Free The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason Page B

just fine,” she said, nodding sagely. “Put salted holy water on it, did ye?”
    â€œVerbena, how…” Victoria collected herself. “You aren’t shocked at all.”
    â€œNo, my lady, and why would I be? With all the fuss about crosses, and stakes lying around, and that cross ye’ve got in your belly, what kind of maid would I be if I missed them clues? I’ve been waitin’ for ye to ask me to find a way to hide garlic in your gloves!”
    â€œThat wouldn’t smell very pleasant at all,” Victoria replied slowly. She wanted to shake her head to clear it. But she didn’t think that would help.
    â€œAnd why you’re not carrying your own salted holy water, I’ve been wondering meself. And how did ye manage to get bit anyway? I thought Ven’tors didn’t get bit?”
    â€œHow did you know I was a Venator?” Tired of looking at her maid through the mirror, Victoria turned on her stool and faced her.
    Verbena stabbed a finger toward her abdomen. “You wear the amulet, of course, my lady.”
    â€œHow do you know about all of this? Vampires and Venators?”
    Verbena shrugged. “Who doesn’t know about ’em? Vampires, I mean. Most people do, just they choose not to believe they exist. Unless they get bit; then they believe—but by then it’s too late, in most cases. Everyone knows you got to stab them in the heart with a wooden stake, and everyone knows about the cross and holy water. I know most peoples think vampires are ugly, fright’nin’ people who claw up your chest, but that ain’t so. I’ve seen a bit before in me lifetime, I have. Me cousin twice removed, Barth, he knows lots about vampires, and he’s been telling me stories since I was a little one. And he sees ’em a lot, too, over to the places in St. Giles. He carries a big cross, he does. Holds it out in front of him when he walks on the street. Looks pretty funny to me eyes, but it’s better walkin’ safe than lookin’ smart.”
    It seemed once Verbena was given leave to talk, she took it. Greedily.
    â€œWell, Verbena, I must say it is quite fortunate that you are so…er…well accustomed to the idea, as it will make things much easier for me. Because, of course, Lady Melly mustn’t know anything about this at all.”
    The maid bobbed. “Yes, my lady. Your mother would up and faint dead away, then ship you off to the country for good. And then where would we be? There ain’t no vampires in the country that I know. An’ I’ve already been thinking about other ways to dress your hair so we can put a stake in there, if need be, so’s you can pull it out real easy if you need it.
    â€œAn’ there’s prob’ly a way to put in two, ’cause I’m sure it could happen when ye might lose the one, and then what would ye do? Fortunate ye are to have such thick, heavy hair, so we have lots to work with. And until that bite is healed…well, my lady, that’s going to be a challenge with these low styles that show off your neck and bosom, but I have some ideas, and we’ll manage it. You just let me worry about that.”
    â€œIndeed.” Victoria turned back to her mirror. For, after all, what else was there to say?
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    â€œI can appreciate her devotion to her aunt, but if Victoria continues to disappear at inopportune moments, she will lose all chance of landing the marquess—or any other prudent marriage contract!” Lady Melisande was pacing the parlor of Grantworth House.
    â€œNow, now, Melly, don’t fuss,” Petronilla urged. “Surely the fact that your foyer and sitting rooms are filled with flowers indicate that Victoria has intrigued more than one potential beau.”
    â€œIndeed, but none of them are from the Marquess of Rockley. He did not call today, and I daresay Victoria’s leaving the ball early last night has