Miss Austen's Vampire Read Online Free Page B

days, and now this. The poor girl had never asked to be used so. To be used, killed, and summarily dismissed. But what choice had he had? It was this unfortunate girl, or Miss Austen. Jane.
    No question who it had to be, whose life had to be sacrificed.
    He buttoned up his breeches and surveyed the situation. The body would have to be left there for now. No one would be looking in this old storage room. Then after the house was asleep for the night he would come back to move and dispose of the body. He bent over her and touched her forehead. “I am sorry. Truly sorry.”
    Mr. Augustine’s absence afforded Jane a few precious minutes to ponder the situation she now found herself in. She was not sure if she had ever had the pleasure of meeting such an attractive man. Every time she’d glanced his way and saw that beautiful face, atop that magnificent, tall body her breath caught in her throat. At this rate she was in danger of suffocating before the evening was over. And not only was the man’s countenance spectacular, he was also kind, charming, and above all a reader of novels. In her experience few men of her acquaintance were readers of novels, or at least admitted to reading them. Too many men thought novel reading was a frivolous pastime of silly women. But not Mr. Augustine. No, he had even read Pride and Prejudice and admired the work, a fact that only served to make him that much more attractive.
    Forced to make polite conversation with the exceedingly boring gentleman on her other side, Jane wished for Mr. Augustine’s quick return.
    Minutes passed, and fruit and cheese was brought to the table, signaling the impending end of the dinner portion of the evening, and soon the ladies would be separated from the gentlemen. She found herself growing more anxious for Mr. Augustine to rejoin the party. Their time together was ticking away, and she hoped to spend more time enjoying his charms.
    Just as she despaired of any expectation of his returning before the men went off, Mr. Augustine pulled out the empty chair next to her and lowered his long body into it. His pale complexion now had a rosiness about it, as if he had been outside in the chill of the evening. Perhaps, he had. Perhaps the confinement of the room made him desire some fresh air. Jane found herself wishing he had asked her to accompany him during his turn in the garden, if indeed that was where he had been.
    “Forgive me my absence. I hope I did not miss anything of great interest whilst I was away.”
    Jane caught herself staring, her mouth agape. Mr. Augustine was still just as attractive in all particulars as he had been prior to his absence, but now she noted his deep, melodic voice. A voice such as his could seduce an unwitting woman. She shook herself out of her reverie and tried to remember what he had just said.
    “So, I take your silence to mean I did not miss anything of importance?” Gabriel’s brow rose in question.
    Embarrassed by her unladylike actions, Jane tried to cover for herself. Speaking barely above a whisper, she said, “No, no, Mr. Augustine, you missed very little. I believe Miss Goodhaven shared something about the cost of silk cloth and how it will affect her choices for the coming season, Mr. Waters enlightened us on the subject of military expenses, your brother-in-law described in great detail the flux from which he suffered last spring, and Miss Advantageous Marriage there—she spoke on the virtues of frequent brisk exercise. All in all, as you can see, very fascinating.” She cocked her head to one side and gave him a tight-lipped smile.
    Gabriel leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear, “I am truly devastated. Indeed, I would have greatly enjoyed sharing that experience with you, Miss Austen.”
    The close proximity of Mr. Augustine made it possible to smell an appealing fragrance on him, and that combined with feeling his breath on her ear was almost more than she could bear. She felt a shiver run from the