The Vampire’s Fake Fiancée
Evangeline smirked. “Agreed.”
“Witnessed,” Hugh said.
“Witnessed.” Julian pointed at Evangeline. “You’re not getting out of this.”
She steepled her fingers against her chest. “I have no intention of getting out of it. I’m a woman of my word.”
Hugh barked out a laugh. “Bollocks.”
She glowered at him before looking at Sebastian again. “Tell Greaves to get my things out of my rental car.”
Sebastian’s brows lifted. “Get them yourself. He’s my rook, not a servant at your beck and call.”
“I’m a guest,” Evangeline shot back.
“You’re an interloper. I’ve agreed you can stay the week, but don’t for a moment think you’re a guest. Guests are invited.”
Tessa slipped her arm around Sebastian’s waist and out of the corner of his eye, he saw the side of her mouth quirk up. This was going to be a very interesting week indeed.
While Evangeline carried her bags in, loudly protesting Sebastian’s inhospitable treatment the whole time, Sebastian and Tessa said goodbye to their guests, then Tessa retreated to the library with her phone to text Jenna with an update.
Jenna was about as understanding as expected, but didn’t give Tessa any more than the usual amount of grief, agreeing to help her sister in the morning with whatever needed to be done.
That accomplished, Tessa went back out to find Sebastian. He was in the kitchen with Greaves, both of them leaning against the counter. The cook had already left, but someone had made coffee. The rich aroma permeated the space. Sebastian sipped a cup.
Tessa glanced around. “Just you two in here?”
Sebastian nodded. “Yes. She’s upstairs in the guest suite.”
Tessa stiffened. “My things were in there from when I changed for dinner.”
Greaves shook his head. “I took care of that, miss. I put your belongings in Sebastian’s quarters.”
“Thank you.” Relief swept her. This was going to be a very long week, but she’d agreed. Too late to turn back now. Not that she would change her mind. Sebastian needed this. And on a deeper level, helping him felt like it might balance her darker valkyrie side a bit. All that proclivity for death and destruction needed a few good deeds to level the scales. Something to appeal to the valkyrie’s nature to protect.
“Thank you, miss.” Greaves put his hand on a large white box sitting on the kitchen counter. “Would you like a slice of cake and some coffee? Dinner never made it as far as dessert and it would be a shame to let Miss Delaney’s cake go to waste.”
“Sure, why not?” She took a seat at the old wooden farmhouse-style table. It matched the rest of the rustic kitchen that had no doubt cost a fortune to look that way. Then she stood again. “I guess I should get myself some coffee before I get settled.”
Greaves held a hand up and moved toward the pot. “I’ve got that, miss. I’ll bring you the cream and sugar, too.”
“Thank you.” She sat back down and folded her hands on the table, looking up at Sebastian. “Jenna’s going to help me in the morning. Won’t take much. One trip. I’ll go first thing as soon as you tell me it’s okay.”
“Greaves will drive you.”
“It’s okay. I can drive myself.”
Greaves brought her coffee over, along with the sugar. He made a second trip with the creamer. “But you wouldn’t be if you were living here. Let me, miss. It’s what I do.”
“But Sebastian just told Evangeline you were a rook, not a servant. I certainly don’t want you to go out of your way—what is a rook, exactly?”
Greaves smiled. “Sort of a vampire’s butler. And I’m happy to help the woman who’s helping Sebastian. Whatever you need.”
“All right.” She shrugged. This was not a life she was used to.
Greaves went back to the counter, opened the cake box and turned to look at her. “Large or small?”
She frowned. “Um…”
He winked at her. “Slice of cake.”
She considered the evening. “Large.” Now was not the time to deny herself anything.
She glanced at Sebastian. “Aren’t you joining me?”
He held his cup in front of him. “I rarely eat—”
“Sweets. Yes, I know.” She patted the table top in front of the chair beside her. “Tonight you do. Sit.”
He made a curious face, but did as she asked, settling in beside her. “Happy?”
“Yes.”
That seemed to appease something in him and he smiled. “Greaves, apparently I’m also having cake.”
“Very good, sir.”
Two generous slices appeared shortly after on china plates, along with silver forks and cloth napkins. The cake looked like red velvet with fresh raspberries and buttercream in the layers.
She picked up her fork, which was surprisingly heavy, but that was because it was sterling. She contemplated the setting before her. “Do you always do things so formally?”
Greaves made a soft noise.
Sebastian shot him a look as he answered. “You mean because of the china?”
“And the silver and the crystal and the cloth napkins. All of it. It’s lovely, don’t get me wrong, but it’s sort of formal for every day.”
He seemed to think that over for a moment. “It’s just how things are. Although I never eat in the dining room. I usually eat in here.”