The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Anthologies (Multiple Authors), Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Vampires, Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 9781849011792
Google: XP6GAgAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 2855252
Publisher: Running Press
Published: 2008-07-29T04:00:00+00:00

In Which a Masquerade Ball Unmasks an Undead

Colleen Gleason

“My lady, your mother is wearin’ a hole in the floor,” Verbena said as she twisted a final curl into place at the top of her mistress’ coiffure. “She claims you’ll be late for the masquerade ball if you don’t hurry. And something about the Marquess o’Rockley attendin’ and wantin’ to see ye?"

Miss Victoria Gardella Grantworth looked in the mirror, eyeing her maid’s creation in the form of a tall – very tall – coiffure. Her dark hair had been piled to an impossible height and then powdered so that her black curls looked more grey than white. A small bluebird perched at the side of her column of hair and a bejewelled comb rested at the top. Pink and yellow flowers and a variety of jewels further decorated the powdered curls.

“I don’t know that Marie Antoinette’s hair was ever this particular hue,” Victoria said, “but I think it looks lovely. And perhaps I’d best go down before Mother comes up to drag me off.”

She stood and the skirts of her gown rose with her as if they had a life of their own. Victoria was used to wearing the high-waisted, clinging skirts of contemporary styles, but these wide panniers and heavily brocaded layers of fabric at least left her legs free to move beneath without getting too caught up in the skirts. The only other benefit of the yards of material dripping from her body was that there were plenty of places to hide a wooden stake, between all the ruffles, lace and gathers. She felt for the one that rested just to the right side of her torso, cunningly hidden behind a pouf of lace.

“I do hope there aren’t any vampires at Lady Petronilla’s tonight.” Victoria said, drawing on her gloves. “It will be impossible to fight them in this costume.”

“But, m’lady, if there are, you’ll be very prepared,” Verbena told her, a sparkle in her blue eyes. “I’ve slipped one o’ your littler stakes here in the back of your hair.” She poked at the heavy mass near the back of Victoria’s crown. “Just in case.”

“If I pull it out, it is likely my hair will all come falling down,” Victoria replied, gingerly feeling for the stake. “But in a pinch, I suppose it shall do. I only hope I’ll not have need of it. I have been looking forward to one night where I don’t have to make some excuse to sneak out and stake a vampire.”

Verbena handed her mistress a small reticule. “Holy water an’ a cross in here, my lady,” she told her. “An’ you look lovely.”

Victoria might look like any normal young woman, just debuting into society, but beneath her gown – whether it be a fashionable high-waisted one or the retrospective costume she currently wore – she harboured a secret that made her very different from any other girl.

She wore the vis bulla, a tiny silver-cross amulet that gave her superhuman strength, speed and healing capability.

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