Jonathan Barrett Gentleman Vampire Read Online Free

corner. She visibly relaxed once we were out of sight from the kitchen.
    “What is it?” I repeated, now mimicking her hoarse whisper.
    “Mother was furious that you missed lunch.”
    I gave vent to an exasperated sigh and raised my voice back to normal. “Damnation, but I’m an adult and my time is my own. She’s never minded before.”
    “Yes, but she wanted to talk to you about Cambridge.”
    “She told you about that nonsense?”
    “In extraordinary detail. She seems to have decided how you’re to spend your next few years—down to the last minute.”
    “How very thorough of her.”
    “She’s in the kitchen with Mrs. Nooth planning meals, and I didn’t think you’d want to run into her.”
    I took one of Elizabeth’s hands and solemnly bowed over it. “For that, dear sister, you have my undying gratitude, but I am famished and must eat. A fellow can hardly spend his life going about in fear of his own mother.”
    “Ha! It’s not fear, only avoiding a disagreeable encounter.”
    She was right. I didn’t want to face the woman on an empty belly; some alternative needed to be thought up, but not out here. The day had warmed a little, but Elizabeth’s hand was icy. “Let’s go inside, you’re freezing. Where’s your shawl?”
    She shrugged, indifferent to the chill. “Upstairs someplace. You should be the one to talk; look at yourself, riding all morning without hat, coat, or even gloves. It will serve you right if you get the rheumatics, God forbid.”
    I shrugged as well. The ailments of age were still far away for me. My morning’s ride was worth a spot of stiffness in the joints. We went in by the same side door I’d used to escape, and Elizabeth led me to the library. A good fire blazed there now, and abruptly forgetting our lack of concern about the cool day, we rushed toward it like moths.
    “So you think your going to Cambridge is nonsense?” she asked, stretching out her hands and spreading her long fingers against the flames.
    “Mmm. The woman’s mad. When I see Father I’ll sort it out with him as you said.”
    “She’s very sure of herself. What if he’s on her side?”
    “Why should he be?”
    “Because he usually does whatever she wants. It’s not as wearing on the soul, you know. Or as noisy.”
    “I don’t think he will for something as important as this. Besides, look at the impracticality of it. Why send me all the way to England to read law? It may garner me some status, but what else?”
    “An education?” she suggested.
    “There’s that, but everyone knows you really go to university to make the kind of friends and acquaintances who will become useful later in life. If I do that in England, they’ll be left behind when I return home.”
    You’ve become cynical, little brother?” She was hardly a year older than me, but had always taken enjoyment from her position as the eldest.
    “Realistic. I’ve spent a lot of time in this very room listening to Father and his cronies while they’re sharing a bottle. I can practice law well enough, but I’ll be better at it for having a few friends ’round me as he does. Which reminds me . . .” I quit the fireplace to open a nearby cupboard and poured a bit of wine to keep my strength up. My stomach snarled at the thoughtful gesture. It wanted real food.
    Elizabeth giggled at the noise. She looked remarkably like the portrait above her. Prettier, I thought. Livelier. Certainly saner.
    “What is it?” she asked, taking note of my distraction.
    “I was just thinking that you could have almost posed for that.” I indicated the painting.
    She stood away for a better look. “Perhaps, but my face is longer. If it’s all the same to you, I would prefer not to be compared to her at all.”
    “She may have been different back then,” I pointed out. “If not, then why did Father ever marry her and have us?”
    “That’s hardly our business, Jonathan.”
    “It certainly is since we’re the living results of their