Tale of a Vampire

Chapter 9

Diana was impressed as the carriage entered the Byron's property. A huge Victorian white mansion completed the green landscape at the end of the lawn. She observed the house in amazement. It was beautiful indeed. Still, she couldn't forget why she was there. As the carriage stopped in front of the main door, her father descended from it and gave her his hand to help her out too. She didn't look in his eyes nor did she pronounce a word. Constantine sighed in sadness but he knew he was doing this for the best.

"Lady Davenport..." A woman bowed receiving them at the door.

Though mad she didn't forget her manners and bowed in front of the woman as well. Diana recognized her dress as being made of the finest fabrics that came from Paris. She had to be the boy's mother she thought. "I am Julia Byron." She introduced herself, revealing Diana's suspicious to be true. She shuddered while imagining Lord Byron being extremely ugly, arrogant as distasteful. How could her father be doing something like this?

"It's a pleasure to meet you my lady." Diana bowed again and offered the woman a smile, keeping the appearances not to embarrass her father.

"Come inside. Tea is being served in the saloon. Jack will be down in a minute."

Diana sat a table with the finest china she had ever seen. She noticed how everything was settled for her to be impressed. Constantine talked cheerfully with Julia and Diana stared at everything around her. There was no doubt that family was rich. She saw Lady Byron merrily talking to Constantine and quivered at another nasty thought about her son. A boy that rich and still not married must be hideous, she shuddered at the thought.

"Ah!" The woman exclaimed with a grin. "There you are Jack."

Diana felt her heart racing fast. She didn't want to look back at the door and face the man her father had arranged her to marry with. Jack was like frozen at the door. He had never seen Diana and he didn't approve the way things were being done. He, also, wanted to get married for love, but his parents had given him an ultimatum. It was his time. Just like Diana, he expected her to be hideous.

"Come on in Jack." Julia gave him his arm and Diana got up, still with her back turned at him. "Come meet lady Davenport." Julia said and that moment, feeling her heart racing franticly, she took the courage to look back.

Her heart missed a beat when her eyes hit his. Jack's heart did too. He was tall, slim, broad shoulders, with a bit of a red unruly hair and astonishing green eyes. Jack was astonishing. He was handsome. Nothing as she had imagined and she would swear he was as pale as James was. Diana found herself marveled with Jack's beauty. He was nothing like she had expected him to be. Jack stared at her in an awe. He never expected Diana to be that beautiful. She was the most beautiful woman he had met so far. Her blue eyes stared at his and he got lost in her gaze for those seconds. His heart began to beat fast and his lips opened a smile slowly.

"My lady..." He finally said in deep hoarse voice, and bowed. Diana extended him his hand and he softly kissed it. His lips were warm, tough it was just a softly brush.

"My lord..." She then greeted him back and offered him a smile too.

"This is my son lady Davenport." Julia added, though she didn't have to. Both Constantine and Julia smiled at each other seeing the couple's reaction to one another. It had been a good one. "Jack, why don't you take lady Davenport for a walk in our garden and show her the property." His mother suggested.

"Would you like to?" He asked and again his hoarse but soft and tender voice made her shudder.

"It would be a pleasure." She said. Diana condemned herself for saying yes, but she was curious about that mysterious red hair man. Jack looked so mysterious to her and at the same time sweet.