The Tale of the Vampire Bride (50 page)

Sadder yet, I have not able to meet my beloved Ignatius at the appointed time. My brother and Emil stayed quite late the night I had agreed to meet my new lover and Vlad had decided to join us. I had considered sending Ignatius a message, but I cannot truly trust the servants. I fear they are totally within the thrall of Vlad’s power. I was quite morose that night, my despair threatening to overwhelm me. My brother realized my state of mind and tried to comfort me, but it only made Vlad angry.

It was most difficult explaining to Vlad that I was not in the mood for visitors, even my own brother, and that the source of my despair was simply me being moody. I fear he suspects that I am hiding much from him, and, of course, I am.

Tonight, we were especially jovial though. We took a long walk and I felt much better. I was able to hunt yesterday and the blood has refreshed me greatly. As we strolled along the banks of the river, we could not help but speak of the past.

“Do you remember when we managed to remove those old swords off the library wall and began to swing at each other,” Andrew asked me abruptly.

“Do I ever! Mother smacked my backside so hard I thought I would never be able to sit down again,” I said with a laugh.

“You very nearly decapitated me if I recall correctly,” Andrew answered with a wide grin.

“Oh, yes! And then I fell off the library table and drove that old sword straight through the back of a chair!” I laughed at the memory. I had been about ten at the time and always ready for adventure, which usually turned to mischief.

“I remember Mother’s tirade in Italian to this day,” Andrew recalled fondly. “You could always tell how angry she was by whether or not your scolding was in English or Italian.”

“Or by how fast she spoke,” I reminded him.

“Ah, yes. You and I were an awful nuisance to Mother,” Andrew said with a laugh.

“I know I was frightful to Mother, but in the end, we were at peace,” I said with a soft, bittersweet sigh.

“I am glad for it, Glynis. I always thought you were exactly like Mother. Both of you were full of opinions, fierce and absolute towers of strength on top of being amazingly beautiful,” Andrew said lovingly.

At the thought of my last moments with my mother, I felt tears welling in my eyes and I raised a hand to wipe them away quickly. I could not risk blood seeping onto my veil.

Andrew became aware of my sniffling and immediately embraced me. “Glynis, darling, you are still beautiful to me. No matter what has happened, you are the most beautiful sister in the world.”

I began to laugh and nearly choked on my tears. Here Andrew thought I was horribly mutilated and in truth I was far more beautiful in my Undead condition than I had ever been in life. “Oh, Andrew, you are so wonderful to me.”

He hugged me tightly and kissed the top of my head. “I adore you, Glynis. I do not want to leave you here.”

“I will be fine, Andrew. I promise you that. I made the same promise to Mother before she died. I am strong, Andrew, and no matter what happens in my life, I want you to know that I will be all right in the end. I will never stop loving you and Angeline and my darling little nephew.”

“I cannot wait for you to see him, Glynis. I swear he has your personality,” Andrew said fighting back his tears.

“Oh, dear! I do believe you are in for a bit of trouble then,” I exclaimed with delight.

Andrew tapped his chin with one finger, then said, “Yes, yes, I do believe I had better start hammering down everything in the house as soon as I return to England.”

“And remember the third floor banister. You must post a guard to watch it at all times,” I said with a bright laugh.

“We nearly broke our necks that day. How were we to know it was freshly polished that morning?”

We both dissolved into laughter.

As I sit here, writing this, I cannot help but smile. My brother’s presence restores me in a way I cannot describe. When I am with him, I nearly feel human. It is a gift that he could not possibly understand.

Yet, I am sorrowful, for soon he shall leave and I have yet to see my beloved Ignatius.

I pray, though I do not know if God hears, that I will find my way through this darkness and find my own happiness.

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright - Buda

10th of April, 1820

Oh, glorious night of nights! I have much to report.

I was quite happily arranging the flowers in the front hall when Magda approached me with the most solemn expression.

“Madam, this arrived earlier when you and the Master were sleeping,” she said.

I took the white enveloped proffered as I furrowed my brow. I admit I was positively puzzled. I could not imagine who would be sending me a formal invitation. Prying open the seal, I slipped out the card. I was surprised to see that the Count and Countess Dracula, according to the fine writing, were invited to an opera at the palace of one of the aristocratic families of Buda by the name of Dosza. I was so shocked by the invitation I froze where I stood, staring at Magda with open astonishment.

Vlad strode down the stairs and spotted me standing like a marble statue in the foyer. “What have you got there?”

I just let out a small sound and extended the hand clutching the invitation toward him.

Impatiently, he marched over to me, and grabbed it from my hand. “What is this?”

“An invitation! For us,” I exclaimed.

“Really? From whom, I wonder?”

As he read, a slow smile crept over Vlad’s long face. A delicate folded sheaf of paper slipped free of the envelope and fluttered to the floor. Magda quickly retrieved it and handed it to Vlad. He flipped it open and read it with an amused expression. “A Csilla, Baroness Dosza of Buda, was shocked to learn I had returned to the city without informing her. She was even more shocked to learn from Sir Stephen’s dear wife, Maria, that I had taken a wife from England. She is most anxious for us to attend her opera and is awaiting our reply.”

I snatched the letter from him without a thought and read it myself. “I think I remember her. I believe I met her at a dinner party. But who is she? How does she know about us?”

“I move in the finer circles of this city, Glynis. I am quite a mysterious figure to them. Baroness Dosza is a very beautiful, snobbish woman who must know everything that happens to anyone she deems to be in her circle of influence. I particularly intrigue her. It was a matter of time before she found out we were living in the house.” Vlad smiled with vague amusement. “Respond immediately. You do know how to write a decent letter of acceptance, do you not?”

“Of course,” I huffed, then realized what he meant. “You mean that we are actually going to attend?” I was utterly surprised. I could not believe what was happening. It was as if I was suddenly living a very normal aristocratic life. It felt so wonderfully familiar and lovely.

“Of course. And inform her that your brother and his friend will also be attending. The Baroness will be ecstatic. She adores foreigners.”

“It is in five days,” I said. “I have nothing to wear!”

“We shall take care of it. Now, write the answer immediately,” Vlad said, kissed my brow, and strode off in good spirits.

I stared at Magda for a long moment then blinked my eyes rapidly. “Am I dreaming, Magda?”

“No, madam,” the servant assured me.

I gave out a light laugh and clutched the invitation to my heart. “Then God is truly smiling on me.”

Oh, wonders of wonders, I am truly ecstatic over this bit of news. An opera! A night of revelry! I am in heaven!

The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright - Buda

15th of April, 1820

Bear with me, dear diary. I am in ecstasy! I can barely write. My hand is trembling so. So much has happened. Some of it dreadful, some of it glorious. But truly, truly, tonight was beyond all expectations.

Let me go back and explain all that happened.

Earlier -

I rushed down the stairs, a vision to behold in a confection of black and gold. True to his word, Vlad had made sure I had the finest dress to wear to the opera. Waiting at the foot of the stairs was my handsome brother and the imposing man who claims to be my husband.

As they gazed up at me, the ruddy faced redhead with the wide smile and the darkly sensual creature of the night, I could not help but notice the enormous difference between them. Andrew was alive with light and goodness while the atmosphere around Vlad was dark and menacing. But I had to admit that in their own way, they both looked very handsome in their frock coats and long trousers.

I felt radiant. Tonight I felt alive, not the undead creature I truly am. Perhaps it was the opulence of my new gown, but I felt every inch the Countess Dracula.

A delicate black veil edged with tiny gold beads fell to just below my chin and my red tresses were swept up into a fashionable knot with curls trailing down over my forehead. An elegant shimmering black feather sprang boldly over my head from a jeweled gold comb.

Vlad had spared no expense in the making of my gown for this special night and it was magnificent. The high-waisted black silk dress had puffed sleeves that slipped provocatively off my pale shoulders. It was latest style sweeping through the aristocratic circles. The dress was so stiff from all the fine embroidery and tiny, fussy details, like the gold bows encircling the padded hem of my dress, I almost felt like a walking statue.

Vlad nodded with approval as he gazed up at me. Andrew positively beamed with joy.

“You look fabulous,” Andrew declared.

I smiled behind my veil and poked him affectionately with my black feathered fan. “You are too kind.”

“My wife is exquisitely beautiful tonight,” Vlad said proudly as he donned his top hat, then leaned over to kiss my lips through the veil.

This remark obviously touched Andrew deeply for he graced Vlad with one of the brightest smiles to touch his face since his arrival in Buda.

“Thank you, husband,” I said, remembering my manners.

Vlad slipped into his long black cloak as I moved to help him secure it about his throat. “Where is Dr. Baum?”

“He is attending with Sir Stephen and Maria. We will meet him there,” Andrew answered.

“I am so excited about tonight. I think it is going to be marvelous,” I gushed with excitement.

Vlad reached out to touch the cold diamonds decorating my throat. “You will impress all of them with your grace and beauty, dear wife. You shall be the talk of the evening. Everyone will be watching you.”

It was his way of telling me to be careful in word and deed. Earlier, I was firmly instructed not to reveal too much about my past. Vlad wanted us to remain slightly aloof and mysterious. Ever since we had received the invitation, Vlad had been reminding me incessantly that I was to be polite, charming and elusive. To add to my mystic, Vlad had already instructed everyone to hold their tongue about my supposed disfigurement. They were to lie tonight and say that I was still in mourning and therefore veiled according to some strange foreign mourning tradition. Andrew had nearly balked at this, but when I insisted, he had relented.

“We had best be off before we are too late,” Andrew said as he helped me into my satin cloak.

Our little trio hurried out to the waiting carriage and were soon traveling the lighted streets of Buda. After a few minutes, the driver steered the horses up a particularly steep road that was lined with lush trees and fragrant flowers. I could see the windows of the palace glimmering above the tree line. As the carriage drew closer to our destination, the sounds of the merry laughter and sweet music began to waft down to us on the night breeze. I grabbed hold of Andrew’s hand excitedly.

The carriage swept around a curve and I was dazzled by the brightly lit countenance of the Dosza Palace. Carriages of all sizes were pulling up to the stairs leading up to the lovely palace. Smartly uniformed men were escorting guests up the red carpet into the glittering interior.

“Oh, Vlad! Look! It is so very lovely,” I cried out in awe.

Andrew laughed at my enthusiasm and smiled at Vlad. “You would think she had never been to any party before.”

Vlad just smiled his dark little smile as he prepared to exit the carriage. A footman stepped up to the carriage as it rolled to a stop and his white-gloved hand opened the door. Vlad stepped down, then reached back his hand for me. I carefully lowered myself from the carriage and nervously fluttered my fan in front of my veiled face. Staring up toward the grand entrance, I tried to calm my nerves.

“What a lovely palace,” Andrew decided with much appreciation.

“The Doszas do not want for anything,” Vlad responded with just a touch of mockery.

I tucked my hand into the crook of Vlad’s arm and began the long ascent up the red carpet. Andrew followed a few steps behind. Lively chatter, subdued laughter, and music wove together into a delightful mosaic of sound. I could feel my senses sharpening, taking in all the night offered: the sweet fragrance of the blooming flowers, the soft coolness of the wind, the noises of the party, and the extravagance of the palace.