Vampire Bites by Alyxandra Harvey

Author:Alyxandra Harvey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2012-09-04T04:00:00+00:00

June 11, 1815

Dearest Evangeline,

I am so cross I can barely calm myself enough to write this.

You would think that after the training we have endured and, I might add, excelled at, a small measure of trust might be expected. Even the barest trace of confidence in our common sense and intelligence, if nothing else.

I regret to say, that is not so.

I suppose you know this already, with your mother inventing all manner of country pursuits to keep you from London and the hunters. And I can understand that, I really can. She is your mother, and, of course, she will worry. The fact that she worries equally for all your brothers speaks well for her character, I believe.

But this is different. My father ought to know better. It is devilishly unfair. I spent a long sleepless night trying to determine the best course of action regarding the whispered conversation I overhead at the Wintersons’ ball. I do not take it lightly, nor our duty to the League, and I expect the same consideration. Murder is bad enough, but the traitorous murder of the leader of the Helios-Ra by a fellow initiate is abhorrent. It behooves us all to be on our guard, to take our oaths seriously. To take one another seriously.

You see where this is going, I am sure.

By the time the sun rose I was convinced that I must tell my father everything. It is one thing to seek out vampires in Vauxhall Gardens or take one on in a dark alley after the opera, but it is another thing entirely to unravel a conspiracy in a society that barely recognizes you (though I mean to turn that to my advantage shortly. More on that later, I assure you). I am not so reckless that I think I must do everything myself.

I found my father at the table, eating coddled eggs and toast and reading the newspaper, freshly ironed and smelling like scorched ink and paper. He glanced up to smile at me before going back to his reading. “Morning, poppet.”

“Morning, Papa.” I waited until the footman had brought a fresh pot of chocolate to the table and stepped back to a discreet distance. I lowered my voice. “I must speak to you, sir.”

“I am not increasing your allowance, Rosie. You have more than enough for your needs.”

It was an act of will not to roll my eyes at him, Evie. Why do they always think we want more money for dresses and baubles? I’d much rather buy myself a new throwing dagger, though I am not nearly so skilled with them as you are.

“I don’t need more pin money,” I assured him as calmly as I could.

He frowned. “You’re not expecting to race your carriage through the park with some ne’er-do-well again, are you? You must learn to comport yourself with some dignity, my girl.”

Honestly, Evie. Parents.

“Papa, please. This is about something I overheard at the Wintersons’ ball last night.” “Ballroom gossip?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No, two men talking in hushed tones outside Lord Winterson’s office.

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