Gardella Vampires 05 by As Shadows Fade

Author:As Shadows Fade
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Epilogue

Wherein We Are Assured That Though Nothing Will Change, All Will Be Well

Lady Winnie and Lady Nilly gushed over Victoria, smoothing her hair-which had grown nearly to her shoulders-and fussing with her skirts.

“You couldn’t look lovelier, my dear,” Lady Winnie said, backing away to look fondly at Victoria. There might have been the gleam of a tear in her eye, or it may simply have been the fact that she spied the new tray of biscuits that Verbena had carried in.

Chocolate iced pumpkin. One of her favorites.

“Indeed,” sniffled Nilly, under no pretense whatsoever. Her handkerchief was damp, and her narrow shoulders shuddered a bit as she tried to hold back the tears from pink-rimmed eyes. “I just adore weddings.” She burst into renewed tears as Winnie patted her back while continuing to eye the biscuits. “And babies.”

Victoria, for her part, felt like an ungainly sort of cow. The size of her belly, fortunately hidden beneath the yards and yards of sea green fabric, couldn’t possibly grow any larger… but she had been assured that she had several more months to expand. The very thought was inconceivable.

It was a very good thing that the vampires seemed to have remained out of London since Lilith’s death. Victoria couldn’t imagine trying to wield a stake, or kick, or even run in this sort of condition. In fact, the last time she ’d tried to train with Kritanu in the kalari, Max had walked in, taken one look at her front -heavy figure and uncomfortable pose with a kadhara blade, and immediately backed out.

She thought she might have heard the rare sound of his laughter, but decided it was in both of their best interests to decline to investigate. After all, she still did wear two vis bullae, and she might hurt him.

“And here is the bride!” squealed Nilly, her tears momentarily forgotten.

Victoria looked up as the door to her mother’s dressing room opened and Lady Melly stepped into the small adjoining parlor.

She beamed and glowed like any bride would-particularly one who’d managed to snare one of the most eligible bachelors in all of London. For a moment, Victoria felt a bit envious of her mother’s slender figure… but not the least bit put out by the fact that Lady Melly would be taking over the title of Marchioness of Rockley, and her daughter would merely remain the dowager.

This was an odd happenstance that had been remarked on over and over in the on dit section of the papers, but other than feeling a bit sorry for the poor rejected Lord Jellington, Victoria felt nothing but happiness about her mother’s new match.

She might have felt a pang of remorse for the delight in knowing that Lady Melly ’s maternal attentions would now be divided among three daughters-two of whom had come with the widowed Rockley when he returned to claim his title -but that was to be forgiven.

“Why, Mama,” Victoria said, eyeing her parent’s intricate hairstyle as she bent to hug Winnie. “Your coiffure… it is most unusual.

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