A Taste Of A Vampire

He shrugged. “I’m sure we’ll be fine. Here you go.” He handed one pair of scissors to her and they proceeded to cut two small bouquets of fresh lavender flowers. They were newly budding, most of them not quite opened up, but getting there.

Claire might have been slightly concerned about cutting the flowers when they arrived, but it wasn’t more than a few minutes into their excursion that she found herself loving the scent that filled the air all around her and stayed on her hands. It was a charming experience for her, standing in the golden afternoon sun as fat puffy clouds rolled by. Bees hummed in and out of the lavender bushes and stayed busy with their own tasks. Drake didn’t say much as they both worked, and that added to her immense enjoyment of the experience.

When they both had a handful of lavender, they climbed back over the low fence and got back into his car. He beamed proudly. “That was something a little more uncommon then, wasn’t it?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Yes, that was uncommon. I’ve never actually seen a lavender field, or cut fresh lavender. It was very nice; thank you.”

He turned his head and peered at her. “Good. I’m glad to hear that.” His eyes dropped to her mouth and she saw him lick his lips slightly. Her stomach tightened and she turned to look out of the window.

Drake drove them to a small restaurant in a village a short way from the estate. They ate a quiet meal together and he spent the entire time talking about himself, his days in college, his laudable accomplishments, his wealth, his dominance of women, and his lofty position in the House of Lords, in addition to dropping the names of well-placed friends of his in high society.

Claire didn’t bother to remind him that she wasn’t from the country, knew nothing about the House of Lords, and didn’t recognize a single name that he dropped. She didn’t let on that she didn’t care either, showing him a polite though passing interest.

It was more interesting for her to see the village and talk to the people they encountered in the pub, learning their names and a little about them. When they found out who she was, they were all very curious about her, and were keen to get to know her and talk to her. They were all very respectful of her, and warmly welcoming to her, which touched her heart.

When the meal was over and Claire had endured more than her fill of Drake, she told him that she was tired and should be getting back to the manor. He looked dejected, and drove her back reluctantly and slowly, taking his time going down the lanes to her home.

Drake got out with her and walked her to the door, giving her a mischievous smile when she turned to say goodnight to him.

“It doesn’t have to be goodnight, you know. Perhaps it might seem fast, but I feel like there’s such a connection between us. What do you say to a night cap? We could spend some time doing anything you like tonight…” he trailed off and leaned in close to her face.

She knitted her brow and frowned slightly. “I don’t think that-”

He cut her off, reaching his hand up to her chin and lifting it as he brought his mouth to hers, but she was flushed with adrenaline and panic overtook her. She flipped her head to one side and he wound up kissing her cheek.

With a groan of frustration, he tried to turn her face toward him again. “Oh come on now. Let’s have a little fun before you step in, or invite me in and we’ll-”

She cut him off then, planting her palm on his chest and giving him a solid push. He wavered and leaned backward to keep his balance, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Goodnight, Drake,” she said firmly. “We’ve just met, and I’m not looking for anything romantic while I’m here. You’ll have to let those ideas go.”

He stared hard at her and she could see the wheels in his mind spinning as he thought. “Very well then… If you’re not interested in anything like that, I guess we can put that aside, but I am still quite keen on purchasing this property, so please keep that in mind, and I’ll be back here soon to talk with you about it.”

She shrugged and walked into the manor, closing the door firmly behind her, and looking heavenward as she leaned her back against it. She heard his car speed off and she sighed.

“What am I going to do with all of this?” she whispered.

Claire laid in her bed that night and tried to fall asleep, but her mind was centered on the property, the staff, and Drake’s offer to buy it. She knew that she would have to come to some decisions about the place, and pretty quickly, and she was grateful for his offer to keep the staff on should he be able to purchase it, but after spending an afternoon and evening with him, she wasn’t sure she wanted to hand it all over to him. Something in her kept pulling at her not to do that.

After closing her eyes, trying to count sheep, trying to use deep yoga breathing, and just about everything else that she could think of to fall asleep, she finally gave up on it, slapping her hands down in annoyance on the top of the duvet.

She pushed herself up in her bed and reached over to turn on the light. There was nothing for it; she just couldn’t fall asleep. The light glowed softly and as she pulled her hand away, her eyes caught on the diary that she had taken from Elizabeth’s trunk in the attic. She bit at her lower lip thoughtfully and then reached for it.

The diary itself was about an inch thick, perhaps five inches wide and seven inches long. The cover was made of thick leather, binding old yellowed pages with a cream-colored ribbon that time had discolored around the edges. It was smooth and gently worn, and as she ran her hands over it, a sort of thrill went through her, and her curiosity about the woman who wrote in it was piqued. She gently slid the ribbon apart and opened it.

The handwriting was beautiful, and she smiled at the realization that she was looking back at a time when writing well was an art. She traced her fingertip over some of the more ornate letters, and began to read Elizabeth’s entries.

“I’ve been sent by my mother and father to spend the summer with Lord Giles Grayson. They are hoping that he and I will find some kind of a spark and agree to marry one another. I know it’s my duty to my family, but I’m uncertain of how I feel about him. He’s focused on business and doesn’t speak with me about much of anything. His mother Mary and I spend much more time together than Giles and I do, and I realize I’d be their daughter-in-law, but it isn’t his parents I’d be marrying. I am grateful that mother and father are giving me some kind of voice in the matter, but as father says, I’m headstrong and I would insist on my own way no matter what he and mother wished. I know they’re hoping that spending a summer with the Grayson’s will encourage a marriage. Time will tell.