For Love of a Vampire

Chapter 9

My water was cold by the time we realized we'd better get me dressed and down to dinner before someone came looking for me. I shivered through my bath like a trooper and dressed as quickly as possible. It was of the utmost importance to keep Isabelle's presence a secret. Elizabeth proved a valuable ally in this cause. Her admiration and reverence for Rosalie spilled onto Isabelle. There was nothing the lady's maid wouldn't do to guarantee my friend's safety. Although grateful, I couldn't help being a little jealous. I got the impression that if it came to a choice between saving Isabelle or me, I'd lose.

With Isabelle tucked safely away under the watchful eye of Elizabeth, I went about my daily routine as Lady Margaret while I furthered my discoveries of the type of person she was. I learned that she'd been born into a magical family. When I learned her parents were kin to the faeries, but had only the faintest of blood in them, I had to spend some time digesting that fact. I believed in magic and -thanks to my relationship with Duncan- I believed in vampires. I supposed the faerie story could hold some truth to it.

Dinner had almost come to a conclusion when I learned about the grimoire Lady Margaret's mother once possessed. It wasn't the same grimoire they'd stolen from Lady Vivian. It was far completer and more complex. Unfortunately, when she died, so did the information on its hiding place. That was why they'd stolen the one from Lady Vivian. Had they possession of Lady Margaret's inheritance, there would have been no need.

My mind went back to that afternoon and my time spent hiding behind the tapestry. Could it be that Lady Margaret's mother hid the grimoire there? No, that couldn't have been it. From what I'd learned, Margaret came to live with the Colliers after her parents were killed in a carriage accident. If she allowed them to steal Vivian's grimoire to send her to the future, then she must not have had her family grimoire in her possession. I decided to brave the hole in the wall behind the tapestry, even though I doubted I'd find anything of significance there.

I was forced to endure the company of Lady Andrea Somers and her daughter Juliet for an hour or so after dinner before I was able to beg off with a headache. Having amnesia and not acting normal was proving useful.

When I returned to my rooms, I found Isabelle was up and moving around. She appeared to be in good spirits even if she had aged a few more years in my absence.

"How long do you have?" I questioned without really wanting to know the answer.

"A week, maybe longer," she said with a shrug. "When do you have the portal set for?"

"Two days," I replied.

"Then we have two days to throw me into the mix," she said matter-of-factly.

"Oh, lord," I moaned.

"Be careful the phrases you use here my dear and always be on your toes with the language. These walls have ears," she whispered.

My back stiffened as I looked around. My eyes rested on the tapestry.

"There is a hollow or a hall or something behind that tapestry. I hid there for a while this afternoon when Elizabeth first entered," I informed her.

"Let us check it out then," she whispered as she moved toward the beautiful thick fabric and lifted it way from the wall.

After poking her head behind the tapestry, she slid behind it and motioned for me to follow. I wasn't able to go far before my claustrophobia kicked in and my breathing grew labored. Not only was it pitch black, but the stone walls were within reach on either side of me. I could touch the stone ceiling as well. I felt Isabelle grab my hand and urge me forward. I tripped a few times on the hem of my skirt, but, other than that, the journey down the confining primitive corridor was uneventful.