The Unknown Mistress - An Erotica and Romance Paranormal/Historical Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

hurrying to make sure all the guests were shown to their rooms and served with what they demanded. Being one of the duke’s servants now would not be pleasant; nervous aristocrats made for a tetchy crowd.
    Still, even noble folk had to eat. Perhaps not at a formal dinner; given the current fear of shadows and things that went bump in the dark, most would dine in their private chambers. No one would want to wander through the castle’s dim corridors right now. There would be dishes carried to rooms, and with a little luck, she might be served some too. She sat down on the bed, read through the notes she had taken so far, and waited.
    After the church bells had rung twice, she had had enough of waiting. Over an hour had passed and no sign of food. They had forgotten about her, run out of meals, or simply decided she was unworthy of attention. She opened the door a crack and peered outside.
    Her room opened to a long shadowy corridor with an ached ceiling. Along the walls on her left and right were heavy oak doors; lining the opposite wall were chest-high candlestick holders in iron. The oil lamps fluttered in a weak draught and made the faces of nearby paintings come alive. Between the paintings hung shields with the duke’s family crest. Farther down the corridor were a row of narrow windows, opening to a rain-blurred view over Toulouse and its thousands of lights. It was cold inside the castle too, and the humid air clung to her like a chill that refused to go away.
    Thankfully, there was also the smell of food: grilled boar, roasted potatoes and wine. Her stomach growled so loud she almost took a step back in fear someone would hear. There had to be a good-hearted cook or a scullery who could find some cheese for her. Maybe a little hot wine too.
    Voices echoed from far away; clearly, not everyone was hiding in their rooms yet. Probably two lords arguing over who had the largest estate. Frightening as the situation was, one could not gather this many lord and ladies in one building without some trying to improve their status or make new connections. Many would try to drown their worry in wine, which just would add to the general paranoia. Fuel on the potential fire.
    As far as Jany was concerned, the people still roaming about were idiots. They deserved to be caught by the monsters they feared. If there was the slightest truth to what was being said about vampires, everyone should lock their doors and hide in wardrobes or under beds. She herself would. As soon as she had found something to eat.
    Silently and carefully, she left her room and walked left towards what looked like a junction of several corridors. A large chandelier with burning candles was suspended where the corridors met and cast the space in a golden glow. As she reached it, she saw five other corridors leading away. Three of them were dark, one opened to a gloomy staircase that led up, and another to wide stairs leading deeper into the castle. Because of what the duke had said, she did not want to go down, but there was a hint of light coming from that direction, and also the echoes of voices footsteps. The scent of food seemed to be stronger that way as well, but it was difficult to tell for sure.
    The fight between hunger and caution was quick and uneven: For a moment, she hesitated, then she gave in and started to walk down the stairs. Unless she ate soon, she would be unable to sleep at all. One slice of bread was all she needed.
    The stairwell was deeper than she had expected. After what felt like a minute, she was still descending the broad steps, and there were no doors in sight. The light she had seen turned out to come from small oil lamps mounted in alcoves, but they were weak and far between. Long stretches were so dark she struggled to see the steps. The voices she had heard were gone. Perhaps they had come from some other part of the castle; the many hallways created disorienting echoes.
    She wondered how the castle’s staff were able to walk