He pulled a handkerchief from his waistcoat and tied it around her head so the thick fabric covered her eyes. “It is forbidden for a mortal to see our gathering place,” he explained.
Angelica bit back a protest. Surely that should not be relevant since he would be turning her into a vampire soon. Wouldn’t he? She fell into a pensive silence and allowed him to guide her forward.
The sound of a door opening let her know that they had entered the lair. Ian helped her down an awkward procession of steep stone stairs as she struggled to hang on to him and keep hold of her skirts at the same time. She sighed in relief when her feet finally touched a flat surface.
Even before he led her to the center of the room she could feel other eyes upon her. Ian removed the blindfold and she choked on a small scream. One hundred and thirty-five vampires did not seem like all that many when Ian had told her how many lived in London; but seeing them all gathered around her at once made them appear to be a vast multitude.
Angelica noticed a few familiar faces within the crowd, most notably the scowling Spaniard who had attended her wedding reception. For a moment, their eyes met and she sucked in a breath at his blatant hostility. Bloody hell, what did I ever do to him? Refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her fear, she turned to survey the rest of the throng.
At first, all of the vampires appeared to be male, but before she could ask Ian about it, she looked closer at the sea of faces watching her and saw that there were indeed female vampires. They were all dressed in men’s clothing. Fascinating… Angelica couldn’t wait to ask Ian about these women.
“Good evening, blood drinkers of London,” Ian’s voice boomed with authority. “As many of you already know, I have taken a mortal bride. With great pleasure, I present to you Angelica Ashton, my new Duchess of Burnrath. Sense my Mark upon her and know that to harm her is to bring forth my wrath.”
His statement invoked a variety of reactions from the audience. Some vampires grinned and clapped. A few smiled faintly and murmured, “Your Grace.” The Spaniard continued to glare. Many shifted uncomfortably on their feet, as though confused about what to make of the situation. A few of the women sported petulant countenances. Apparently the ladies of the ton were not the only ones who had vied for her handsome duke’s affections.
One female in the group caught Angelica’s eye. She also looked unhappy, but in a different manner. Her downcast eyes, hunched shoulders, and stiffly crossed arms seemed to convey fear, or possibly shame. But what could she possibly be afraid of? Ian seemed to be a just and honorable lord. Angelica studied the vampire, whose fine-boned features and short-cropped onyx hair made her resemble a pixie more than a monster of legend. She was certain this woman hadn’t attended her wedding. But before she could speculate further, a large male pushed his way through the crowd.
“Permission to speak, Your Grace?” Rage glittered in his hazel eyes.
Ian frowned in obvious irritation. “Yes, Thomas?”
“Why have you done this thing, Your Grace? It is dangerous and unseemly to expose humans to our secrets, especially in light of recent events.” He looked back at the other vampires as many murmured in agreement, especially the Spaniard. “I see that she is a succulent piece, but—”
Ian silenced the young vampire with a low growl and placed a proprietary arm around Angelica’s shoulders. “I would have more caution in regards to my tongue if I were you.”
Thomas cringed and held up his hands, taking a step backward. “Perhaps we would be more at ease if you would favor us with an explanation of why you have put us all at risk.”
The Spaniard nodded and locked eyes with Ian. The duke sighed tiredly and ran a hand through his hair. “Very well, Thomas, I suppose you are right about that.”
To Angelica’s embarrassment, he launched into the story of her foray into the Burnrath mansion and the subsequent scandal that ensued. The chamber echoed with laughter at the tale. Everywhere candlelight gleamed off exposed fangs. Angelica leaned in to her husband’s powerful body, suddenly aware that she was surrounded by predatory creatures and she was the only prey in sight.
“So you see,” Ian concluded, “there was not a better option. After all, I could not kill her. Not only is it forbidden, but due to her position in society and the gossip about me incited by Dr. Polidori’s story, it would have been a fatal mistake for her to turn up missing. I have already informed the Elders of my actions, so my decision is final.”
Most of the vampires nodded in agreement as Ian continued with a grin, “Not only that, but my marriage to this little imp has silenced all gossip regarding my nocturnal proclivities.” He sobered and added, “Which is better than you have done in your search for Dr. Polidori.”