Caressed by Moonlight (5 page)

Chapter Nine

Victoria was left to roam the store alone. Lana stood outside talking, laughing, and openly flirting with a very handsome man.
Perhaps I will not be the only one getting married in the near
future,
she thought as she moved amongst the tables and studied a few sketches of gowns. Lana shook hands with the man and waved for Victoria to come out. Almost fifteen minutes had gone by since her friend had dashed out the door. She smiled as she remembered the look on Lana’s face when the man walked past the window.

She had frantically gathered her skirts, ran for the door calling his name, and waving her arms above her head. Lana had made quite the spectacle of herself and no doubt the old gossiping hens would hear of it soon.

Victoria sighed. Those women were nothing but a thorn in the side of society. Constantly running their mouths and spreading nothing but rumors and vicious lies. She could only hope that no one had seen Dorian carry her to his coach. A long unescorted ride with him back into the city was not as harmless as a twirl around a dance floor. She huffed and rolled her eyes at the absurdity.
How
could a dance possibly ruin a girl’s martial prospects?

“Did you find a doll?” Lana asked as she hooked her arm with Victoria’s.

“Yes and I think Margaret will love it.”

“Great. It’s her birthday and she does deserve a special gift.”

The two women walked in silence for a few moments before Victoria’s curiosity got the best of her.

“Out with it,” she ordered.

“Out with what?”

“Who was that man you were talking to?”

“Adam Howland,” Lana said easily with a wide smile.

“And?” Victoria nudged her friend in the ribs with her elbow.

“What?”

Victoria rolled her eyes and continued, “He seems like a nice gentleman and he is very handsome. I think I remember seeing you dancing with him at Lady Allen’s ball and flirting with him at the picnic yesterday.” Victoria paused, a bright smile on her lips.

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She could tell Lana was getting aggravated and she knew exactly what to say to push her friend over the edge.

“So what would you like as a wedding gift?”

“Hell’s teeth,” Lana cursed and giggled when the group of blue hairs they passed gasped at her vulgar language. “You are the one hunting for a husband, Tory, not me.”

“You don’t have to hunt in order to find one.”

“Will you please concentrate on shopping?”

“I have a doll for Margaret, I don’t need anything else.”

“Then I guess we can be heading home, it will be dark soon.”

Victoria laughed as Lana pulled her across the street to Hyde Park, which lay between them and Lana’s house.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, we have been invited to the Howland’s ball at the end of the week.”

“Don’t you mean you?” Victoria asked playfully.

“No, I mean us. Adam was kind to deliver the invitation personally.”

“Much to his pleasure, I’m sure.”

Lana rolled her eyes and shook her head exasperated with Victoria’s inquiries.

“He is handsome,” Victoria repeated.

“Yes,” Lana conceded through clenched teeth. “Can we stop talking about Mr. Howland?”

“Only when you tell me why you ran after him like a fool.”

Lana’s lips remained tight and thin as they made their way through the park.

Victoria sighed and carried on, “He seems absolutely charming and polite, from what I could tell through the window.”

“Very charming indeed,” Lana said “And intelligent, witty, and–” She snapped her mouth shut in surprise.

Victoria laughed. “I knew it! You like him.”

“I most certainly do not.” With such a stern look and hard tone she could have tricked anyone else into believing her, except her best friend.

“There is nothing wrong in admitting you like someone,”

Victoria said.

“When you admit you like Prince Vlakhos I will admit I like Adam Howland,” Lana tossed back.

Victoria stopped and stared at her friend in shock. Was she as transparent with her feelings for Dorian as Lana was with her
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feelings for Adam? She had tried her best to hide her mixed thoughts on the dark rogue.

“I – I don’t like Vlakhos.”

“And the sky’s not blue,” Lana said. “I saw the way you two were looking at each other at Lady Hennings dinner party. I also know that every time you are standing there ripping into your bottom lip you are thinking about how wrong he is for you and that he could never be marriageable material. My friend, I just know you too well and, it would seem, I know you better than you know yourself. Stop pretending you don’t like him and add him to your damn list. You will be a much happier woman.”

Victoria was stunned. Lana had her pegged. Perhaps she did like him but she still refused to believe she was in love with him. Love was the only emotion that would make her add him to the list.

“What you think is ‘like’ could just be infatuation,”

Victoria said, trying to convince herself of that possibility.

“It could be something fleeting like that,” Lana agreed with a shrug. “But I doubt it. I think it’s more than just a physical attraction between the two of you. I do have the outsider’s perspective; therefore I see more of what is going on than you do.

Plus, you talk about him all the time.”

Victoria sighed. As much as she hated to admit it, that was also true.

“I’m sorry to bother you ladies,” a man said as he stepped directly in front of them and removed his top hat. “But I over heard the two of you talking about Dorian Vlakhos.”

The women looked the man over cautiously, each deciding that he was not to be trusted. He wore the clothing of a gentleman and his light brown hair was cut in the fashionable style, but the flicker of hate in his eyes told them he was no friend of Dorian’s.

“Yes,” Victoria said straightening her spine.

“Good, I have been searching for him. I’m a member of his clan from back home. Could you tell me where I can find him?”

“I’m sorry. We don’t know where he lives,” Lana said.

The man’s eyes latched onto Victoria and an ugly sneer twisted his lips. Victoria could not move, she was some how fixed to the very spot where she stood. Her limbs felt like lead. The man’s amber eyes glowed as he took a step forward. Victoria was captivated by their unearthly lure. Lana tugged on Victoria’s arm trying to pull her away, but she couldn’t get her friend to budge.

She took in a deep breath, preparing to call for help.

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“Where are your manners, Mark?” Dorian asked as he sauntered up. He placed his hand of Victoria’s shoulder and gave her a slight shove toward Lana.

“Vlakhos,” Mark spat.

“You should be happy to know that I received your letter and that the boy is in perfect condition.”

“Yes, I am glad,” he gritted out between clenched teeth.

Dorian nodded pleasantly and turned to the women.

“Go on, I’ll catch up.”

Lana tugged on Victoria’s arm and they hurried away.

Mark waited until the women were out of hearing range to speak.

“It’s a nice day isn’t it, vampire? The sun has been awfully bright of late. Shouldn’t you be inside cowering in a corner?” he mocked.

“Obviously no one taught you how to speak to royalty,”

Dorian said. The sun was no concern of his, besides it was beginning to set.

“I see no royalty here.”

Dorian ignored the insult and turned to the witch, whose eyes flickered with loathing. He studied the short hunter before him.

“Funny, for some reason I thought you would be bigger.

Your father was a tall man,” Dorian said nonchalantly.

Mark took a threatening step forward, but Dorian did not retreat. He stood his ground. Even when he was mortal, all those centuries ago, he never backed down from a fight and he certainly wasn’t about to start.

The hunter shrugged. “Word has apparently not reached you yet,” he stated. “I am the number one hunter of your clan. I, with my own two hands, have slaughtered the majority of your pet leeches.” He took another step. They were only a foot apart now. “I have taken it upon myself to see to the complete destruction of the Mylonas Clan and,” he smiled, “you.”

Dorian chuckled and shook his head.

“You think I jest, vampire?” Mark said, his eyes narrowing.

“No, I believe you are very serious and that is what I find so amusing.”

“Really?” he sneered. “And what I find absolutely hysterical is how easy your general, Kal, is making my mission. He is practically hanging your people from the gallows.”

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Dorian decided he would analyze the hunter’s comment later, now was not the time to worry about the usurper.

Noticing that his words had no effect on the chieftain, Mark decided to change the subject to one he was sure would get the vampire’s attention.

“She is very beautiful, I can see why you would want her,”

Mark mused idly, glancing over his shoulder in Victoria’s direction.

“Stay away from her,” Dorian snapped.

“I take it that you don’t like to share.”

Dorian closed the remaining space between them, his eyes changing from their stormy blue to a deadly fathomless black.

“I am the one you want,” Dorian, whispered his voice hard and lethal. “Leave her out of this.”

“It’s true, I am after you, but it’s also true that if I hurt her, I hurt you.”

“Lay one finger on her and I’ll make your last days feel like a lifetime of torture.”

With that Dorian turned and headed after the girls knowing that now was not the time or the place to rip the arrogant hunter to shreds.

When he finally caught up with the couple they were mounting the steps of Lana’s home.

“Ms. Kingston,” he greeted. “Are you planning on going home tonight?”

“Yes, it’s my little sister’s birthday.”

“I think it would be wise if you allowed me to escort you home. London is dangerous in the day, but even more so at night.”

Victoria was about to protest. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She did not need a man’s help, but Lana quickly interjected. “I completely agree, Prince Vlakhos. There are some very strange people out there these days.”

Victoria was so stunned she was unable to say her goodbyes and before she knew it, Dorian had taken her arm and was leading her down the row of elaborate houses. The sun had fallen and the moon was bright. A slight wind began to blow and Victoria inched closer to Dorian. He wrapped an arm about her shoulders. The heat from his body was comforting and inviting.

“Who was that man?” she asked, breaking the silence.

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“No one of importance,” he answered with a shrug. Mark Wright was perhaps one of the most important people in her mortal life. He posed a very serious threat, but he was not about to tell her.

“It would be best if you stayed away from him,” he added.

“I didn’t go looking for him.”

“Just appease me,” he said.

“Fine, but only because I agree with you. The man was sinister.”

They turned a corner and continued down the street of lovely town homes, whose windows lit their path. Dorian pulled her closer and Victoria wrapped her arms about his waist. She was shivering now and he was like an inferno. She almost hated pulling away when they reached her aunt’s home.

“Thank you for your escort,” she said quickly then spun to open the door. He placed his hand over hers on the knob. She turned to find him leaning over her. She took in a deep breath and almost swooned from his scent of sensual male and sandalwood.

Dorian tilted her chin up and placed a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. The light caress stole her breath and she had to fight the vicious urge to pull him back.

“Good night Ms. Kingston,” he said with a smile. He bounded down the steps, stuffed his hands in his coat pockets, and continued on his way home, whistling.

Victoria bit her lip and opened the door. She prayed that her aunt was not home, for she was not in the mood to go a round with the old woman. She just wanted to find Margaret.

“Ms. Victoria,” the butler greeted. “Your aunt is out at the opera tonight.”

“And Margaret?”

“In the dining room.”

“Will you ask Beth to make a plate for me, please?”

“Certainly, Miss.”

“Thank you.”

Victoria was starving. She had not eaten one bite all day.

Not wanting to face her aunt at the breakfast table, she had quickly slipped out the front door and hurried to Lana’s. They had left Lana’s house as fast as she had entered and went off to shop.

She smiled to Margaret when she stepped into the dining room. The little girl sat alone at the large empty table.

“How was your day, princess?” Victoria asked as she took the seat across from her sister.

“I helped Beth make cookies.”

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“Are they any good?”

“They are great. You can have one, but Beth made me promise to wait until after I eat all my dinner.”

“That is a good idea.”

“Why weren’t you here for breakfast?” the girl asked as she took a bite of bread.

“I had to be over at Lana’s early.”

“Oh.”

The cook, Beth, pushed open the swinging door from the kitchen and handed a plate of food to Victoria.

“Beth can you bring out the cookies now, I just finished and Tory said she wanted one. Please?”

Beth laughed and returned to the kitchen to fetch the sweets.

“Thank you for watching her today, I know my aunt doesn’t like to trouble herself with the task.”

“It’s nice to have Margaret for company. She reminds me of my own two girls at home,” Beth said.

“Are you going to bring them tomorrow? I would really like to meet them.”

“I will, but you will have to stay out back in the stables.

Lady Nelly does not like children running about her house.”

“We’ll be good and stay in the stable,” Margaret promised with a hard nod.

“Well if that is all, Ms. Victoria–”

“Oh yes, we will see you in the morning.”