I Can't Get the Vampire Rogue to Romance Me

Chapter 81 - First Lady Service

"Yes, my lady!" the innkeeper declared, before rushing off into the rain to fetch a doctor for her wounded coachman.

"I think that's what the first means," Evangeline said.

The whole courtyard of the fairly respectable in was in an uproar as Lady Enrichetta's coach pulled in, before the lady herself even got out.

The minute she did, she snapped out orders to anyone in sight, a few of them by name. A stable boy was dispatched to the Main House, while two other took charge of the horses. A third got the scare of his life when as soon Hager was free of traces, shivered all over and turned back into the large elf he had been before. Valerian, who had been riding inside with her ladyship, Artmond, and Sigismund all attending the wounded coachman, had popped out first to hold the door for Lady Enrichetta. Harrowheart had held on to the back of the coach on the footman's perch, keeping guard on the rear. Evangeline had opted to ride upfront with the remaining coachman, her bow at the ready. It had been a bouncing and thankfully uneventful ride.

Now that they had arrived at relative safety, she realized how stiff her shoulders had become from holding at the ready.

Rogue Athletic. Failure.

So much so that when she went to climb down from her seat, she slipped and landed on her butt. She only took one point of hit point damage from the fall. The embarrassment was far more damaging.

"Are you alright?" Artmond asked, helping her to her feet while everyone else around them ignored her plight.

"Yeah, nothing that a long rest can't fix."

"Do you need to be seen by the healer? That isn't the first fall you've taken today," Lady Enrichetta asked as she cut short her instructions to the innkeeper's partner to come up beside Artmond. As if it were a natural thing to do, she slipped her hand into the crook of his arm, declaring her possession of him.

"I am well enough, Lady. Thank you for your concern," Evangeline said, giving her a nod. It seemed like the thing to do.

First Lady Enrichetta returned it, then swung her eyes to Artmond. "I have made arrangements for your companions to stay here at the inn. You will come with me to the Main House. My parents will be relieved to learn that you have finally arrived. Our House Wizard can send a message to your own good parents to let them know."

Artmond and Evangeline exchanged a glance. "Thank you so much for your consideration, lady. Unfortunately, there is a complication with that plan."

Evangeline pulled at her collar. "We don't seem to be able to get more than thirty feet from each other at any given time."

Her Ladyship narrowed her eyes at the rune covered metal. "I see. It is an enchantment?"

Evangeline nodded. "One you saw demonstrated when the harpies tried to separate me from the rest of our party. The same would happen to poor Artmond here if he were to try to leave. He would find himself yanked out of your carriage by the force that binds us together. We've tested it a few times now."

"That was interesting to observe. I thought you were using an invisible rope, or something the harpies were doing," Lady Enrichetta noted.

"Pardon me, Ladyship. The doctor is inside with your man," the innkeeper said, approaching quickly, very out of breath. "Is there anything more I can do for you, ma'am?" the innkeeper asked.

"Yes, my apologies, but we will need two more room for the foreseeable future. Is the Noble Room and suite still available?"

The innkeeper bowed, rubbing his hands nervously. "Yes, of course. There are no visiting nobility at the moment. As well you know, of course. That room could be made available to you."

Lady Enrichetta waved her hand, ignoring the man's obvious anxiety. "Excellent. My fiancé has finally arrived unexpectedly and we would like him to reside here with you while I go ahead to the main house to make preparations. Does the suite still have the servants quarters next door?"

"Yes, of course, ma'am," the innkeeper said, now bobbing as if he weren't sure whether to bow or not.

She turned back to Artmond. "There. Then it is settled. I will come see you tomorrow after I have spoken to my parents. We will get this sorted."

Artmond nodded, then took her hand and kissed the back. "I am indebted to you and gracious magnanimity."

She smiled, appreciating the gesture. "It is wisdom, they say, to start one's life with one's future partner with grace and magnanimity. See this is my first gift to you."

They nodded to each other just as a smaller, but elegant carriage pulled up beside them. Without saying anything more, they both went to the carriage's side and Artmond opened the door before the footman who came with the carriage could hop down to do the job. Elegantly, he took Lady Enrichetta's hand to help her into her carriage. As soon as the door shut, the carriage pulled away, further into the small town they had found themselves in.

As soon as the carriage disappeared amongst the buildings, Artmond bent over in half, bracing his hands on his knees. "Oh gods, that was nerve wracking."

"You okay, Lord Artmond?" Valerian asked, which could almost be taken as sincere if it wasn't for the twist of mockery on the "lord and the swagger of the rogue's head.

"Does he look okay?" Evangeline chided, pushing the grinning fool back a step so she could come by her friend's side. "Let's get up to our rooms and discuss things, instead of out here where anyone can and will hear us," she said to both of them in hushed tones.

"Uh, do you... have... any baggage. My Lord," the innkeeper asked, rubbing his hands together, adding the "my lord" belatedly. If they had arrived at that in on their own, they wouldn't be getting the best room or his manners, that was for sure. Evangeline didn't need to burn a Meta point to figure that one out.

And she had a strong, insistent urge to burn her Meta points.

Meta must really want to tell me something, she thought.