Vampire Assassin League Bundle Five - Loneliness by Jackie Ivie Read Free Book Online Page A

“Oh. This is rich. Here I thought you were an edgy type. What do you do with him? You handcuff him to a bedpost and take him for a test drive. And he looked perfectly capable of handling anything on your roads. Hell. If I wasn’t married, I’d help.”
    “I mean after the sex. Then what? Logistically speaking, it’s better this way. Really.”
    “Bullshit. With a capital ‘B’.”
    Eleanor opened the little purse she’d secured under her belt, took out a silver canteen, unscrewed the top, and poured something into her tankard. Rachel watched without comment. Well . That explained why mead was kicking Eleanor’s ass.
    “Munson. I’m a New Yorker. He’s a Brit.”
    “So?”
    “I have a life.”
    “Right. Allow me to point out that you have a teeny apartment, no close relatives, and the same specter of breast cancer that took your mother hovering over you. Some life.”
    “Are you trying to depress me?”
    “Nope. Just pointing out the obvious. Your life is a dead-end hamster wheel going nowhere. Why else would you be spending your vacation chasing a pedophile?”
    “Because the bastard was not slipping away again.”
    “Oh, Rachel. Forgive me. I shouldn’t talk and drink. My mouth is in gear and my brain isn’t driving. Feel free to smack me anytime.”
    Eleanor Munson took a deep draught from her tankard. She obviously wasn’t planning to drive anywhere. That was okay. Rachel was completely sober. She’d have them at their hotel in London probably before sun-up.
    “His name was Wystan. Wystan, Something-or-other, Crecy.”
    Eleanor spewed her swallow, and then started choking. It wasn’t faked. Rachel was rising to assist before she got waved off.
    “Holy...crime shit. Wystan Ryn de Crecy? Do you know...who that is?”
    “Sounded familiar. Should I know it?”
    “Pull out your entry pass. Look at it.”
    That piece of paper was wadded into a pocket next to the cuffs she’d misplaced earlier. Rachel took it out, smoothed it, and then lifted it, squinting at the ornate printing. The light was terrible for people watching. It was ridiculously awful for reading.
    “Okay. It says ‘Ticket holder is entitled to the entire weekend at the Winter Renaissance Faire at Castle ... Crecy’. We’re at Castle Crecy? No. He can’t. Are you going to tell me that guy owns this place?”
    Munson nodded. “You really should read more of the stuff I do.”
    “I don’t like tabloid fodder.”
    “If that guy was Sir Wystan de Crecy? Wow. I mean double wow. He’s like, one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. Should I mention he’s a millionaire, too? Maybe I should make that billionaire. Nobody knows for certain. He’s exceptionally secretive. Reclusive. And...oh man. I had no idea. The guy is such an introvert, he’s like a ghost. He’s never photographed. Never interviewed. Hell...if I’d known that was what he looked like? If anyone knew what he looked like? We wouldn’t be able to get through the crowd of women surrounding the place.”
    “Must you?”
    “Oh. I’m sorry. I’m supposed to be maligning the guy. He’s a jerk. With incredibly poor eyesight. I mean...how could he overlook you? In that dress? Wait. This looks promising.”
    “What?”
    “There is a butler-looking fellow in the doorway. He’s focusing on us. Yes. I was right. Here he comes.”
    “You are so full of it.”
    Despite her words, Rachel looked. There really was an elderly fellow weaving through the tables. He was wearing a perfectly ironed dark suit and carrying a polished silver tray. He reached the end of their table and executed a little dip of his head toward her. That was cute.
    “Good morning. You are the Lady Rachel Berne?”
    “Uh...”
    “Say yes!” Munson hissed it.
    Rachel chuckled a bit. Why not?
    “Yes,” she answered. And then wondered if she should get up and curtsey or something.
    “I have a note for you. My lady.”
    He lowered his tray so she could lift the envelope resting there. Wow. It