Alexander-Fyn-Sanguinarian

come in into contact with any of his family.
    We do not move in the same circles.”
    With an impatient sigh her uncle rested his book in his lap.
    “Ravenscroft placed a very discreet advertisement in various Sanguinarian 11
    newspapers stating that he was looking for a wife. I replied and only then found out that I had answered the advertisement of Lord Ravenscroft of Castle Haven in Yorkshire.”
    “An advertisement in a newspaper?” She felt cheapened as well as angry. “Would you hand me over to anyone in order to get rid of me, any murderer or monster?”
    “Yes!” He slammed the book closed with a loud clap. “As a matter of fact I would. I am quite determined to get you off my hands even if I have to murder you myself, you annoying girl. I have acquitted my duty to you and no more can be expected of me.”
    “And if I refuse?”
    “To refuse would be foolish. What will you do? You will not get your £5,000 until you marry and I refuse to be responsible for you any longer. You’ll not eat another meal at my expense, my girl, and that’s the end of it. You must marry a man of whom I approve and I will not approve of any man but Lord Ravenscroft. It’s all settled, a marriage contract has been drawn up and signed. There remains only for you to pack. I will be leaving this evening. You won’t see me again.”
    “When must I go?”
    “Tonight.”
    “So soon?”
    The door opened admitting the tall, very stout housekeeper who dwarfed Evangeline’s petite figure. Evangeline could not remember a time when Mrs. Brackett had not lived with them. She was their only servant, housekeeper, cook, and cleaner, and she did not take kindly to Mr. Sidley making demands for tea and whatnot on top all the work she already had.
    The woman planted her work-roughened hands firmly on her wide hips, demanding in her heavy Cockney accent, “What d’yer want?”
    “He wants tea.” Evangeline looked up at Mrs. Brackett, anticipating her frown.
    “Well, he knows what he can do. I’ve still got the bread to knead for the week.”

    12
    Fyn Alexander
    “We do not require any bread, Mrs. Brackett,” Evangeline told her. “We will not be here to eat it.”
    Silas Sidley looked up at the two women. “Since you’re here you might as well hear this also. Evangeline is to be married. She will be leaving this evening. I sold the house quietly weeks ago. The new owners take possession in the morning, so you might as well go with her. I have no further use for you.”
    “Hang on a minute,” Mrs. Brackett said. “You can’t just go and throw me out on my ear after I’ve been here for fifteen years.”
    “You are not being thrown out on your ear or any other appendage. You are merely moving. You may go with Miss Evangeline.”
    “Go where? Who’s she marrying?”
    “Oh, be quiet, woman,” he snapped. Mrs. Brackett crossed her meaty forearms over her enormous bosom but held her tongue. “Lord Ravenscroft turns thirty in the next few weeks. I don’t have all the details and frankly I don’t care. But if Evangeline does not get willingly into the carriage he is sending to collect her this evening and go on her way without protest, then he will come himself and fetch her by force. He told me as much.”
    Evangeline gasped. “And you, who have known me all my life, and who I assume cared something for my mother, would allow that?”
    “I would, Evangeline, yes. Now go and pack your belongings while Mrs. Brackett makes my tea.”
    “I’ll make no tea for you, you scurvy scoundrel,” Mrs. Brackett stated. “Thrown into the street after all these years of slaving for a jumped-up little nobody like you!” She threw a protective arm around Evangeline. “And you’d hand the poor lamb over to a man with a reputation like them Ravenscroft lot. You’re nothing but a dog. Make your own tea, because I’ll not make it.”
    The little man stormed to the door, tossing the book on the chair as he went. “I’ll be gone before the day is done. I have passage booked on a ship bound for Egypt this evening. I packed my trunk Sanguinarian 13
    early this morning, now go and pack yours. Good day.” With that he slammed the door behind him.
    Evangeline picked up the book and shuddered. A Study in Vampyres . She looked up at the housekeeper, utterly dejected. “What are we going to do, Mrs. Brackett?”
    “I don’t see what we can do, lamb. We might as well accept it.”
    Mrs. Brackett stood shaking her head, looking down at