“I was curious to know where you came from, so one night I went into the city and made inquiries at the pubs. Eventually, I overheard two men talking about Lord Barrett’s youngest daughter, who had gone missing. It was easy enough to find the location of your home.”
“You went there? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It did not seem wise at the time. Be assured they were all well and missing you.” He tugged on her hand. “Come along.”
“Where are we going?”
“Shopping in the city.”
The city turned out to be London, somewhere she had never been. With his preternatural ability, it took only moments to reach each of their destinations. He took her shopping at all the best shops, where he told her to buy anything and everything she wanted. They stopped for tea in a delightful tea room, strolled through a grassy park, paused to watch the boats drift down the river. Wherever they went, women paused to stare at him, while men gave him a wide berth. She stared in awe at the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, and Big Ben. Such beautiful architecture, unlike anything she had ever seen before. He gave her a brief history of each one.
She glanced at Stefan from time to time, wondering if he was trying to bribe her into staying longer than three months.
It was late when they returned home. He had taken her to supper before they left the city and now all she wanted to do was take off her shoes and go to bed.
He carried her shopping bags up to her room, dropped them inside her bedchamber door, and drew her into his arms. “Sweet dreams, fair Bryony.”
“Do you dream?” she asked, gazing into his eyes.
“Not until I met you.” He brushed his lips across her cheeks, her lips, the top of her head.
“Thank you for today,” she murmured. “You are so good to me.”
“It pleases me to please you.” He drew her closer. Lowering his head, he kissed her long and hard, his arms holding her body close to his.
She moaned softly, wondering what power he had over her that made her burn with longing whenever she was in his embrace. He kissed her again and again before he stepped away.
Taking her hand in his, he kissed her palm. “Until tomorrow,” he said, and left her there feeling weak and wanting so much more.
Stefan re-read Bryony’s note as he stood at the edge of Barrett’s property. He had considered sending the note by messenger, but he was curious to see the man’s reaction when he learned his daughter was alive and well. Would Barrett call off the search? Or would he double it, thinking the letter meant she was close at hand?
Striding up to the front door, Stefan lifted the knocker and let it fall. Although it was quite late, a butler answered the door immediately.
“May I help you, sir?”
“I would like to see Lord Barrett.”
“I’m afraid his Lordship is not receiving callers at this hour.”
“He will want to see me. I have a message from his daughter.”
The man’s eyes widened with interest. “Come in, come in. Please, have a seat.”
The butler took the broad, winding stairs to the second floor two at a time.
Stefan stood at the foot of the staircase, listening to the conversation of the two men. In minutes, Barrett, clad in a dark-blue, silk dressing gown, came hurrying down the stairs.
“You have news of my daughter?” he asked brusquely.
Stefan withdrew Bryony’s letter from his pocket and handed it to him.
Barrett read it once, quickly, and then again, more slowly. Folding the note, he tucked it into the pocket of his robe and then looked Stefan up and down, his eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
“Merely a messenger.”
Barrett grunted softly. Like hell. His visitor was too arrogant by half to be any kind of servant. Preternatural power radiated from him. The wordvampirewhispered through the back of his mind. “Do you know where my daughter is?”
“Yes.”
