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vampire s coach had been specially made, I was sure, to fit his large frame,
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the velvet seats inside easily accommodating three people across. There was a
coat of arms emblazoned on the door: a black falcon with its wings outspread,
under the right wing was a goldenfleur-de-lis and under the left a white
Jacobite rose. The motto inscribed around it was Latin. I memorized the
phrase, intending to look it up in the library later. Latin had never been one
of my better subjects. One of the village boys was just bringing the first of
Devlin s four matched grays in from the paddocks.
Charlie Harper, right? I asked. He and his two younger brothers were the
tavern keeper s sons.
Yes, miss, he said, pulling his forelock. He put the gray into one of the
empty stalls and then came back to stand before me.
You ve done a fine job here, I said. When you re through today go up to
the house to Mrs. Mackenzie. I ll ask her to pay your wages, you and your
brothers, for the month.
For a month, Miss Craven?
I may be traveling soon. I want you to keep an eye on the house and the barn
until Tim and the regular boys return. Come up every morning and, weather
permitting, turn the horses out in the paddocks. Clean the stalls and put out
fresh hay and water. Bring them in and give then grain in the late afternoon
but mind you re home by sunset. Can you do that for me? I ll pay you all
handsomely.
Yes, Miss Craven, certainly. I don t mind telling you that the extra money
will come in handy, what with the killings in the village and everyone afraid
to leave their house at night. Da s fair worried about feedin us all through
the winter if the magistrate don t find the killer and lift the curfew soon.
I was distracted from replying by a small, long-haired white and gray kitten
rubbing itself against my black riding habit. I reached down and picked her up
and she purred to me.
Well aren t you just the prettiest thing? You re entirely too lovely to be a
barn kitty. Wherever did you come from? Well, no matter. Why don t you come up
to the house with me and tell me all about it?
I scratched her behind her ears and her purr grew louder. What s your name,
puss? Leaning down I put my ear next her whiskers and pretended to listen to
her. Priscilla K. Pussycat? That s a fine name indeed.
I called to Charlie Harper, I ll give you a bit extra to bring some supper
to the barn cats on occasion, I said, rubbing my nose against the kitten s.
One big furry foot reached up and touched my face.
Charlie smiled. Yes, miss. Be happy to.
I walked into the kitchen and scrounged up a bit of chicken for the kitten.
She sat purring happily and eating. I really wasn t aware one could purr and
eat at the same time, but there it was.
Mrs. Mackenzie walked into the kitchen as I was leaning against the counter,
contemplating purrs.
I told Charlie Harper to come up and get a month s wages from you for him
and his brothers.
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She stilled. Dulcinea, what are you going to do?
I don t know, I said with a sigh, but if I pay them their wages in advance
that s one less thing I have to worry about.
She crossed the room and pulled me into her arms. I felt like I had as a
child when I d cut myself or fallen and skinned my knee and Mrs. Mackenzie had
always been there to comfort me.
What am I to do? I asked, burying my face in her shoulder, my voice
quivering on the edge of tears. I d ridden for an hour and still had no
answer. In fact I hadn t even been able to form a coherent thought the entire
ride. Feelings, images, fragments of thoughts, they all just chased each other
around like kittens inside my head.
I can t tell you what to do, Dulcie.
If it were you, what would you do?
She was quiet for a moment and then she said softly, I would survive.
Whatever it took, I would survive.
And so she had, once. She d left her family and everything she d ever known,
took her destiny in her hands and made a new life for herself. It was a good
life but not, I m sure, the one she d envisioned as a little girl. Could I do
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