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

could be true. I would have to wait and see. I was not Mercy’s mother nor Colin’s. I could not make either of them behave as society might want them to.

After I was in dry clothing, I walked up to the tower room. It was foolish, but I stared out the arrow slit at the sea, hoping to sight a sail. It would be hours before the men could be expected to return.

The witch’s predictions haunted me. Our men were trying to fight in a tremendous storm. In my mind I saw how low the ships had been riding in the rough seas. I could picture the cannon booming then men clambering into the rowboats to board the pirate ships caught off guard in their own bay. Men would fight hand to hand with the pirates once they got on board. Would some go to fight on land?

What about the pirate queen? I tried to remember if they had given her a name. Anne would know. I decided to seek her out and turned to find her then realized she and Flo had joined me in the tower room. Where were my vampire senses? I had been so lost in my imaginings that I had taken no notice of my surroundings.

“No sign of them?” Lady Anne came forward to take my place at the window.

“Not yet.” I saw she and Flo had on dry clothes. As usual, my vampire friend wore a pretty dress that was the height of fashion. Even Anne had found something in a color that flattered her. She had given up hiding in her blacks and browns, it seemed.

“Why do men do this? A few more nights would not have mattered.” Flo paced the floor, circling the large bathtub. She stopped and examined it. “Look at this bathing tub. I didn’t know it was here. Might I have a bath in this, Lady Anne?” Typical Flo, easily distracted.

“Ask Gloriana, not me. I merely live here.” Anne wasn’t moving from the window.

I rolled my eyes. Honestly, Anne was determined to be the poor widow. “Yes, Flo, you can bathe here. We take turns. It’s a lot of work for the servants, but tell one of them and they will carry the water up here for you.” I stood next to Anne. “Lady Anne, I have told you, I care nothing for the household duties. You can still manage things as you like. Maggie will answer to you.”

“Thank you, Gloriana. As I said, you are kind.” Anne sighed. “No sign of them, but it will take a long time to fight and win over those pirates. I wonder if they will bring back prisoners. I would dearly love to see their leader in chains.”

“Do you know the name of the pirate queen?” I imagined her in one of cells in the dungeon.

“Zarah. That’s what one of the captured pirates told Ralph. Her people worship her. Her grandmother was a famous pirate, so they say. Grace O’Malley. Do you know her story?” Anne turned from the window, finally distracted.

“No, tell me.” I needed something to take my mind off of those roiling seas and my Jeremiah fighting for his life. He would be delayed? Oh, I hated that witch and her stupid predictions. I shouldn’t let her words bother me. What did she know?

“Grace O’Malley was the scourge of the coast. She is why we even have a Guardian here.” Anne sat on the stool where Jeremiah had made love to me.

I missed some of what she said as she described sea battles and the Englishmen who had fought O’Malley. I was reliving that time with Jeremiah. His lovemaking… Now that was magic.

“She actually went to see Queen Elizabeth before she died. Can you believe how bold she was?”

“The pirate queen went to London and arranged an audience?” I couldn’t have heard Anne aright. “I’m surprised they didn’t hang her as soon as she arrived.”

“For some reason the queen received her.” Lady Anne went back to the window as if drawn there. “They made some kind of agreement and O’Malley retired to her own castle in Ireland. She quit attacking the coast for a few years. Then she claimed the English had not held up their end of the bargain and the raids started again. Her sons and now her granddaughter continued the attacks.” Anne leaned against the stone. “Oh, I wish our men would return.”

“Isn’t it time for you to have your evening meal?” Flo glanced at me. “I am going to find Maggie and arrange a bath here. You can stay and watch me bathe if you wish.” She patted Anne’s back. “I have no secrets.” She winked at me. “I am proud of my body.”

I saw Anne flush. “I would never invade your privacy. Yes, I should go down for the evening meal. I will tell Maggie you wish to bathe now. She will send up lads with your water.” She hurried out of the room.

“You embarrassed her.” I grinned at Flo. “It is obvious to me that you have lived a long and interesting life.”

“You have no idea, amica.” Flo wandered over to the window again. “No idea. What are you going to do now? Watch me bathe? I have had a woman for a lover.” She walked up to me and touched my cheek. “You would please me, I think.”

I couldn’t move. I had heard of such things. Certainly Maggie’s “husband” at the Globe theater was more interested in other men than he was in her. Flo’s hand on my cheek sent a tingle through me. Was it pleasure? I was determined to ignore it as I took her hand. I liked Flo but didn’t need our friendship to take that turn. I had a lover already. Two would be more than I could handle.

“Ah, I read your mind. So, we will not continue to explore that possibilità.” She shrugged. “No matter. I am going to my room to get a robe to wear