The Pureblood Daughter by Emberly Wyndham

Author:Emberly Wyndham [Wyndham, Emberly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Pureblood Daughter, Emberly Wyndham, paranormal romance, Vampire Romance
Published: 2023-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Lady Gray does indeed learn about Adelina’s nighttime ride, and she’s so perturbed the next afternoon that even the hasty fluttering of her fan does not chase the redness from her cheeks.

“You lied to me, Adelina. You’ve never been a liar. Not even as a child.” She flutters the fan harder and turns sharply to gaze out the sitting room window. A moment later, she whips her head around, her brown-eyed gaze simmering with indignation. “You will explain yourself. Immediately.”

Adelina fell into a fitful sleep the evening before, but she was plagued with dreams of the viscount and his touch and his—

No. I’ll not think of him.

The wine helped her to fall asleep, but she woke up with a headache, and the cheerful sun streaming through the open windows does nothing to ease the pounding in her head.

“I’m sorry, Mama. I’d hoped an evening ride would invigorate me. How was I supposed to know a storm was coming in?”

“You should not be riding in your condition.”

Adelina laughs. “You make it sound as if I’m with child.”

The thought of carrying Lord Rosetti’s child excites her, though she knows it should not. She’s reminded herself time and time again of his nightmarish appearance last night, and soon, she hopes, she’ll not think of him at all. As long as his voice stays out of her head.

Lady Gray shoots Adelina a sharp look. “You look like you’ve not slept. Your complexion is lusterless. Have you been eating?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“And taking your tonic?”

Adelina’s heart jolts briefly. Her mother’s intonation wasn’t searching; Rose hasn’t told her. She represses a small smile. Her lady’s maid has always been loyal.

“Every morning.”

“Hmm.” Lady Gray arches a brow and studies Adelina. “I hope you don’t intend to make a habit out of your lies.”

“I did not lie,” Adelina snaps. She stands from the settee and moves toward the hearth. The house is warm, and the fire isn’t lit, but she can detect a lingering scent of woodsmoke from the last time it burned. “I’d every intention of retiring for the night. We would not be having this conversation had it not rained and driven me home in such a manner. Can we please let this go?”

“Fine.” Lady Gray closes her fan with a snap, her gaze smoldering. “I’ll not bring it up again.” She stands from the armchair and sweeps across the sitting room, then pauses with her hand on the doorknob and glances back briefly to say, “Let us hope your father doesn’t find out.” Then she’s gone, and Adelina is left alone in the too-bright room.

Adelina crosses her arms and turns her face sharply from the closed doors. If only her mother understood. But she could never tell her about the real reason for her late-night ride, nor what transpired at the lakeside. The whispers, the touches, the teeth.

No, not teeth. Fangs.

Adelina lifts a hand and slips one finger into her mouth. She traces a canine, feels its narrow edge, and wonders how the viscount’s teeth went from smooth to razor-sharp in the blink of an eye.

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