I paused from reading my uncle's letter to glance over at Lord Basset beside me. We were both situated on the grass with me sitting up and him lying on his side, head propped up by his bent elbow, and his eyes fixated on me. The duke had been watching me a lot more lately. I noticed his gaze constantly fixed onto me wherever I went, and not in a controlling or obsessive way either. The exact opposite in fact. It's almost as if he was scared of me, or to be around me.
Yet he was around. True to his word, Lord Basset brought me out on walks every day now; sometimes twice a day. We also started eating our meals together and he would join Lady Danbury and I in the parlour. I quite liked having him nearby so much; I enjoyed his company and felt safe in his presence. But I could tell for the last few days something had been on his grace's mind. Something was bothering him and up until now I'd been too polite to ask.
I gently lowered my letter as I looked back his way for a moment. "Is something the matter, my lord?" As if getting caught in the act, he instantly flinched and rapidly blinked his eyes. I obviously broke whatever train of thought he was having. "Huh? N-No! No, everything's fine, Miss Bridgerton. Everything's, uh….." He paused to clear his throat. "W-What does your uncle say?" Sensing he wanted to get off the topic, I peered back down at the slip of paper. "He hopes I'm doing well and is looking forward to coming to Hastings in June. Not much has changed on his end." "Heh, that makes one of us….." Lord Basset muttered this under his breath, staring off into space now. After beholding him from the corner of my eyes for a minute, my head spun to face him directly again.
"Really though, is everything alright your grace? You've been acting… distracted lately." "Have I?" He inquired half-heartedly but one look at my expression said it all. He looked right at me and let out a heavy, defeated sigh. His eyes shut momentarily and when they reopened they weren't glancing in my direction. "Miss Bridgerton, do you feel…. safe with me?" I blinked, taken aback. Where did this come from? My answer was immediate. "Of course I do! You would never hurt me; I know that." He hesitated for a second before peering back my way. His eyes were soft, sincere, and afraid. "You're sure?" "Yes, I am. I've lived here for nearly three weeks and you've never once tried to….. No, I feel absolutely safe here with you and Lady Danbury."
Lord Basset studied my face as if determining its authenticity. When he decided it was genuine, he relaxed his shoulder somewhat, sighing again. His eyes drifted back out into space in a thoughtful manner. "But your uncle likely wouldn't be happy with our living arrangement." I bit my bottom lip, a tad reluctant to answer this query. "N-No, he wouldn't… But I know you won't hurt me. You would have done so by now if you were going to bit-…" I had to cut my mouth off before I accidently finished my sentence. This drew the duke's frightened eyes back up to mine. I'd never seen him like this before and honestly didn't know what to make of it. I mean, why now? Where's all this coming from?
Yet another long sigh erupted from his lush lips. "Perhaps I should leave for a couple of months….." I doubt he was speaking to me just now, more so thinking out loud to himself. I perked up in surprise and mild horror. "Leave?! Why would do that? No, don't worry about Uncle's visit in June. He'll understand once we explain everything to him. I can even write him about your premature return beforehand if you'd feel more comfortable." That's when he flashed me that invisible smile of his, his eyes lowering a tiny bit. "But then won't your brother rush up here to spirit you away? Take you to London or back to your uncle's?" My mouth shot open to rebuke this but deep down I knew Lord Basset was probably right. I don't know how Uncle and especially Anthony would react if they knew I was living with another vampire…. After watching me another moment, Lord Basset tore his eyes away. "Maybe it's best that way," again, I'm sure he was talking to himself than to me with that.
I ogled him wide-eyed; wide-eyed and confused out of my skull. What? But… why? Why would Lord Basset want to leave so soon? He hasn't been here that long and we're liable never to see each other again if he goes now. I don't… I don't understand. Thinking about it only made my eyes lower onto him. My lips morphed into a thin emotionless line.
"Is it really so torturous being around me?"
Lord Basset's eyes shot open, only to gawk at me in shock and alarm. "What?! No! Not at all! Where'd you get that idea?" "You want to leave Hastings Manor….." I countered matter-of-factly. "You're mistaken! I don't want to leave! It's just that… that…" His voice trailed off on its own. "That?" I pressed, desperate to hear his reply. His lips sputtered a bit as he gazed out into nowhere. "That…. T-That I'm afraid our fates are intertwined… in the worst way possible. We can never allow ourselves to forget that you're a human and I'm a… vampire." "What are you talking about, Lord Basset?" I was beyond perplexed; it felt like some great mystery I was ignorant of. The words in his throat stilled until he had the courage to sneak a peek over at me. He looked at me, again in a way I'd never seen him look at anything before. It reminded me a little of that first time we saw each other's faces in the dining room.
The kind of look that could- and did- stop my heart.
"You know I'm a bit protective over you." "A bit?!" I gasped. He would have rolled his eyes if he wasn't so serious in the moment. "And you know I can't explain where these feelings are coming from….. Well, that may not be true. I may have an idea, and… I can't stand it. I hope you believe me when I say it because I truly mean it: I want you to live, Miss Bridgerton. I do….." "Y-Your grace!" My hand rose up to my now pounding chest. His eyes glossed over slightly, his chin lowering. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to stay and be your friend… You are my friend, Miss Bridgerton. Whenever I'm with you, I feel so calm and happy…. in a way no one's ever made me feel before. But…." He took a brief pause here, collecting his thoughts to a cohesive set. "Fate might have brought us together….
When instead it should be pushing you miles away and out of reach from me."
"My lord!" I gasped shell-shocked. What can he possibly be talking about? What am I missing here? His gorgeous eyes locked onto mine. "I want you to live, Miss Bridgerton; that's all I want from you. Not your blood, not your love- just your survival." Lord Basset! Still staring at him with pure awe, my hand slowly, slowly began to lower itself onto my lap. "You want me to live that much?" "Yes….. Yes," his second "yes" was so earnest and transparent. I simply beheld him for a moment longer before letting out a smile- a real smile. "Then you'd better stay." His head instantly perked up to refute this but I stopped him with one glance. "I feel much safer with you close by." "Miss Bridgerton…." He sounded in disbelief.
We stared at one another for a while before Lord Basset let out a sigh again. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to spring this on you all just now. I'm just tired….. I'm not used to being up so late in the day," his grace's last sentence sounded utterly exhausted. And understandably so; this was an unusual for any vampire to be up. His lordship had been making an effort to stay up for me….
Grinning tenderly, my own head lowered a tad. "Then you should go in and sleep." "I will lock you in your room," he fired back irritated, but I merely smiled in return. "I'll go in too. We've been out every day this week, and twice on Sunday. I can spend a day inside if you need to catch up on sleep." He simply shook his head. "No, I gave you my word that I'd accompany you into the garden whenever you'd like to go. I'll be fine…. just after I close my eyes for a minute." "Why don't you take a nap out here then?" "I can't do that! What if something happens to you? What if there's an intruder? No, it's out of the question." "I'll scream if anyone comes in. That'll definitely wake you up." "But what if you also fall asleep? It's too risky." Lord Basset….
Suddenly an idea popped into my mind. He quietly observed me gather the rim of my skirt, holding it out for him. "Grab hold of my dress." "Miss Bridgerton!" He couldn't have sounded more scandalized. "I mean hold onto the fold. That way if I move it'll wake you up," I said with an eyeroll. Honestly! His gaze shifted between my dress and face a couple of times. "Oh….. That might work." "See? It's perfectly safe." "It's worth a try anyway," a tad reluctant his hand reached out to take hold of my clothing. Gripping it tight in his fist, he gave me one final look. "Thank you, Miss Bridgerton." "No trouble. Have a good sleep, my lord." With that, he shut his eyes with such gentleness. I turned my attention back to my letters while his grace drifted off into a quiet slumber there on the grass beside me.
I had finished writing Uncle back a letter and put it in an envelop by the time he was totally out of it. I gazed over at his peaceful face from the corner of my eyes, setting my writing pad down. The duke looked so contented when he slept, so….. tranquil. He was almost child-like in that instance with his hand still clinging onto my dress's skirt. I think he had the right idea too; it was such a lovely afternoon out. I was actually starting to feel a bit dozy myself.
Laying on my side, I surveyed the duke's form. Seeing Lord Basset like this, I couldn't help but smile. He's such a beautiful man and has innocence about him when he sleeps. I don't know how long I watched his grace like that for. But at some point or another my own eyes fluttered shut. There, lying under the massive oak tree, with flowers in my hair and blades of grass in his, we slept the afternoon away.
His hand never let go of my dress the whole time.