And every night, he prayed he could stop Bryony’s wedding and get Veronica safely married before Bloodworth and his creditors came knocking on the door.
Chapter Twenty-Six
A month later, after finding traces of hunters in the area, Stefan moved out of the Stone House in the valley and into a small castle built of brick and stone located on the coast of Ireland. It was an old keep, but well-built. He had lived there some fifty years before. At that time, he had reinforced the roof and the outer walls and added iron bars to the windows. In the past, a wooden bridge had spanned the river that ran in front of the castle, but Stefan had removed the connection when he purchased the place. A high stone wall protected the rear.
He made his lair in the underground dungeon, though he kept his clothing and personal belongings in the large bedchamber on the second floor. It was a pleasant room, with white-washed walls. A few Persian rugs covered the floor, heavy, dark-blue drapes shut out the sun’s light. From the window, he could see the river and the rolling hills beyond.
To his knowledge, there were no vampires currently living in the country. And, therefore, no hunters to worry about at the moment.
And since he could travel great distances with but a thought, the fact that the Barrett estate was hundreds of miles away mattered not at all.
Standing in the middle of the Great Hall, he tried to view it through Bryony’s eyes. And then he grinned. If shedidn’t like this place, he would build her a home wherever she wished, one with a water closet, gas lights, and indoor plumbing.
Whistling softly, he willed himself to Dublin in search of prey.
It was nearly eight in the evening when he arrived at the Barrett estate. He paused in the act of knocking at the door when he heard tears and Barrett’s voice, pleading for Maida to understand. Understand what? he wondered, but before he could determine the cause of their quarrel, Barrett came storming out the front door. Swearing like a drunken sailor, he strode down the walkway, too consumed by his anger to notice Stefan standing in the shadows. Coming to an abrupt halt, he did an about-face and went through the side gate into the back yard. Five minutes later, he rode out of the yard.
Curious, Stefan followed him down the road that led to town. And the local pub. Dissolving into mist, he followed Barrett inside, watched as he ordered a pint and carried it to a table in the back of the smoke-filled room.
A few minutes later, a man joined Barrett at the table.
Stefan drifted closer to the two men where he caught the name Bloodworth.Ah. The man Bryony had been engaged to. No wonder she had run away, he thought. The man was easily twice her age, balding, and so overweight Stefan feared the chair wouldn’t hold him.
He listened to the heated conversation between the two men, Barrett’s voice pleading and subservient as he begged for more time to satisfy his debt, Bloodworth arrogant and unyielding as he demanded payment be made in full.
Twenty minutes later, Bloodworth left the pub.
Barrett stared into his empty glass and signaled for another. Shoulders slumped in defeat, he downed his drink in a couple of long swallows and called for another.
Leaving the pub, Stefan resumed his physical form. Bryony had told him her father had been in a foul temper the last few days. After what he’d heard tonight, Stefan wasn’t surprised. He was, however, sorely afraid that his marriage to Bryony was about to be canceled.
Lost in thought, he strolled down the cobbled street, thinking perhaps kidnapping Bryony and taking her out of the country was the easiest solution and his best option.
Bryony stared at her father, eyes wide with disbelief, as he informed her that marrying Stefan was out of the question. “But why? What has happened?”
Her father blew out a heavy sigh as he took her hands in his. “Two years ago, after making some ill-advised investments, I borrowed a rather large sum of money from Lord Bloodworth.”
“What does any of that have to do with my marrying Stefan?”
“Be still and listen.” He cleared his throat. “The note comes due in a few months. I don’t have the funds to repay it. There are only two options. I can sell the house and everything we own. It won’t pay the debt in full, but perhaps Bloodworth would accept it as a down payment. If not, he can send me to prison. If he accepts it as full payment, we will be left with nothing. Or…” He took a deep breath. “You can honor the agreement I made with him tonight.”
“What agreement is that?” she asked, though she feared she knew the answer. The look of anguish in her father’s eyes confirmed it. “Let me guess,” she said, her voice icy. “If I agree to marry Bloodworth, he will cancel the debt.”
Barrett nodded, his face dark with shame. Unable to hold her gaze, he looked away. “I’m sorry, daughter. I will inform Lord Bloodworth that you have accepted his offer. The wedding date will stay the same.”
“Only the groom will change,” she said bitterly. Wrenching her hands from her father’s grasp, she turned and walked up the stairs to her bedchamber with all the dignity she could muster. Inside, she threw herself on the bed and buried her face in the pillow, a scream of anger and frustration rising in her throat. Sold like chattel to pay off her father’s debt. She should run away and let him rot in prison. It would serve him right. But she wouldn’t. Couldn’t. She had to think of the rest of the family. They would all suffer if her father sold their estate and belongings.
She cried until her pillow was damp with her grief and she had no tears left. “Oh, Stefan,” she murmured. “How can I marry another when it’s you I love?”
“Bryony?”
“Stefan! Oh, Stefan. How did you know I needed you?” Sitting up, she reached for him, sighed with relief when he took her into his arms. Surely everything would be all right now that he was here.
“I sensed your distress, love. Waste no more tears,” he said, wiping his tears from her cheeks with his fingertips. “You will never marry another.”
“I fear I must. My father…”
He pressed his fingertips to her lips. “I know all about his debt to Bloodworth.”
