“Lydia!” Kitty shouted from beside a large stand filled with baked goods.
“Kitty! I’m home!” Lydia slid over to Kitty, and the two embraced like they hadn’t seen each other just last week.
Kitty stood among her sisters and mother, who had gathered to sell their wares. Great, the entire family was here, save for the father who remained too ill to attend from a magical sickness called Moonrot. Lydia had mentioned that his Moonrot had gotten worse and he slept most days.
I turned to Bradley. “How is everyone in the Midnight Kitchen Society taking everything?”
My friend sighed and glanced over to where a man in a long dark coat glared at us. He stood in a group of four other people, all casting disapproving glances my way. I was surprised to see my ex, Sephira, among them. She glowered at Lydia with unabashed loathing, her overdone nails ripping tiny holes in the sleeve of her coat.
“I’m going to be honest, some weren’t too happy about it. I mean Sephira, of course, but Mason also,” Bradley said,indicating the man in the long coat. “There are rules, Wickham, and those rules are in place for a reason. I warned them you were coming back after I received your text to prepare them.”
Of course there were rules, but I’d never signed up for life as a vampire. I eyed the group of people in their somber-toned garments and long faces and almost shook my head. They gathered around a group sign at a stand that read “The Midnight Kitchen Society.” Pastries and other food sat for sale at their booth. It looked as if Alice had made her traditional death by chocolate coffin cakes. I held in a sigh. They were worried about me? The little group of vampires verged on the obvious. It was a miracle that no one had discovered them yet. “I’ll talk to them. You guys are still meeting on Wednesday nights?”
“Like clockwork.”
I nodded to Bradley. “I’ll be there.”
“Lydia! Where is your man? I must talk to him!” Mrs. Bennet’s words rang over the crowd. Lydia gestured my way, and Mrs. Bennet pinpointed her laser vision on me.
“I’ve gotta run,” I said to my friend.
He stepped close and dropped his voice. “Hey, I wanted to tell you. There’s a rumor among the vampires that your sire has had someone here in town keeping an eye on you. Reporting to him what is going on.”
I tore my gaze from Mrs. Bennet to stare at him, my gut churning. “Reporting what? For what reason?”
“Your guess is as good as mine. But you can guarantee he knows about her.” Bradley nodded toward Lydia. Then he lifted his hand in a wave. “See you later.”
My sire was in prison, but it seemed that he had a long reach. I glanced at Lydia, a sinking feeling in my stomach. Trying to push aside my concern over Bradley’s little bombshell, I took a deep breath and headed for my new mother-in-law.
“Ah, there is your husband!” Mrs. Bennet bustled over and grasped my hand. “What a fine handsome one he is!”
“Thank you,” I said, even though this wasn’t my first interaction with Mrs. Bennet.
“I always had a feeling Lydia would marry well, and you’re such a wonderful choice. Much better than that rude, silent Darcy, who thinks he’s too good to mingle with the townspeople.”
I’d experienced her fawning before, but now that I was Lydia’s husband, she seemed to lay it on extra thick.
“Oh, and I’m aware of how he has mistreated you in the past,” Mrs. Bennet continued.
The rumors about me and Darcy had grown wild, and I wasn’t sure what she’d heard.
She pressed my hand. “Come join us at our stand, and let’s get to know each other better.”
Mrs. Bennet pulled me over to the booth filled with warm pastries that rose and fell gently as if they were breathing. Cupcakes iced with sparkling frost gave off a soft hum. She pulled up a stool. “Sit, sit!” she exclaimed.
I did as I was told while Kitty dragged Lydia off to the side where all four of her sisters gathered around her. I watched them out of the corner of my eye.
Lydia beamed at them. “Everyone thought Jane would be the first to get married. Isn’t it hilarious that it was me, the youngest?”
“We’re glad you’re home, Lydia,” Jane said, not cracking a smile, her tone filled with concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?” Lydia asked, wrapping her arm around her sister’s waist. “Wickham is wonderful. I can’t wait for you to get to know him better.”
Despite Lydia standing a good distance away, I made out their conversation clearly because of my enhanced hearing. Mrs. Bennet prattled on. She paused a moment, asked me a question, and I murmured a brief response before she continued her praises.
“Why wouldn’t you be?” Lizzy threw her hands in the air. “You ran off with a man you hardly know and got married to him without telling any of us. Of course we were worried!”
“Lizzy, don’t be silly. Everything is fine. Better than fine. Have you seen my ring?” Lydia lifted her hand to show off the small rock on her finger. “Maybe I can set all of you up with guys like Wickham. Each of you will have someone by Valentine's Day.”
