The Vampyre Venture

Chapter I.VII

“And then, I have to dodge it so that my father will not come after me. Instead, he went after my brother,” Emily said as Becca was laughing at her anecdote. How come one gets away with anything? Becca mused before she remembered that she was the youngest and her sisters had been married.

Of course, her mother would focus on her.

But that ended tonight as she will be staying at this lavish estate when she will be losing her virginity to her new husband, the Duke of Belikov. Becca gulped before she turned to see that her husband was walking with someone that she knew. It was the young Queen Arabella Dragomir of Niapachad Island.

Shit! Becca was trying to control Emily’s laughter before she was looking at the young queen as well. Emily shut up before they both stood up and curtsied to the queen. “Your Majesty,” they both said as the young queen was beaming at Becca.

“You must be happy that you are oblivious to the scowl and frown of the ladies around you, cousin,” the young queen was regarding her as Becca was blinking her eyes.

“What?”

“You’re laughing very loudly and yet ignore the scorn of polite society,” the young queen stated as she was smiling at Becca.

“Oh! I am so sorry then if you have to see that, Your Majesty, we were just—“

“No, it’s fine. It was a good thing perhaps to get that polite society off your back. This is your night, enjoy it,” the young queen said before her eyes were trained on Emily. Becca hoped that she would not take any interest in Emily.

But of course, ‘tis only a dream.

“And who's this?” The young queen asked before Emily was blinking at her. Becca had to think of something before Niklaus cleared his throat.

“I think it is due time for me and my wife to dance. Duchess, will you dance with me?” Niklaus asked her as Becca was looking at his offered hand. She sighed inwardly as she was smiling at her husband.

“That would be my pleasure, my lord,” she stated before she was taking his hand and electrics were all over her veins. This was not normal, Becca mused before they walked to the dance floor, walking as the others would follow them to dance the waltz as well.

*****

Arabella was looking at the young lady with brown eyes and golden locks. She thought that Becca’s friend was a nice figure before Emily was smiling at her. “So, your name is Lady Emily Moore? The late Lord Moore’s daughter?” She asked as Emily was nodding her head.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she replied, as Arabella was looking at her. She smiled before she continued.

“And I am sorry about your brother,” Arabella said as Emily smiled weakly.

“He’s in a better place now,” Emily stated before she was looking at Arabella. The young queen saw someone that would suit this poor lady before she could say goodbye. Arabella smiled as an idea was forming inside her head.

Time for the next lord to get married, she mused before Emily was excusing herself to get away from the young queen. Arabella knew that she could be intimidating sometimes. Then, she felt the familiar body heat.

“I hope you were not thinking what I thought you would, my love,” Aiden stated before Arabella was turning to look at her husband. Aiden was arching his eyebrows at Arabella before she laughed.

“And what would that be, husband?” The young queen asked as she was playing with Aiden’s lapel before her husband was sighing.

“Hmm, let’s see. You find another suitable woman and will match up with one of the lords in the Higher Court. I would be guessing the Marquis?” Aiden stated before Arabella was smirking at him.

“You’re too observant, my love,” the young queen stated before she was pulling at her husband’s arm and went to the dance floor to dance before they were heading to their home in Royal Molftus.

“It’s called cautious, my love,” Aiden stated as Arabella was arching her eyebrows at him.

“were you always this cautious before you married me?” Arabella asked as Aiden was putting his hand on her waist and gripped the other one. Aiden smirked.

“Would you like to know,” Aiden said before they were waltzing across the dance floor, with the Duke and Duchess of Belikov being in the spotlight of polite society for tonight.

*****

Becca was looking at Niklaus as he was smiling charmingly at her. She was rolling her eyes when the music started to play on the string quartets and Niklaus was leading her on the dance floor.

“You have good posture, my dear,” Niklaus commented on her dancing as Becca was narrowing her eyes at her husband.

“Was that supposed to be a compliment, my lord?” She asked Niklaus before her husband was chuckling at her question.

“What do you think it was supposed to be?” Niklaus asked her as they were twirling around the dance floor before Niklaus was spinning Becca around. Her back was against his chest before Becca gasped. She glanced over her shoulder as she was regarding her handsome husband.

“I thought you were being sarcastic,” she said before Niklaus was turning her around and they were waltzing again. Niklaus chuckled before his blue orbs were looking at Becca. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Do you think I would not compliment my beautiful wife in front of polite society? You are mistaken, my dear,” Niklaus said as Becca was rolling her eyes again.

Well, no one can correct her mistakes now, since she was a Duchess.

“Quite charming, aren’t you, my lord?” Becca asked her husband before Niklaus was arching his eyebrows at her.

“What do you mean?” He asked before Becca was smiling at him knowingly. Then, the music ended before they were bowing to each other as Niklaus was pulling her to his side again and went off the dance floor.

“Niklaus, we have to go now. Aiden was not feeling well,” the young queen of Niapachad Island, Queen Arabella Dragomir, the cousin of the Duke of Belikov, was talking to her husband before Niklaus was nodding at her.

“Have a safe trip, cousin. And I hope you get well, Aiden,” Niklaus stated before the prince consort was choking before the young queen was helping her husband.

“Right, thank you, Belikov,” the prince consort stated before the couple was moving away and Becca was looking around for Emily. She was nowhere to be found.

“Who are you searching for, my dear?” Niklaus asked Becca as she turned to look at him. She was about to speak before her parents came to greet them.

“Becca darling, we have to go now. It was a splendid reception, Your Grace,” Lady Georgia curtsied to Niklaus as well as Becca. So, this is what power could do to my mother, Becca mused before Niklaus was shaking hands with Lord Matthew.

“Please take care of our Becca. She’s reckless and wild but I know you can handle her, Your Grace,” Lord Matthew stated before Becca was feeling rather hot in her face right now.

“Papa,” she warned before Niklaus smirked.

“Do not worry,’’ Niklaus said before he was gripping Becca’s waistline. She sucked a breath as she could feel his touch through the tight corset as well as her wedding gown. Oh Lord, help me, Becca prayed before her parents were leaving.

As much as the people in the crowd when they were retiring for the night. It was almost 4 AM. One thing that Becca knew: the gentry would sleep during the day and go out at night. It has been that way since the Origins founded this island and Becca has no complaints about it.

Unless she wanted to get some sunshine, then she would get up during the day to get some vitamins for her skin to be healthy.

But it has been a constant curiosity about how the gentry kept their skin well and nourished when they did not even walk under the sun. Most of them have beautiful skin and were considered the most handsome on the island.

Especially her husband, the Duke of Belikov.

The gentry and commoners alike were saying their farewells when they were walking out of the ballroom hall. Becca was still sipping on her wine as the last of Niklaus’ friends, the one that was insulting her, was saying his farewell before the huge oak doors boomed behind him.

Becca sighed before she closed her eyes and stared at the gaslights that were hanging on the ceiling. It was supposed to be a chandelier that would reflect the lights onto the ballroom but right now, Becca could care less.

It was time for her wedding night.

Becca was shaking her head before she was sipping the wine again, as she was trying not to think about the way of begetting an heir. Would Niklaus ask her tonight? What if she got drunk and avoided it for tonight? But what about the other nights then?

“Duchess,” Niklaus called after Becca before she was jerking in her seat. She turned to look at Niklaus, who was striding toward her with grace. Like a panther that was ready to pounce on its prey. And tonight, Becca was the prey.

“Yes, my lord?” Becca said as she was getting up from the chair. She was swaying as she had been drowsing on the wine for the last hour. Becca thought she could not stand still if not for Niklaus’ hand on her lower back right now.

“Are you alright?” Niklaus asked her as she was nodding at him.

“Yes, I am fine. What do you think I was otherwise?” She asked her husband, as Niklaus was amused by her response.

“Because you’re slurring right now and hiccupping,” Niklaus said as Becca was blinking her eyes at him. She was not like that, was she?