Free Catherine (Echoes of Ossiria #1) by Vivian Lane

made a sound
of disgust and stood to move to another seat.   He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her back down.   “Careful, pet. I didn’t want to alarm you,
but there’s every possibility Tallis has someone
watching you tonight. Might want to think about how you behave.”
    “You told him we’d be here?”
    “He did say he’d
check in on your progress, and this was the nearest event I could book to test
your training. Maybe they won’t watch you up here, but there will definitely be
someone at the party. Whose side do you want to be on at the end of the night?”
    The message was
clear: be the perfect little lady, or get turned over to Tallis .   Her eyes narrowed into angry slits.   “I hate you,” she whispered.
    “Maybe. But you
need me. We all have our crosses to bear. So, be a good girl, hmm?”
    She nodded.   He let go, and she leaned back in her seat,
tears pricking her eyes.
    Just get through
tonight.
    Catherine began to
relax once the house lights went down and the music started.   There was just enough indirect light to
follow her program if she tilted it a certain way.   Bach, Brahms, Mozart…lesser known
composers…it was surprising how much of the older stuff was “scary” sounding,
or suspenseful.  
    She glanced at him
occasionally, but he seemed focused on the music.
    Intermission snuck
up on her.   Had it been an hour and a
half already?
    “I’m going to make
a trip to the ladies’ room,” she said to her date.
    “Don’t get lost,”
he said with good humor.
    “Ha, ha.”
    After successfully
negotiating the toilet in her dress, she stood at the mirror and retouched her
lipstick.
    “Those pearls
really complement your complexion, dear,” said one woman.
    “Thank you. It’s a
pleasure to be out tonight. It has been a while for me since I’ve enjoyed a
full orchestra,” Catherine said.
    “You’re American!”
remarked another.   “Have you been
visiting long?”
    “A few weeks. It
took me a bit to get used to, as I’m from California.”
    “Oh! Is it true
that you can see movie stars driving down the streets?”
    “Not so much. Only
in a couple places in L.A.”
    “Did an American
designer do your dress?” asked another woman.
    “No, I got it
here.”
    The lights flashed
off and on, indicating they should head back to their seats.   The old biddies sighed, their gossip session
cut short.  
    Catherine was
relieved.
    “What took you so
long?” William asked as she sat down.
    “Women in formal
wear in a bathroom. You do the math. It’s not easy keeping your dress out of
the bowl or not stepped on. And then, there’s the line.”
    “I get the picture,”
he said, and chuckled.   “I could get you
to the front next time you have to visit the loo.”
    “That’s okay,
William.”
    The lights dimmed
once more.
    “For the second
part of the evening, there will be a reading of Edgar Allan Poe’s A
Tell-Tale Heart , accompanied by the orchestra.”
    “Oh, I love Poe’s
stories! I had some in a set of children’s horror books my father gave me. I
read them many times.”
    “Wouldn’t have
taken you for a fan of Gothic fiction.”
    “I don’t know
about that…only Poe. And The Count of
Monte Cristo . It was very different stuff from the typical Disney
fairytales. I had a book of Grimm’s tales, too.”
    “Baby has a dark
side,” he teased.
    “Oh, hush…”
    He watched and
waited for just the right…suspenseful…moment, and grabbed her arm.   She levitated off her seat, gasping, and
smacked his arm.   “Don’t do that!”
she whispered.
    “But it’s fun.”
    “ Evil! ”
    “Uh, yeah.
Vampire.”
    “Jerk,” she said,
smiling.
    His hand still on
her arm, he trailed his fingers along her skin, goose bumps rising up in their
wake.   “I’m sorry for pissing you off
earlier.”
    “Thought vampires
didn’t do apologies.”
    He smiled,
self-consciously.   “Not often. So take it
while it counts. I’d rather see you