The Rest Falls Away Read Free

top of a five-step landing had been thrown open to the ballroom. Lamps and candles glinted in every corner, on every surface, from every sconce. The room’s pillars were surrounded by potted leafless saplings painted white and hung with glittering garlands. A six-piece orchestra was arranged in one corner of the ballroom, nearly hidden by a cluster of white trees; and a long table decorated with bowls of white roses held punch and other refreshments for the partygoers. Beyond the expanse of the gleaming pine dance floor, three sets of French doors opened onto the terrace. Late
    May’s welcome breeze filtered in, and would have carried the heady scent of lilacs and forsythia if the air hadn’t already been heavy with French perfumes and floral waters.
    â€œDo you sense the presence?” Aunt Eustacia had come from behind Victoria, and she hissed in her ear as she drew her from Melly’s side. “Do you feel it?”
    â€œYes. But how can I—”
    â€œYou will. You will find a way to corner the creature. You are Chosen, cara. You are Chosen because you have the skill, the knowledge, and the strength. All you must do is listen to yourself.” Eustacia’s eyes glittered like the jet beads woven into Victoria’s hair. Her gaze was filled with intensity, certainty, and Victoria suddenly felt the heaviness of the responsibility she’d taken on. Tonight was her first test. If she passed it, her aunt would reveal all to her.
    If she didn’t…
    That did not bear thinking about. She would succeed. She had spent the last four weeks learning how to fight and strike at a vampire. She was as prepared as she could be.
    â€œGood evening, Miss Grantworth,” said a dainty woman approximately her own age. “I am Lady Gwendolyn Starcasset, and I was hoping to make your acquaintance. I’d like to congratulate you on a lovely debut. The white-washed trees hung with silver garlands are a beautiful touch.”
    Gwendolyn was daintier and smaller than Victoria, with honey-blond hair and golden eyes. A smattering of freckles were sprinkled over her shoulders and across her back; but the front of her bosom was lightly powdered so as to hide the ones there. She had a charming dimple that settled to the right of her mouth when she smiled, as now.
    â€œGood evening to you, Lady Gwendolyn. Thank you for your compliment, but I can take little credit for the decorations. That is my mother’s doing. She is much more comfortable with these sorts of things than am I.”
    Because Victoria had been in mourning for two years, after her grandfather’s and then her father’s deaths, and the Grantworth family had spent an inordinate amount of time in the country at their Prewitt Shore estate, she knew very few young ladies her age. Of course, that dearth in friendships could have had to do with the fact that Victoria preferred to spend time riding about the countryside or at Regents Park on her mare, or reading books instead of making calls and genteelly sipping tea.
    Feeling a renewed shiver over the back of her neck, Victoria took a moment to look out over the crowded room. Where was he?
    â€œSo now you can join the rest of us eligible misses and parade around at balls and the like, searching for a husband,” added Miss Starcasset.
    Victoria stopped scanning the room, surprised at her new acquaintance’s bluntness. “I do rather feel like a prime bit of horseflesh that is being trotted to and fro. I didn’t think any of the other debutantes would share such an opinion. Finding a husband is an important task—or so my mother tells me.”
    â€œAs does mine. And not to say that I shouldn’t want to marry and bear an heir; it’s just the manner in which we’re paraded about. But I daresay, there are several gentlemen whom I wouldn’t mind being noticed by at all.” Gwendolyn’s dimple appeared. “Rockley, for one. Or Gadlock, or