I put my hand onto the outside of her door, and I immediately knew something was wrong.
After sitting in the parlour with Lady Danbury and Lord Basset for a bit, I headed off to bed. I wanted to be in my room before the thunderstorm started. It was coming in fast; the sky had turned an eerie black by now. The first thing I did upon arrival was shut my curtains. Then, feeling a bit more at ease, I changed into my nightgown and sat at the vanity to brush my hair.
The motion of brushing also helped sooth me, but I still never truly felt safe enduring thunder and lightning without Uncle nearby. Aside from being eaten alive by vampires, one of my biggest fears has always been thunderstorms. Since Uncle was the only vampire who could safely touch me, he used to cradle me in his arms and hold me tight until the storm had passed. Now that he wasn't here…. The hairbrush stopped on its own accord as I glanced over to the edge of the mirror where my reply to Uncle's letter was resting. Uncle's name in black ink particularly caught my attention. The brush lowered onto the tabletop. My fingers reached unthinkingly to touch the letters on the envelop. He's the only family I've ever known. He's the one who single-handedly raised me. He's the only vampire to have ever tasted my blood…. My lips parted a tiny sliver. Great uncle Arthur…
I want to see you again, Uncle.
My body couldn't have flinched harder at that first roar of thunder. It was so loud that it sent an unconscious, terrified electric shock pulsating up through my whole being. It was so powerful that it almost through me back off my stool. Another immediate lightning strike literally helped nothing. Too afraid to make a dash to crawl under my covers, I curled up into an awkward ball, trying to balance myself onto the rectangular cushioned stool. A lightning flash was so bright that it lit up through the blackout curtains, illumining the room all around me. This only served for me to hug myself tighter. I'm scared! I'm scared…. Uncle, where are you? How am I going to make it through this without you all by myself?
"Miss Bridgerton, are you alright?!"
That voice! My eyes shot open. Lord Basset's voice emanated through the door. I looked over to it in utter shock. H-he's outside? He's here and outside my room? But… why? Why is he here now of all times? Did he have any idea how grateful I was to hear him so near me? "L-Lord Basset!" My own tone was trembling terribly. I must have sounded like a petrified deer. Not that his voice wasn't seasoned with concern either; he asked if I was ok with such hast and worry. I could only guess why.
"I sense vital signs of distress. Is everything alright? Are you injured, Miss Bridgerton?" He can sense that? Well I guess I shouldn't be surprised- Uncle could always tell when something was wrong too. But I thought that was because he drank my blood before… I wiped my watery eyes, still quivering inside. "O-Oh, no. I'm fine; I'm….. Um…. I-It's just….. I'm…." My mouth was unable to form full sentences. I suppose I was reluctant to admit that I- a full grown woman- was afraid of something like thunderstorms. I was already vulnerable enough being a human; why would I add fuel to the fire? But a particularly loud boom making the floor shake a little made me scream- again, quite unconsciously.
It took his grace the span of three seconds to put the pieces together. "Wait…. Miss Bridgerton, are you….. afraid of thunderstorms?" My head reburied into my legs, shuddering uncontrollably. I didn't have the nerve to answer, instead too focused on not crumbling into a blithering mess onto the floor. I could also almost sense Lord Basset's hand pressing against the door desperately.
"There's no reason to be frightened. You're perfectly safe inside this house. I promise you…" I didn't give him the answer I'm sure he was anticipating. Instead I elected to stay curled up into my tightknit ball, wishing I was anywhere but here at the moment. Another lightning strike made me cry out again, not really caring if the duke could hear me anymore. I'd never met a vampire who was scared of thunder and lightning; maybe it's a human thing. Either way, I was petrified and sure I was going to die there that night alone. And by lightning no less. But then, something miraculous happened.
When Lord Basset spoke again, his tone was much, much softer. It was as if he was trying a new tactic to console me. "I can tell you're still afraid, Miss Bridgerton. Unfortunately, this storm won't be passing for some time." That's supposed to make me feel better?! He paused for a second here, as if gathering the right words to say next. "Then… should I stay….. until it's over? Should I stay here with you, so you're not alone? Would that….. help ease your nerves?" I stared at the door dumbfounded. Wait, did he just… offer to stay with me? He'd stay out in the hall on one side of the door and me in my room on the other side? Just so I'd be less afraid? He'd really do that….?
I suppose his lordship was waiting for my reply because he said nothing else. I couldn't do anything but ogle the closed door momentarily, unsure what to do next. But by far the brightest lightning flash confirmed what I already knew. My room lit up so intensely and before I was even aware that I was moving I had already made it halfway across the room. My feet carried me as fast as they could; I don't think I've run this fast since the first time Lord Basset and I saw each other that day in the garden. I was going so fast that I didn't have time to stop myself. My legs bolted straight across the room, crash-landing into the door. The first thing to hit the wood was my chest and torso, followed by my arms and legs. My head flew up and I found myself staring up at the roof. The impact was so strong that it sent me back a couple of steps seconds later. I'm sure his grace also had a physical reaction on his side.
"Are you ok?!" His voice sounded more panicked than before. I didn't respond right away, heaving deeply and planting both my hands onto the door out in front of me. My upper body then relaxed as I leaned on the door for support. "Stay….." Was all my lips could get out. "Huh?" He asked. Taking a few more long inhales, my feet brought me closer to the door; I was so near the wood that I was almost hugging it. "Stay…. Stay here with me. I want you to stay," my tone was low, scared, and sincere.
As if digesting what I'd just said, I swear I could feel his grace come ever nearer into the door too. "Alright, Miss Bridgerton. I'll stay…. I'll stay for as long as you need me to." Comforted by this a gentle, small smile appeared across my mouth for the first time since this storm started. I fell down onto my knees, which shifted to me sitting with my back pressed up against the door. I think Lord Basset did the same as we were there for quite some time. I peered over to the curtains afraid and I'm sure he could sense my heartrate increase.
He likely wanted a way to distract me from my fear. "Why don't I tell you a story, Miss Bridgerton?" "What?" I blinked back, caught off-guard by this. But his tone remained soft and genuine. "I've heard lots of stories in my travels. Why don't I tell you some?" I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, grinning again. "Alright, but only if you let me tell you some fairy tales I heard up north?" "Deal."
And that's how we spent the next several hours, telling stories that we'd heard and about our childhood. The storm died off by one in the morning, with the thunder growing quieter and quieter. True to his word, Lord Basset didn't leave my side until the very last lightning flash. He didn't leave me….. He stayed with me the entire time, and I realized how lucky I was to have him there. Uncle may be miles away….
But a different kind of salvation had been brought to my doorstep here tonight.