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

I saw them unloading reams of them from that cart. Let her measure you at night and you can select designs from her patterns then too.” I sat and watched Flo gather her paints. “She can work on making them during the day while we sleep.”

“She will want to do fittings!” Flo set out a board and began mixing colors.

“Then tell her we are unavailable during the day. Because our protectors wish our presence then. She is a woman who must work for a living. Surely she knows a mistress must be available to the man who pays the bills.” I hated to say that so baldly, but it was true.

“You are right, amica. She will have to deal with our schedule or go back to town. Angus pays well. She would be foolish to give up this job.” Flo pulled out a sheaf of papers. “Here comes Anne. I hope you aren’t tired of watching us work at this. Do you like the pose I selected? With her chin just so?” She showed me one of the sketches. “Or one of the others?”

“It amazes me how you caught her likeness, Flo. You are very talented.” I glanced through the pages. “This one. She has a secret smile. Like she knows something she will not tell.”

Flo frowned over it then handed it to Anne who had just come through the door. “What do you think, my lady? Will you like this one for the miniature?”

“Oh, surely I am not that pretty.” She stared at the sketch. “Thank you, Florence. I’m sure Malcolm will treasure it.” Her eyes filled with tears. “If the baron doesn’t arrive here and try to ruin everything.” She waved a letter. “He wrote, forbidding the marriage. I want to,” she sniffed, “keep this from Malcolm. If he doesn’t know…”

“And if the baron arrives?” I stood. “Will you show me what he wrote?” I took the letter when she held it out. “His handwriting is impossible. What does he say?”

“I am used to it. He says he has a man picked out for me. He demands I come to Edinburgh immediately.” She wiped her eyes. “I will not go.”

Flo looked up from mixing her paints. “Good. You should ignore the letter. We will send for the priest and you will marry your captain quickly. With luck you will be in your marriage bed before the baron learns that you are defying him.”

“I am not sure I have that kind of luck.” Anne sat in her chair next to her needlework. “My mother wrote as well. She claims she tried to talk to him. To no avail. The man he wants me to marry is old and a terrible gamester. Clyne owes him a vast sum. If I don’t marry Lansdale, Clyne will be ruined. He’ll sell my family home.”

“I’m sorry but you would never have lived there again anyway, would you?” I tried to be sympathetic but Anne had found a wonderful man to marry. What did a house matter?

“I suppose not.” Anne sighed. “What will happen to my mother if he does sell their home?”

“If she can’t bear to stay with him, she can always come to live with you.” Flo was ever practical. “She should leave the baron to starve. Surely she doesn’t love him.”

“No, she couldn’t. Not after what he has cost her.” Anne stared into the fire. “I find it hard to be happy about my wedding with this on my mind.”

“I understand.” I got up and walked to the door. “But, remember, you are marrying a man you love who will take care of you.” I heard those words and realized I had no idea what the captain would provide for Anne or where they would live. It wasn’t my business, but I decided to make it mine. No one else was looking out for her.

“I will leave you two to your painting. I am going for a walk.” I headed down the stairs, stopping in the great hall first. Maggie was there and I told her about the seamstress and her assistant. They were mortals who would need special treatment.

“They will expect meals during the day, like mortals do. I know you will help keep them away from Flo and me then.” I sat at the table with my friend. She had left her baby with Mercy while Maggie supervised the cleaning.

“Yes, and I will tell Holly. She’s just gotten used to what she thinks is your strange schedule. Now there will be demanding mortals to feed. I saw that seamstress arrive with nothing but complaints. The maids are already talking about her. I hope she and her little assistant don’t expect something fancy.” Maggie spoke to one of the maids about a dusty corner. “Now what else is on your mind? You look vexed.”

“I am. Flo and I have been practicing with swords but our skirts get in the way. She thought to ask the seamstress to make us britches, like the pirate wench wore, but I doubt that French madame will make anything like that for me. I am too full-figured for her taste.” I drew a shape in the damp surface of the table.

“Now there. You are just right. I know Jeremiah thinks so.” Maggie looked down at her own generous curves. They had expanded since the birth of baby Anna. “Lucky for me Fergus also likes a bit of a handful.” She laughed. “You want britches? Like the men wear?”

“Yes. You should have seen the pirate woman in them. She could run and jump and fight with ease.” I got excited. “She wore hose and a man’s shirt with them too. There were no stays that I could see, nothing in the way of her moving quickly.” I touched Maggie’s hand. “I know you made britches for Shakespeare’s company and did a fine job of it.”

“For men!” Maggie stood and pulled me off the bench to stand in front of her. “You are built differently. All women