Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 591: Heart out

The ride back home was a quiet one with the three of them keeping their thoughts to themselves.

The loudest in Arabella’s mind being Allegra’s recurring words from a month ago which she repeated that same night. Words about Arabella being too kind for her own good...

That was their last exchange before saying their goodbyes and leaving the caverns.

As expected, the vampiress was not yet ready to return home. That was if she still considered the manor as her home at all.

From the carriage window and onto Persephone whose solemn expression was understandably a tad extra. Well, a lot more so than her usual.

She did not argue Allegra’s decision to stay among the wolf people, but her true feelings on the matter were written all over her tight features.

And Silas was... Silas. Quiet, mostly expressionless in the presence of a third soul around him and his wife.

However, knowing him, Arabella was sure he too thought of Allegra and the situation they left her in.

Although despite him being more than vocal about his displeasure with Cynric, obviously trust was part of the equation considering the fact he left his sister under the wolf’s care without any protest.

Then again, after the recent happenings how could he not trust him? Would he even have the right to question his character?

The hooting of owls rose along the squeaking of bats through the trees that made the thick forest lining their path.

It was, by far, not Arabella’s favorite song but she did not detest it either and thus was soothing enough to quell her many worries. At least it did so until they left the forest area.

"Well, then" Persephone cleared her throat, "It is quite late so I doubt I will see you again tonight," her eyes were strictly on Arabella, "Let me bid you a good night while we’re still here,"

"Have a good night as well, mother,"

With that, the vampiress left them by the carriage and made her way inside only to be rushed by Katherine right at the door.

"Will you be heading back to the room?" Silas grabbed Arabella’s attention.

"Yes," she nodded, "Although I’d like to go by Arthur’s room first. What about you?"

The two of them started a slow march towards the entrance.

"I believe I have handed all that needs handling already so, I’d like to sit down and do some carving,"

"Alright then," Arabella smiled, "I will meet you there later,"

The young woman ran towards the stairs, skipping every other thought in her mind to focus on the face of her brother.

However, and after knocking twice before entering, the realization that no soul sat in that room froze her blood in their veins.

But, perhaps the man was in the bathroom. So, there was no need in getting her guts in a twist, right?

Arabella approached the bathroom door with care, laying a gentle knock upon its wood only for silence to be the sole answer.

While debating whether to dare push the door open or not, another familiar voice came from behind her, earning a visible jolt out of her.

"Oh, forgive me. I did not mean to scare you," Ada walked closer, an apologetic look on her.

"It’s... Alright," hand on her chest, Arabella exhaled a long one before reopening her eyes, "Sorry, what were you saying about Arthur, please?"

"Miss Grace has managed to lure him out of the room," Ada smiled, practically leaping onto the tip of her toes.

"How?"

"Well, she simply told him to follow her out of... The room," her simper turned a lot tamer.

That was, by no means, a surprise since Arthur responded to commands and requests just fine without speaking.

Still... Progress was progress.

"Well," Arabella took a deeper breath, "Still. That’s something," she nodded, a curt smile on her, "Where might they be now?"

"She took him down to the gardens," Ada spoke quickly, "Throughout the hallways. When I crossed their path, I heard Miss Grace speak with him, telling him all about the manor and the family,"

"It is most kind of her to keep my brother company,"

"It is, but honestly, I reckon she simply wants someone to talk her own heart out, a warm body with ears that wouldn’t interrupt her much. I...," Ada trailed off momentarily, "I saw the look in her eyes,"

"That’s understandable," Arabella whispered.

It was understandable indeed. Katherine was a lot more direct, showing her concern for Allegra openly, but it seemed Grace had her own ways.

Arabella walked with Ada towards the rear side of the manor, to the gardens where Grace paraded Arthur around.

She had locked her arm with his as her lips moved along with her free arm.

"Did Lady Arabella tell you about the white roses yet?" Grace asked but waited for no answer, "The gardener, whose name is Edgar, by the way, well, he heard from the Lady that it was your mother’s favorite flower and he immediately asked for permission to plant them! Isn’t that just the sweetest thing?" the vampiress smiled. Although something tugged at her features, preventing her grin from shining brighter.

Grace looked as though she was about to say more but then stopped only to turn around at once.

"Oh! Lady Arabella! You’ve returned," her tone shifted, her pitch rising a bit higher.

She put one foot forward but then stopped to consider the arm that was still locked with Arthur’s.

The man did not move an inch, his eyes seemingly on the rose hedges.

Both Arabella and Ada walked closer to them instead and spared the vampiress from having to choose whether to drag him or leave him there. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I do hope your night has been good," her lips pulled and pulled but her smile never remained for longer than a second.

"Yes, it was," Arabella nodded, "We have just returned from the caverns,"

"Right!" Grace still fought to keep the happy outlook, "And... How was the route there?" every word out her mouth was like pulling teeth it seemed.

"Allegra truly is fine, Grace," Arabella’s head tilted to the side, "She is safe. She is merely gathering up the courage to face you and Katherine. She might come soon. Although," a little smirk appeared on the young woman, "I think she might also be a little too happy alongside the alpha,"