A short and stocky vampire countered, “What? You’ll try to off us like Oxley? Like the Master?”
Laurent didn’t know that vampire’s name and didn’t care to. “He isnotthe Master, and I’ll kill every single one of you pigeon-livered fools if I like!”
“Laurent!” Oxley objected.
“Pigeon-livered, are we?” the vampire said. “Well, you’re a fly-by-night windbag and a sapskull. I might like a dry place to lay my head at night, and a little ready coin in my pocket.”
Another man added, “Following you, on the other hand? About as fruitful as pissing in the wind.”
“I’m willing to give Kendrick a chance,” the stocky vampire said. “Come on, lads.”
The hands released Laurent, and he staggered back as the rest of the assembled vampires left the room. Last was Oxley, who appeared torn as he glanced back—but left all the same.
“Go on!” Laurent screamed. “When I’m sitting on the Ossuary’s throne, I’ll remember this! I’ll call each one of you to account, you traitors! I’ll kill you all!”
Inside the walls, the rats squeaked and ran.
ChapterThirty-Nine
Genevieve realized that she had built the woman who had bestowed upon Kendrick his sword into some mythic, beloved figure. So much so that she had regarded her coming with a bit of apprehension.
All that was dashed when upon their meeting, she tried to curtsey to Genevieve.
“It’s a great pleasure to meet you, my lady,” Ophelia began. She was not more than twenty if Genevieve had to guess, with auburn hair and hazel eyes and a limp to her stride that the long skirts could not fully disguise.
“Oh, please!” Genevieve said, disregarding everything she had been about to say. “None of that. I am the one pleased to meetyou. And after having been the spinster daughter of an Old English scholar, thismy lady-ing is quite strange some nights. I am Genevieve.” She held out her hands.
After a moment’s hesitation, the woman clasped Genevieve’s hands, a warm press. Her heartbeat was the only sound in the room. “I am Ophelia, then.” She smiled suddenly. “I know what you mean. It is quite strange for porters and cabmen to address me as ‘Mrs.’ now.” She pinked a little. “I am grateful for you housing us for our visit, and for being understanding about the animals. Addie and Etienne offered, but they are unencumbered by the basic needs of life, and, well…” She laughed. “You have a working kitchen.”
Genevieve smiled. “I have seen proof that itdoeswork, and Addie often bakes in it when she has an urge to create. And one dog and three cats are hardly a menagerie, especially when we are housing one dog already. Fletcher is over the moon about a dog that will do tricks. I am sure he is planning to teach his puppy all manner of commands.”
Indeed, the boy had immediately appointed himself chief dog wrangler. The cats wrangled themselves, apparently. He and Sally’s children had disappeared into the back garden with Blaze and Wulfric at dusk, leaving the adults to the parlor. “We are happy to have all of you. Isn’t that right?” she asked over her shoulder, sensing the menfolk drawing nearer after they had completed their backslapping and ribbing, a crucial part of any male greeting.
“Certainly,” Kendrick said. His hand was a comforting weight at her back. “And Salem has said he’ll get his hands dirty and help me with the drainage problem in the southwest corner.”
“I said I wouldadvise, you fiend. Where did you get this mania for dirt?” Salem had the appearance of a tall, thin young man with slightly overlong dark hair that brushed his collar. He smiled with all his teeth.
Kendrick snorted. “Etienne rubbing off on you? Bold words coming from the one who lived in a hole in the ground by choice.”
“Built by whose people?” Salem countered.
“I’m sure you’ll have a grand time,” Ophelia said dryly. “I volunteer to help with preparations for the ball—if you need the help?” She bit her lip. “I’ve never attended a real ball before.”
“I would love that,” Genevieve assured her. “Addie will be arriving shortly to help with the decorations.”
Ophelia lit up. “Oh, I can’t wait to show her my ring.” She lifted her hand. The gold had been cunningly worked into loops and curlicues around an oval moonstone.
“How lovely!” Genevieve said.
“Salem picked it out. A bit of a joke, and apparently, moonstone…helps.” Ophelia glanced from Salem to Genevieve. “There won’t be a problem on that front, either,” she murmured. “The full moon isn’t till the fifteenth, and we plan to be in the countryside then, visiting our…friendFaelad.”
“If you wanted to extend your visit, we would accommodate you,” Kendrick said. “It is no imposition when friends arrive. Speaking of…”
Addie burst into the parlor with Etienne hard on her heels. “Ophelia!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around her friend.
“And what about me?” Salem muttered good-naturedly.
Etienne shook his hand. “Brothers never get the same reaction as female friends.”
