Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 127: Embarrassing parts

A prickly mass had formed in the pit of Arabella’s stomach and much to her dismay, it wasn’t a dormant one.

Indeed, it tossed around, rubbing its thorns against her inner walls every time the question; "What if I make a fool out of myself?" Came to mind. The thing grew larger and bolder the nearer the hour of their meeting drew.

The young woman lay still on her back, watching the shadows on the canopy above become fainter as the eastern horizon prepared to welcome the next morning sun.

Her eyes then drifted towards the wardrobe facing the bed. Its sight did not help shrink the hollow living amongst her guts since it contained nothing but dresses. Nothing that would make horseback rising any easier or more comfortable.

When the first rays cracked through to their side of the world, Arabella finally quit her futile attempts at returning to sleep, pushed herself up then picked her mother’s necklace before heading to the bathroom.

Ada came with breakfast around the same time she usually did and let herself in after acquiring permission. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"Morning, Miss," she pulled the trolley inside and turned around to meet Arabella’s gaze, "How was your-" she gasped, "Oh dear! Did you sleep at all?"

In response, the young woman stared at her fingers while twiddling them, "I believe I’ve gotten an hour or so of sleep," her features interpreted every smile she forced as a grimace.

"That won’t do, Miss," Ada shook her head, fists on her hips, "You will probably be at it all day long. You will need all of the energy you can get,"

"I know," she practically winced, "I simply couldn’t," her shoulders rose to portray the slowest and most sheepish of shrugs.

"Now, tell me you can’t eat either and that’ll be the icing on the cake," Ada crossed her arms over her chest, lips pursed, and eyebrows completely knitted, making her disapproval more than apparent.

Arabella did not tell her that and instead sat at the table without complaints, taking bite after bite under Ada’s watchful gaze.

Despite the lump that kept on growing, pressing against her entrails, the young woman knew well enough she needed strength and energy to go through the day.

Besides, Ada’s wrath was unbearable enough, seeing the look on Silas upon finding out she had neither slept nor eaten promised to be even less pleasant than hers.

Once done with breakfast, the maid helped her get into the lightest and least cumbersome dress available in the wardrobe.

"My... You look gorgeous!" Ada had clapped her hands together, holding them right underneath her chin.

"Thank you, Ada," Arabella pinched the skirt of her gown and whirled on her toes in front of the mirror, "It seems to be the most appropriate for the activity,"

The two women marched down the stairs to the ground floor, stopping before reaching the last step to curtsy for Silas, who stood waiting at the foot.

"Morning, Master," they both chirped.

"To you as well," he retorted.

With that, Ada left the young woman in his care and retreated. Silas made his way towards the entrance sparing her not another glance.

"I hope you do not mind walking a bit," he said while descending the entrance stairs.

"No, I do not," Arabella was on his heels.

"That is a relief," he started, "The stables stand on the western side of the property," he paused, but upon seeing the way she craned her neck, he quickly added, "They are hidden behind the trees. You won’t see them yet,"

"Of course," face beet red, she bit on her bottom lip and flung her eyes down.

Around the five minutes mark since they’d exited the manor, the vampire took it upon himself to break the awkward silence that had settled.

"Did you not sleep last night?"

Her heart rate accelerated at those words, her gemstones glued to the grassy ground, she clenched at her gown like there was no tomorrow.

"I... Did!" she blurted out.

"You still are a terrible liar," he uttered dryly, "You haven’t had a good night’s sleep for a few nights now. What kept you up this time around?"

His tone carried very little warmth. So, strict and steady, it was clear he was upset.

"I suppose...," she trailed off momentarily, "I worried today wouldn’t go well," while timid at first, her voice grew more confident the longer she went on, "I’ve received horseback training, but it’s been years since I’d even been allowed out, let alone ride a horse," the words spilled out of her fast and uninterrupted, as though afraid they wouldn’t all get their chance to be heard, "I am afraid I’ll embarrass myself,"

"Embarrassment does not claim lives," he said simply.

Under her breath, barely above a whisper, she mumbled, "It might just claim mine,"

"I can hear you even if you whisper,"

It seemed the young woman had skipped a few stages and went straight for the "embarrassing herself" part and no horse was needed for the task. She did that very well on her own.

Arabella ought to remember the differences they lived by. After two weeks in a manor in an entire country crawling with their kind, the little things had to stick in her mind. Better than that, at least.

Although, very soon, those thoughts were eclipsed, thrusted to the back for new ones to take the reigns.

Neighing and nickering became part of the ambient sounds travelling to her ears, gaining in intensity and frequency the further ahead they walked.

"Oh dear! Are these the horses?" she clutched her pendant, face lighting up.

"Yes," he said, "We are close now,"

And close they were as one single cluster of high trees was all that remained between them and that splendid construction.

Of wood it was erect, took a bigger surface in length rather than in width. Aside from a few chippings here and there, it appeared in pristine condition, as though the building had just been dealt the last nail.