Maids and servants were busy, preparing the mansion for the evening birthday celebration of Leonard Carmichael. Dried twigs and leaves in front of the mansion were swept into the bin. The bushes were trimmed, flowers plucked out for decorating the entire place and when it wasn’t enough, more of them were bought from the nearby town. After many years Leonard would finally be celebrating his birthday with his family in his mansion as he was away for around a decade. It was a special occasion where people of high social standings were invited to commemorate the Duke’s birthday.

Needless to say, like everyone else who had got into the mood of celebration, Vivian had been busy making sure that all the tasks Paul had assigned them were being done without missing a single detail that was requested from Mrs Carmichael.

Even though it wasn’t her own birthday she had woken up early, earlier than the usual days. The sweater was wrapped in a plain brown cover which she had bought yesterday. With the gift in hand, she had gone to his room hoping to wish him but he wasn’t there at his room. As she cleaned the family portrait that hung on the wall, she looked around occasionally to see if she could catch sight of Leonard.

“Vivian!”

It was Lady Charlotte who was accompanied by her brother Julliard and her cousin Rhys.

“It is so good to see you,” the girls exchanged hugs.

“It is good to see you too. Did you just arrive? Would you like something to drink?” Vivian inquired them.

“I am fine, thank you,” Rhys who was the youngest cousin replied politely. Looking at the portrait she was cleaning he asked, “When was this one done?”

“Brother Leonard hasn’t changed much,” the blonde vampiress noted seeing the painting. Mr Carmichael was sitting on the chair with his wife next to him while Leonard stood behind elegantly, his hair was made to look paler and lighter than his regular blonde hair and his skin tone was given a warmer colour.

“Mrs Carmichael wanted a family picture together and got the painter from Valeria to get it done on different time frames. Master Leonard was the last one to be done, he wasn’t thrilled,” Vivian could spot the faint lines of frown which the painter had hidden under his various palette of colours used on the canvas but her eyes didn’t miss anything when it came to Leonard, “Master Leonard isn’t at the mansion as he went out early this morning but he should be here soon.”

“Didn’t you say he was summoned by Lord Nicholas?” Julliard asked Rhys to which the younger cousin responded, “The council has put an assignment out in Bonelake and Valeria. He wanted to gather people around to give out the information.”

“Aren’t you supposed to be there then?” Julliard was well aware of the fondness the Lord of Bonelake had for Leonard and he also knew Rhys was a close informer of the Lord. Unlike both his brothers, Julliard had maintained a low profile in the vampire society as he worked in the welfare of humans.

“Not at the moment,” Rhys answered, “I believe our things have been placed in the guest rooms. Excuse us,” turning around he began walking from there.

“I hope you will be joining us in the evening, Vivian,” hearing Julliard, she wondered if it would be alright to be there but servants weren’t allowed not unless they were serving the guests. In all these years Paul had not let her go out there during any celebrations that took place at the time of night.

“Of course, she will!” Charlotte linked her hand with Vivian.

“Alright then. Excuse me as well,” Julliard bowed his head and went to catch up with Rhys.

“Come with me. I have something to show you,” Vivian still had a lot of work to do, “Just for a few minutes. Promise.”

They went to the guest room where Lady Charlotte was staying in. Once they got in the lady locked the door and Vivian saw her bending down in front of her trunk, unlocking it and beginning to rummage through the clothes. Charlotte came back with an envelope in her hand.

“What is this?” Vivian asked looking at the envelope.

“Read it,” she pulled the letter from the envelope and began reading it.

Dear Lady Charlotte,

I am thrilled to say that your father has approved to give your hand in marriage to me. I have been captured by your beauty and nature. I write this letter to you in the intention that we can have a day fixed to discuss the wedding which will take place at the time of a few months. I am not going to be in town for two weeks from the time I write you this letter but once I am back I hope we can find a day of your arrangement. Hope to see you soon.

Below the parchment was a signature that read David Harrison.

During the time the Easton’s visited the mansion, Charlotte had told Vivian about the Duke in Mythweald who had taken an interest in her but the vampiress had never taken an interest in the man. Her interests relied on someone else, to be specific a human named Rory of a low-class family.

“Did you speak to Rory about it?”

Charlotte nodded her head, “He asked me to run away with him,” Vivian’s brows so very slightly contoured at the idea, “I know it won’t be easy but I can’t see myself marrying the Duke, Vivi. I have given my heart and soul to him. Father didn’t even ask me before giving his approval,” walking to the window, she sighed.

“Why not speak to your mother about it? Or your brother Julliard. I am sure they would understand you and would ask your father to rewrite the letter sent to Mr Harrison,” suggested Vivian.

“It isn’t that easy. If it were easy I wouldn’t have packed my trunks ready to leave,” Charlotte gave her a small smile, “We are caught in the time where humans and vampires don’t trust each other. Our families don’t hold anything against the humans but that doesn’t mean they would want to deviate from their traditions.”

Maybe that was true but Vivian doubted that her family was like that. The way she saw it her mother and her sisters were one of the broadminded vampiresses she had come across, not that she knew many but out of the lot they were decent.

“I don’t think it holds true, Charlotte. Why not try talking to your mother about it once? You never know if everything will work out right.”

“I will think about it,” Charlotte let out another sigh and then finally put up a smile on her face, “See this,” she pulled out a metallic chain from her dress which had a seashell hanging as a locket.

“Did Rory gift you this? It is very pretty,” she commented as she looked at the closed shell which was almost silver in colour.

“It is, isn’t it?” tucking back the chain in the dress she turned around completely, “I think Lord Nicholas will be visiting the celebration in the evening too. It’s good to finally have everyone at home and have a family gathering. After he left here, it was really hard for us to get in contact with him except for the letters. It was a sad time as none of us expected things to go down that road.”

Vivian felt her heart sink in guilt. The time when Leonard was sent away from his own house she didn’t understand what had happened but as she grew up, she realized it was partly her fault that he was punished. She didn’t remember all the details but she knew it was her sheep that had instigated the entire incident.