Bambi and the Duke

When Rhys left the mansion and Vivian went back to the room to see if she had left anything in there as they would be leaving the Rune mansion, Lord Nicholas and Leonard stood outside the mansion talking.

”You forgot to mention she held a rare ability to look at people’s past,” by the tone of Lord Nicholas, Leo could tell that he was intrigued by Vivian’s existence, ”I believe you haven’t spoken about it to anyone, after all, it would only bring trouble.”

Leonard had kept the secret of finding Vivian’s ability to himself. With the current circumstances that were going on especially with the black witches human sacrifices, there would be no doubt that people would question her lineage and the kind she came from. Her vision could gift her but it also put her into grave trouble stating that she was a black witch and black witches weren’t welcomed. A few years ago, Lord Alexander’s own mother wasn’t spared and was killed in the town at the conclusion of her being a witch. Humans and vampires were hostile to the witches.

If word got out, he wouldn’t be able to protect her and men would stake her heart without bothering to know who she was.

Leaving her at the Rune mansion or not, he knew that Nicholas was bound to find about it one or the other time. Everything he had learned as he grew up was from Sir Malcolm and Nicholas, there was nothing he wasn’t aware of.

”I have been looking for her family,” confessed Leonard as the carriage was brought to the front. The coachman got down to walk at the stable shed.

”Worried that she’s a witch?” chuckled Nicholas.

”It wouldn’t matter to me if she was one,” Leo retorted back with a shake of his head.

”Of course. Why then, if it doesn’t matter?”

”Because something tells there’s more to the story to what my old housekeeper said to me when I asked her.”

It was four years back, the time when he had only come to a realization that there couldn’t be anyone but Vivian to be one of the most important women in his life after his mother. No one knew where Vivian came from, her past was an absolute mystery like most of the maids who were brought into a household when they were young.

Though no one wanted to find out about it, Leonard had always been curious, wanting to know everything about her if it was possible. When he had asked Martha, the only words she had for him was,

’I don’t know, young master.’

But then there was a flaw in it. He had heard from his mother once how Martha had said that Vivian was a far relatives child. He hadn’t gone to Valeria only to find out about the switchers but also to find out about Vivian’s family from where Martha lived. But there wasn’t much he could find about. That wasn’t the only loophole, the part was that Martha had no relatives anyone knew of in Valeria. If that was really true, had Martha randomly found Vivian when she was young? Or was that she was sold to someone which looked like an unlikely conclusion as the woman didn’t seem like that. Martha had passed away and the next person, Paul who if knew had been executed.

”Why not go to the church?” the lord suggested, ”Sister Isabelle might have an insight on her past. It is unfortunate though, isn’t it? To look at others past but not your own...”

”Hmm. Don’t pureblooded vampires have abilities?” asked Leo looking at him who looked like he wanted to say something, ”What is it? It’s not that I haven’t thought about it.”

”I have an inkling she isn’t a human. Pureblooded vampires have abilities, not humans. When was the last time we heard of a simple human to have the insight of someone’s pasts? A gift like that is hard to come by, she is of great value.”

”Greater than that. I met Sister Isabelle to speak about Vivian.”

”You already did?” Lord Nicholas titled his head.

”I did. Before she had visions,” the brown-haired man smiled, his smile broadening wide, ”She’s a healer.”

”My my!” exclaimed Nicholas, ”And here I thought they had got extinct. You should make her join the council,” Leonard raised his brow at this, ”She will turn out to be an excellent councilwoman if she made into it.”

”And put her under the radar?”

”That too,” Nicholas smiled to receive a glare from Leo who stood beside him, ”Think about it, Leo. Do you know how many criminals can be caught by her help? She will be an asset,” hearing the light footsteps that approached them.

Leonard then asked, ”What did you do that’s got her conscious of your presence? Don’t think I missed the way you have been treating her the way you treat other women,” his words were filled with iciness in them.

”I did nothing but ask her a few questions about her ability. I couldn’t help but feed my curiosity,” the Lord smiled.

”You curiosity is injurious to other people, milord,” Leo sighed, turning to see Vivian walking through the mansion doors, ”Thank you for looking after her.”

”Anytime,” Lord Nicholas then spoke to Vivian, ”I hope you come to stay at the Rune mansion again. I enjoyed your company,” Vivian bowed her head, uttering murmur of thanks for having her there before she got into the carriage.

The journey back to the Carmichael mansion, Vivian fell asleep a little who was woken up by Leo when they finally reached back to the house. Going to her room, she began unpacking the clothes. Placing them back in the drawers and closets when she heard a knock on her door which was already open.

”You could leave it for the maids to do it,” Leo stated stepping inside the room with a small wooden box in his hand. The little wooden box was carved fancily as if it held something precious inside it.

”It will take only a few minutes of my time. Also, I have nothing much to do,” she shrugged her shoulders, ”What is that?” she asked looking at the box.

”This,” he opened the little latch like a lock to pull out black cloth like material from it, placing the box down on the bed he handed it to her.

”Gloves?” she asked taking them from him. Most of the elite women wore hand gloves but they were white, not black in colour.

”I believe you don’t have one with you.”

As he helped her wear them, she said, ”These are black.”

”That they are, better than the rest, Bambi. These will help you.”

”Help me?”

”Yes,” answered Leo once she had them worn comfortably. For someone who had never worn gloves in her life before, she found it odd. Not to mention the colour, ”You can wear them when you don’t want to touch and see things,” it then dawned to her that he didn’t want her experiencing memories the way she previously before breaking down in front of him.

”Thank you,” she thanked looking up at him.

They hadn’t spoken much since he came back to the Rune’s mansion. Now that they were back home and alone, Leonard finally pulled her into his arms to kiss her on her lips. He had missed her since he left her in the Rune mansion. These three days apart from her had been torturous. Having her in his arms calmed his mind. Vivian who was shorter to Leonard in terms of height tried to stand on the tip of her toes to reach which made him smile.

Leaning down more with both his arms circled around her waist, her back arched slightly.

Vivian didn’t know or understand why but somehow it felt as if she craved more of him. The more their tongue touched, seeking each other with anxiousness the more Vivian felt herself lose herself into the kiss.

”Were you alright in the Rune mansion?” he asked her after pulling away from the kiss, ”Nicholas didn’t trouble you, right?” he asked making sure her stay had been a comfortable one.

She shook her head immediately to receive a look from him, ”He didn’t.”

”Really?”

”Yes. I had good meals and was allowed to roam around the mansion,” she replied to his burning question, ”I won in chess.”

”You did?” he cocked his head to the side, ”You must have gotten better then.”