"Lliam?" Valerian's gaze held mine. "Stoker believed Lliam is this Spring-heeled Jack?"

But I had read ahead and could not answer him. "My G.o.d, Valerian!" I exclaimed, and I slid the pages so that we both might read the tale that unfolded in Stoker's own hand. "He has a theory that the Spring-heeled Jack phantom was one aspect of the vampire known as Lliam. He describes him here. See." I perused the notes, reading snippets aloud. "A capricious harlequin . . . With a boundless energy and an insatiable appet.i.te for cruel amus.e.m.e.nts."

Pages of writing explored this hypothesis, supporting it with sightings and reports of ma.s.s killings where all the victims were found bloodless. I pointed to one report. "See how their bodies were left heaped in a pile? That is like what Miss Markam described."

Valerian nodded, his attention captivated by another entry. "This is interesting. Look at this account of a haunted field. It is not too far from here. Hmm." He paused to read on. "The locals regard the land as unholy. Stoker says nothing can grow on it."

I perused the notes myself. Stoker claimed in an extensive explanation that he had investigated this phenomenon and concluded that this was the site where Lliam had executed one of his followers.

"Stoker thinks he discovered some betrayal." Valerian paused as he read on. "It looks as if it happened only ten years ago or thereabouts. He says that Lliam killed one of his own kind, burned the pieces, then sowed the charred remains into the ground. To this day, the ground is known to be cursed. It serves as a warning to any who might think of going up against his power. A priest died trying to bless it and the farmer who owns the plot has long since abandoned it. The locals say-"

"Oh G.o.d!" I exclaimed. I felt my world tilt as excitement rushed through me. Alistair. I trembled as I locked my gaze with Valerian's. "Could my mother be what they fought over?"

"It is possible."

"I know," I said eagerly. "She wrote letters to Father and me from here in Ireland. Her maker-if indeed Alistair is the vampire who made her over, and he has to be, doesn't he?-was killed here. By Lliam, and he is this mercurial monster; he is the link to Ruthven."

Valerian was silent. I knew he was wary of getting my hopes up too high. Even if we were correct, there was no telling where this new knowledge would lead. My mother had been here in this country, living her earliest days as a vampire. Where had she gone when Alistair was killed? Where was she now?

Longing for death, I knew. I knew it as surely as I knew my name. Darkling I listen . . .

In the final moments of our time with David Stoker's research, we finally uncovered some of the information he had managed to find of the Dracula. This was somewhat disappointing, however, as most of his knowledge matched what we had learned from Uncle Peter. But a few things were new, although it felt to me that what we learned posed more questions about the mysterious Dark Prince than it answered.

Stoker wrote reams about the Wallachian prince's mortal life, his rise to power after triumphing in his father's brutally orchestrated rivalry designed to ensure the strongest of his sons would ascend to the throne. There were extensive listings of a dragon symbol, where it had been found and what it had foretold, and a smattering of legends that collected around the presence of evil nestled safely in the mysterious Carpathian Mountains . . .

"Your two hours are over," a voice from the doorway announced, and Abraham Stoker swept into the room.

It was like the drop of the guillotine's blade, severing us from this font of information. There was so much more we had not yet read, but the deal had been struck and we had gotten our two hours. I might have greedily wheedled for more but Valerian gave my hand a rea.s.suring squeeze as we were ushered into the hall and given our cloaks.

Stoker brushed aside our expressions of grat.i.tude. He did not even ask if our search had been fruitful. He wanted us gone as soon as possible.

It was Charlotte Stoker, coming in at the last moment to bid us good-bye, who restored a measure of decorum to our ejection from the house. She folded her hands as she smiled kindly at us. "I am afraid this is all the access my husband will allow, and I must agree with him that we cannot be drawn into the controversies of my brother-in-law's world. We have our children to consider, and we like to protect them from this as much as possible."

A movement behind her, no more than a shifting shadow, alerted me to the presence I had sensed earlier. When a face poked around a corner, I saw it was a boy, perhaps fourteen or fifteen years of age.

Charlotte Stoker frowned, shaking her head. "Our son is fascinated by the subject, I am afraid."

I smiled at the lad, who was good-looking, with bright, intelligent eyes.

"Bram! Off with you, now!" his mother admonished. But when she returned her attention to me, her smile was indulgent.

"A good-looking boy," I said.

"Thank you. That is our son, Abraham, after his father. He is off to school in a year or two, which is a miracle. He was bedridden until he was seven years old, and so to see him venturing out into the world is particularly gratifying. I am afraid, however, his years of infirmity made him fanciful, and he's rather desperate when it comes to trying to find out about his uncle. We-well, I-find it difficult to be harsh with him."

"Completely understandable," I murmured. "Thank you so much for your help."

"Oh, was it? A help, I mean?"

"Extremely so," I said with emphasis. This pleased her, and although we left Abraham glowering, I thought perhaps we had done a bit of good, perhaps planted a seed that might grow to something useful to that family in the future.

I truly did.

Chapter Twenty.

The fells were locked in winter white when I returned to c.u.mbria, the deep cold freezing everything in a glittering case of ice. It was something out of a fairytale, and would have been a lovely sight if I had not felt unsettled by the stillness around me.

"What is it?" Valerian asked as we approached the village. He studied me. "Do you feel a change?"

I thought about this for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. Changes are coming. It will be the killing time soon."

I immediately saw a drastic difference in the girls. Margaret, Lilliana, and Therese moved like three who had lost their way and Vanessa's sparkle was diminished into wan la.s.situde. Eustacia was in a state of near paralysis, so terrified was she. Not once did her eager hand rise during the first lesson back.

I grabbed Eustacia on her way out of the cla.s.sroom. "I wish to talk to you. Meet me here after your cla.s.ses are done for the day."

She did not want to, that was plain to see, but she would not disobey a teacher's direct order. When she arrived that afternoon, she stood stiff, eyes downcast, in front of my desk.

I rose, coming to stand before her. "He is different, isn't he? Ruthven. Or the Cyprian Queen, as he styles himself."

Her eyes jerked to mine, but she said nothing.

"I know what is happening. I know about the things the girls do. I know they think they are handmaidens to a G.o.d. They think themselves glorious and exalted. They are not. Which you already know. But it is difficult, for they do not listen to you."

Her eyes were wide, round, desperate. Tears brimmed, then overflowed onto her cheeks, but she remained silent, not even shaking her head. She did not flee, however. I took this as a good sign.

"I know you are frightened," I said. I spoke calmly, hoping to ease her obvious fears. "But you must listen to me, Eustacia. I am going to trust you with something. Actually, I am going to show you something, and trust that you will tell no one of what you are about to see."

I picked up paperweight some previous teacher had left behind. It was half of a rock split open, showing a bristling array of amethyst crystals inside. I pointed to a basket across the room where the girls placed their a.s.signments on their way out at the end of cla.s.s.

"Do you think I can throw this in that basket?"

She blinked in surprise. "Pardon me?" she said.

I repeated the question. She eyes me suspiciously, clearly thinking I was playing some trick. "Of course not," she finally replied.

I smiled at her, and then I took a moment to eye the target, before tossing the rock. It landed with a smack in the basket, shaking it but staying put.

"Do you think I can do it ten times?"

Her eyes bulged.

I laughed. "Bring it back to me, please," I instructed. "You will see."

She did and I threw it again. Once more, my aim was perfect.

"Again."

By the seventh time, she was looking at me as if I were some supernatural being myself. "I have seen him," I told her as she gaped at me. I tossed the rock, barely looking now, for I had the feel of it. "I know what he is. I have done battle with his kind before, and won."

"I . . . what . . . how?"

I smiled at her, holding up the rock. "I could take out a spider at the other end of the room. I could toss this out the window and pinch a twig off one of the trees in the stand over near the stables. That is not my only talent, but I hope it will be enough to prove to you that I am capable. I can deal with this thing that is happening to you, to all the girls. You have but to trust me. I want you to tell me-promise me-if anything, anything happens that makes you feel in danger. Come to my room at any time of the night, find me in the school at any time of the day. Now, I am going to give you something, and you must promise me you will wear it."

I took the cross from around my neck. I would replace it as soon as possible, but for now I wanted Eustacia protected. She gazed at the tiny figure of the crucified Christ, frowning.

"There are strange things happening here at the school," I said to her. "Put that on, wear it always. It is made of silver, which is important. And its power is not only in the carved figure but in the blessing over it."

She placed it over her head solemnly, then looked at me with such a forlorn expression my heart wrenched. "What about the others?"

"I will attempt to do the same for them. But I do not trust them with what I just showed you, about my . . . abilities."

"Why do you trust me, then?"

"Because, darling," I said gently, reaching out to take her hand, "you see things differently. And I know something of what it is to be the one who does not quite belong but longs so desperately to be part of a world you admire. Take my word for it, Eustacia, there are worse things than being clever. It might mean some will not like you for it, but then, you will find their regard never quite makes up for giving yourself away."

Eustacia smiled tremulously. "Thank you, Mrs. Andrews."

"Remember your promise. Any time, you must let me know if there is a change, any change."

So we struck our bargain, and I retired to my room. I had not even had a moment to unpack. I cannot say I was eager to do so. I was half-afraid that at any moment, I would hear the haunting tremor of Ruthven's voice, feel his disgusting touch. But somehow, I did not think he would trouble me. I had repelled him successfully on his previous attempts. And he was distracted now by his coven of worshipers. It was they who were in danger.

Or maybe he was simply biding his time.

When I saw the dead orchid, I was even more depressed. I had never even thought of its care when I'd left it behind. But the reminder of Suddington sparked a new idea that reenergized me. I scratched off a message and placed it in the post on my way to dinner that night, asking him if I might make use of his library this Sunday. I had in mind to do some research into the local history.

I meant to uncover the true ident.i.ty of the vampire, Ruthven.

Being in Suddington's library was like coming home. I could have languished the day away with Shakespeare and Marlowe. I smiled, recalling how Suddington had flattered me with words from Marlowe's Doctor Faustus: "Is this the face that launched a thousand ships . . ." It was meant as a compliment, although it was a bit ghoulish, for it was a line spoken by Faustus regarding Helen of Troy when Mephistopheles had summoned her to tempt the poor doctor into agreeing to bargain away his soul.

I went to the section Suddington had indicated held the local history, and was immediately absorbed in research. As I pulled book after book off the shelves, I saw a fascinating pattern begin to unfold. When the sound of Suddington's arrival broke me out of my reverie, I was astonished to find that four hours had gone by. Standing, I winced at the protest from my stiff joints. He, however, swept into the room with his usual grace.

"Hah! I knew I would find you thus. You are hopelessly predictable, Mrs. Andrews, as are all those who love books." He looked at one of the volumes I'd collected about me and frowned. "Local history? I thought you would be nose-deep in Spencer, or Dryden, or Pope. Or Marlowe. You know I think of Marlowe every time I see you."

"You have made that quite apparent," I replied, laughing.

He grinned playfully. "Ah, so I have. Well, then, are you searching for something particular?"

"Actually, I found a few interesting things," I said.

"Excellent. Are you ready for tea?" Before I could reply, he was already on his way to summon the servants. "I know it is late, but I have a sweet tooth and my cook makes the most delicious cakes. Oh, and have you noticed something different in the room?"

"You removed the tapestry," I replied, following his line of sight.

"That I did. The thing disgusted me once I realized what it was. And I did not want it to frighten you."

"I hope that was not the reason. If so, it was quite unnecessary. That tapestry was your family history; you should not feel compelled to hide it away."

He smiled at me, as if indulging a child. "Don't you know, Mrs. Andrews, that history can prove dangerous?"

It was a strange thing to say and I had no response as I mulled over its meaning. Tea arrived shortly, and we sat together. I was hungrier than I had thought, and we ate a hearty meal.

"So tell me what it is you have found," he inquired.

I hesitated, instinctively secretive, then thought, Why not? I had no reason not to speak openly with him. "I was looking for information on a gentleman who might have lived in the sixteenth century, and I did find someone."

"Really? Was he an ancestor of mine?"

"I do not know. His name was George Smythe. He lived at Kingsvale Grange."

"Ah, that is Glorianna's line. The Smythe became Smith at some point, and I suppose they ran out of male heirs and bargained for a hyphenated name. Although with a name like Smith you would not think they would have bothered."

The news of the relation between Miss Sloane-Smith and George Smythe stunned me. In light of the information I'd uncovered in Suddington's library, I thought it likely that George Smythe was the origin of the Cyprian Queen, at least the legend. I suspected it could be Smythe, or someone connected to him-perhaps a relative-that later became the vampire whom I now knew as Ruthven and who masqueraded under the hypnotic guise of the Cyprian Queen. It struck me as a suspiciously close a.s.sociation, but one I did not know what to make of.

Suddington was still speaking of the family. ". . . Plenty enough of them around. Well, I do know Kingsvale used to belong to her people, before the Commonwealth."

I could barely contain myself. I knew from my archive research that vampires often surfaced in their own families through subsequent generations, posing as one of them whenever they wanted to disguise themselves as human. All they had to do was feed from a suitable member of the family. That person's blood gave them the ability to take on their appearance.

"He must have been quite a horrible fellow," Suddington was saying, "if he was tried for murder. That was a time when n.o.bles were a law unto themselves. They were rarely brought to justice, and almost never if the victims were commoners. What did he do?"

"I found a journal written by a mother whose daughter went missing. It appears she was found to have been one of the many who were . . ." I flushed with discomfort. It was not easy to speak about how the young women of the area had been violated s.e.xually. "Harmed," I said significantly, "and then murdered. Many, many young girls were lost."

The weight of this tightened a knot in my chest. We were silent for a moment.

"What a terrible monster," he said with fervor. "However did they catch him?"

"In the beginning, no one had any idea who could be perpetrating the crimes, but over time he grew careless, almost taunting the authorities with his bold kidnapping and placing the bodies out in the open to be discovered in a ghastly manner."

Suddington soberly contemplated the scope of these atrocities. "The haughty devil probably thought he would be held above reproach."

I did not concur. "It actually seemed he grew more frenetic, and his judgment failed him. I suspect with each murder, he felt the thing he was seeking, this . . . compulsion that drove him to do such horrible things-perhaps this kept eluding him and he began to come undone."

A look came into Suddington's eye. "Really? That is an odd theory." He half-smiled, and I feared my bloodthirsty interest in so sordid a tale must have taken him by surprise. "So what happened to the fellow? How did they catch him in the end?"

"His guilt became apparent when he left the area and the murders ceased, only to resume upon his return. Once the townsfolk suspected him, they found ample evidence. As I said, he was quite demented at that time." I consulted my notes. "He was hung at the crossroads leading out of the village to the south." This suddenly struck me as odd. Crossroads had strong significance in the legends surrounding conjuring demons. Had there been suspicion of witchcraft?

"Fascinating. But what, Mrs. Andrews, has captured your interest in this macabre tale?"

I was on thin ground here, for it was impossible to tell him that I was searching for the origins of a s.e.xually predatory vampire. I sought to change the subject. "You once promised me you would show me your orchid house. Is there enough daylight to do so now?"

My diversion achieved its aim, and he leaped to his feet enthusiastically. "Of course. In the dramatic light of late afternoon, the colors of the plants seem to glow. It will be a spectacular presentation."