Free The Unknown Mistress - An Erotica and Romance Paranormal/Historical Novella by Dorian Mayfair

the blaze. “Throughout my life,” she said quietly, “I have been surrounded by courtiers. I spent my childhood in the company of older men who were waiting for me to grow up. Whoever married me would have great political influence and riches. And, of course, me.”
    Jany nodded. A woman like the baroness would have been surrounded by men wanting her as their wife.
    “So I realized very early that I was a prize,” the baroness said. “I was an asset waiting to be exploited. But when the men finally began to make suggestions and advances, I was prepared. I turned them all down. I was determined to be the master of my own destiny.
    “It must have been difficult.”
    “It was,” the baroness said, “and they would not leave me alone. My parents showed no interest in helping me. With time, the invitations became more forceful, and I began to worry. Men sometimes use their influence to have their way. Soon I realized that some of the worst brutes could quite easily convince my parents that they were the perfect husband, and I would be in the hands of some well-connected boar for the rest of my miserable life.”
    Jany nodded and sipped from her wine. While she was no expert on Chalets, she knew what she drink was excellent and most likely expensive. And she had been served a glass by a famed baroness. It was almost as hard to believe as that there was a vampire tired to a bed in the same room.
    “So I took a wow of chastity,” the baroness said. “Pledging to remain a virgin forever was the only way to make those unpleasant men lose interest. Now I regret that decision, but an oath is an oath. And for this reason, I cannot help the maid escape the clutches of her illness.”
    “I – see what you mean.” Jany was immediately thankful for the lack of light; her face was on fire. The situation was ironic beyond belief. This incredible woman, put on Earth to torment men and women alike, was a celibate? It was enough to make Jany wish for something stronger to drink. She did indeed think the baroness was misguided, but this was not the time or place to tell her.
    The baroness turned back to Jany. “Do you understand my dilemma?” she asked.
    “I do,” Jany said, hoping the baroness would not see through the lie.
    “Then you see why I must turn to you with this desperate, sinful and ungodly plea.” The baroness moved closer to Jany and rested her fingers on her arm. “Please,” she said in a pained voice, “save the woman. What I ask you to do may seem crude or even depraved, but if we allow the flames to end her life, would not that be a greater evil?”
    Jany stood dumbstruck while wind and rain struck the windows. Part of her had anticipated this, but another part refused to believe what the baroness suggested. In the background of the confusion loomed her survival instincts, and they were not happy. Making love to a bound vampire. It was wicked, act of salvation or not.
    Yet Jany was trapped between her conscience and her guilt. No one should take advantage of another human the way the baroness proposed, but a good person would not let another woman die if salvation was within reach. It was a choice between two cruelties.
    Except that one of the two was a lesser cruelty. Jany had spent endless hours and countless nights dreaming of touching and being touched, in all the ways and places that only another woman would know. Subjecting the maid to these fantasies was immoral, but Jany was not spiteful. In difference, she longed to give another woman pleasure. Was that enough to justify doing what the baroness asked?
    Jany turned to look at the maid again. Now that Jany’s eyes had adapted to the gloom, it was easier to make out the woman’s features. She lay still, breathing heavily and watching Jany. She was agonizingly beautiful and unbearably tempting. And cursed, destined to burn in a few hours. Unless Jany saved her.
    Jany felt lightheaded, as if she had left reality outside the room and entered a