The Sapphire Library Read online

  The Sapphire Library

  Book 3 in the Lady Diviner series

  Rosalie Oaks

  Parkerville Press

  Copyright © 2021 by Rosalie Oaks

  https://rosalieoaks.com

  All rights reserved.

  Published by Parkerville Press 2021

  * * *

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the author. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission. This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  * * *

  First edition

  Cover design by Lena Yang

  eBook ISBN 978-0-6450278-4-6

  Print ISBN 978-0-6450278-9-1

  Contents

  1. In which Miss Zooth meets a wild vampiri

  2. In which Beresford bears bad news

  3. In which Mrs Avely is too discerning

  4. In which the cellar is graced

  5. In which Elinor warns her family

  6. In which Aldreda searches for Musors

  7. In which Elinor receives an intriguing call

  8. In which Aldreda spies on a vampiri ball

  9. In which Elinor enquires about magic

  10. In which a dressmaker is surprising

  11. In which the royal contingent is met

  12. In which Elinor divines some jewels

  13. In which there are tea and tears

  14. In which desires are heightened

  15. In which lovers disagree

  16. In which Elinor listens for truth

  17. In which Aldreda attends a Roost Revel

  18. In which items of clothing are lacking

  19. In which the Rapp residence is visited

  20. In which Elinor receives a special invitation

  21. In which Mrs Avely over-reaches herself

  22. In which a rope swings too close

  23. In which Elinor forms a plan

  24. In which several mistakes are realised

  25. In which Aldreda takes matters in hand

  26. In which there is a concerted attack

  27. In which several caveats are made known

  28. In which Pags makes a promise

  Note from the Author

  Next in the Series…

  Don’t miss the inter-novella shenanigans…

  Have you joined Rosalie’s newsletter yet?

  About the Author

  Also by Rosalie Oaks

  1

  In which Miss Zooth meets a wild vampiri

  Dartmoor, Devon, 1804

  Including some events previously recounted

  Aldreda

  * * *

  Miss Aldreda Zooth flew over the bleak Dartmoor landscape, searching for the Moria Pearls. The moors were covered in mist, and it was in the darkest hour of the night, so it was hard to find the likely hiding spot of the pearls. Luckily, Aldreda had supernatural sonar as well as very good eyesight.

  The wind crooned over her wings as she swept across the moors, which seemed too desolate and devoid of landmarks to hide anything. Aldreda didn’t have Elinor’s gift for divining jewels, so she had to rely upon her wits and her knowledge of her late companion, Henri. She was looking for something large or majestic, somewhere her beloved Henri would have chosen to hide his memory pearls.

  That is why Aldreda did not notice the other bat until he was almost upon her.

  The bat swooped down alongside Aldreda, then swerved underneath her. Aldreda pulled up short in mid-air, not believing her senses. Even as she hovered there, the bat spun in a circle around her and flicked his long wings up like a matador.

  He was doing a vampiri bat mating dance.

  Confounded, Aldreda flapped in mid-air. She took in the long musculature of his bat form – large even for a vampiri bat – and drew in a breath of astonishment. Here was another vampiri, out in the wilds of Dartmoor! She had yet to meet one in Devon, or even in England.

  Aldreda squinted her sharp black eyes, shot into the air, and sped away.

  The other bat followed.

  Aldreda huffed to herself. He did another mating swerve underneath her. Aldreda plunged downward and flew close to the ground. That should give him the message that his attentions were entirely unappreciated.

  To her annoyance (and slight astonishment), he attempted another curving dart, swinging underneath her, as low as she was. His body almost brushed against her own so as to avoid scraping the ground. He emerged on the other side, triumphant, and flung his wings up with a cocky flick.

  This was insupportable. Gritting her teeth, Aldreda transformed into a woman.

  The odd mixture of pain and pleasure shivered through her, but she focused on the tricky art of landing on her human feet as she fell. Black locks tumbled around her shoulders. Standing (somewhat shakily), she arranged her hair over her front to preserve some modicum of modesty. There was nothing she could do about the rest of her body, the stretch of pale white that was all too apparent.

  As a vampiri, however, she was used to such contingencies, and she straightened her spine. The sooner she sent this pesky bat on his business, the better. She had left Elinor behind in the dark, near Totnes, and she did not have much time to explore the moors for likely hiding places.

  The male bat pulled up overhead and hovered, eyeing her. Aldreda waited for him to transform. He simply flapped in a slow circle, staring down.

  Aldreda gestured impatiently. “Human guise, please. It is only polite.”

  He hesitated. Finally, he shivered into human form and vaulted to his feet in front of her.

  Before Aldreda stood a large vampiri – miniature compared to a human, but taller and broader than Aldreda, though equally naked. He wore a long bushy beard, and dark hair grew long and wild around his face. The rest of his body was hairy too, black hair covering his chest, only stopping to show a certain protuberance that somehow drew the eye. Clearly, mating was still on his mind.

  “Desist in your seduction attempts,” said Aldreda firmly. “I am on an urgent quest.”

  The vampiri opened his mouth and tried to speak. The words came out scratchy and slow, but there was nothing slow about the glint in his eye. “An urgent quest? So it is not that you are ... uninterested?”

  Aldreda realised with a start that he was speaking French. She replied in the same tongue, narrowing her eyes. “I am uninterested. You may leave.”

  “Yet I have only just arrived. Perhaps I can help you.” He put his hands on his hips, muscled arms showing between his long, matted hair.

  “I doubt it.”

  “You are flying in my territory. Are you searching for something?”

  Aldreda avoided the question. “It appears as if you have been out here for a while.” It looked like he had not seen civilisation for a decade. Or at least not a barber.

  “I have indeed,” he agreed. “Why do you not have a gentleman to assist you on this urgent quest?”

  “I do not need a gentleman,” said Aldreda tartly. “It is none of your concern. Good night, sir.”

  She drew a breath to transform. At the same time, he threw up his hand. “Wait!”

  Aldreda raised a brow. “Yes?”

  He stilled and cocked his head, a frown darkening his features. “I sense a Musor!” He sniffed the air and turned an accusatory glare to Aldreda.

  Elinor must be Discerning, Aldreda realised, which was why this vampiri could sense her. “Yes, that is my Musor. You are not permitted to dine upon her.”

  “Ha! I only dine upon horses.”

  “That explains a great deal.”

  He ignored her sniff, comprehending her other words. “Your Musor? Are you mad?”

  “It is customary for a vampiri to pair with a Musor,” said Aldreda. “You seem to have forgotten the rules of civilised behaviour.”

  Disbelief crept into his voice. “Did you learn nothing from the Troubles?”

  “What troubles?”

  He narrowed his eyes. “Do not jest.”

  “I am not jesting,” said Aldreda, keeping her voice calm. “I have been hibernating for the last eighty years.”

  “You slept through the Troubles?” A mixture of disbelief and envy passed across his face. “If only I had been so lucky.”

  “I assume you are referring to the French Revolution?” Aldreda knew the human version of it from Elinor: the common people of France had revolted against the nobility and chopped off many heads. “I cannot see what that has to do with the vampiri or Musors.”

  “You are uninformed, madame. Musors and vampiri were killed alongside the nobles, associated as they were.”

  Aldreda stared at him. “This is the first that I have heard of Musors being involved. Are you certain?” She did not quite trust the intense, bitter look on his face.

  “I left before the end,” he said, “but I know many died. Many of my friends. You are mad to liaise with a Musor.”

  “This is England,” said Aldreda. “My companion told me the Troubles were twelve years ago in France.” She glanced out into the dark moors, impatient to continue her search, knowing the selkies were also after her prize. “I have more important things to concern myself with presently. Goodbye. Thank you for your information.”

  Before he could distract her any further, she transformed. He shouted something as sh
e lifted into the air, but Aldreda ignored him. She flew off in the direction she had been travelling before this unsettling little interlude.

  Somehow, she expected him to follow her. When he did not, she peered over her shoulder. He was hovering mid-air with his head tilted, as if listening again. Then he wheeled slowly and began flying in the opposite direction.

  If she had a human tongue, she would have cursed. He was going after Elinor.

  Aldreda pulled up, almost spitting in frustration. She would have to cut him off.

  Trusting that his instinct was weak, after years away from Musors, and knowing exactly where Elinor was, she flew back with all speed, high above the mist.

  When she arrived, Elinor was divining. It was as loud as a bell to Aldreda’s senses. Elinor’s brother, Peregrine, sat hunched on a rock nearby.

  Aldreda skidded to the ground and shuddered into a woman as quickly as she could. “Quick. My gown!”

  Perry harrumphed and turned away. He was always a bit sensitive about the sight of her naked form, but Aldreda had no time for such niceties. Elinor came to herself and pulled Aldreda’s gown out of her pocket. It was one of Aldreda’s favourites: one Elinor had sewn with her own hands. Elinor herself was dressed in a riding habit with a dark cloak over the top, as befitted a midnight hunt for pearls. Aldreda had hoped that Elinor would be able to Discern the pearls if they were hidden in the moors, but so far neither of them had found success.

  Aldreda dressed at a speed rapid even for her. Elinor straightened, pushing her blonde hair back from her face. “Did you find anything?”

  “Not what you think. Another vampiri.” Aldreda did the last tie with quick fingers. “I suggest we remove ourselves.”

  Elinor’s eyes widened. “Truly? A vampiri? Do you think that is why my divination led us here?”

  “A vampiri like you?” asked Perry, turning on his rock.

  “No,” said Aldreda shortly. “Not like me. I think we should leave.”

  “Oh, but does that mean a Musor is about?” asked Elinor eagerly.

  “Not necessarily,” said Aldreda. She could see it was not going to be easy to hurry them off. She put her hands on her hips. “Some vampiri go wild.”

  “Wild?” asked Elinor nervously.

  Perry started, his hazel eyes widening like Elinor’s. “Will it try to eat me?”

  Aldreda shot him a withering look. “You do not look that delicious, Mr Avely. However, if you do see him, you may want to take off your cravat.”

  Perry clutched at the top of his coat. “Expose more flesh? Egad, no!”

  “This vampiri is not going to bite you,” said Aldreda. “He appears to have shunned human company for a long time.”

  “Why does he need my cravat then?” demanded Perry. “He does not sound like a very civilised sort of bat.”

  “Exactly,” said Aldreda. “Do you want to see him unclothed?”

  Elinor raised her brows. “Have you seen him unclothed, Aldreda?”

  Aldreda ignored her. “Let us go. Before he arrives.”

  It was too late. The male bat swooped out of the night like a black arrow.

  He made straight for Elinor, skidding in the air past her hair. She let out an involuntary shriek and stood up. The bat turned, in an impressive display of agility, and sped back towards her. She flapped her hands and shrieked again.

  The bat shot towards Perry, who leapt back with an oath. Aldreda, her hands still on her hips, shook her head crossly. “Keep still! You are confusing him!”

  “He is confusing us!” shouted Perry.

  Elinor had her hands near her ears as if her elbows could ward off the next attack. “What does he want?” she asked.

  The vampiri transformed and landed on the rock Elinor had just vacated.

  Elinor’s eyes widened, taking in the sight before her. Aldreda was pleased to see that Elinor quickly raise her gaze to his face. The new vampiri stared back with his yellow eyes.

  Perry let out a curse, whipped off his cravat, and hurried forward.

  “Here you go, old fellow,” he muttered. “Egad, I hope this doesn’t mean I’m going to have a pet bat now as well. No offence, Miss Zooth.”

  The male vampiri let the white folds fall down around him, making no attempt to recover his modesty. Aldreda tutted and pulled her skirts a little closer to her person, hoping it would give him some indication of his barbaric conduct.

  Elinor rose to the occasion. She was quite accustomed to nakedness, after all, thanks to her friendship with Aldreda. She was unfazed by a miniature, hairy man.

  “Good evening,” she said politely. “How do you do?”

  ‘Mrgh.” The vampiri seemed to struggle to find his voice again. Aldreda tutted once more.

  “I am very well, thank you,” said Elinor, doing her best. “Do you have a name, kind sir?”

  “Nothing kind about that display,” muttered Perry.

  ‘Mrghgh,” said the man. His eyes shifted to Aldreda, who put on an expression of supercilious disdain, though in fact she was quite curious to find out his name. She hadn’t wanted to ask before. Human companions were useful sometimes.

  The vampiri cleared his throat. “Urgh. Pags.”

  “Pags?” enquired Elinor. “Your name is Pags?”

  The vampiri nodded slowly as if she were the half-witted one. Yet Aldreda knew that couldn’t be his full name. So abominably rude.

  “Lovely to meet you, Mr Pags,” said Elinor, without even a hint of sarcasm. “What brings you to this corner of Devon tonight?”

  The man just stared at her.

  “He sensed your divination,” explained Aldreda. “I doubt that he has felt a Musor for a long time.”

  “Oh.” Elinor was embarrassed. “Does he want something – er – to eat?”

  Aldreda spoke sharply. “Musors only bond with one vampiri at a time.”

  “Not me,” said Perry hastily. “Don’t look at me.”

  The male vampiri gave Perry a scornful glance. Then he cleared his throat and spoke in French to Aldreda. “I do not want any dinner.” There was a glint in his eye again, as if it were something else he wanted.

  “What did he say?” demanded Perry, whose French, it must be admitted, was not very good. “Did he say I looked tasty? Or not tasty?” He seemed uncertain which was more offensive.

  Elinor frowned at her brother and directed a different question to Pags. “You speak French?”

  “Oui,” said Pags.

  “Well, thank goodness for that,” Elinor spoke rapidly in that tongue. “I quite thought you were unused to civilised company.” She cast a glance over him. “Would you like to clothe yourself, Mr Pags? You must be cold. My brother won’t mind if you use his cravat.”

  Pags glanced down at the crumpled cravat, ignored it again, then stared at Elinor. His eyes gleamed in the moonlight, and he shifted a warning look to Aldreda.

  Aldreda pursed her lips together.

  Perry was pacing behind Elinor, perhaps feeling vulnerable without the protection of his cravat. “What did you say, Elinor?” he demanded. “I hope you are not offering me up as a snack.”

  Elinor turned impatiently to her brother. “Mr Pags doesn’t want you for dinner. Nor does he want your cravat.” She turned back to Aldreda. “Has this vampiri spoken to you, my dear?”

  “Mrghgh.” Pags cleared his throat again, and this time he spoke in accented English. “I have come to warn you.”

  There was silence.

  “Warn us?” said Elinor.

  “Warn you,” repeated Pags.

  “We heard,” said Perry. “Why do you want to warn us?”