Chapter 76: Deceit dressed in innocence

Eve couldn't believe this cunning vampire had pushed her right in front of a moving carriage. A flicker of glare in her eyes was directed at Vincent, and it softened before Noah could catch it.

pᴀɴᴅᴀ-ɴoᴠᴇʟ A soft music had begun to play in the ballroom, which now started to spill out of the room and fill the corridors and out of the Moriartys mansion.Â

"My apologies for keeping you away from your work, Genevieve," Noah apologised, not paying attention to the second sentence Vincent said. "Do not worry about me, I will busy myself with the guests."

Eve didn't know if she was supposed to feel bad or not about Noah's inability to understand what Vincent meant. She nodded, "Please do not be, I was going to look for Miss Allie in the ballroom." She then turned to look at Vincent, who had a hint of amusement in his eyes. "May I ask where I can find Miss Allie?"

"All you have to do is ask, Miss Barlow," Vincent chimed before replying to her question, "She's in her room. Go up the West wing and take the shortest corridor and you will find it."

She bowed at the two men, sensing their gaze. Vincent's eyes moved to look at her shoes, and he said, "Seems like Ms. Barlow is nervous which is understandable."Â

Eve and Noah both looked at Vincent on what he meant, with Eve being the curious one out of the two. Her employer said, "With the little hamster playing a piece of music, your skills will be judged on how she plays the pianoforte. But you don't have to worry about losing your job."

"Thank you, Master Vincent," replied Eve, bowing her head once again, she quickly walked away from there, yet carefully while holding the front of her dress.Â

Eve hoped that the vampire wouldn't say anything strange to Noah. She climbed the long wide stairs and disappeared.Â_{pᴀɴᴅᴀ-.ᴄᴏᴍ}

Not too far from where the two men and Eve had been standing a few seconds ago, Marceline stepped into the long and wide hall. The vampiress wore a burgundy gown with a slit in the front to show the delicate design of the dress. It was an off-shoulder gown with long sleeves.Â

The vampiress's head was held high as she walked, and people were quick to make way for her so that they didn't hinder her.Â

Marceline had parted the first half of her hair tucked to the sides of her ear. The second half of her hair was puffed before it was curled and tied up, while the hair near the nape of her neck were curled and placed on her shoulders. The corner of her eyelashes looked darker, and her lips tinted pink. As one of the daughters of the Moriarty family, the guests who had been invited knew her. They greeted and showered her with compliments,Â

"You look beautiful, Lady Marceline."

"The colour of your gown suits you well, no one can wear it the way you do."

"Milady, may I have a dance with you later?"Â

Marceline only smiled at their words, walking slowly as if she was scared to fall when in truth, she wanted people to look at her and know that she was here.Â

She heard some female guests whisper to each other,Â_{pᴀɴᴅᴀ ɴoᴠᴇʟ}

"Is that the famous necklace that was brought from Mr. Collins jewellery shop?! It must be very expensive, something we cannot afford," said one of the women, and another replied,Â

"It must be! Look at the brilliance of how it shines. Very suitable for a woman like Lady Marceline."

As Marceline gracefully moved across the floor, her eyes fell on the person who stood next to her brother. Wasn't this the same person who had come to drop their human governess in front of the mansion?Â

Before she could reach where her brother stood, a vampire stepped in front of her, blocking her way. He bowed his head deeply and asked her,

"Lady Marceline, it would be an honour if you would dance with me?"Â

Marceline felt as if someone stepped on her nerve, and she would have glared at this person if the place wasn't filled with guests. She scanned the man and remembered he was someone she had met at a soiree sometime ago. A soft smile appeared on her lips. She said,Â

"How about you ask me after five minutes and I will think about it?"

The vampire looked confused, but he nodded anyway, "I will, milady."_{ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀ​ꪶ​}

"I will be waiting," Marceline replied with a smile and walked past him.Â

When Marceline reached where her brother and the dark-haired man stood, she offered the politest bow to both of them. She first spoke to her brother, "Good evening, brother Vince. Do you know where father is? Mr. Robertson is looking for him. I was going to ask Alfie, but I haven't been able to find him."

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"Evening, sister," Vincent greeted her, knowing exactly why she was here. His eyes subtly narrowed as he asked her, "Did you look for him in his study room?"

"I think I did not," replied Marceline with a soft voice and she turned to look at the Duke and said, "I don't think we have met before. Marceline Moriarty."

"More like seen," murmured Vincent under his breath when he turned to pick up the glass of wine from the tray carried by a passing servant.Â

Noah offered a bow, and at the same time, Marceline raised her hand forward, which the Duke took in his hand and kissed the back of her hand. He greeted her, "It is good to meet you, Lady Marceline. I am Noah Sullivan, the current Duke of Woodlock."

"Oh, you are the new Duke! I am so glad that you received our invitation and decided to attend it. Are you enjoying the ball?" Asked Marceline with a sweetened smile on her lips. The vampiress wasn't deterred after hearing the town's name.Â

"So far, yes, thank you," Noah responded in utmost politeness. "It is a lovely mansion and the decor is perfect."

"Thank you, Duke Noah," Marceline lowered her eyes as she took the compliment before looking up at the man. She said, "I found the famous Mr. Jenkins to make sure the ball would be something everyone would remember even after they leave."

"Poor sister. To think once you marry you won't be here to see Mr. Jenkins decorate the mansion," stated Vincent, taking a sip of wine from the glass.Â

In other times, Marceline would have retorted back that she was going nowhere, but having the Duke in front of her, she decided to play along and said,Â

"That's true, brother, but I don't think there's a man who has been able to win my heart. I wonder if I will ever find one who would be earnest and ardent with his feelings for me." Marceline's appearance appeared demure, as if she needed to be saved from this harsh world. She asked the Duke, "How about you, Duke Noah? Have you found anyone worthy this evening?"

"I am not sure about it," replied Noah, and Marceline could only smile. "You are a lovely lady, I doubt there wouldn't be any bachelor who wouldn't want to hold your heart."

Marceline found herself intrigued by the Duke's presence. She tried to make conversations with him and was in midst of one,Â

"... the gardens are worthy to look at and you would like the decor of the ball," when the vampire who had stopped in front of the vampiress appeared next to her and bowed. He said,Â

"Lady Marceline, may I have a dance with you now?"Â

Marceline offered the man a polite smile and asked, "How about later? I am busy talking to my brother and this gentleman here."

"You can take her to the dance," stated Vincent in a nonchalant tone.Â

Seeing how Noah didn't seem to care that she would be leaving his side and was ready to tell her to go ahead and dance with the vampire, she said to the man who came to ask her,Â

"I was planning to show the Duke the ballroom. I hope you don't mind." Marceline coyly placed her hand on Noah's arm and said, "Let me show you the way to the ball," leading him away from there. She then softly said to him, "Sometimes I just do not know how to turn the men down without hurting them. Thank you for walking with me."

Away from the music that filled the ground floor of the mansion and from the guests who were attending the ball, the back hem of Eve's pastel gown swept across the first floor in the West wing.Â

She noticed a worried-looking maid walking in the opposite direction, wringing her hands. The maid appeared to be in a hurry.Â

As they neared, Eve asked the maid, "Which is Miss Allie's room? I am looking for her."

For a moment, the maid turned startled as she hadn't expected the young and beautiful looking woman to talk to her. But after staring hard, she finally realized it was the governess.Â

"Um, Miss Allie isn't in her room, Ms. Barlow. I have been looking for her since the last five minutes," said the maid in worry, not because Allie was missing but because she was supposed to be present at the ball with the rest of the Moriarty family members.Â

Eve frowned, wondering where the little girl might be and asked, "Did you check the piano room?"Â

The maid nodded, "I did, milady, but she isn't there."

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