C8 A tour around caltot

"Verily thou must needs embark upon a noble quest, fair Annabelle, to deliver the epistle with haste and return promptly," Annette said.

"Aye, fair Annette, and pray thee, remember to imbibe thy medicine, as Doctor Phillip cast his ministrations upon thee, ordaining it be taken after a repast," Evelina responded as she stowed the message within her satchel.

"Of a certainty, dear Evelina, waste not the hours, forsooth," Annette cautioned.

"This counsel shall I hold dear, farewell, fair Annette," Evelina exclaimed as she swiftly dashed through the portal.

As the aged lady closed the portal, a smile graced her visage. Yet as the door swung shut, she journeyed to the rear of her dwelling and expelled two mouthfuls of claret-hued ichor. Her complexion erstwhile ruddy now became ashen, and she seated herself upon a bench, wincing from the pangs that assailed her.

*******

Evelina dismounted the carriage and surveyed her surroundings—a hamlet known as Caltot, nestled in the bosom of Havethrone, proximity juxtaposing Dovecote, where the lord's manor doth reside. She strode purposefully toward the post establishment to discharge her missive.

Emerging thence, thirty minutes had elapsed, the sun yet ascending its zenith, thusly, she elected to perambulate through Caltot. Far did she roam, a circuitous route unfolding ere her eyes alighted upon a library—its very timbre enticed her.

"Thou art welcome to this repository of knowledge. How may I attend to thee?" a mellifluous voice intimated, her gaze, twin rubies ablaze, fixated upon Evelina. Though a vampire stood afore her, a phenomenon commonplace in Caltot, adjacency to Dovecote impelling these creatures of night to conspire to his locality.

"Methinks perusing the tomes wouldst please mine eyes," Evelina replied.

*******

Exiting the library, Evelina meandered unto the market, in quest of bounteous tomatoes.

"How many crimson orbs doth turn thy fancy, priced at two pennies?" the vendor queried, as Evelina perused the enormous scarlet fruits.

"Perchance ten, good sir, yet pray promise me twelve, and thy yielding shall be to mine visage, resplendent fair lady that I am," Evelina declared, a smile gracing her lips.

"One doth consider parting with, generous lady fair, therefore twelve she shall enjoy for thirteen two pennies," the vendor acquiesced, proffering thirteen heirlooms. Evelina tendered two coins, and the exchange consummated.

Quitting the grand market, Evelina espied a figure of familiar statue. She hastened toward the sight, navigating through the teeming throngs, yet ere long, the object of her pursuit vanished unto the ether. She cast her gaze about, yet he remained nary in sight. Undeterred, Evelina tread further into the market, seeking the towering figure. Suddenly, she collided with another soul, stumbling slightly, but the gentleman possessed the strength to corral her in his fervent grasp.

As Evelina shifted her gaze heavenward to express penitence, she met a pair of ebony pools, bereft of sentiment. Though not the full visage she remembered, this countenance bore the essence of sharp, chiseled mandible and resolute, yet languorous lips, erstwhile bestowing upon her hand a tender kiss.

"Lucas?" Evelina queried, adverting to her assumption.

"Lady Evelina, I indeed did not anticipate a prompt encounter, especially within this domain," Lucas admitted, releasing his hold.

Evelina contrived an awkward smile and absently pushed a strand of tawny tresses behind her auriculate, "My apologies, my gaze was diverted."

In chastened mien, Evelina consummated her contrition, her cheeks and lobes aflame, crimson from vexation, forsooth, beneath these very skies she least expected to chance upon them.