Allure Of The Night

“Good morning, Lady Marceline,” Eve bowed before her blue eyes met the vampiress’s eyes, “Are you waiting for anyone?” She politely asked her.Â

Compared to how Eve looked at Lady Marceline yesterday, there was a difference today.Â

Coming from a humble background, where people were kind-hearted, Eve hadn’t doubted the vampiress’s intentions until yesterday. She would have brushed off half information that the young woman had told her about Allie and the previous governess, that was, if the woman had not given her a gown that could easily tear.Â

Even a used dress bought from Meadow wouldn’t be torn that easily. And this had Eve slightly alert than before. But at the same time, the innocent smile on Marceline’s lips tried to deceive her.Â

“I came out to see father off, and my eyes fell on you and I decided to wait for you,” replied Marceline in a gentle voice. “That was a beautiful carriage out there,” she complimented. “Was it yours?” She feigned ignorance as if not knowing that Eve belonged to Meadow.Â

“No, that’s not mine, Lady Marceline. It was a friend’s carriage, who offered to drop me,” Eve turned bashful, and when she waved her hand, the umbrella almost hit the vampiress, whose eyes slightly went wide.Â

Marceline didn’t like this ugly umbrella and wanted to burn it. Not only was it an eye sore, but it had almost smacked her face. She turned her body while Eve quickly brought her hand back to her side.Â

The vampiress continued offering a smile as if not offended by Eve’s umbrella, and she asked, “A friend? The person must be close, considering how you were dropped in here this early in the morning. You should have invited her in.”

Eve doubted that would have gone down well, considering how Lady Annalise despised her, any friend of hers would surely be dismissed by the woman. She cleared the usual misunderstanding, “It’s a he, and yes, he’s a good friend of mine.”

“Oh, he,” murmured Lady Marceline, and she said, “He must be someone you like, and he must like you back. After all, who would pick and drop a person at this hour.”

Eve shook her head, “No, we are only friends. He was passing by my town when we met on the way,” she said the truth slightly, as she saw no harm in telling it.Â

Lady Marceline softly laughed while bringing the back of her hand to hide her laughter. Her eyes twinkled, and she said, “Ms. Barlow, we all hold lanterns towards a person that we like and I have too. I can tell by the look in your eye that you wish for more.”

“I think you have got it all wrong— ”

The vampiress placed her hand on Eve’s shoulder and said, “There is no need to feel embarrassed that you like him. In fact, I would be more than happy to help you.”

Marceline wanted to know the man’s name. She felt like she had seen him somewhere before, but for some reason, she couldn’t remember the person. At the same time, the sharp sound of footsteps were heard, and both the young women turned to look in the direction of the hallways.Â

“Don’t tell me you did something to embarrass the governess, dear sister?” questioned Vincent as he made his way to where they stood. “Planning to scare her away?”

Eve and Marceline offered a slight bow to Vincent, and the vampiress said, “Why would I ever do something like that, brother. Ms. Barlow has been nothing but a delight to talk to, in fact we were bonding with each other before you decided to interrupt.”

Vincent’s eyes lazily shifted from his sister to look at Eve, staring at her with his eyes that looked colder than usual.Â

“Good morning, Master Vincent,” Eve greeted him.

“Looks like Ms. Barlow lacks friends that she decided to bond with you. How unfortunate,” remarked Vincent, and at his words Marceline’s lips twitched.

“Only you would find things to be unfortunate, Vince. Maybe it is time for you to look for a new governess,” Marceline smiled at both Eve and Vincent, leaving Eve confused. She then told her brother, “Today Ms. Barlow was dropped in a carriage pulled by four horses. The man was kind enough to drop her at the front of the mansion, isn’t that right?” She turned to look at Eve with an earnest smile.Â

“Looks like working in the Moriarty mansion has brought you luck,” remarked Vincent, and Eve wished she could agree on it. “It must be a tall dark haired man, isn’t that right?”

“Have you met him already?” Questioned Marceline, her focus turning to her brother, and she saw a smile crack upon his lips.Â

“Oh, I have. But more important than the human, my dear sister, something came for you this morning. A gift from a tall man,” his voice drawled, and he raised his hand at Alfie, who stood in the hallways and disappeared on his master’s action.Â

“A tall man?” Marceline’s eyebrows raised in question while her eyes looked for the butler to return. “There are so many tall men in and out of the town, Vince. Who was it?”

“Tall, wide shoulders, and good built and thick hair. I didn’t know you were acquainted with someone so high. He was handsome,” said Vincent, looking at his sister, and as he spoke, Marceline only turned that much intrigued.Â

Eve, who stood there, could only wonder how in-demand Lady Marceline was when it came to men flocking around her.Â

“When did he come by and why didn’t I hear anything about it?” Demanded Marceline, and her lips turned upside down. “What was his name?”

Alfie reappeared in the hallways, and Eve noticed him carrying something in his hands. She squinted her eyes as she tried to see what it was. When the butler got closer, her eyes fell on a small pot with a thick plant with prickly pines on it. It was a cactus.Â

“Thank you, Alfie,” said Vincent, taking the pot and handing it to Marceline. “It’s from your brother Vincent Moriarty, silly.”