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honoured to do so.” It seemed the crowd was expecting something, because they were already smiling and raising their glasses. “We have been a long time trying to persuade our dear Lord Ravenscroft, Raven as he is affectionately known, to find a bride, and finally necessity has caught up with him.” Everyone laughed.
    “Lord Ravenscroft, our dear brother in the blood, benefactor to many of us here, and friend to all, will be married.”
    A resounding cheer rose up to the great arched roof, filling the room, and for a moment Evangeline found it quite frightening.
    Raven stood smiling down upon the crowd from his great height, his beautiful wife acting as if nothing untoward was happening—as if they had not just announced the wedding of her husband to another woman. She smiled happily while Raven whispered something to her, perhaps to reassure her. Evangeline felt both angry and afraid of these grotesque and peculiar goings-on.
    When the cheering died down, Ethella spoke again. “Lord Ravenscroft will marry a young lady from London by the name of Evangeline. The wedding will have to take place in the church in Ravenscroft Village in order to make it legally binding which in this case is important for Raven’s inheritance.”
    Charming ! Evangeline fumed. Now they all know he’s only marrying me for the sake of the will.
    “Why is our dear Raven forced to marry outside our kind?” The question hung in the air and Evangeline waited like everyone else, knowing it would be answered shortly. “As you know, children, we need new blood. Those who would destroy us have reduced our numbers lower than at any time in the history of our people. We must continue to build a strong and ever-growing vampire community.”
    Evangeline froze. She had said it, vampire . They were all vampires! Lady Ravenscroft had told her as much during her nocturnal visit. No wonder the lady looked so radiant up there. Her husband thought he was to marry another woman while she had made arrangements for the woman to flee.

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    “Bring the lady out, let us meet her and show our allegiance,” a strong voice called from the assembly. “Yes, let us see the new lady of Castle Haven.” A rather soft stamping of feet ensued, making Raven smile indulgently before raising his hand. He looked at Ethella who nodded her permission for him to speak. Surely Raven outranked everyone there. Why would he ask permission to speak?
    “My betrothed is not here this evening. You will meet her at the next festival. She is not of the blood and must be introduced slowly to our family. I assure you she will be a perfect wife and member of our community in the very near future. I hope you will all be very kind and patient with her.”
    A woman at one of the tables stood up raising her glass of red wine. “To Lady Ravenscroft, and to the new Lady Ravenscroft.
    Strength in unity.”
    Everyone stood, raising their glasses. “Strength in unity,” they chorused, while on the dais Lady Ravenscroft smiled proudly and Raven hugged her to his side.
    I’ve seen quite enough of this ungodliness. That man calmly hugging his wife in front of everyone while he announces his marriage to me. They seem to think I’m some sort of sacrificial lamb.
    If I die out on the moors, then so be it. I’ll do that rather than live here among such decadent people.
    A maid walked through carrying a tray laden with small plain honey cakes. Evangeline watched her distribute the cakes among the tables then watched carefully where she went. About fifty feet from the tower stairs a dark passageway led off, shielded by a set of wooden screens. The passage must lead to the kitchen and a door to the outside.
    The men began to remove the trestle tables and the footmen carried some very old-fashioned instruments to set up on the dais.
    Evangeline was surprised when Raven went over to a tall harp and sat on a low stool to run his long fingers over the strings. For a moment she was mesmerized by his elegance and a strange beauty she had not 134
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    been aware of before tonight. The music he made was ethereal.
    There was a good deal of moving about now, people talking happily, forming groups to dance. It was time to make a run for it. She threw one last look back at the dais and saw Munk standing beside Raven and looking directly at her.
    Their eyes held while Evangeline’s heart stopped. Then the woman spoke to Raven and he looked up from his instrument, his expression