Free Tale of the Century Bride Complete: Historical Vampire Paranormal Romance Box Set by Susan G. Charles Page B

here, mother.” Catherine said. “And you are all welcome to stay for as long as you wish.”
    “Yes, it is true indeed.” Count August said with a crooked grin. He looked to Catherine’s mother. “As I understand, you are a blacksmith, correct?” he asked her.
    “Why yes, I am. The best at that I assure you. As good as any man!” her mother said.
    “And so I have heard. I hear that you were trained by your husband, a fine man might I add, to raise such a wonderful, beautiful and skilled daughter as your Catherine here. And her sisters, I presume, as well.”
    He smiled and then took a sip of blood from his goblet before he continued. “You have done a marvelous job in taking over his duties, and for that I would implore that you are to continue in you great work here, at Castle Dalmar, as our blacksmith. If you choose to do so, you will be put in charge of teaching my men to become somewhat as magnificent as yourself.”
    He gave the statement a moment to sit there in the air, and for her mother to think about whether or not she would be interested in the offer. Then after a brief pause, he went on. “And you will be rewarded for your services with anything that you might wish. If you choose not to take part in this offer, I would certainly understand, and you will still have full access to any part of the castle, free to come and go as you please.”
    Catherine’s mother looked to her, and then to her daughters before steering her sights back to the Count, who was drinking from his goblet once again. “This is a lot to think about. I mean, I love my work and my children. I have a home outside of here, and friends in the village. What might you be asking in return?”
    The girls were all at unease as they sat at the table. This was actually the first time they had spent an evening with… a vampire. Though they did not show it, each of the ladies, from the youngest to eldest, looked to each other one by one as if to speak telepathically. If there were anything to have been said, it would probably be can we trust him?
    The Count laughed graciously. “My dear lady… you have already given me more than enough. I would just ask that you look to me as if I were your son.” he said.
    His kind words were immediately felt in the hearts of all Catherine’s siblings, and her mother as well. In fact, her mother was so touched by the Count’s endearing words that she dropped her head to hide the fluid building in her eyes. She grabbed at her heart to feel the beat, as if she was deceased and heaven was now her home.
    Wiping away at her tears with the handkerchief from under her silverware, she looked to the Count and quietly nodded before agreeing to become the head blacksmith in charge of all others. The other girls still sat quietly during this exchange.
    The Count finally smiled, his fangs shining before them all. “Then this calls for a celebration,” he said, raising a hand as he brought his thumb and middle finger together and snapped.
    Immediately, from the service entrance, two female servers walked into the dining area with bottles of wine. They filled the ladies glasses. Catherine’s youngest sister, the only one who was not of age, was given cider to drink. Everyone’s glasses were filled, and the Count asked Catherine if she would lead the toast.
    Catherine stood from her seat, as she raised her glass. “To a new beginning… for each and every one of us,” she smiled as she spoke.
    “To new beginnings!” her family chanted in unison, with raised glasses. They looked to one another in that blissful moment, each one with a smile on their face.
    As the servers shuffled out of the dining area and back through the service entrance, the twins ran through, still dressed in their night clothes. They nearly knocked the servers over to get by. They were only inches in when they looked to Catherine with fear in their eyes.
    Everyone at the table turned to face the panicky children. Count August rose from his