Jane gritted her teeth and, undaunted, challenged this fire-breathing vampire, Her life was at stake here, her future happiness. She had to make him understand that she'd done what she had to do, what she'd been trained to do for the good of the world. "I apologize, Asher. But mistakes happen."
"Mistakes happen? My life is over as I know it, and all you can say is, 'Mistakes happen'?"
"I am sorry you were forced to marry beneath you, sorry you were forced to wed an enemy. Sorry I tried to stake you. But I didn't try to kill you, I just got scared when you began to bite me."
"Ian explained it all," Asher said, acute distaste lacing his tone. "You were born and bred a Van Helsing, brought up to revile vampires. And I am a vampire. Not just your run-of-the-mill vampire, either; I am the master vampire of London—a title not easily gained. It took over a century for my appointment as leader of the London Nosferatu."
Jane tried to say something, but Asher held up his long pale fingers, interrupting her. His expression was scornful and harsh.
"You were taught to hunt, to stalk and to stake us. It is your heritage. So apologizing for your part in this stark-mad fiasco doesn't really matter, does it? It's a case of too little, too late!" Asher's manner one of total disgust, he paced the room.
" 'Let me not burst in ignorance!' 'I do not set my life at a pin's fee.' 'Something is rotten in the state of Denmark'," he quoted coldly.
Hurt and wounded in her heart and soul, Jane adeptly hid her pain, curtseying slightly and quoting back, " 'When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face-to-face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known'."
"Corinthians?"
She nodded.
Asher said nothing for a moment, merely stared at Jane with one aristocratic brow slightly arched, impressed in spite of himself. She really was well versed in the classics, and for a Van Helsing she had some wit. Also, he couldn't help but feel a hint of admiration for his wife's adaptability and courage. In fact, if he didn't detest her so much, he might have been tempted to debate philosophies with her in bed after a long, carnal loving—virgin blood for an aperitif and a few love bites for dessert.
Jane continued: "As of tonight, I am a child no longer but your bride. I am what I am, because of who and what I was. But now all that I am, I pledge to you and yours. My loyalty, my affection and all the talents I possess."
Asher remarked ruthlessly, "Talents? Such as murdering vampires? Shall you teach me how to stake my species?"
Tears filled her eyes. "I have never personally staked anyone before. To be honest… I have an aversion to blood."
"The hell you say! A vampire slayer who doesn't like the sight of blood? What farce is this?"
"It's the truth. The sight of blood makes me ill."
He snorted, disbelieving. "Then it is a good thing that I am not taking you to bed. The sight of your virgin's blood might be your undoing."
Her emotions in turmoil, Jane paled, feeling his rejection of her as a wife to the very depths of her soul. "I know you need no heir, nor can you beget one being hundreds of years of age, but I thought that you would at least want to…" She couldn't continue, a blush putting some color back into her white cheeks.
"To have carnal relations with you? To take you to that bed over yonder and thrust into your soft, sweet body?" Asher had to repress a shiver at the image of his bride on her back with her pale thighs spread for his wanton enjoyment.
Cursing himself to Hades nine ways and back, he was incensed to admit he was indeed interested in his plain little wife. It was not even fashionable! Lust should be reserved strictly for other men's wives. That was the way it had always been in the ton, and the way it would always be.
"I think not. I do not trust you. Having a stake stuck in my backside during the courtship rather crimped my desire for lovemaking," he sneered. "And I give you fair warning, if you try to kill me, it will the last mistake of your sorry little life."
"How droll, vicious wordplay on our wedding night," Jane retorted. "However, I gave my word before God, man, vampire and .werewolves tonight in church, that I would honor, cherish and tend you. That word is my bond."
She knew Asher was outraged. She knew he was bitter. And she recognized that he was more than justified. But surely her words made some effect on the steel armor of his heart? If not, her situation would be unbearable.
Unthinkingly, she murmured her thoughts: "Will we ever do in the dark what husbands and wives do so duly do?" Her feet were freezing. Where had she put her slippers? Her husband loathed her. Life was certainly not much of an improvement as the Countess of Wolverton. When her husband left, she would cry.
Asher laughed, a sound which could cut glass. "I've made love to half the known beauties of the world. After all that lovely flesh, what could I possibly find in your bed?" he said.
Jane jerked back. "You pompous, callous monster. As if I want to share my bed with the undead. What a laugh!"
"I'll make love to you Jane, when hell freezes over and elephants fly," he vowed. And with those damning words, Asher stalked toward the door. He knew a grand exit line when he'd spoken one.
Before he escaped, Jane called out, "I didn't know that earls pouted. I thought that beneath their dignity."
Asher halted abruptly, his back ramrod straight. He turned swiftly around. His eyes were blazing with pure blue fire. "Pout? You call this a pout? What I am, woman, is enraged. Which after the month's events I have every reason to be. I could have married royalty, had I wished to be wed at all. So don't goad me!"
Her tears dried, Jane faced him squarely, her temper coming into its own. "Don't mock me, then!" she warned.
Asher ran a hand through his hair, mussing the perfect lines. Once again, his wife had caused him to lose his composure. "You don't think you deserve to be mocked? To be despised for forcing this disastrous misalliance upon us?"
Anger overwhelmed her wounded heart. Stalking forward, Jane stuck her finger in his face. "Don't say things you'll regret," she snarled.
"How can I regret the truth? Don't you ever look in the mirror?"
"What, mirror envy?" she asked. He ignored her.
"What do you have to recommend you, Jane?"
"I have me to offer," Jane stated proudly, patting her chest. "Me to recommend. What you can't see is the best of me, and you're a fool for only admiring surface beauty. I am so much more than you deserve," she realized.
Asher was taken aback by her impassioned words, her green-silver eyes flashing molten emerald fires. But she wasn't finished yet.
"You have lived a long, long time. You are a big vampire now. You know life isn't always fair. Things can be harsh, and we don't always get our way. You can take out your hatred on me nightly. But what will that accomplish besides finally resulting in me despising you? Then we will be two strangers, hating each other, stuck together until I die. Is that what you want—open warfare in your home? I know I don't!"
Asher started to speak, then halted. She was magnificent when maddened! He turned to leave again. No Van Helsing was going to make him see reason on his wedding night. If he wanted to pace and curse fate until daylight, then that was just what he was going to do. It didn't matter that his bride had luscious breasts and a swanlike neck. It didn't matter that she smelled of warm honey and sweet orange blossoms. He snorted indignantly and opened the bedchamber door to flee.
Jane again called out to him. "Lord Asher, one more thing, please. I need to ask you something important."
With one hand on the door he glanced back at her, his mouth drawn in tight lines. She looked like she hated to ask him for anything, but was driven by despair.
"Yes?"
"I need to bring my pet Orville to Town. He is causing havoc without me at the Van Helsing estate."
"Orville?"
Embarrassed, Jane explained, "My pet ostrich."
"You have an ostrich for a pet?" Asher asked, intrigued in spite of himself. That was the kind of a pet Clair Frankenstein would have.
She nodded. "My grandfather brought him to me when Orville was just a hatchling. I am his mother. But the major hates him. He said he would chop off his head and stuff him if we didn't let Orville come and live with us immediately."
"Your father is quite good at killing things, isn't he?" Asher retorted mockingly. The backstabbing bastard. Glaring hard at his small, voluptuous wife, Asher decided the fruit didn't fall far from the tree. Even if her fruits were entrancing.
"Please. Orville has done nothing to earn your enmity," Jane beseeched. She loved Orville as much as she loved Spot, her dog. She couldn't live without her two pets near her. Originally she had planned on asking this favor of her husband after they had made love, because Clair had advised her all husbands were putty in their wives' hands after a rigorous bout of lovemaking. However, since she doubted hell was going to come into an ice age anytime in the near future, and espying no flying elephants out her bedroom window, Jane had little choice but to place her request before this cruel, indignant vampire now.
Swallowing what little dignity she had left, Jane pleaded, despising herself for groveling. But love for her pets was stronger than her pride, humiliation or anger. "Please. I beg you. Let Orville come to London with his keeper, Bert."
"You have the nerve to request a favor of me? After all you have done?" How queer, he mused, an ostrich for this silly goose. It was another surprising facet to his wife's nature. He wondered what else was in store over the long years of matrimony ahead.
"Please!"
"What utter unmitigated gall you Van Helsings have!" he snapped. And with those words, he threw open the door.
"Asher, please!"
He turned and paused, then finally nodded. Then, glancing down at her feet, he remarked with surprise, "Is that a spider I see?"
Jane screamed, and she jumped a good two or three feet off the floor. "Where? Where?" Glancing back to the door, she saw her husband disappear down the hall, chortling.
The sneaky vampire had lied to her. There was no spider. Slamming the door shut, Jane could still hear his chuckles. "Well, I guess that's that. The honeymoon is over."