Chapter 34: Breakfast with the Brogans

The next morning came much sooner than desired. No light streamed onto the bed, the closed hangings kept it at bay. Isaac and Lavinia were awoken instead by a heavy banging on the door. Lavinia sat up, drawing the covers to her shoulders. Disgruntled, Isaac swung his legs out of bed. He pulled his dressing gown tight around himself and stood. Opening the door, he came face to face with Marco.

“You got here so soon,” he said. “I didn’t even have time to send out an invitation.”

Isaac matched Marco’s energy, keeping his words light. “I simply could not miss my little sister’s wedding.”

“Of course. This a family affair. Will your mother be joining us? It’s so rare to see you without her.”

Isaac’s expression cracked into an unwilling smile. He forced a laugh. “Yes, we are rather close. But unfortunately, she will not. She has work to attend to at the manor.”

“What a pity,” Marco said, making no effort to disguise his mocking tone. You and your...” he glanced at Lavinia, still partially obscured by the hangings. “Assistant will have to do. My father is waiting for us. He was hoping for a family breakfast.”

“We would not want to keep him waiting. Give us just a moment to prepare and we will be down shortly.” Without waiting for an answer he closed the door on Marco. He turned back to Lavinia. “This is going to be impossible.”

“Oh, Marco knows why we’re here. We just have to maintain our cover in front of the rest of his family.” Lavinia got up and started straightening the bed. “We need to find a way to talk to Arabella. She will have the best idea of how we can get her out of this.”

“I doubt Marco will let us see her.”

“Probably not, but his father might. It would be strange not to let guests see the bride.”

“I hate calling her that. ‘The Bride’. This is not a marriage. Werewolves do not marry, they mate. The closest they do to marriage is some binding ritual. They’re supposed to just instinctively know when they find their mate.”

“And Marco thinks Arabella is his mate.”

“Oh, no. That would give this charade some credibility.” He started getting dressed. “Marco is fully aware that Arabella is not his mate. He is just obsessed with her and will do anything to keep her.”

“And his family is just all right with him doing that?”

“I expect that they do not know. He probably told them he felt the connection.”

Lavinia braided her hair back and secured it with a ribbon. “We should go. Before Marco gets back. Any idea where they’ll be serving breakfast?”

“Not a clue. I haven’t been here for a few years.”

Isaac stepped out into the hallway with Lavinia in tow. He picked a direction at random, heading down the hallway to the right. As they walked, they passed several doors identical to their own.

“Do you think Rosie is up here?” Lavinia asked.

“I would assume they roomed her with Arabella. Though with all this space that feels almost wasteful.”

At the end of the hall, they came to a narrow stone staircase leading down.

“After you,” said Lavina.

Isaac sighed dramatically before starting down the steps. Halfway to the bottom, they started to hear soft voices and the clatter of silverware. The stairwell opened up into a dining room. On one side of the table sat Mr. Brogan and a pretty young woman that Lavinia recognized from Isaac’s ball though they had never been introduced. She had auburn hair that fell in loose messy curls around her shoulders. As she spoke her hair bounced, moving excitedly around her face. Opposite her was Marco and a tired-looking Arabella. She engaged with the table, laughing at the sister’s jokes, but her eyes looked hollow. Marco had his hand on her thigh under the table and her other leg bounced nervously.

“There you two are!” Said Mr. Brogan. “I was starting to think we’d regressed and Isaac here was becoming nocturnal again.”

“I grew out of that, Mr. Brogan,” Isaac said. “Though I can’t say my sister has. Still pulling late nights, Bells?”

He moved to sit next to her but Marco’s sister jumped up. “Sit over here with me, Izzy. I didn’t get a chance to talk to you at the ball. I barely saw you.”

“Ah, of course, Sonia.” He crossed to the other side of the table and sat to her left. Sonia leaned close to him, keeping her foot hooked around his chair leg as he pushed it in, making him slide closer to her. Lavinia cautiously took the free seat beside Arabella, eyeing Marco’s hand.

“It looks like you two are as quiet as Arabella. Do you Astors not know how to have a conversation? I thought you lot were supposed to be charming.” Mr. Brogan said with a laugh.

“Apologies,” said Lavinia. “We had a long night traveling here.”

“Yes,” Marco interjected. “I’m sure it was traveling that kept you up.”

“Marco!” exclaimed Mr. Brogan. “That is inappropriate at this table. Especially in front of your mate and the man I hope to marry your sister to.”

Isaac sat up straight in his chair, keeping his hands in his lap as Sonia tried to fill up his plate.

“It’s true though. You can see the marks-”

“Dear,” Arabella’s voice sounded thin. “Please do not joke about my brother’s eating habits. That topic can be sensitive in vampire families.”

Lavinia and Isaac exchanged a look. Arabella was in more pressing danger than they had assumed. Passing up the chance to tease Isaac was a clear cry for help.

“We should continue with preparations. We only have a week to plan this.” Mr. Brogan reminded them. “The full moon is Monday and I really don’t want to wait another lunar cycle before my son has his ritual.”

Isaac and Lavinia glanced at each other. They only had four days to get Arabella out.