Jane Vows Vengeance

home in which operas were performed in the actual rooms of the palace, moving from room to room with each act. The idea thrilled Jane no end.

Fitting the occasion, Jane wore a strapless blue crushed velvet dress, with a beautiful vintage diamond and sapphire necklace. The jewels were paste, but no less wonderful for that, and when Jane looked at herself in the mirror she felt very elegant indeed. Her hair was up, and she had applied some blush to give her naturally pale skin a soft, pinkish glow.

“You’re stunning,” Walter said, coming up behind her and putting his hands round her waist. “I’m not sure I want anyone else seeing you tonight. They might fall in love.”

“You’re quite dashing yourself,” said Jane.

“Aren’t you going to be cold in that?” Walter asked. “It’s freezing out there.”

“I bought a cloak,” Jane told him. “While you were taking a nap after lunch, Lucy and I did some shopping. Look.”

She went to the closet and took out the cloak. Made from lightweight black wool, it fell all the way to her feet and had a hood that could be pulled up for protection from the elements or (Jane theorized) to create an aura of menace. It likely wouldn’t keep one terribly warm in the event of truly inclement weather, but she didn’t require it for that and so it was perfect.

“You look positively Venetian,” Walter told her as she modeled her purchase.

“I thought it was nicer than my Paddington raincoat,” Jane said.

They went downstairs, where they met up with Ben, Lucy, Chumsley, Sam, Brodie, and Orsino and proceeded to the restaurant.

La Caverna Nascosta was, as its name implied, impossible to find if one wasn’t accompanied by someone who knew the way. It was not on any lists of restaurants recommended for vacationers, and no amount of Googling or Binging would reveal its whereabouts. It had no sign.

Nor did it have menus. Having found it, diners were seated at a single large, round table in the middle of a beautiful dining room that was lit by dozens, if not hundreds, of candles. The windows of the room overlooked a canal, and the walls were frescoed with faded scenes from Roman mythology, not all of them appropriate for the prudish. Jane found them delightful.

Once seated, guests were brought dish after dish of delights, the menu created by the whims of the chef. Sarde in saor came out, the grilled sardines atop a bed of onions, pine nuts, and currants. This was accompanied by polenta e schie and baccala mantecato spread on crostini. A creamy risotto nero alle seppie, rich with squid ink, was followed by fegato alla veneziana, galletto alla brace, branzino del doge, and stinco di agnello brasato.

As each dish arrived it was sent around the table to a chorus of delighted oohs and aahs. Forks and knives clinked against china, and much prosecco and amarone was drunk as glasses were quickly refilled by the attentive waitstaff. The conversation was lively, and all in all, Jane couldn’t imagine a more delightful evening.

She was seated with Walter to one side and Sam to the other. She hadn’t really had a chance to talk to Sam very much, and despite her initial wariness of the woman due to her connection to Walter, she found herself chatting easily with her.

“How are you getting along with Miriam?” Sam asked during the short period between the last dinner dish being swept away and the arrival of small dishes of zabaglione and plates of baicoli, zaletti, and galani.

Jane laughed. “How well do you know her?”

“Well enough to know what a bully she can be,” Sam replied. “Did you know she tried to get Walter to marry me?”

“No!” Jane said. “Really?”

Sam nodded. “Oh, she really put the screws to him. Mind you, I’d only met her once, at a party for the opening of a building Walter and I worked on together. But apparently she decided I was going to be the new Mrs. Fletcher. She wouldn’t stop nagging him about it.”

Jane felt the fingers of jealousy tickling her. “Had you and Walter been dating long at that point?” she asked cautiously.

Sam smiled. “I don’t think my girlfriend would have been too happy if anything like that had been going on,” she said. “Well, she was my girlfriend then.”

“I’m sorry,” Jane said, enormously relieved. “I assume Miriam’s behavior had nothing to do with the breakup?”

“Breakup?” Sam said, accepting a cup of espresso from a waiter.

“Your girlfriend,” Jane said. “You said she was your girlfriend then.”

“Oh,” said Sam. “I meant that then she was my girlfriend. Now she’s my wife. We got married in Massachusetts—gosh, almost eight years ago.”

“Congratulations,” Jane said, marveling at how the world had changed for the better since her time.

“Thank you,” said Sam. “I can’t believe it’s been that long. Of course, I can’t believe we have two boys either.”

“Two?” Jane said.

Sam nodded. “Gus and Max,” she said. “They’re five. Twins. I have to remember to get them something before we leave tomorrow. Do you know where Miriam got that clown doll?”

Jane choked on a galani, spraying powdered sugar down the front of her dress. “Clown doll?” she said.

“She had one when I ran into her in the elevator as I was coming down to meet everyone tonight. It looked really old, but she said she had just bought it. Max and Gus love clowns, and I thought a doll like that would make a great present. I was going to ask her where she got it, but she seemed to be in a hurry to get wherever she was going.”

Jane was seized by a sudden panic. “Was it black and white?” she asked.

“That’s the one,” said Sam. “Do you know where she got it?”

“I’m afraid not,” Jane said. “But I’ll be sure to ask her. Will you excuse me a moment?”

She turned to Walter. “Sweetie, I’m having a bit of heartburn. I’m going to run back to the hotel and take something. You go ahead to the opera and I’ll meet you there.”

“I’ll come with you,” Walter said, just as Jane knew he would.

“Aren’t you sweet?” she said, kissing his cheek. “But I’ll be fine. You finish your espresso.”

She left before he could object again. Fortunately, the hotel wasn’t that far away, and she made it there in under ten minutes. She took the elevator to the third floor and strode briskly to Miriam’s door.

As she raised her hand to knock she heard a commotion from inside. Then Lilith’s voice was in her head.

“Let me out of here!”

Jane tried the knob and found the door unlocked. Pushing it open she saw Miriam on the bed. Straddling her was Bergen. His mouth was on her neck. The sound of Lilith’s barking came from the bathroom, where apparently she had been locked in. Bergen turned his head and looked at Jane. His eyes were wild, and he hissed at her.

Bergen’s the vampire? Jane thought vaguely as she tried to figure out what to do. That’s unexpected.

Bergen leapt off the bed and ran at her. Jane, acting on instinct, hauled off and punched him as hard as she could in the face. Her fist connected with Bergen’s nose, there was a disturbing yet satisfying crunch, and the little man fell backward. He stared at Jane for a moment, blood just starting to drip from his nose, then collapsed.

“Quick!” Jane said to Miriam. “Get me a stake!”

Miriam, who was getting up from the bed, said. “Don’t be stupid. He’s not a vampire.”

“But he was biting you!” Jane said.

Miriam patted her hair. “Actually, he was kissing me,” she said.

“That’s even worse!” said Jane.

“I was trying to find out who he’s working for,” Miriam said.

“Working for?” Jane said. “What are you talking about?”

Miriam poked Bergen with her toe. He remained still. She looked at Jane. “You really are the worst vampire I’ve ever met. Can’t you recognize a familiar when you see one?”