The Vampire's Reluctant Bride

The Vampire's Reluctant Bride :chapter-29

Chapter-29

Amelia stared at the people milling around the ball-room, anxiously waiting for Lucius....but unfortunately for her he had been detained at work. She forced herself not to try and communicate with him mentally, not wishing to distract him.

Nodding her head at opportune moments, she gave the impression that she was a part of the conversation; but her eyes kept darting towards the door as she watched for Lucius. Finally, just when she felt she was going to scream at the man next to her to stop talking, she felt a hand at her elbow.

“Niña?”

She failed to hide the frown which flitted across her face as briefly as a mist before the sun. Even as she allowed herself to be led away, she could not keep her eyes from returning to the door.

“Waiting for my brother?” he questioned as he led her to a private corner next to the fireplace.

“Sí.” (Yes)

“Is everything alright in paradise, Niña?”

“Why would you ask that?” she asked; a little too sharply, guessing from the icy fire which leapt in his eyes.

“You do not act like…how shall I put it- recién casados? Newlyweds?”

“Andre!” She smacked his arm, hoping that if she treated it like a joke he would change the subject.

Unlike Lucius- who accepted her playful punches without complaint, his brother’s eyes narrowed into warning slits. “I was serious, Amelia.”

She sobered immediately, trying without success to tamp down on the panic which seemed to be wrapping its cold tentacles around her heart.

“I don’t know what you mean.” She murmured, wrapping her arms about herself- afraid that she would fall apart if this line of questioning carried on for much longer.

“No?”

She gazed up at the pale blue eyes, racking her brain for a clever retort; but just as she opened her mouth, someone called Andre who left her side with obvious reluctance. She let out the breath she had not been aware she was holding (till his departure). Glancing at the door one more time, her spirits lifted as she spotted Lucius.

Angling his head towards the stairway he indicated that she should join him. With a brief nod to acknowledge his gesture, she slipped out of a side door- walking around the corridor circling the banquet hall to join her husband at the foot of the stairs.

Rushing forward to greet him, she tripped on the hem of her gown- nearly smashing her head against the last stair before Lucius managed to grab her shoulders. She peered up at him from under her lashes, too embarrassed to say anything.

“Can you manage to walk to my room without injuring yourself or do I carry you?” He teased, taking her hand as he led her up the stairs.

“Your room?”

“My former room, actually...the one that was mine before I moved to the cottage.” He explained.

“You are not attending the gathering?”

“I am,” he raised an eyebrow in surprise. Then, realizing the reason behind her assumption, he explained- “Just not in these clothes... You look stunning, by the way.”

“Thank you.” She murmured, stepping inside as he held the door open for her and twirling to take in the entire room in one spin.

Unlike the room that had been allocated to her during her stay at the palace, this ‘room’ reminded her more of a suite from some grand hotel. The door had opened to reveal a small seating area which although not spacious, was artfully decorated. An inner door opened into what she assumed was his former bedroom.