Under the vampire Lord's protection
Chapter 229: A replacement

Chapter 229: A replacement

The day was going lovely. Not too hot, not too cold. Arabella dug herself a hole among the inked lines that whisked her attention the most.

Ada who sat across from her did the same and from time to time the young woman would raise her gaze towards her friend and just... Watch.

The maid seemed enthralled by almost if not every word on those pages, barely lifting her eyes off of them for a breather.

As Silas’ recent utterances swirled her mind, an idea relating to them sprouted and after taking a moment to carefully consider, she finally decided to voice it.

"Master Silas wants me to quit being an entertainer,"

Well, she did not exactly outright lay it out, but that was a start.

"Oh...," Ada looked up at her, eyes slightly wide, "Was it an order or more of a suggestion?"

"I am not really sure," Arabella slowly shook her head.

"What do you think about it?" the maid rested the book that had been between her hands back on the table.

"On one hand, I admit, I’d be relieved but on the other...," she trailed off, her eyes traveling to the side.

"Yes?"

"I just don’t understand why he wants me to quit,"

"You do know why," Ada shut her eyes and nodded, "You simply refuse to face the facts," she pressed her lips and looked Arabella straight in the eyes.

"That’s a bit harsh," the young woman grimaced as though truly feeling physical pain as a result of those words.

"I don’t mean to be, Miss," one of Ada’s hands reached over the table separating them and took Arabella’s, "But sometimes, there’s just no other way to put things,"

In response, Arabella gave her hand a little squeeze and let out a small chuckle, "No, that is true," her smile, however, was short lived, "To be completely frank with you, there is a reason I brought this subject matter up in the first place,"

Ada settled both hands flat on the pages she’d been cruising, seemingly all ears for what was to come.

"I’d been wondering, if instead of simply quitting as an entertainer, I could introduce a replacement to Lady Persephone,"

"Who comes to mind for the role then?" Ada tilted her head.

Arabella remained silent, her wide doe eyes and pursed lips standing as an answer enough.

The maid gasped and coiled away, only stopping when the chair hit her back, "Are you saying...?" she never finished her question.

"I haven’t said or done anything yet! If you don’t want it, I will understand, I would never pressure you to do something you don’t wish to!" the young woman put her hands up and spoke fast after seeing the reaction.

"Oh Miss... How could you even think someone like me could replace... Well," she looked up at her again, "You...,"

"And what’s so unbelievable about that?" Arabella crossed her arms over her chest, "You now read just as fast as me, and I’ve noticed you’ve got an amazing memory. Not to mention... You’ve got something that I don’t,"

"That is unfair, Miss," the frown on Ada was tragic, "I sang for you from the heart because I...,"

"Because you felt it was right, and most importantly because you wanted to," Arabella shook her head slowly, "As I already said before, I would never pressure you to do it against your will but I simply thought it was a shame to stifle such talent," she paused before adding, "Would you at least consider the thought?"

The pleading look on Arabella wrenched an immediate nod out of Ada.

"It’s... Terrifying to think about, but I will. I promise," the maid had muttered.

To her relief, Ada was much easier to read than Silas. Showing fear or hesitation instead of flat out declining was a good sign.

It meant she did not fully reject the idea and was simply apprehensive, lacking confidence about filling Arabella’s shoes.

"Thank you," the young woman smiled.

The newly settled silence did not last however, as Ada had her own peace to share.

"I’ve had this question for the longest time, but couldn’t bring myself to ask it when you’d just returned,"

"Ask away," Arabella nodded, eyes locked on Ada.

The maid shifted a little in her seat before coming out with it, "It is about Alpha Cynric," she paused to assess Arabella’s reaction. When all that was seen on her were the few twitches overcoming her features, she continued, "You told me that Master Silas did not need to fight him in order to get you back,"

The half question was pending until the young woman answered, "Indeed. Although, I now suppose to know why he did,"

"He’d marked you through another mean than a bite. What was it? Was it food or drinks?"

"Water, I believe," the pensive look on Arabella deepened when her eyes darted up to meet Ada’s, "You knew," she half asked, "Why didn’t you say a thing to me about it?"

"I’ve tried to, Miss. Don’t you remember? On the very night you returned to the manor," Ada gripped the hardcover of the book in front of her, "I’d immediately noticed something was wrong in your behavior and flagged it, but Miss Katherine didn’t believe me,"

"And then I drank the tea with Master Silas’ blood," her voice turned small as her eyes traveled to the floor, "I only remember bits and pieces of that night, but yes Alpha Cynric did use the water he made me drink. That was why he refused to fight... Because he knew he’d already broken his word,"

"In any case, you did well with the wolf boy," Ada’s words brought Arabella’s attention back onto her, "You calmed him down with great ease and then managed to convince him you weren’t his mother. Believe me when I say that’s a feat of its own," she nodded.

"Well, the merit isn’t entirely mine," she smiled, "Remus is a good kid at heart. His true nature did most of the work for me so, it wasn’t all that hard to convince him,"