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

“I can make any woman jealous if I show her man my attention.” She pulled down the bodice of her dark green silk dress until it barely clung to her nipples. “What fun!”

I just shook my head.

Would we have to search for Captain Burnett? Or was he at the evening meal? With no idea what or who was headed his way. I walked down the steps to the great hall, Florence tripping daintily behind me. The smell of baking bread wafted up to me. Oh, but I wished… No point in thinking about that.

I smiled at the men waiting to be served. Ah hah! There was the captain, sipping ale and watching the stairs, for Lady Anne, no doubt. I was surprised she wasn’t here yet but saw no sign of her.

“Gentlemen.” I offered a curtsy to the captain. “I think you have met my new friend Madam daVinci, Captain Burnett.” I pulled Flo closer. Her curtsy made her bodice perilous. I expected her breasts to fall free at any moment. The pearl drew everyone’s eye, swaying between the mounds. Flo was too clever.

The captain’s eyes widened as he jumped to his feet to offer a bow. “Yes, of course, Madame. A pleasure to see them, um, you again.” His face flushed. “Please, won’t you join us for the evening meal?” He gestured at the table where two maids were laying out platters of steaming meats.

Colin appeared at my elbow. “Mistress Gloriana, I know you prefer to take your meals somewhere private.” He bowed and nodded toward the laden table. “But just look at what we shot today on our hunt. Fresh pheasant. Doesn’t it smell tasty?” He laughed and walked over to slap one of the men on the back. “Willum here wasn’t much of a fighter against Brian—got took down quick—but he can shoot with a bow and arrow almost as good as you can, mistress. Isn’t that something great?”

I laughed as Willum hurriedly got up from the table and made his bow.

“Well done, sir. I am sure I will enjoy some pheasant later, with Lord Campbell.” I turned to Colin. “We will have to put Willum on the battlements if we are attacked again. Or is he one of the men going on the ships?”

Colin looked around and came closer. “We are staying here, mistress, to guard you. It is important that we keep the coming attack a secret, says Lord Jeremiah. But how that can be when the king’s men have been seen loading the ships with every kind of weapon, I don’t know.”

He pulled me away from where the captain was talking with Florence.

“Colin, I’m afraid any spy the pirates may have has already sent word that our ships are coming.” I didn’t like thinking about that. But what could we do? Preparing three ships for battle would be impossible to hide.

Colin threw back his shoulders.

“You have naught to worry about. Master Fergus is here now and will see that the lads and I will be ready to take on whoever might come at us. That’ll be much easier with the drawbridge now working. It may be old but it is sturdy enough to keep out any but one of them flying night creatures.” He crossed himself. “Haven’t seen any of them hereabouts. Mayhap it’s just a story, passed around among the foolish.”

“Flying night creatures?” I grabbed his arm. “What are you talking about? You know we have shape-shifters with us from Dollar. Master Fergus himself is one. They can fly if need be. Are the local people saying they saw such creatures before we arrived?” The thought that the Irish might have shifters among them terrified me. It wasn’t a leap then to imagine they could have vampires as well. Jeremiah!

“Aye.” Colin nodded, his head bobbing so fast, I wanted to hit him on top of it to make him stop. He was clearly nervous. “These people haven’t just fought pirates. They lost cattle and people to strange creatures who breeched the walls and then took what they wanted. Some called them ghosts, spirits. Others laughed it off, promising it was just some enterprising lads who had learned about a secret passage into the courtyard.”

“You should look for such a passage. Castles usually do have some secret way to escape in case they are surrounded.” At least that was what I had been told. In Castle Campbell, they had tunnels that ran under the village. The laird talked about making rooms under the earth someday where the vampires could spend their death sleep. He had big plans to ensure their future safety.

“I’ll do that. Later.” Colin looked longingly at the table. “Right now, I’m waiting to break my fast. We cannot eat until Lady Anne joins us. She came through here a while ago, but Captain Burnett hadn’t arrived yet. She decided to visit Maggie and the baby first. She should be here any time now. I cannot imagine it would take that long to look at a babe.”

“I will fetch her.” I glanced back. Flo was laughing at something the captain said and leaning toward him in case he hadn’t seen enough of her breasts. He was clearly enjoying the view. Lady Anne needed to quit mooning over another woman’s babe and get back here to start working on making her own.

I tried to remember what Anne had been wearing. Nothing worth noting. Too bad. As usual, no one could outshine Florence. I was frowning as I stalked past the kitchen to Maggie’s room. The door was open when I got there and I could hear Anne talking to the baby.

“You are the most beautiful little girl I have ever seen. We share a name, you know. I will make you a present, a pillow with your name on it. And a christening gown!” She looked at Maggie. “We can send for the priest, if you don’t mind. You do want her christened, don’t you? Or