How To Marry A Werewolf (Claw & Courtship, #1)(5)

Faith was seized with the urge to be slightly evil. “You mean it isn’t, in London?” She made her voice go breathy. “Geology is all the rage back home. Any lady worth her salt knows her minerals by rote.”

“You are having me on.” He did not sound amused.

Faith widened her eyes at him and tried to look innocent.

He fondled the lapis lazuli a moment longer. Then said, sounding pained, “It is the color of your eyes.”

Faith could only blink at that. She thought her eyes were not so dark a blue, but she would take the compliment, if that’s what it was.

There was a commotion with one of the other BUR officers, or whatever they were called, that drew the much lighter blue gaze of the vampire away from Faith.

She thought she saw a moment of relief cross his perfect face.

“Oh, very well, take your rocks and be on your way, miss.”

“I don’t see that I need your permission. Good evening to you, sir.” Faith began packing up the case herself, batting away the helpful hands of Mr Kerr, who seemed to feel some guilt over his part in waylaying her.

The vampire, whom Faith was beginning to suspect was also a scoundrel, said, grinning, “Welcome to London, Miss Lazuli.”





STEP TWO


  Situate Yourself in an Advantageous Location


Faith and her maid (and her rocks) made their way through the Customs House of Hyde Park dirigible embarkation green, which proved itself to be much less intrusive than their initial welcoming committee. Not quite as attractive, it must be admitted, but Faith preferred comfort over beauty. Or so she told herself.

She and her papers were given no more than a cursory glance. Apparently, customs officials felt that her walking suit passed muster as sufficiently respectable, for all that it sported divided skirts. Take that, Mr Vampire-with-the-critical-eyes!

Outside the customs house, the landing green resembled nothing so much as a countryside racetrack. Faith looked back at it, to see the tall blond figure of the vampire still messing around with her former airship and its personnel. She pitied the other passengers now facing his cool regard and patted her specimen case in a sympathetic manner.

She paused a moment to watch. He moved very gracefully for a big man, but then again, his was more a dancer’s physique than a pugilist’s. She found she preferred that in a man. In her limited experience (which had all been with werewolves), supernatural creatures were brutes. That vampire had seemed a pill, and considering his comment on her eyes, possibly a rake. But he didn’t seem a brute. Although one never knew with immortals.

She looked around.

A large, flashy Isopod steam transport drew up. It was decidedly doodlebug-like in appearance but cheerful rather than creepy. It disgorged two ladies as alike in appearance, dress, and manners as to be twins, had the one not been twice the age of the other.

The younger of the two bustled over, approaching Faith with a sweet smile and eager step. Her face looked a little as if it had lost a bet with a chipmunk over the ability to stuff food into its cheeks, then got stuck. She had the rosy glow of the very robust or the overindulgent. Faith assumed, by her age (which was near Faith’s own), that it was the former.

“Miss Wigglesworth?” the stranger said, eyes inquiring under a daring turban-style hat.

Faith smiled back, prepared to like this unknown cousin, who did not seem at all reluctant to meet her. Maybe she has not learned of my disgrace.

“Yes. Are you Miss Iftercast?” Faith offered her hand to shake.

The young lady (who might or might not be Miss Iftercast) looked at the proffered hand in confusion. Then suddenly brightened. “Oh, dear me, no, we don’t do that here in London. No offense, of course, cultural differences and all that rot. Now, where were we? Oh, yes, I am indeed Miss Iftercast. Only, could we not do that bit? I mean to say I am jolly delighted to make your acquaintance at last, dearest cousin! I’m determined we shall be fast friends. Your given name is Faith, is it not? Tell me, may I call you Faith right away? It’s such a lovely name.”

Miss Iftercast had a pleasant breathy way of speaking and an accent only slightly less toothy and properly British than that of the unpleasant vampire. Faith was beginning to think this was the vocal styling of the uppermost crust of London society.

Faith, who hated her name, could not but respond to such warmth. It had been ages since anyone had actually been happy to see her. She was practically moved to tears. Especially after such an aggravating and embarrassing encounter over her rocks. Miss Iftercast had barely even glanced at the split skirts, either. It was a miracle welcome.

Faith marshaled her resources. “Feel free. And you are Theodora, I think. Yes?”

“Yes, I mean no. I mean to say, that’s my proper name, but everyone calls me Teddy. And you simply must call me Teddy, too. Oh, I do adore your accent, it’s divine.”

“My accent? Oh, but it is you who have such a way of speaking vowels. So calming.”

Teddy gave a tinkling laugh. “Mums says I’m too posh for words after they sent me to finishing school. And I said, well, what did they expect, wasting my time with elocution lessons when I could have been riding? I’m a great horse enthusiast, you see? And I can hunt like anything. Mums says I’m too sporting by half – overly horsey. Do you ride?”

Faith blinked under this diatribe. “Yes, I sure do. Although I’m not as good as you, I suspect.”