VIOLET DAWN

Chapter 40

"Princess Belanov and her brother have arrived my Lord," Mrs. Devon called from the crack in the door the study, and then her steps receded down the hall. Bess purred softly in his lap as Patrick put down his quill and looked at the page in front of him.

She came to him an innocent, who promised to be true

With innocence he made a promise: No one will ever hurt you.

No one will ever hurt you. The promise he had made Violet played in his head. Tonight they were going to a ball to which many vampires were invited, including the bastard Daniel.

He flexed the fingers that wanted to clench in anger and frustration. Patrick did not want to expose Violet to danger, yet doing so was the only way to ensure the safety of the Princess and possibly many other loyal subjects of his clan.

He set Bess down and stood, moving towards the foyer while his mind filled with the pleasure of the night before. Despite his worry, he found himself smiling.  When he entered her mind, he could sense her feelings, her desire, her regret.  Violet loved him. Loved him the same way he loved her and the knowledge made him feel...giddy.

"You are smiling," Angelica remarked as he walked into the room.

"That is not a smile," Mikhail said passing by his sister to reach the table where Patrick kept a decanter of whisky and several crystal glances. "That is the same sickly look that you get, my dear sister, when you look at that Russian husband of yours."

"Sickly?" Angelica huffed, hands on her rounded belly, "I'll have you know Mikhail Belanov, that there is nothing sickly about love."

Patrick figured he should be irritated that the two of them spoke of his feelings so openly, and without confirmation on his part, but he found he was not. His mind switching tracks, he took the seat next to Angelica's as Mikhail poured himself a drink.

"Do you think she is ready?"

Concern crossed Angelica's eyes and did nothing to reassure him. "Ismail said she was very good at keeping her thoughts blank, and she must be or someone would have noticed her vendetta against him long before that night at the ball."

Although the reasoning was sound, Patrick was not satisfied, "Then why do you look concerned?"

"Because she does not like the idea of throwing Violet to the wolves, and quite frankly, neither do I," Mikhail joined the conversation, his expression not in the least happy.

Patrick frowned. He felt the same way, but there was no choice. "We will give this a shot. But if Daniel makes a suspicious move, I will kill him."

"Shall we go?"

All three occupants turned to the doorway, from which Violet had spoken. Dressed in a gown of pale green silk, her neck adorned with a string of pearls, she looked every inch a lady. Except that was, for the fluffy cat that was busily purring in her arms.

Patrick went to her side, while Mikhail offered his arm to his sister.

"You look beautiful," he whispered.

Violet blushed prettily, as she bent to put Bess down. "Mrs. Devon helped me with my hair."

His brows rose as he tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. "I was under the impression that you and Mrs. Devon did not get along."

"So was I," Violet smiled, "But it seems things have changed. Your housekeeper admitted to having missed me when I was gone."

"You do not have to do this," Patrick said, growing serious as they reached the front door.

Violet's smile faded as she turned her head back to the hallway where Angelica and Mikhail were approaching.

"Yes, I do," she said. "At first I thought I owed it to you, but it is more than that. If we don't find out who they are, they will try to hurt you, Angelica and who knows how many others. I can't let that happen."  

He did not like it, any of it, but Patrick knew there was no real alternative. They walked out of the house and down the steps to the waiting carriage, "If you get scared, just tell me. I will find another way."

She smiled at him, "Don't you know by now that it is not easy to scare a blind gypsy?" 

"Hah!" Patrick felt himself relax for the first time that day. She was right. His Violet would play her lullaby for the lions, and just like before, he would be there to pull her out of harms way.