Blood and Gold Trilogy

Chapter 4: Brindle House

Sassafras only fell silent after the hansom came to a second halt, this one more orderly. My door opened before I had a chance to reach for it, my quilt folded over my arm and my cat's cage in my free hand as I alighted to the ground. I heard the solid thud of a door being thrown open and the tapping of running feet as I ignored the driver's offer of aid. The moment my foot touched the ground, I found myself enveloped in the arms of a very enthusiastic woman.

"Auburdeen!" Her squeal very nearly pierced my eardrums, let loose as it was near my right ear. Her firm little hands gripped my shoulders and pushed me away, her rounded, beaming face gazing up at me, flushed in the cheeks. I caught a glimpse of perfectly sculpted blonde hair and very generous cleavage before being pulled forward yet again into another tight embrace. "You're early!"

I gently extracted myself from her grasp, Sass rattling around inside his cage as I did so, the thud of my luggage hitting the pavement behind me registering in the soles of my boots. A dark haired man, also smiling, his round glass lenses sparkling in the electric light, handed the driver his p*****t. It all happened so fast I didn't have a chance to thank the man before he was back in his seat and sending his horses on their way.

Georgina Brindle's forehead barely reached my jaw, but she vibrated with so much energy she seemed much taller. Her ample body was sheathed in layers of lace and crinoline, satin and boning. Jewelry flashed from her neck and fingers, but there was so much joy and happiness in her face I hardly noticed any of those details. The biggest impression she made on me was the enthusiasm of her welcome.

Her little hands went right to her face, two tears standing in her light green eyes. "Oh my dear," she said, "you are the very image of my darling Thad."

I'd heard that many times before and I had learned to accept it as truth. "Thank you, Countess." I said, remembering her title just in time and that I should probably use it. She was, after all, royalty.

The delightful lady snorted. "That will be enough of such nonsense from you, my dear. Your mother was never required to address me with a title and neither are you." Her eyes brimmed as she gazed at me. "So beautiful," she fairly gushed, her hands falling to clasp over the frothing lace barely containing her very large chest. "How I longed for hair like that when I was your age. And so tall and with such perfect skin." She sighed deeply, dress and body heaving in such a way I feared for her modesty. "And I dare say you have your mother's temper as well."

What was this? "Do tell," I said with a grin.

Georgina winked at me, one arm hooking through mine as she led me toward the house. A fine iron gate stood open, a pathway of interlocked stones leading to an imposing front door. I looked up only to notice the man who paid the driver was gone and several servants were disappearing through the front door with my luggage. The house towered over me, three massive stories of elegance and charm. "So many tales," my hostess said. "You must tell me how your mother is. I've missed her so." An embroidered handkerchief emerged from her sleeve, used to dab at the threatening tears. "It's been so very long since we've seen each other."

I was about to answer when I was swept forward into the foyer of the large house and came face to face with three other people. One of them was the man with the glasses who still smiled his gentle smile. He was as small in stature as Georgina and about her age so I wasn't the least surprised when she introduced him.

"My darling husband," Georgina said. "Bernard."

"Thank you for hosting me, my lord." I had some manners after all. I hoped Sassafras was listening.

The master of the house widened his smile, soft voice squeaky when he spoke. "Please, my dear. Bernard. And you are very welcome here."

Georgina physically turned me toward the blushing girl next in line. "My sweet daughter, Katherine."

She was slim and trim, more conservatively dressed and considerably less endowed than her mother, her taffeta gown a soft golden brown almost the same color as her hair. She dimpled sweetly and bobbed a little curtsy though I wondered why she felt the need to do so.

"Kate, please, Auburdeen," she said, her voice as soft and lovely as she was.

"Burdie," I said, feeling suddenly like an uncultured clod next to her, as though my taller body was somehow unnatural, my normally loud voice overpowering and abrasive. I automatically spoke more quietly though I didn't attempt the curtsy back.

"And our son, Hugh." His parents hadn't passed on their looks to him as they had with Kate. Though he was taller than both of them, the stretching of his figure did little to improve him. He appeared all gangly arms and legs, with a protruding Adam's apple and eyes, hair a dull brown. He bowed and smiled at me very kindly however, so I smiled back.

"My poor darling," Georgina gushed as she dragged me toward the sweeping staircase on the right side of the foyer. I barely had time to look around before she pulled me with great insistence up the wide steps. "You must be simply exhausted from your travels. Was it terribly hideous?" She paled in the light of the electric lamps. I was happy to note they didn't use candles or gaslight, but real electricity in their home.

"It was," I said, "if you find boredom hideous." I smiled to take the sting from my words. We made the landing, moving quickly down the ornate hall past door after elaborately carved door. I looked around, catching only a few details, stunning paintings, tall ceilings and the feel of the smooth marble under my boots.

"Oh no," Georgina said in a breathy whisper. "Boredom I can handle. It's all that dreadful water. Going on and on forever like that. Were you terribly afraid?"

I honestly hadn't even thought about it and found myself wondering what in the world my mother saw in the woman who clutched my arm so tight. "Not terribly," I said.

A servant saw us coming and stepped aside from a wide open door. I entered beside Georgina into a massive room with an incredibly high ceiling and a large, decorative fireplace on one wall, a gigantic dark wood four-poster bed on the other.

"It's been my greatest fear," the woman admitted to me, the kerchief dangling from her clenched fingers pressed to her heart, "that I would drown on such a voyage." She shuddered, her skin rippling under her dress. "How I would love to visit my dear Thad, but the ocean keeps us apart."

It amazed me that a coven leader would be afraid of anything, but I did my best to keep the flash of contempt I felt from showing on my face. "Maybe Mum could come visit you again." The likelihood of such a visit rapidly receded with the advancing succession, but I wanted to soothe Georgina's feelings. I must have succeeded because she smiled and squeezed my arm before letting me go.

"Until then," she beamed at me, "I'll just have to make do with you." She looked at me with so much adoration for so long I grew embarrassed by the attention.

"Perhaps we should allow Burdie to settle herself before dinner?" I hadn't even noticed Kate joined us, but felt a surge of gratitude so strong I turned and grinned at her.

"Of course, what was I going on about?" Georgina laughed a little and patted my hand. "You make yourself at home here, my dear. If there is anything at all you need, please, do not hesitate. We want you to feel as though Brindle House is your home for the duration of your stay."

It was outside my character to willingly hug another, but I couldn't resist her infectious joy. I embraced her and kissed her cheek gently.

"Thank you, George," I whispered.

She giggled. "George. Your mother's been telling stories as well, I see." Her green eyes twinkled. "I'll have to repay her tenfold."

I loved the wickedness in her smile and wondered if perhaps I'd worried for no reason. From the sounds of things, Georgina and Mum had their own adventures when they were my age. I might have fun here after all.

"Dear Kate, will you help Burdie with her things?" Georgina swept toward the doorway. "I must see to dinner. We're not usually this late, but coven business kept me."

"We'll be fine, Mother." Kate gently closed the door on Georgina and leaned back against it. She giggled as her mother retreated down the hall, footsteps finally growing faint.

I sank to my bed, fingers going to the buttons of my coat. A long, deep sigh overtook me, weariness catching up at last.

"That's just typical," Sassafras muttered from his cage. "Just leave me in here and go off to dinner. I'll be fine, really."

I laughed at him, but Kate let out a low cry and pounced on the wicker basket. She quickly undid the lid and lifted the fat Persian into her arms where she stroked his ruffled mane and nuzzled her face in his cheek.

"Burdie," she breathed into his fur, "he's so beautiful!"

I rolled my eyes while Sass purred. "Thank you."

Kate blushed. "Forgive me," she said. "I meant to say, you are so handsome. Mother told me about you, Sassafras. I've been so eager to meet you."

He gently licked her nose, his purr increasing. "And I you," he said. "It's lovely to see your mother again." His tail thrashed once. "Or would have been, if someone had let me out."

The edge was gone from his voice at least, and I had Kate to thank. She immediately sat and gave him some wonderful scratches which had him rolled over on his back within seconds.

As for me, I had no idea where to start with unpacking so I did what usually worked for me and ignored the problem. Surely one of Georgina's maids would have a clue what to do with everything.

"Please consider this your own home now," Kate said. She ruffled Sass's ears. "Both of you. Nowhere is off limits and your magic is welcome."

"Thank you," he said, rolling over into a sitting position best designed for attentive grooming which he began immediately.

Kate rose, brushing stray fur from the front of her gown before neatly folding her hands in front of her, a small, sweet smile on her face. "If you'll follow me," she said, "I can show you around."

Since I simply wanted to collapse into the feather stuffed mattress and close my eyes, the idea of a tour seemed unwelcome. But a glare from Sass was enough to change my mind. I was up and moving before I knew he'd coupled the look with a shot of demon magic.

I made a rude face at him on the way out and left him there, cleaning his spotless silver fur, following Kate out of my new room and into the hall.

As I left, I heard his voice in my head.

Temper, Burdie. Decorum. Poise. You're not only here for your protection, but as a representative of what will soon be the Hayle coven. Act the part, please.

Bloody hell, I shot back.

***