One Bite Per Night Read Online Free Page A

could knock, the door opened to reveal a frail vampire resembling a girl of sixteen. She’d been nineteen when she’d been illegally Changed. “Good evening, Maria.”
    Maria Siddons, daughter of the infamous actress, Sarah Siddons, curtsied deeply. “M’lord. Mr. Adair.” Her voice was almost a whisper. “Please, do come inside.”
    The cottage was warm and cozy with a blazing fire in the hearth and myriad embroidered cushions and lacy doilies. The sisters had taken the hobby of sewing to an astonishing level. It seemed to ease their minds.
    Sally Siddons rose from the plump sofa, setting her sewing aside. “My lord!” She gazed at him with wide gray eyes, wringing her hands. “Is everything all right?” The tips of her fangs were revealed through parted lips.
    â€œEverything is fine. I only wanted to look in on you both and beg a favor.”
    She sat back down and resumed stitching the hem of a dress. “Oh, we are quite well, aren’t we, Maria?”
    â€œI understand you are going to London soon, to present that human girl.” Maria eyed him with sudden intensity.
    Vincent held up a hand. “Do not trouble yourself by asking. You cannot accompany me.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œYou’re supposed to be dead, don’t you remember? It’s been only twenty years. You cannot run the risk of being recognized.” He met her angry gaze with all the authority of a Lord Vampire.
    Dying from consumption and devastated by the heart-wrenching end of a scandalous three-way love affair with the portrait artist Thomas Lawrence, Maria Siddons had charmed a rogue vampire into Changing her without sanction from the Elders.
    Five years later, she’d found another rogue and convinced him to Change her elder sister.
    One of the rogues had been caught and executed by Ian Ashton, the Lord Vampire of London. However, that didn’t stop the sisters from scheming to kill the painter who’d broken their hearts. Ian had caught the vengeful sisters before they succeeded. Not knowing what else to do with the frail, half-mad pair, he’d delivered them to Vincent.
    Vincent himself had been suddenly Changed, with no vampire to mentor him through even basic methods of survival and no one to help him keep the madness and grief at bay. He’d had the deepest sympathy for the Siddons sisters, who’d endured their first years without guidance.
    When the Siddons sisters came under his care, they’d seemed to be a lost cause, alternating between bouts of suicidal depression and murderous rage. With Vincent’s patience and sheer unwillingness to see such sad creatures put to death, they’d made progress over the years and were at last able to live and hunt independently. Slowly he’d been easing them into interacting with mortals, and now he would attempt the next step.
    â€œWhat is it you require of us?” Sally asked, wringing her hands once more.
    He eyed the stacks of La Belle Assemblée on the table, the mannequin in the far corner, and the gowns the sisters wore. Both rivaled garb made by the most coveted seamstresses.
    â€œMy ward requires a wardrobe for her debut this Season,” Vincent ventured cautiously. “I wonder if you ladies would be up to the task.”
    Sally’s eyes lit with immediate interest, and she reached for a magazine of fashion plates. “My lord! We would be honored. When may we come to the castle and—”
    â€œWe require a price,” Maria interjected, folding her arms across her chest.
    Vincent sighed. “I will not bring you to London.”
    â€œFor a wardrobe of that size, along with the inevitable repairs needed, you have little choice in such a short time frame. Besides, we can paint up our faces and disguise ourselves beyond recognition. We grew up in the theater, don’t you recall?”
    Sally rallied behind her sister. “And I feel we have the right to