For Love of a Vampire

Chapter 20

I was grateful for the refreshing night's sleep when I entered the breakfast room and came face to face with my doppelganger. I suppose, technically, I was her doppelganger since she was born first. I wasn't really sure how that worked. It really didn't matter at the moment. What did matter was that we were completely alone and the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife.

"You have returned, I see," she said as she walked to the buffet to help herself to a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, boiled ham, roasted venison, and a thick and juicy raspberry pastry.

My eyes went from her plate to her waist and then back again, as I pondered over how an appetite such as that managed to maintain a figure like the one she sported. Her diet resembled the Atkins Diet or possibly the South Beach Diet. I vowed to check both of them out when I got back to the future. In the meantime, I helped myself to a cup of tea, a small amount of eggs and a thin slice of ham before settling at one of the numerous round tables that graced the garden style dining room.

"I knew you were full of shit," I said as I stuffed a forkful of eggs in my mouth.

"Pardon me?" she almost bellowed.

"I said. I knew you were full of shit," I repeated. "If you don't understand, I'll clarify in your language as best I can. You are a liar and a deceitful pile of cow dung and I see right through the show you seem to feel Lord Duncan is too blind to pick up on." I popped a piece of ham in my mouth before asking, "Is that clear enough for you?"

"Well, I never," she said as she slammed her plate on the table and marched from the room.

I chuckled as a footman, who'd been standing against the wall, immediate began the task of cleaning up the food that had plummeted to the floor when Margaret's plate slammed so unceremoniously on the table. Although his head was lowered, I was sure I detected a hint of a grin.

"'Tis not the wisest to anger a high priestess," said a familiar female voice.

Although her words were sincere, the glint of humor in her eyes told me that she too enjoyed my little interaction with the precious Lady Margaret.

"I did not see you there," I said to Elizabeth as I eyed the footman.

I wasn't sure who knew I was from the future and who simply considered me an imposter who looked remarkably like Lady Margaret.

"I was just entering when you exchanged words. I slipped back out before she saw me," she said. "I wish to speak with you if I could." I nodded and continued stuffing my mouth with ham. "In private," she whispered.

There was something about that sentence that sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't the words or even the way she said it. It was more like a premonition of sorts. I nodded hesitantly before wiping my mouth with the embroidered linen napkin that matched the embroidered linen tablecloth on the table I'd chosen to sit at and following her out of the room.

I trailed behind Lady Margaret's gentle lady's maid through a part of the castle that I was unfamiliar with. It was shut off from use most of the time and opened only when there was an event being held and extra rooms for guests were needed. I couldn't imagine why she'd be taking me to such a secluded part of the castle or what was so vital to speak about that it required such seclusion.

We ended up in a small suite that she explained once belonged to the original part of the house. When the castle was enlarged, the current lord moved their living quarters to the new wing, leaving these beautifully detailed rooms void of life.

I gave a wry smile when she informed me that Lady Margaret suggested I be moved to this suite, but Lord Duncan wouldn't hear of it. Thank you Duncan! As beautiful as these rooms were, they felt incredibly cold and lonely. I couldn't imagine having to house myself in such a remote part of the castle, cut off from the rest of the living.