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

Leonardo. He knew a bit about everything.” Flo frowned and rubbed her forehead. “Ships? He did like to think about flying. But not so much about ships. Leo enjoyed studying and drawing the body.”

“Oh?” I raised my eyebrows and looked at the way Flo’s breasts pushed against her bodice.

“Not that way, amica. We were never lovers.” She laughed. “He was so very clever. Always thinking. He studied the way things connected. He noticed how my legs joined to my feet. And he did love my elbows. He would draw them.” She sighed. “I do enjoy a clever man.”

“Really!” I led Flo to a place where we could sit and watch the men from Dollar practice their archery. It sounded a bit strange to me, but interesting. Florence had lived a very long time. I felt like I had just started living when I met Jeremiah.

“Leonardo painted me! And taught me to draw and paint.” She sat and looked at the men. “I could draw one of them. That Archie. Sai cosa? His body would make a good picture. Nude, of course. Like a Michelangelo, capisci? His statue of David?” She kissed her fingertips and gestured. “Magnifico.”

“Florence! You are naughty.” I stared at Archie, imagining it. Yes, he did have a beautiful body, so muscular and manly. But I preferred Jeremiah’s, scars and all.

“Not naughty, amica. It is nature.” She leaned against me. “I miss my Angus. He is a fine man. I will draw him. He will fuss about standing still for it but he will allow it.” She sat up again and straightened her bodice, adjusting the lace. She did like her lace and I trusted she knew the latest fashion. “You are sure they are all right and will return tonight?”

“Valdez thinks so. If it gets close to sunrise, I will see if he will go check on them.” I looked down. Did I need more lace?

The night wore on. I practiced my own archery and talked to the men about flaming arrows. I hoped we wouldn’t need them but thought it best to prepare. It was after midnight when the call went out. A ship had been sighted sailing into the harbor. Could it be Jeremiah home at last? Or the pirates attacking again?

12

Jeremiah’s poor ship looked battered and in sore need of repairs. When my man and his father climbed out of a rowboat and waded ashore, I could tell Jeremiah was not in the best of moods.

He took me in his arms and gave me a hungry kiss, then looked into my eyes. “If I ever take ship again, remind me that I am a much better warrior on land.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” I fought a smile. Next to us, the laird and Flo were having a noisy reunion. Flo was letting Angus know that she’d been worried. That seemed to require loud Italian and hand gestures.

“What’s she doing there?” Jeremiah nodded toward the witch’s hut where Helen stood in front of her door, staring at us.

“Who understands witches?” I was tempted to walk up to her and ask her about the potion. “Perhaps she is watching to see if we need something from her.”

“You’ve not had truck with her, have you?” Jeremiah kept his arm around me and stared at me again. “Gloriana! You know how that kind works. Before you know it, you are under a spell and quacking like a duck.”

“Relax, my love. I am staying well away from her now. We only went to see her because she claimed to foretell the future. I was so desperately worried when you didn’t return right away.” I hugged him, reveling in the smell and feel of him.

“She said you would return to us safely and here you are!” I waved a hand down his body. His clothes were ruined but he seemed unharmed. I wondered if he’d helped himself to blood from mortal crew members. Wondered? Of course, he had, to stay strong.

“A lucky guess. I hope you won’t go to her again, Gloriana.” He glanced at her.

“I see no reason to, my love. No harm done.” Though I had a pain in my head, behind my eyes. That potion and my visions. Were they gone? Or would they return?

“I am back but our attack on the pirates was not a success.” Jeremiah let me go and walked to the water’s edge. “The ship is in shambles. Intrepid became impossible to control in the rough seas during the storm and it rolled over supplies and even injured men.” He took off his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “The cannon was too heavy to carry on a ship of that size. I made a terrible mistake.”

“I’m sorry. Valdez said you had to throw it overboard.” I put my arm around his waist.

“Valdez?” He turned to look for him. Of course, my bodyguard was nearby, keeping a distance to be discreet, but close enough to guard me. “What does he know about it?”

“I insisted he shift and look for you. He found you stranded and aground. I was so relieved when he reported that you were all right.” I didn’t like the way Jeremiah’s body had stiffened. I knew the signs. He was furious.

“Don’t be angry with him, Jeremiah. He was only doing my bidding. I was well guarded while he was gone.” Of course, I really wasn’t. The poor guard at my door had been killed trying to keep me safe. I certainly didn’t share that with Jeremiah. Not yet, anyway.

“Valdez! Come here.” Jeremiah pushed me away from him and not too gently. “You left Gloriana alone to go flying over the sea? You knew I wouldn’t approve. You hid from me, spied on me!” He stalked right up to Valdez. I knew that look. He was fighting his fangs, aware we were not alone on the beach. Mortals watched us, probably hoping for a fight.

“Yes. I told her you wouldn’t like it.” Valdez kept his hand on