Read Online Victoria Gardella: Vampire Slayer by Colleen Gleason - Free Book Online Page B

felt the presence of
Phillip behind her before he even spoke…perhaps it was the smell of
the lemon-rosemary pomade he favored, or perhaps it was merely that
prickle of awareness, of attraction, that hummed between them. At
any rate, she turned slowly—so as not to appear too eager, yet
delighted to see him—and immediately found his gaze behind the
black mask.
    His dark eyes were hooded by heavy lids that
always gave him an appearance of deep contemplation, and yet
underlying humor and sensuality. “That is quite a magnificent
coiffure, your majesty,” he said, removing his soft, feathered hat
as he bowed. “It’s a wonder that your slender neck can carry the
weight, especially with all of those jewels and other ornaments
therein.”
    “Indeed, Sir Robin of the Hood,” she replied.
“I hope that you haven’t any designs on relieving me of any of said
jewels, under the guise of lightening the load for my poor little
head.”
    “Jewels? Nay, my fair queen,” Phillip said,
his eyes glinting wickedly from behind the mask. “It is not jewels
that I seek from you.”
    Victoria could feel her mother’s barely
suppressed delight at this exchange, even as her own cheeks warmed
beneath the mask and her stomach gave a delicious flutter.
    Phillip, savvy as he was, took that moment to
break off their little sally and turn to bow at Circe and
Aphrodite, both of whom had eyes shining with delight and fingers
twittering silently with expectation. “Good evening, my ladies,” he
said, again flourishing his cap. “How lovely you both look this
eventide. I do hope you might forgive this outlaw if he claims the
queen for a waltz—as she refuses to part with her jewels.”
    “Oh, but of course,” replied Lady Melly,
fairly shoving Victoria at Rockley.
    Fortunately, Phillip had become familiar with
Lady Melly’s enthusiasm due to past exchanges, and he caught
Victoria’s arm before she—and her mass of skirts—stumbled over his
boots. “Shall we?” he asked, cupping her fingers intimately around
his warm, muscular arm.
    As he drew her toward the dance floor, where
a country dance had just ended, Victoria passed a golden-haired man
dressed as a medieval lute player. Though he wore a mask the color
of well-brewed tea, topaz eyes glittered through the holes…and
caught Victoria’s gaze.
    A little shiver tingled over the back of her
shoulders and she felt a quick, funny twist in her middle. She knew
him. The knowing heat in those eyes…the little lift at one side of
that full mouth.
    Sebastian Vioget.
    What on earth was Sebastian Vioget doing here ?
    This time, Victoria did stumble over her
blastedly heavy skirt as Phillip drew her into a smooth embrace,
very correct, with the proper amount of space between them…and
launched them into the three-count step.
    Even as she was fully aware of the imprint of
Phillip’s hand at the back of her waist, and the comforting feel of
his fingers around hers, Victoria couldn’t keep her attention from
following the masked lute player. He was dressed in an emerald
shirt with a gold tunic over it, making it easy to follow the shine
of his garb as he moved smoothly through the clusters of
people.
    The last time she’d seen Sebastian Vioget had
been at The Silver Chalice, a pub that he owned and operated in the
unpleasant, dangerous neighborhood of St. Giles. His clientele
consisted mainly of vampires, although a few brave—or
unwitting—humans also patronized the place.
    Somehow, Sebastian had recognized the fact
that Victoria was a Venator, and he’d made his fascination clear.
And there had been that moment in his private office….
    “My dear, you seem rather quiet tonight,”
Phillip said, breaking into her thoughts. “I do hope that my
appearance didn’t set you off any plans you might have had to add
to your dance card…though I must confess, I would have battled my
way through any of your admirers to claim my waltz tonight. Or,
dare I hope…waltz es ?”
    Victoria