Vincent appeared a little impatient, and Prudence did not say anything anymore to trigger any kind of displeasure inside him.
"Pass me a filled water bag this time," Vincent spoke sterner than before. Prudence turned to her side to get another water bag, but Vincent suddenly leaned over her and her breath hitched as she sunk back into the seat rest like a wall lizard. "Nevermind, I got it," Vincent got a water bag and returned to his place.
Her eyes watched Lord Drakos, and that man was sitting far away from her, watching outside as if he had no interest in what went on inside his carriage.
Prudence relaxed in her seat after some time and slowly turned her gaze to Vincent. He gulped down the water as if it was the last water on earth. He was thirsty and not for water, but for blood. It had been hours since he last took blood from Linsey at his place. He hoped Lilian wasn't waiting back at his place, as it would be a hassle for Prudence to settle in on her very first day. His thirst had been increasing since the time he had seen Prudence today, and he did not want to forcefully take blood from her and give her a reason to run away.
On the other hand, the sudden invasion of her space by Vincent had left Prudence worried about the future. How was this man going to treat her?
She was aware that many kings used to have mistresses, a concept that was slowly getting washed off, but Vincent was still of a royal lineage. Prudence clenched her hand in a fist. She did not even want to be a wife, for that matter, let it be about being a mistress for him.
"His Grace," Prudence called out when Vincent was done drinking and this time she bowed her head, asking with all the respect. There were too many things that she would be leaving behind if she stayed with Vincent and who knew how long was he planning to keep her around till he got tired of her. Prudence spoke in an apprehensive tone, "I have very small family and we can move out of Dewrest to find ourselves a safer place. I think that would save you the time and energy which would go in protecting me at your house."
"Are you suggesting you go farther away from me?" Vincent asked in a voice that was louder than before. He was tired of telling the girl the same thing and her suggesting one thing repeatedly.
"I did not say that," Prudence was quick to correct him. If he wanted to try pursuing her, there were other ways to do so. "We can still meet sometimes and slowly get to know each other. I just want to go further away from where people like Don Sam can haunt us," Prudence was good at playing his words against him, but Vincent was no fool to this child's game.
Vincent chuckled at her as if her worries were nothing to him, "When stupid demons scare you, you go hide near the devil. The demons are afraid of the devil and there is no safer place than that"
There was no need to explain how Dan Sam was the demon in that equation and Vincent was the devil.
"I would rather go to heaven, where demons are not even allowed entry," Prudence answered, and it made Vincent's lips broaden in a big grin. This was exactly the kind of fiery energy of Prudence that Vincent was trying to bring forth. Prudence, who noticed the grin on his face and Vincent not replying anything, creased her brows to say, "after all, the devil himself said he did not want to meddle with the business of Don Sam that makes with you a rather risky place to hide"
Vincent hummed, pleased with her answer. He crossed one of his legs leisurely over the other while his hand came to rest on the backrest behind Prudence. It made Prudence shift in her position to sit away from his reach, but the carriage was not large enough for that.
Vincent tilted his head to the side and chimed, "If you want, I can disclose your address to Sam and see what he does."
There was a momentary fear that crossed Prudence's eyes as she held a pleading look in her eyes, trying to assess Vincent's eyes to see whether he would really do that. But this was a man who had held a gun at her a while back. How can he not?
It irked Prudence how much Vincent was persistent in making her life difficult. He had done enough, and it was only taking her to the worst part. She had so many things to say and in the heat of her irritation, her thoughts slipped onto her tongue, "It is funny His Grace has no control over Don Sam even after having the title of the Mafia King. All the more reason the devil's abode is unsafe."
Drakos, who was not interested till now, snapped his head inside and glared at Prudence. His eyes shining with mirth.
Prudence saw it and immediately realised the mistake she had made. Even though Vincent had told Drakos that he was not to meddle with anything related to Prudence, Drakos felt the urge to let the girl know what was the taste of fear was that gripped people's hearts at Lord Vincent Dominick's name.
"You talk too much, Prudence," Vincent said in a heavy voice, and it was the first time Prudence felt she was receiving this side of Vincent. "Don't try stepping on my nerves thinking I am a good man, you will regret it."
"I am sorry for the offence, His Grace," Prudence bowed deep, watching the fearful aura that radiated around Vincent right now.
The air in the carriage had suddenly turned heavy, and she wanted to run away from him. As much as Vincent wanted Prudence to dig a deeper grave for herself and be stuck in it so things would get easy for Vincent, he did not like her overstepping the line. This was going to be tough, realised Vincent, and he was ready for the chase. Just that Vincent would have to take control over Prudence first. She was like a wild animal that needed a taming, and Vincent was a master at that.
Prudence, who had gently raised from the bow, decided to keep quiet after the way he had spoken to her now.
In the next few minutes, which felt like hours, to Prudence, the carriage took a halt and the first to get out were Drakos and next Vincent. Vincent turned around to offer his hand to Prudence, and she took it this time without any retaliation. He helped her step down and let go of her hand as they started walking.
Prudence turned to look around, but her eyes traced the walls of Vincent's manor, which was huge, like a castle.
There were semi-circular stairs at the far ends that were attached to a little balcony and instead of making their way through the symmetrically in the centre entrance, they climbed the right stairs from where prudence could see the large east tower with a bell shape at the top. Never had Prudence seen a manor this big and this lavish from just the outside, and it made her worry for the life that was waiting ahead for her here. She wondered over how many black businesses of Vincent was this manor built.
When Vincent noticed Prudence fall behind, he turned to her and stretched his hand. Prudence placed her hand in his and she needed this, or she thought she might get lost somewhere on their way inside.
Inside, the manor was no less than a grand paradise. Every wall had carvings and chandeliers with hundreds of candles. Prudence could tell this was not the main room, but as good as to be called one. There was a sofa set and a large red carpet that adorned the room. Two maids were quick to come and take the hats and coats from Vincent and Drakos. "Have Lady Prudence shown her room and bring her down for dinner after a good bath," instructed Vincent, and the maids bowed to him.
"Lady Prudence," the maid spoke with her eyes still lowered and gestured with her hand, "This way."
They made their way through a small arch in the wall which led to a shoulder-length pillar-like structure in the middle that had a flame glowing on it and it illuminated the entire stairway that spiralled upwards.
The maid led Prudence through the hallway on the upper floor, where there were only two doors facing each other. There were enormous vases kept on both sides of the entrance. The maid opened the room for Prudence, and Prudence thanked her, not being used to this kind of treatment, "Thank you." It was now that Prudence saw the red eyes of the maid it make her breath stop for a second.
The maid bowed her head, not speaking unnecessarily in front of His Grace's important guest.
Inside the room, there were two maids who were stacking the cupboard and on watching Prudence, they gave a doubtful look whether she was the guest for whom this room was cleaned? The girl looked nowhere sophisticated in her attire or her appearance.
"His Grace wants Lady Prudence to be bathed and brought for dinner," the maid who had brought Prudence here instructed, and it immediately set the other maids in action. The two maids immediately prepared the clothes and walked Prudence to the bathroom, where inside was a large square bathtub and she really was feeling her feet become heavy with the space even the bathrooms here held. Her entire house would fit inside this bathroom.
The maids started to remove Prudence's dress when she quickly became conscious and backed away, "I-I think I can bathe myself."
One of the maids turned, worried about those words, and spoke, "But Lady, His Grace would get angry at us if we did not take proper care of you."
"Please let us bath you or we would be in trouble," joined the other maid.
As much as Prudence felt uncomfortable undressing in front of strangers, she did not want to make things difficult for herself. Prudence got inside the bath quickly, and it was awkward throughout to have the maids clean her in places she did not like to be touched. Prudence wondered if Vincent had maids to bathe him as well, or this was how the royals used to live.
After the bath, the maids dressed Prudence in fine silk and light jewellery. There was nothing that Prudence could do at this point. She felt uncomfortable and violated with the way everything was being done for her in a way she did not like.
Prudence had worn lavish dresses before when going to parties with Abiona, and Abiona's mother would always buy an extra set for Prudence, which would be kept back at Abiona's mansion.
There was a knock on the door and it was the head maid who had come, "milady, His Grace has summoned you for dinner."
Prudence looked at her reflection in the mirror and took a sharp breath. This is not what she wanted. She had complied till now with the maids just because they had said it would get hard for them, but their job was done now. There was nothing else that Prudence wanted more than getting out of this gown and wearing her skirt with a simple shirt and go back to sleep. Her appetite was dead.
"I need some time alone," Prudence murmured, and the maids bowed their heads before leaving the lady alone.
The two maids were glad that their job was done as asked and had stepped out of the room when the head maid looked at them sternly. The maids followed the etiquette quite strictly with their hand interlaced in front of them and on watching the head maid, the two human maids who had tended to Prudence gave a gentle bow reporting what the lady had said to them, "milady says she needs some time alone to adjust here."
The head maid glared at the two useless humans in front of her with her red eyes. "Do you want to keep His Grace hungry by letting the lady adjust here, Nicola? Bring her to the dining area."
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