The postman's son arrived at the gates of the Moriarty mansion and was stopped by the guards. The young boy, who was no more than seventeen years in age, said,
"I have a letter for Mr. Moriarty. I was told to deliver it today, and if I add, urgently.
The boy peeked through the gap in the gates, looking at the magnificent mansion. But his view was blocked by one of the two guards, who stepped in front of him and said,
"Give it to me. It will be handed to Mr. Moriarty."
The boy handed the letter, looking at the mansion again before leaving. The Moriarty guard made his way to the entrance of the mansion. Seeing one of the maids near the main door of the mansion, he said,
"A letter has come for Master Vincent."
The maid took the letter from the guard. As Vincent wasn't in the mansion at the moment, she decided to leave the letter in his room and started to make her way there. But on her way, Marceline stopped her and demanded,
"Where is the dress material I told one of you to get to my room?"
Marceline had a sneer on her face and was nowhere in a good mood. After praises about Anaya Chambers had spread on how excellent dress designer she was, most of the elite women in and out of Skellington couldn't stop talking about her in the women's tea party. Wanting to flourish her own name, the vampiress decided to surpass the she-wolf.
The maid bowed and replied, "Forgive me, milady. I didn't hear about it."
"Now you do. Go and see where the materials are so that I can start to work on it," Marceline looked at the maid with disdain in her eyes. The maid looked torn between keeping the letter in Master Vincent's room or following the young vampiress's order. Marceline, who caught the letter, said, "Give that to me."
The maid gave the envelope to Marceline and quickly left the corridor.
Marceline glared at the maid's back and then looked at the envelope in her hand. Turning it around, she noticed it was for her brother Vincent. She murmured,
"Wonder if it is from the Council or maybe someone else."
She contemplated looking at it, wondering if it was from a woman. But her brother didn't like dealing with people in general. When she turned the envelope in her hand, the person's address was missing and she used her sharp nail to open it.
"Lady Marceline, Lady Annalise has summoned you to her room," one of the maids appeared at the same moment and bowed to the young vampiress.
Marceline stopped picking on the glued letter and questioned in an irritated voice, "What for?"
"I don't know, milady," the maid didn't raise her head because she knew how Marceline didn't like the servants looking her in the eye.
Marceline softly harrumphed and started to walk towards her mother's room. Seemed like her mother had finally realised to pay attention to her, but a few steps forward, she paused and turned to the maid and ordered her,
"Keep this letter in Vince's room."
The maid took the letter, and on reaching the room, she placed it in Vincent's room, on the side of his bed, before stepping out of the room.
On reaching her parents' room, Marceline knocked on the door, "Mother, you wanted to see me?"
Lady Annalise sat in front of the long mirror, wearing her earring. She said, "Come in, Marcie. Word has it that you have taken an interest in learning to stitch. Is that true?"
The young vampiress smiled sweetly and replied, "That is true, mother. I thought to put my free time to good use."
"Mm," Lady Annalise responded, "You don't have to do such things as our family has enough for you to order the seamstress to make whatever dress you want." Since she had heard about Marceline's demands on new cloth materials, it had taken the older vampiress by surprise, as Marceline wasn't someone to participate in such things. She then continued, "The reason why I called you here is because Mr. Tomlinson's son Horace, is here in town. Your father and I would like you to get to know the man. For marriage."
The smile on Marceline's lips faltered, and she softly laughed, "Marriage? I thought Vincent was going to marry first, and then I."
"As you can see, Vincent is stalling when it comes to marriage. And just because he doesn't get married doesn't mean you shouldn't. The Tomlinson's family are prestigious, which you must already know," Lady Annalise stated, but Marceline wasn't ecstatic about it. It was as if someone had poured cold water on her head.
"Mother, I don't--"
"I don't want to hear a refusal, Marcie. I believe you will keep our reputation and not spoil it like your brother. I can hope for it, can't I?" Lady Annalise turned away from the mirror she had been sitting in front of, meeting Marceline's gaze. "Your father and I have already discussed it, and he agrees that right now Horace will be a good match."
Marceline had her sights on someone else. A man she believed was hers, who was of better status and even looks. Internally, she couldn't believe that something like this was happening to her now.
"You haven't answered, Marcie," Lady Annalise waited for the young vampiress's reply.
"I will try to be hospitable towards him, mother," Marceline offered a sweet smile, when in her mind, she decided to deflect this little hiccup in her way.
Away from the Viscount and Viscountess' room, at the entrance of the mansion, Vincent had only arrived at the mansion. He walked through the halls and the stairs, making his way to his room. His face held a shadow as if he had been buried in the Council's work for hours.
Vincent unbuttoned the cuff buttons, folding both the sleeves of his hands until his arm as he continued to walk. Entering his room, he removed his coat and threw it on the chair. He then walked towards the basin, cleaning his hands and splashing water on his face.
He walked to the bed and lay on his back. The whole night, he had been working with Clayton, as the head of the Council had called him to Darthmore regarding Fowler's case. Sylvester, the member of the Inner Council was put behind the rusty iron bars of the dungeon in Darthmore this early in the morning.
Since yesterday, Vincent's eyes had darkened because of the thirst for blood. His senses had started to shift to a darker side than usual while the thought of a young mermaid occupied his thoughts. When he closed his eyes, he remembered her golden blonde hair hovering in front of her face with wind wavering it. Her blue eyes meeting his eyes. Sometimes out of being grateful, or sometimes embarrassed, which she hid behind her glare.
Though Vincent had tried to draw a line with Eve to avoid hurting her further, yesterday, he couldn't stop himself from not talking to her in the carriage. He had never bothered himself with others before, but it was different when it came to her.
Vincent clicked his tongue and remarked, "Always getting into trouble and making people worry."
Though the pureblooded vampire had knowledge and experience about many things, seeing things in a different light than what people normally did, it was the first time a woman had frustrated him like this.
He sat upright on his bed before running his fingers through his thick lock of hair.
Vincent moved to the edge of the bed and his eyes fell on an envelope on the side table. He stretched his hand, picking up the envelope and turning it around. Tearing one side of the envelope, he pulled the letter out and started to read the contents written in it.
Soon the relaxed expression on Vincent's face turned annoyed, and his eyes narrowed, ready to create a hole in the parchment letter. He glared at the parchment before crumpling it in his hand.
"How wilful, to think you can escape from me just like that."
His jaw clenched at the thought of Eve leaving this place to move up North and not return. He wouldn't allow it.
Crushing the letter into a ball, Vincent threw it in the dustbin. He picked up his overcoat from the chair and walked out of his room. Alfie, who had just appeared in the corridor to give his master his drink, opened his mouth, but noticing the intense glare closed his mouth.
Vincent ordered him, "Tell Briggs to prepare the carriage immediately."
