's no limit to your talents, is there?”  She stepped into a narrow entrance hall, feeling her way along the wall. In absolute blackness, she bumped into a high-backed chair, and Galan took her arm to guide her.

Past the hall, moonlight streamed through the multipaned leaded windows, leaving a silvery path along the tiled floor. She blinked her eyes in the dark as she tried to focus on the huge room--living room?

"Rushlights,” Galan said as he walked from one waist high iron sconce to another and lit each with a touch of his finger.

No longer surprised by anything he said or did, Stevie kept silent, her attention focused on the first floor, whose ceiling rose majestically, like a cathedral. A large stone fireplace dominated one wall, and enough armor to start a canning factory decorated the space to the right of the fireplace. Wood paneling filled with rosettes bordered the ceiling, a lovely embellishment that must have been a painstaking job, Stevie thought. Stained glass heraldic devices on the windows added a certain dignity to the house.

A tapestry on the opposite wall caught her attention, but she couldn't make out its design even with the flaming rushlights, whose pungent smell made her wrinkle her nose.

Galan placed his hand under her elbow.” Upstairs. Better sleep while you can. We still have much to discuss when it becomes dark again.”

"Where will you sleep?” she asked as they mounted the slippery stone steps.

"Wine cellar--no light.” On the second floor--or did the English call it the first? --he led her to a spacious bedroom where an ornately-carved bed commanded the greater part of the room, and a large wooden chest hugged a near wall. Draperies flanked the lead-paned square windows.

"You know something?” she said with a dubious glance at the huge bed.” I don't think I'll get much sleep this morning. I usually get up about this time.” She threw him a wistful look.” So you'll be sleeping while I'm awake?” 

"I fear so. That is the way of vampires.” He ran his fingers through his thick mass of hair.” Dearest, I realize what a strange experience this is for you--a different century, different food, so many aspects of life that will seem strange to you. These are matters we must talk about this evening. In the meantime, to be safe, please stay inside the house on the very slim chance that one of the neighbors might ride by. Read or do whatever you wish. Young ladies of your time don't do needlework, do they?” 

"Needlework? Are you kidding?” 

"Pity. Possibly women of long ago had more resourceful means of keeping busy. No TV, after all,” he said with a teasing smile.” Sleep as late as you can, and in the evening, I shall come to you again. Don't forget, though, darkness comes much later here than in
Miami
during the summer.” With a heavy sigh, he cast a long look toward the bed.” I can think of better ways to spend my time with you, but I fear dawn will arrive soon.”

Even as he spoke, the first pale rays of sunlight chased the shadows from the room and cast a golden glow on the purple velvet bedspread, turning it crimson.

He drew her into his arms and kissed her long and passionately, then released her as daylight found its way into the corners.” Try to sleep. I'll come to you when it's dark again,” he said with one last embrace.” Sleep well.”

Shoulders thrown back, he strode past the thick wooden door and on down the steps. Flummoxed by all that had happened this night but determined to brazen out this weird experience, she looked around the room and reminded herself she had plenty of time to get used to her surroundings. She stripped down to her underpants and pushed the bedspread back, sneezing in a cloud of dust. Sliding into bed, she knew she'd never fall asleep. . . .

Hours later, she awoke, springing upright, her gaze covering the strange room. Where was she? She sank back down as memories flooded her mind: her trip back in time with Galan, their arrival at the manor house in the early morning. With a wide yawn, she glanced at her watch, already reset by English time. After eleven! She must have fallen asleep as soon as she crawled into bed. Surprising. Had Galan cast a sleepy spell on her? She wouldn't put it past him.

Stevie stepped out of bed and pulled on her jeans, then slipped her bra and T-shirt on. One thing for sure--she had to pee. She had no idea where the bathroom was or if the house had one. She had a sneaking suspicion the place had no indoor plumbing. Galan had told her to stay inside, but apparently he didn't understand the female bladder. A glance out her bedroom window showed tall trees and clusters of bushes at the side of the house. That would have to do.

Within minutes, she returned to the house, where her growling stomach sent her rushing back upstairs to rummage through her overnight case for a banana and a cherry pop-tart. That and a lukewarm lemonade had to last for several hours, but she'd sell her soul for an ice cold coke.

* * *

"How have you spent your time?” Galan asked in the late evening after he emerged from the wine cellar, looking well-rested, as handsome as ever in black jeans and a gray T-shirt. How did he spend his leisure time?  she wondered as he sat on the wooden bench and beckoned her to join him.” Did you sleep well?”

She turned from her study of the heraldic devices emblazoned on the windows and came to sit beside him.” Believe it or not, I slept okay.” She paused.” But I've got to ask you, 'cause it's been on my mind--how long will we stay here? I want to return to my job and get back in the swing of things. This isn't my idea of a vacation.”

"You're going to stay here until I find Rosalinda and kill her, however long that takes.”

Confusion swamped her.” But you told me Rosalinda can't come back to this century, so how will you find her?” 

"I want you to stay here whilst I--"

"Me stay here? By myself?” 

"To put it bluntly, I must hunt her down until I find her. Otherwise, she'll remain a continual threat to you.” He took her hand, wrapping his fingers around hers.” I'm doing this for your sake, so you'll no longer be in danger. Believe me, I don't like to leave you, but I have no choice. Please accept the circumstances,” he said with a persuasive smile that didn't persuade her.

"Okay, while we're being blunt, let me ask you a question. What if you don't come back?”  She immediately regretted her words. God, what if he didn't? The possibility sent her mind reeling, and she pressed her hand to her stomach. What would she do if he didn't return?

He drew back, a look of surprise on his face.” Of course I'll return. Do you think I would leave you here for all time?” 

"Not intentionally, but let's look at this from all angles. What if she kills you?”  She twisted her hands in her lap, one quick breath following another.

"She won't kill me,” he said without hesitation.” I'm much stronger than she, and if I may say so, more resourceful.” He hugged her to his chest, his arm strong and tight around hers, his low voice teasing her senses.” I'll return to you, I promise.”

Arms folded across her chest, she turned to face him.” If you don't come back, and if I have to, I can learn to adjust to life in this century. I won't like it, but I'll do it. But aside from worrying about you--and honestly, I can't help it-- why in the world would I want to stay in this crazy century? You already told me I wouldn't understand the language. And when the owners come back, I'll have to move on. Or--"

"Stevie, it will not come to that.”

"Let me finish. If I'm still here when the owners return, should I say, 'Excuse me, but I come from the twenty-first century, and I just happened to use your house as a hotel? 'But the main thing," she said, placing her hand on his chest, “is that I'll miss you . . . very much.”

He laid his hand on top of hers.” Dearest . . .”

"And no matter what you say, I'm still scared that you might not find Rosalinda right away, or at all.” Seeking distraction, she walked over to study the tapestry on the wall, but she couldn't appreciate the decoration when she had so much on her mind.

Galan came to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned back against him, breathing in his sandalwood scent, absorbing the full force of his masculinity, never wanting to leave his arms. He eased his hands up to cup her breasts, sending all her anxieties flying across the ocean. He pressed his lips to her neck.” Please, dearling, don't make this difficult for me. How can I concentrate while you are tempting me so? As for leaving you, I don't want you to worry about me. It will do you no good. This I promise you, if I don't find Rosalinda within a month--"

"A month!” She escaped his hold and swung around to face him.” What if the owners of the house come back next week?” 

"They won't. I remember they stayed in
London
for several months. ''was November before the king settled in their favor and they returned.” He gave her a tender smile, one meant to reassure her . . . but it didn't.” You are in no danger. The nearest village is miles away. No one will see you. But if someone should come by--highly unlikely--you can wear the lady's clothes she keeps in the chest upstairs.”

"Wow! You sure have a lot of nerve, I'll say that for you. Not only do I sleep in their bed and make free use of their house, but I wear the lady's clothes besides.” Another concern grabbed her attention.” Let's assume that a neighbor or peddler comes by, no matter how farfetched that seems. What should I do if I don't understand their language?”