Chapter 40: Meredith Finds Answers

The next evening, William meets Meredith at the garden gate, his wife close behind him. "Mrs. Shepherd, can you believe it...the constable says the thieves are willing to replace the sheep they stole."

"Marvelous news, William."

"Was your husband able to prevent any damages to the manor? I know his family still holds it dear. Shame to see it stand empty all these years."

"I believe the thieves were caught before much damage was done. We're checking it tonight."

"You should convince him to restore the place," Eliza speaks up. "Be lovely to see it all grand again."

Meredith giggles. "All right, I'll mention it." She takes Eliza's hands, feeling a little twinge in the older woman's nerves. "You're feeling all right?"

"Oh, you know, it's just a bother." Eliza smiles, as Meredith massages her hands. "But you have such a good touch, my dear. Makes me feel so much better."

Derek walks outside then, watching them quietly for a moment. Listening to Meredith's soft voice as she holds Eliza's hands. He waits a moment longer, letting her finish before interrupting, admiring the easy manner she has with them. The physician in her is too ingrained, and her natural healing power is amplified by the vampiric essence.

Then Meredith catches his presence, and she smiles at him quickly. He feels the love and the sensual pull between them, and it amazes him how much he has come to depend on her presence. He pushes away from the back doorway, crossing the flagstone path quickly. Sliding his arm around her shoulder, he kisses her cheek. "All set to go?"

"Are you sure you don't want some late dinner? Eliza has the best roast beef..." William offers.

"Thank you, but no, we have plans," Derek explains.

"You never eat," Eliza chides him, patting his arm. "Always so busy."

"One of these nights, I promise," Derek says easily. "Now we should go."

"Good night," Meredith says, waving goodbye as they head out to the manor again. "Such a sweet couple, still so in love," she comments as they walk away. "So nice to see."

"I hope you will love me like that in another few hundred years or so," Derek teases.

"I plan to, my immortal," she replies. "Now let's go find my family tree. Kiera did say I was of her kin, after all. I hope we can verify that." She pauses. "Do you ever think of the possibility of moving back here?"

"Here?" Derek's eyebrows go up. "Wyndhaven?"

"Yes, you've already put yourself as the descendant, so you could restore the place...it's a wonderful estate."

"Would you want to live out here?" he asks thoughtfully. "For a while anyway..."

"Why not? Is it possible?"

"Maybe, sweetheart, "Derek thinks, calculating the ways of doing it, already admitting a certain longing to return here again. "You could be Lady Shepherd."

"Nice ring to that," she giggles.

By this time, they reach the manor, finding it all quiet and deserted this time. Derek had been in contact with James, his barrister in London, who assured Derek that everything was taken care of. The thieves were under lock and key at the local constabulary, and they were strangely vocal about confessing their crime. They even wanted to stay locked up for a while, which completely baffled the officers.

They check the old chests that the thieves had begun rifling through, but nothing seems to be what they are looking for. Only old cutlery, and candelabras, bits and pieces of crockery, but nothing of value. They circle the room, looking at shelves, and nooks and crannies, until they sneeze from the dust that rises around them.

"Let's check that bedchamber again," Meredith urges. "I'm sure Kiera would have kept the Bible close by. Maybe some spot you weren't aware of."

Within moments, they are standing in the middle of the empty room again. The remnants of the broken glass still litter the floor, though a piece here and there still clings to the edge of the window. Derek stands behind her, his hands on her shoulders. "Not much to see, I'm afraid."

"There has to be something, I feel it."

She leans back against him, relishing the feel of his strength behind her, as always. "Let me look around, and you can check the rest of the manor for damages."

"Just be careful." Derek kisses her temple, sliding his hands down her arms. "I won't be far from you."

She turns to face him. "I'll be fine." Rising up to kiss him quickly. "I'll call you if I find something."

Derek leaves her then, and she wanders around the empty room. Trailing her fingers along the stone casements, wondering where Kiera might have put the Bible for safekeeping. She closes her eyes, wishing she could channel the spirit again. "Kiera...where did you put that...?" she muses but realizing that the odds of actually finding it are slim. Better luck to find something on the internet...Google search the family names, see what comes up.

Then her foot bumps against a loose stone on the floor. She frowns, and drops to her knees, inspecting the spot. She lifts the stone, finding a small space beneath it, and her pulse jumps in excitement. Her fingers touch something wrapped in burlap; she carefully eases it out of the hiding spot. The burlap gives way to a leather-bound Bible, nearly crumbling apart despite her careful touch. Just as the little book of poetry, the parchment pages are delicate. But there is an extra piece of paper tucked into the middle of the book, and she pulls it out carefully.

She almost holds her breath, hoping she doesn't destroy the page. The delicate handwriting is smudge and nearly illegible after all these years. The family crest adorns the top of the page, a heraldic symbol, flanked by twined roses and lavender. Her heart contracts – lavender has always been her favorite scent.

"The Grey family…" Meredith whispers. "From the time of Henry II, oh my god…Derek!"

In a heartbeat, he is at her side, concern on his face. "Are you all right?"

"This is it…" She holds up the paper for him to see.

"You really found it…"

"It goes back quite a few generations…look, here's Kiera, and her sisters, Margaret, Anne…and her brothers…"

"Yes, Sebastien and John…" Derek finishes quietly. "I remember them all. They all had children of their own, ours was the youngest of the grandchildren." He closes his eyes, envisioning his infant son again.

Meredith places her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry, this is too difficult for you… I should have realized."

He smiles at her, opening his eyes. "No, I understand your need to do this. Unfortunately, this list may not answer all your questions. If you've descended through the line of Grey, you would be from Sebastien or John's direct lineage. I know they also had sons. I believe we will need to check with the parish here – they should have family lists going back several centuries. Why didn't I think of that before?"

"I guess we were too focused on my vision," Meredith murmurs. "But at least we found this. It's an excellent keepsake."

Derek folds her into his arms, kissing her lips gently. "You're my keepsake, Meredith. You keep my happy. The past doesn't really matter to me."

"I know...maybe I should just take Kiera's words to heart and know we were kin. Maybe that's enough."

"Let's go, sweetheart. I've looked around here enough for tonight. There doesn't seem to be any other damage done. We caught the fools in time. But I'm going to increase the security anyway. Better safe than sorry."

Meredith nods, tucking the Bible carefully into the little bag that she carried with her just in case she found her treasure. "Okay, I'm ready."

"Hungry?" he asks, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as they walk slowly out of the bedchamber.

"Yes, and not for roast beef…" she giggles, remembering Eliza's invitation.

"God, we will need to do something about that," Derek groans.

Thatcher crosses his arms over his chest, looking at Mark who waits for him in the chair by the fireplace. The library is quiet, save for the measured ticking of the clock in the corner.

"So, tell me, Mark...did I not request you to wipe Dr. Montgomery's memory after you left with her?"

"Yes, sir."

"I understand your desire to take her blood, but you know our rules."

"Yes, but..."

Thatcher holds his hand up to silence him. "Wait. You willfully disobeyed my command. You were with her again, in Seattle. May I ask why?"

"Honestly, sir, I'm not sure myself. I thought I could leave her as all the others in the past, but something in her pulls me back. I couldn't seem to stay away, no matter how much I fought the compulsion." Mark shifts uncomfortably in his chair, fussing with the already impeccable crease in his dark slacks.

"Have you wiped her mind now?"

"Well, not entirely," Mark confesses. "She only knows that I came to her aid outside the hospital, ostensibly to fix her flat tire. She remembers nothing of the earlier parts, with Nathalia, or what we are."

Thatcher shakes his head. "Mark, I've been lenient with you, due to your ordeal with Michelangelo, but this has to end."

Mark nods, feeling like he is a young fledgling vampire again, being chastised for breaking rules. He thinks of Addison's lithe body in his arms, her rich hair in a wild riot around them in bed, and the succulent taste of her blood on his tongue. Oh, he was careful to wipe that part of her thoughts, but he was reluctant to remove himself completely from her mind. Damn, is this what Derek had been talking about with Meredith? Even Alexei seems to have succumbed to the lure of a woman, spending more and more time with Cristina.

He takes a deep breath, before speaking. "Sir, there are mortals that mate with vampires - it's not unheard of. You yourself..."

"Of course, but in those instances, the mortal is fully aware of what we are. They have been given the choice to live among us, even to take some of our blood to prolong their life if they choose. You are being with Addison under false pretenses, Mark. Believe me, I realize your predicament. If this woman means more to you than just a passing fancy, you need to tell her what you are, before things get out of control."

Mark rubs a hand over his jaw. "You're right. It's not meant to be this way. I should leave her alone."

Thatcher raises one silver brow. "Are you sure that's what you really want to do? Alexei tried to stay away from his lady and found he couldn't."

"It's for the best. I can't imagine staying with just one female, after all," Mark flashes a grin. "It's just not my nature."

"Well, then see that you follow through with that course of action then." Thatcher gives him a stern look, but wondering to himself just how long that will last...