The Vengeance of the Vampire Bride (23 page)

“So you must always know what is the
latest fashion, I take it?” Csilla teased him with her long lashes
and the alluring up turn at the one corner of her mouth.

“I know enough to know that you are
both the most fashionable and lovely ladies at this party.” Percy
smiled again, his white teeth flashing in the candlelight. “I must
say, Countess, your shawl is quite lovely and intricate in
design.”

“It was a gift from my mother. It is
from Venice.” I shifted the delicate fabric around my shoulders. It
whispered against my flesh and the silk of my gown. Aware of my too
white complexion, I tried to wear shades of pale blue instead of
white. The shawl perfectly matched the dress Vlad had a dressmaker
create for me during my last visit to Buda. Though my reflection
eludes me, I could see in Percy’s eyes that he thought I was
attractive.

“I thought perhaps your husband had
given it to you. Is Count Dracula about? He seems to be quite a
mysterious, yet striking figure according to all the rumors.” Percy
slightly inclined his head toward a group of vicious gossips
huddled together tossing critical glares in our
direction.

“He is quite formidable,” the baroness
said with a beguiling laugh.

“My husband is not about at this time.
He is at our country estate dealing with matters there,” I said,
trying not to appear peeved at Csilla. “I am presently staying with
the Baroness until our estate is restored. It burned earlier this
year.”

“Your life has held far too much
tragedy in the last year, my countess. I hope and pray that your
future will be far brighter.” There was a genuine warmth in Percy’s
voice that I found endearing.

“We all hope for the best,” the
Baroness agreed, her arm sliding about my shoulders. Her kiss on my
cheek sent the gossips flying like a flock of startled geese to all
points of the party. The thought of them squawking out their
particular brand of news amused me.

A figure in a demure white dress with a
dark blue sash caught my eye. I craned my neck to see Laura
standing beside her parents while several young people engaged her
in conversation. There were two young men dressed in short pants
and short coats and a young girl Laura’s age in a pale yellow gown.
All were talking and laughing with the animation only youth can
truly achieve.

Distracted, I missed the few bits of
conversation carrying on beside me as I saw Laura’s eyes shift
toward me. I gave her a nod and she smiled brightly.

“Ah, Sir Stephan’s daughter is being
wooed by that horrible German.” Csilla fluttered her fan below her
chin, her keen eyes directed where I had been gazing.

“Why is the lad so terrible?” Percy
sipped his wine and also turned to look toward Laura’s
suitor.

“Dietrich’s father is a German prince
and the boy is the son of his father’s mistress. His father sent
his mother and Dietrich to Buda when he was just a boy. She had the
good fortune to marry a very wealthy and much older man. Old Igor
absolutely doted on the boy and spoiled him terribly until the old
man died. Rumor has it that they were left with a comfortable
allowance, but not enough to sustain both of them indefinitely.
Though Dietrich believes his father will one day call for him and
make him a prince, he knows he must marry well and into money to
continue his lavish lifestyle. Thus his pursuit of Laura.” Csilla
arched her brows above her fan. “Since her brother died a few years
ago, she is her father’s only heir. Sir Stephan does have a lot of
money thanks to your good husband.”

“I do swear you have all the scandal,
don’t you?” I flicked my fan toward one of the old gossips at work
nearby. “Are you going to join them?”

“I can assure you my information is
much more reliable than those harpies,” Csilla responded,
smirking.

“Wherever there is money, there is
intrigue.” Percy grinned.

“I’m sure the poor have their intrigues
as well.” I thought of the gypsies I had accidentally trapped in
the castle and felt a pang of guilt.

“Yes, but it is not as entertaining as
all of this.” Percy gestured to the ruins just beyond the
illumination of the candles. “Or as beautiful.” His eyes settled on
my face and I flushed a little under his gaze. Perhaps I was
flattering myself, but he appeared to be intrigued by
me.

“I have decided I rather like you.”
Csilla flicked the collar of his coat with her fingers as she
graced him with a seductive look.

“I am flattered, but I am a married
man,” was Percy’s swift response.

The baroness’ expression told him quite
clearly that she did not find this to be an obstacle.

No longer desiring to listen to the
baroness, I said, “Excuse me,” and slipped away. Quickly darting
around a group of revelers and out of the view of the Baroness and
the Englishman, I sought out Laura. Her parents had abandoned her
to Dietrich’s company. Laura looked a bit overwhelmed by his ardent
gestures while her two friends giggled at her side. Her expression
reminded me a bit too much of May and I felt the sudden urge to
rescue her.

I wove easily through the throng of
people moving toward the canopies under which the food had been
laid in a spectacular spread. Willing myself to be unseen, I was
able to navigate through the throng of guests with ease. I reached
the far end of the party just as Laura disappeared into the
monastery ruins with Dietrich and her friends. I should not have
been surprised that the ruins would be a lure for the younger and
more daring of the party attendees. It was an imposing sight in the
moonlight. A perfect place to hide and seek, or for an indiscreet
dalliance.

I hesitated, unsure if I should follow,
when I saw the other young man and Laura’s companion dart out of
the ruins, both of them laughing like conspirators. Realizing that
Laura was left alone in the dark with a young man who seemed far
too rambunctious to be of any good character, I rushed toward the
ruins. As I neared the fallen structures, a sudden panic seized me.
This had once been a holy place. Since my nature was corrupted by
Vlad, perhaps I could not enter.

Lifting my dress and petticoats, I
steeled my determination and took a step into the darkness
enshrouding the ruins. Fire did not rain down upon me, nor did I
feel the terrible disquiet that fills me whenever I am near a holy
place. Encouraged, I hurried past the decaying broken walls covered
in moss and shadows, following the sound of voices. I soon realized
that many young couples had stolen away into the ruins for romantic
rendezvous. I caught glimpses of them out of the corner of my eye
as they tried to hide away in the shadows for a moment of
indiscretion. Laura was not among them, but I could hear
her.

Deeper I plunged, darting through
broken archways, down stone steps, and around collapsed walls. Fear
began to unfurl within me as I remembered the horror that Vlad had
inflicted when he had held me down and forced himself into my
virgin body. I could not bear for Laura to be assaulted in the same
manner. If what Csilla said was true, Dietrich was a person of low
moral character. I would not allow him to hurt Laura.

I burst through a thicket of trees and
nearly tumbled down a stairway that led to a wide expanse of grass
and broken walls. I released myself to the wind and let it catch
me. Instead of falling, I floated to the bottom of the steps and
landed with ease. Sweeping my gaze over my surroundings, I caught
sight of a figure in white being drawn behind the remains of a
tower.

“Please, no,” Laura’s faint cry carried
on the wind.

I dashed across the ruins, clutching my
shawl tightly around my shoulders. Darting around the wall, I found
Dietrich pressing Laura against the grubby stones.

“Just a kiss,” he whispered in a voice
that was deep with the desire for more than just a kiss. His hand
was about her throat, pressing hard enough that she could not
speak.

“Let her be,” I ordered.

He swiveled about and I saw that he was
a handsome lad with a shock of brown hair and vivid blue eyes. “Who
are you?”

Laura’s gaze darted toward me as
Dietrich slightly released the pressure on her throat. I was as
surprised as Dietrich when Laura pushed against him with both
hands. Startled, he stumbled back a few steps. Again, she shoved
him, sending him sprawling.

“I said no,” she shouted, breathing
heavily, her face flushed with anger.

“Laura, let us depart.” I held out my
hand and she hurried over.

“We were supposed to be playing hide
and seek,” she gasped, her hand moving to her bruised
throat.

“Your friends abandoned the game. That
is why I followed.” I slipped my arm about her waist and considered
smashing the boy into the wall.

“I thank you! I did not realize his
intentions until he would not release my hand. Otherwise, I never
would have come,” Laura said, her anger heating her
words.

“You lie.” Dietrich rose to his feet
and brushed off his clothing. “You came here of your own will to be
with me. Everyone at the party saw us together and will know what
happened here.”

Disgusted by his words, I scoffed at
him. “You are the liar! I saw what happened. She rebuffed you and
pushed you off your very feet.” I glared at him, but kept my powers
in check. I was relieved he had not the time to force himself upon
her, but I was also proud that Laura had fought him.

“And who are you?” He scoffed at me.
“Why would anyone listen to you? You’re just a girl.”

“I am Countess Dracula.”

Dietrich visibly paled and he stumbled
back as if in fear.

“And Laura is my friend,” I continued,
uncertain as to why he was so afraid.

“I didn’t hurt her! I just wanted a
kiss. I want to marry her! Do right by her!”

“I don’t want to marry you!” Laura’s
words were snapped off in an angry, bitter tone.

“You have to marry someone! Allow me to
win your heart.” Dietrich’s appeal was desperate and I almost felt
a pang of sorrow for him.

“I have no desire to marry any man.”
Laura gathered up her skirts and rushed away.

I followed, my hand reaching out to
steady her, for my vision at night was far superior. Now that we
were away from her attacker, her tears began to flow.

“How could my friends betray
me?”

My heart felt for her. “Perhaps they
thought you had feelings for him and that they were performing some
sort of favor?”

“I have told both numerous times that I
had no interest in him or any other man and that I have no
intention of ever getting married,” Laura replied. “I do not
understand why they would disregard my desires.”

“Perhaps they believed you were playing
a game with him. Many girls do enjoy a man’s pursuit of their
affections.” In England many of the young ladies played elaborate
games with the men they eventually married. I found the whole
process tedious to a great degree.

“But I am not one of those women. I do
not want to marry. Ever. I do not want a man to rule over me and
tell me how to live my life. Father says I will end up a bitter
spinster. So be it! I would much rather live alone in my twilight
years than have Dietrich as a husband!”

Her tirade brought a smile to my lips,
certain I had uttered similar words many times. “I cannot agree
more. I never desired to marry either.”

“Then why did you?” She stopped in
mid-stride and looked at me, her dark eyes filled with curiosity.
“Why did you marry that horrible man?”

Sighing, I lifted my eyes toward the
moon. “I had no choice.”

“So you don’t love him?”

“No,” I shook my head adamantly. “No.
Never.” Unexpected tears filled my eyes. “I could never love him
because...” I could not say the next words. How easily I had almost
confessed to the brutal slayings of my family. I realized this
folly and gathered my wits. “...he frightens me.”

“He frightens everyone. I am terrified
of him. How could you marry him if you are afraid of
him?”

The memory of his beatings flitted
through my mind, the taste of his blood, the brutality of his
lovemaking, and his fearsome anger. “I suppose I had very little
choice in the end.”

I could see her disappointment and it
wounded me.

“Laura, sometimes people are trapped by
circumstances and they do the very best they can with the lot
handed them. I am doing my very best. As you see, my husband is far
away from here, and I am living my own life. I hope to maintain
this as the norm. I have no desire to be anyone’s wife.” It was
truth. To be a wife meant to be owned by a man. I desired to be
loved and adored for who I am. Ignatius did not have to marry me to
prove that he loved me. I merely needed his kiss.

“I am determined not to give in to the
plotting of my family or my friends.” Laura started to walk to the
party. “I shall find my own way. Be my own woman. If I must, I
shall find a way to support myself.”

“Then I hope you do exactly as you
desire and do not suffer my fate.”

Abruptly she turned and seized my
hands. “Truly?”