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

I shook my head. I knew where that question came from. Burn it? Clever Mercy could remake a discarded dress into something new for herself. Oh, why not?

“Take it. Do what you wish with it. I never want to see it again.” I was rewarded by the light in her eyes. She hurried out of the room as soon as I was buttoned into a dress, this one another blue that matched my eyes. I was hoping Jeremiah would come this night.

I left my room trailed by a guard. Valdez had obviously scared the men into keeping a close eye on me. I decided to go to the great hall. I hadn’t seen Lady Anne since she’d disappeared with her captain once he’d arrived home safely. I knew he’d gone to fight the pirates but where had she been during the attack?

“Gloriana!” She caught me on the landing before I could go down. “Won’t you come in to my solar? Malcolm, I mean Captain Burnett, tells me you vanquished the pirate queen. Please, I must hear the tale. Is she really dead?” She grabbed my hand and dragged me into her cozy room.

I really didn’t want to relive that scene but recounted it for the lady anyway. She glowed with happiness at hearing that Zarah was no more.

“She refused to be captured and finally killed herself.” I stared into the fire, seeing that scene again. What had the woman screamed as she’d fallen? Something in the Irish language that I hadn’t understood.

“She was a coward, afraid to face the hangman.” Lady Anne paced in front of me. “Gloriana! I am so proud of you. Certainly, you were not afraid to face her. I would have been terrified.” She stopped and clasped my hands. “Thank you! Finally, my Ralph is avenged.”

“I am having a difficult time feeling good about it.” I let go of her hands. “No more talk of death. Please sit and tell me how things are with your captain.” I patted the seat next to me.

“I’m sorry. I’m sure it was a disturbing scene and you want to forget it.” She sat and patted my knee. “I’ll say no more about it. When the pirates attacked here, I stayed locked in my bedchamber while Malcolm ran to defend the castle. He is at his ship now, seeing to repairs that were started during the day. He is anxious to look for Lord Campbell but his ship isn’t ready yet.”

“Now what about your progress with the captain?” I smiled. “I saw that kiss when he arrived here.”

She flushed. “Yes, he was certainly glad to see me. And I was thrilled to see him safely returned.” She looked down at her hands. “He’s even spoken of marriage.” Her eyes were glistening when she finally glanced at me. “So soon! It happened after I told him about the letter from Mama. He knows I must either obey Clyne or find another solution to my future.” She smiled. “He has been alone, too, since his wife died. We both need someone to hold onto.”

I leaned back. “Why not marry? We can send for a priest as soon as Jeremiah returns.” I smiled at her. “Colin says we should be rejoicing that Zarah is dead. For now, the pirates seem to be without a leader. That’s cause for a celebration. Add a wedding to that and I think we could have a fine time here. Your poor villagers have suffered for a long time with the pirate raids. Don’t you think they would be happy to see you wed to a fine man?”

“I said Malcolm mentioned marriage, not that he said let’s do it tomorrow.” Anne was on her feet again. “Dare I tell him we should hurry?”

“You can always hint that he could have planted his seed.” I stood and walked to the door. “You said he was lusty and his first wife died in childbed. It is possible you are already increasing.”

“Possible but not likely.” Anne flushed but she was smiling. “Let me talk to him. When he returns from his ship, I will broach the subject.” She followed me to the hall. “What of Lord Campbell? Any news?”

“I expect him later tonight. He sent word that he had run aground north of here.” I couldn’t tell her how that word had arrived, but she didn’t ask either. “If the tide is high enough, he should be able to float free and come home to us.”

“That’s good news. I know Malcolm planned to set sail again, to look for him. He has been delayed since those pirates shot flaming arrows into his ship before they left.” Anne followed me down to the great hall. “Can you imagine?”

I could actually. I’d seen those flaming arrows. What a good idea. I wish I had thought of trying to shoot some myself.

Flo stopped me at the bottom of the steps. “You know where Angus is and you didn’t tell me?” She grabbed my arm and pulled me away from Anne’s side. “Mi scusi, my lady, but I need a word with my friend here.”

The next thing I knew, we were outside. “Careful, Maggie is tired of repairing rips in my dresses.” I pulled her hand from my sleeve. “This is one of Jeremiah’s favorites.”

“It is very pretty, but too plain, amica. Add a few rows of lace and it would be better, I think.” She frowned. “But I hear you tell Anne that Jeremiah’s ship is aground? That they will be home this night? How do you know this?”

“Valdez just told me. I was on my way to tell you.” I linked my arm with Flo’s. “Calm down. You’re not to go flying away and bother them. They are desperately trying to get their ship off a sand bar. It’s a problem they have to solve. Unless you know something about ships and how to float them.”

“Well, I did spend many months with my dear friend