The Viscount's Vampire Wife

Chapter 2 - The Accident

Amanda began to regret her decision to turn down Violet's offer. The chariot wheels apparently took longer to repair. The sky above her head was now starting to turn a dark orange color. Flocks of birds could be seen flapping away from the trees clamoring loudly to return to their nests. Traveling in the dark wasn't uncommon, but she was just a count's daughter. She did not bring many bodyguards apart from a coachman and guide and her noble aunt as her escort. Violet's talk about safety issues now echoed in her head.

Besides, arriving late at Marchioness Finley's party would make her the center of attention. Amanda did try to impress at the party because she was looking for a husband. But she didn't want to be famous for arriving late. Lady Aria looked more restless than Amanda. She squeezed the fan decorated with peacock feathers in her hands while continuing to look out the window.

But whatever they do was not going to make the train go any faster. There was a rule among charioteers that they had to ride their horses elegantly and steadily. Carriage horses were not racehorses. They live only in cages and were satisfied with drinking clean water and eating dry wheat stalks every day. They were not like racehorses who used to run across the prairie with their riders or were trained to compete.

"Your hair dear, your hair," Lady Aria informed.

Amanda dazedly touched her head slightly.

"Something's dangling, tuck it back behind your ear," she ordered flatly.

Amanda obeyed, she couldn't look in the mirror and fix her makeup when she was in a horse carriage. Her black hair was beautiful and thick but too smooth. The texture was a little curly but it takes extra effort to shape it into a bun. But the maids said a few unruly strands of hair wouldn't be a cause for concern. It was because today Amanda was allowed to wear a dress that had slightly open shoulders. Her clothes didn't expose her chest too much moreover she also wrapped a white scarf around her. But her long, white neck was clearly visible. It confirmed Amanda's slender and slightly tall posture.

Unmarried noble girls were not allowed to use a lot of perfume because it would give the impression of being seductive. But the exposed neck was enough to make any man curious.

Lady Aria always thinks that Amanda was Bennett's best girl right now. Many are questioning why she did not choose a husband. In fact, she received quite a number of proposals. Some were from nobles with high titles and there was even the second son of a marquess. In today season—Her family had given up on forcing her and hoped that this time Amanda would find a man she liked. Otherwise, her father would choose her own son-in-law.

"This is your third season, so tell aunty what exactly are the criteria for a husband you're looking for?"

Amanda was a little surprised to hear that.

"You asked me?" Amanda looked around. But clearly she was the only virgin ready to marry in the chariot.

"You know, girls can't be picky. But your mother and father are worried that you're going to be stubborn again. So we won't have to waste time later..What kind of man do you want to dance with?"

"Eh, if asked like that, I—"

"A scholar? A gloomy man who hates going to parties? Or a flamboyant widower who is tired of living freely and has chosen to live a peaceful life in his mansion?" Aunt Aria mentioned one by one.

"What if I said I wanted to spend my life with a guy who made me think 'yes, he's the one'?" Lady Aria immediately gave a strange look as if Amanda had just hit the ceiling of the horse carriage.

"Are you talking about fairy tales?"

"I'm not talking about love, I mean—"

"Auntie will take care of it. You like horse riding, don't you? Marquiss Heather's third son once had a fiancé who likes riding. I don't think he will stop you from doing your hobby," Aria's aunt recalled in her head.