Music Recommendation: Existence- Tim Wynn
Days quickly passed, and the night before the wedding, the Hookes and the Moriarty families' guests occupied the mansion's guest rooms.
In one of the mansion's rooms, Eve now stood in front of the window, looking at the number of carriages parked outside the mansion against the snow background. A gentle wind whisked in the atmosphere and somehow passed through the crack of the window that made her shiver.
"One would think that the mansion is warmer, but it seems like it takes quite a long time for the heat of the woods to spread in a large room like this," Lady Aubrey said, while standing in front of the fireplace.
Eve turned away from the window and said, "You should wear my coat, Aunt Aubrey. The chilly weather is going to continue to remain for another month or two."
Lady Aubrey waved her hand, "I am fine. Why aren't you wearing your coat, hm? It would be terrible if you were to fall sick tomorrow. I wonder how many people know what Vincent has prepared for tomorrow." It was because only Vincent's parents, Eve and Lady Aubrey knew about it. She walked to where the bed was, sitting on the edge, she patted the surface of the bed, "Sit with me, Eve."
Eve walked towards the bed and took a seat next to her aunt.
The older woman picked up Eve's hand in hers, enclosing it with her other hand. She said in a soft voice, "You seem tense about tomorrow. Everything will be fine and go smoothly, Eve."
Eve nodded, taking a deep breath before exhaling. She said, "It didn't sink in until now. It had only been an idea that I am going to be married to Vincent. But now that it is near, I feel the tickle in my stomach."
Lady Aubrey looked at Eve and asked, "You are sure that this is the man whom you want to spend your life with, right? If yes, then it is good nervousness. I had those butterflies in my stomach when I was supposed to get married to your uncle. Those were some really good times, so savour the time and the emotions that you feel tomorrow. Because this is the important time of yours and Vincent's lives."
"I will cherish them," Eve promised, smiling before she confessed, "It feels like a dream. And I worry that I will wake up to realise that what's happened so far was all a dream."
Eve felt Lady Aubrey squeeze her hand, and the older woman said,
"Everything is very real and is happening. I know the sadness and the disappointments that you buried, when women younger to were getting married. You deserve happiness, and this is your time. It is without a doubt that I will miss you, when Eugene and I will need to go back to live in Meadow, but I am happy. Knowing you will have a family of your own with a person next to you, who loves you and will protect you always."
A smile spread on Eve's lips, knowing Vincent wasn't like the few other men of the high society, who had stranded her and then thrown her away as if he didn't know her. Only a few hours before they would be called husband and wife, and she doubted she would be able to sleep in the nervous excitement and anticipation she felt in her mind.
Eve said, "I will come to visit you as frequently as I can, Aunt Aubrey. I promise."
"I know you will. But let us not worry about such things," Lady Aubrey said, and when she looked down at Eve's hand, she noticed something that she had failed to notice earlier. "I didn't know you had inked your skin?" She murmured as she stared at the wings.
"Vincent said it is a bond between two people. Pureblooded vampires used to do that," Eve explained, and Lady Aubrey nodded in slight awe as she had never heard something like this before.
Lady Aubrey was glad to see how sure and firm Vincent Moriarty was when it came to Eve.
The older woman had fostered the mermaid since the time she was small, and she had grown into a respectful woman who was loving and kind. And Lady Aubrey was glad that the girl had been matched with someone strong.
In the past, many men had tried to woo Eve. Some had even come to Dawson's doorstep to ask Lady Aubrey for Eve's hand in marriage; even if Eve had picked someone from Meadow, she would have disapproved of it. Eve was an outcast, a creature who needed to be careful as threats lingered around the corner, and the girl needed someone to protect her. But most importantly, someone who would love and accept the girl however she was.
Lady Aubrey said, "I will go see what Eugene is up to. You should get some sleep."
"Let me come with you," Eve suggested, standing up with Lady Aubrey, but the older woman shook her head.
"Don't worry about me. Nothing is going to happen to me in a house of vampires," Lady Aubrey started to walk towards the door and said, "You forget that I have been in a room full of vampires in the past. Have a goodnight sleep, Eve," the older woman kissed Eve's cheek.
Stepping out of Eve's room, Lady Aubrey made her towards the servant's quarters. Upon reaching Eugene's room, she knocked on the door, and when he didn't open the door, she turned slightly worried. She turned the doorknob, and on opening the door, she noticed Eugene was not in there.
At the same time, seeing Alfie, who was walking by, was stopped by Lady Aubrey, and she asked him, "Have you seen, Eugene?"
"Eugene? A few minutes ago, he said he would be going out for a bit, milady and he would return later," Alfie answered. Lady Aubrey pursed her lips, wondering where Eugene might have gone.
