Viscounts and Vampires

Chapter Seven

Eleanor's body felt heavy. Something was weighing her down into a soft bed. She blinked her eyes open and for a moment saw nothing but white fog before it coalesced into the top of a four-poster bed. Her bed. She blinked a few times and then tried to turn her head to the side but something was blocking it. She heard footsteps and then a door opening and closing. A few minutes later, she heard a voice.

"Eleanor? Oh, thank goodness you're awake."

Olivia's face floated into view above her.

"What happened?" Eleanor asked. She tried to swallow but her mouth was dry.

"Don't try to move. You hit your head." Eleanor watched as her mother held up a small cup and then held it to her lips. Eleanor greedily sipped it until her mother pulled it away.

"Don't drink too much."

She sat back and Eleanor was left to stare at the ceiling again.

"How do you feel?"

"My head hurts," Eleanor said. The back of it was throbbing and she likely had a lump. Her forehead was stinging and she remembered the blood that had been running through her eye.

"Anything else? The doctor was just here this morning and he said you looked like you were doing quite well. Your poor eye though..."

"No... just a cut I think. What happened? Is Mister Franklin alright?"

She heard a rustling of cloth. "Mister Franklin is bruised but otherwise fine. You were the worse off of the two. He gave a statement to the constables when they arrived."

"Oh?"

"He stated that the two of you were assaulted by a man who ran off when the commotion drew the rest of us to the patio."

"That sounds right," Eleanor said. "I don't know, he must have knocked me down when he ran."

"Do you remember what he looked like?"

Eleanor shook her head but this resulted in shooting pain, so she said, "No. It was dark outside. He was dressed all in black and I never got a good look at his face." She closed her eyes.

"Is the light bothering you?" Olivia asked. She heard a breath and the room became a little darker as the candle went out. "Mister Franklin also said that he had stepped outside for some fresh air and found you conversing with Lady Knightley, who went inside but you stayed out because you were feeling overheated."

Eleanor said nothing.

"I find that odd because I know first-hand the heat you endured without complaint in India. I cannot imagine a reason why you would remain out of doors, alone with a man who had just met." When Eleanor still did not answer, she heard a sigh. "We can discuss this later if you feel unwell."

"I'm fine," Eleanor said. "I'm sorry, mother. I shouldn't have stayed outside. The drawing room was just so close and crowded, I was finding it hard to breathe and I couldn't return right away."

"Why did you not say you weren't feeling well?" Olivia asked.

"It was nothing urgent, it had simply been a long evening. I am not used to so much company every night. With the balls and the picnics and dinners...I am afraid I have been overwhelmed."

Eleanor heard a sigh. "Eleanor, you do not have to make a martyr of yourself on my account. We may turn down any invitation extended to us if you would prefer a quiet evening. I would rather offend some lady rather than see you exhaust yourself."

"I'm sorry..." Eleanor trailed off. "I did not realize how difficult it has been." She took a deep breath. She could tell her mother was worried about her, had already been worried since before the attack. But she would be much more worried if she knew that vampires were indeed back in London. "And I didn't think it would be too improper to stay outside a moment with Mister Franklin. He is so old after all, no one could think.." She trailed off as her mother let out an entirely unexpected laugh.