“I will agree on one condition. You let me go home and see my family so they’ll know I’m all right.”
“No.”
She glared at him. Stubborn man! Everything had to be his way. “Will you at least let me send them a letter?”
He nodded. “As long as I can read it first.”
Huffing a sigh, she wiped her eyes. “Very well.”
“You swear?” he asked. “You swear you will not try to run away?”
“Yes, I do. Do you swear you will let me go in three months?”
“I give you my word of honor, fair Bryony.”
The word of a vampire, she thought. What was it worth? But she had no other choice than to trust him.
“As I must trust you,” he said. “Sleep now.”
Bryony didn’t think she would be able to sleep after Stefan’s surprise announcement, but her eyelids grew heavy as soon as he left her room. She slept far past her usual time and didn’t wake until one of the maid’s shook her shoulder to see if she was sick.
She took breakfast in her room, then sat at the desk, her brow furrowed. Dipping her quill in a pot of ink, she wrote a short note to her father. She rewrote it three times before she was satisfied with it. When it was done, she rang for the maid and requested water for a bath.
Going to the window, she gazed into the distance. Three months with Stefan of her own free will and then he would take her home. She couldn’t wait to see Eli and Veronica. Had Eli talked her father into buying him the Arab stallion he had been wanting? Was Robert still courting her sister? Would there be a wedding in the family? A wedding. Frowning, shesank down in the chair by the window. Would her father still insist she marry Lord Bloodworth?
She thrust the unwelcome thought away as the maids came in to fill the tub and lay out her clothing for the day. Stepping out of her nightgown and into the deliciously warm water, she put all thoughts of the corpulent Lord Bloodworth out of her mind. She had three months to worry about that unpleasant event.
Three more months with Stefan. Not a completely disagreeable way to spend the time.
When she left her room an hour later, he was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, looking as handsome as ever in a dark brown shirt, buff trousers, brown boots and a wide-brimmed hat. He was a fine figure of a man. She couldn’t help but admire his broad shoulders. She knew the strength of his arms, arms that had held her so tenderly. He smiled when he saw her, a smile to melt her heart if she let it.
“Good afternoon, fair Bryony.” Taking her hand, he kissed her palm.
It sent a shiver of delight coursing through her. “Good day, Stefan.” Reaching into her pocket, she withdrew her letter. “For my father.”
With a nod, he unfolded the sheet of paper.
My dear family ~
I cannot tell you where I am or what has occurred
these past months, but rest assured I am well.
No harm has befallen me and I am well-provided for.
I shall be home in three months’ time.
I love you all and miss you dreadfully.
All my love, Bry
Refolding the missive, he slipped it into his trousers’ pocket. “I will deliver it tonight.”
“You will assure them I’m all right?”
He nodded.
“How do you know where they live?” she asked, her brow furrowing with suspicion.
