Real Vampires: Glory and the Pirates by Bartlett, Gerry (red white royal blue TXT) 📕

“Lady Anne! Here is Captain Burnett, the commander of the king’s troops, to see you.” I saw her flush. “I believe you have met.”

“I’m not sure…” Anne tore off the apron she’d put over her black dress and touched her hair. She had braided it and wore it coiled neatly at the back of her neck, leaving her ugly cap in her rooms. Her flush made her very pretty indeed. “It was some years ago, I believe.”

“Malcolm Burnett, my lady, at your service. I met your father on several occasions. My parents own an estate that marches with his.” The captain pulled off his hat and bowed. “I visited your mother and her husband there before I took this assignment.”

He had not given me the courtesy of a bow, but I was too happy to see this promising start with Lady Anne to dwell on it.

“Why don’t you take the captain up to your solar, my lady, while the cleaning here continues. I’ll send a maid with some refreshments. Perhaps Captain Burnett has news of your family.” I took Anne’s arm and practically dragged her to the stairs. “The captain is in charge of the king’s soldiers. We owe him the courtesy of making him feel welcome, don’t you agree?” I waited until she nodded before I practically ran to the kitchen and gave Holly the order.

“Lady Anne is entertaining the captain of the king’s soldiers? In her solar?” Holly pulled some cakes out of the oven. “I cannot believe she is finally coming back among the livin’.”

“She is. Now send a girl up with a tray. Those cakes smell delicious. I’m sure the captain will like them.” I turned to where Mercy sat at the table picking at her supper. Her face was pale. “Mercy, I hope you are feeling better.”

“I’ll do.” The maid struggled to her feet. “Mistress Gloriana, I can get some lads to haul up water for bathing again if you wish it.”

“Not yet, Mercy. Wait until closer to dawn. We need to find a bigger tub than the one we used last night. You know Lord Jeremiah likes his baths and he barely fit into that small copper one.” I pressed her back down to her seat.

“Holly, do you know if there’s a large bathing tub anywhere in the castle?” The cook looked clean enough now though I couldn’t forget how her friend Douglas had avoided bathing. He wasn’t in the kitchen. Had he decided to stay away rather than get clean as Lady Anne had ordered?

I knew Jeremiah and I were unusual in our liking for a daily bath. Our servants had quickly gotten used to the custom or left for other employment. Vampires have a very sensitive sense of smell. I couldn’t bear to be surrounded by unwashed bodies. Even worse were those courtiers who used heavy perfumes to mask their slovenly ways. Thank the gods now all I inhaled was the delightful fragrance of fresh cake that was lemon by the smell of it. How I wished I could have a taste!

Holly must have seen the look in my eyes and offered me a warm cake wrapped in a cloth. “Won’t you try one, mistress?”

I sighed. “I would love to but you can see I have generous curves. Too generous. My new clothes are snug as it is. Jeremiah claims to like me this way, but I would hate to burst my seams.” I patted my wide hips. I’d been starving when Jeremiah had found me. He’d worried over me and stuffed me like a Christmas goose. I was grateful, of course. I had given no thought for the future, just dined on roast beef, hot chocolate and sweets of all kinds. By the time I decided to become vampire, I had a full figure that made a new wardrobe necessary. Yes, Jeremiah loved a round bottom and plentiful breasts, but he should have warned me that I would forever be this size when I was turned vampire. Unfair!

“Thank you, though, Holly. Give that cake to Mercy. She is eating for two.”

“Mistress Gloriana, please!” Mercy bowed her head, her cheeks pink.

“It is no secret, lass.” Holly dropped the cake on Mercy’s plate. “Nor a shame. My own Elsie was born after the man I thought I loved left me on my own.” She shook her head. “There’s nothing worse than a handsome man with a wandering eye.”

I patted Mercy’s back. “You see? We will take care of you here. Now about that bathtub, Holly? Is there one here?”

“Aye, the master, um, Lord Ralph, had one. It’s kept in the tower room.” Holly flushed. “The master and mistress liked to use it for a bath there. At the same time!” She finished arranging the tray and called for a maid to carry it up to the solar.

Mercy giggled and muttered, “I believe it.”

Holly ignored her. “It’s a fine room for bathing. Least there’s a nice view of the sea from the window. Can’t say I blame them for lingering, though it made a good bit of work for the maids, carrying the water up all them stairs.”

“A room set aside for bathing. What a wonderful idea. I’m sure there must be a fireplace.” I was already imagining the fun to be had with Jeremiah.

“Of course.” Holly sighed. “I’ll show Mercy where it is and we’ll get it ready for ye. An hour before sunrise? Will that suit ye?”

“Perfectly.” I patted Mercy’s shoulder when she groaned. “Don’t carry the water yourself. Get the lads to do it.”

Mercy sighed. “Oh, I will. Holly, how many pails of water does this tub hold, I ask ye?”

I left them talking about the size of the tub but clearly the cook was bursting with questions about our strange ways and daily sleeping schedule. I trusted Mercy to fend her off as I walked back outside to watch the archery contest. I had a new skill. I couldn’t wait to tell Jeremiah about