“As are you, dear Andrew,” Emil assured me.
“I hope so, doctor. I fear I feel quite weak right now. I wish to be strong for her despite my own broken heart.”
“And you shall be,” Emil assured me, then glanced about. “So despite your family taking over their ancestral home, your father and Sir Stephen were good friends.”
“Amazingly enough, yes they were. Stephen used to come and stay at the estate on school breaks with my father. I have never heard of any sort of inference that they were anything other than fast friends.”
“Well, Stephen seems to have done well here.” Emil dug into his coat pocket for a handkerchief with which to wipe his brow. “And we must be grateful to him for taking care of Glynis.”
“Actually, Glynis is not here,” Maria said as she re-entered the parlor.
A servant girl followed close behind with a tray of delicate pastries and another with a tea service.
“I understood from a letter sent to me by Count Dracula that he was arranging to have Glynis moved from his country estate to your home in Buda,” I said, my brow furrowing. “It was insinuated in his letter that he felt she should be closer to good medical care.”
Maria nodded her head as she clasped her hands to her breast. “True true. Stephen told me Glynis was going to come and live with us here. But then something rather wonderful happened.”
“And what was that,” I said a tad impatiently.
“She married Count Dracula,” Maria exclaimed with delight.
“What?” I stood up sharply and before I realized what I was doing, I had taken hold of Maria’s shoulders. “What are you saying?”
Maria smiled up at me, patting my arm. “Calm down, dear sir. Your sister fell in love with Count Dracula and he asked her to be his wife. They were married nearly a month ago. They are at his home here in Buda right now as we speak.”
“I must go there immediately,” I said shortly.
I could not believe my ears. I had come to retrieve my sister and take her home if she was well enough. There was no way on God’s green earth that I was going to leave her with a man I had not even met. “This is impossible.” I turned on my heel to see a tall, extremely slender man with a bland face enter the parlor.
“Ah, Andrew, I am Stephen, your father’s friend. I only just now arrived home from my office. I am glad to see that you arrived safely.” Sir Stephen extended his hand to me.
I was far too upset to be cordial. “What is this about my sister marrying Vlad Dracula. There was no inkling whatsoever in any of her letters of impending nuptials.”
“It was unexpected, I admit, but it worked out rather well. She is happy with him as he is with her,” Stephen assured me.
“This is preposterous!” I declared.
“Andrew, Andrew, calm down. Calm down,” Emil said softly, taking hold of me. “You are distraught and exhausted from the journey. This has been a shock to you.”
“I want to see Glynis. I want to see her now!”
“Andrew, the dear girl is disfigured and does not like to venture out in the daylight,” Maria said soothingly. “You must understand her predicament. She will come this evening to see you.”
“How badly is she disfigured?” I asked with a sob in my voice. My legs felt leaden and I stumbled backward into a chair. “What is wrong with my sister?”
Maria drew in a sharp breath, looking toward her husband. Stephen sat down next to me and leaned forward, his expression full of sympathy.
“Andrew, your sister was badly mangled in the accident. The carriage plummeted off the pass into the river. Glynis was thrown free, but her face was badly torn by the jagged rocks in the river. She has healed, but her face is disfigured. She insists that no one can look upon her face but Count Dracula. He takes very good care of her and she loves him for it. When she comes tonight, she will be heavily veiled. You must not try and raise the veils or she will become very irate.”
His words horrified me and struck a knife deep into my heart. I felt tears come to my eyes and I covered my face with my hand. Emil leaned over me, patting my shoulder in an effort to comfort me.
“I am sorry to tell you of this unfortunate news, but you left England before Count Dracula had a chance to fully inform you of her condition. Glynis was reluctant to let you know the full extent of her injury. She has been very distraught over her appearance,” Stephen continued.
“But she is a fine, strong young woman,” Maria assured me. “She needs your love, not your pity.”
“Have you seen her?” I asked, looking up at them.
Maria shook her head, her long hair falling about her face prettily. “No, no, my husband visits with them, but I have yet to see her. My husband has told me all that has happened and my heart breaks for her. But do you not see? She has found some measure of happiness with the Count.”
“Yes, yes, Andrew, we must be glad for that,” Emil said quickly. “We must be glad for any happiness she may have now.”
I nodded, my reddened eyes rising up to stare into the gentle expression in the eyes of Maria Ramsay. “She will come here tonight?’
“Yes, she will,” Maria answered gently.
“Until then, you must rest. We have rooms prepared for you. We must insist on you staying with us while you are in Buda. I think the stress of having visitors around her would be unhealthy for your sister,” Stephen said in his calm, monotone voice.
“Thank you, Sir Stephen. You are quite kind,” Emil declared.
I numbly nodded in agreement. I was overwrought and felt as if I wanted to flee the mansion and rush to my sister’s side. But I forced myself to be civil and calm and said, “Yes, we cannot thank you enough for your hospitality.”
“It is our pleasure,” Stephen assured us with a small smile.
God forgive me, but in that moment, I did not trust him. I felt the worst that I could imagine had befallen my dear sister. I hope and pray to God that I am wrong. But I sit now in desperate anticipation waiting the evening to fall so that I may once more lay eyes up on my sister and know that she is truly safe.
The Journal of Lady Glynis Wright-
Buda, Hungary
I awoke with a start.
“Andrew is here,” I whispered. I felt it to the core of my very soul, if I have one that is, and flung back the covers.
I quickly dissolved into a mist and slipped through the crack in the wall of our secret chamber. I solidified in the foyer of the house, startling one of our maids.
“Where is Vlad?”
“Madam, your husband is waiting for you in your room,” she whispered, then dashed off.
I was trembling with delight and excitement. I knew my brother was in the city for I could feel his presence reaching out to me. A smile gracing my lips, I hurried up the stairs to my bedroom.
So much has happened since I have arrived in the city. It is as if my fortune changed as soon as I arrived here. I am now living in a lovely house, I have fallen madly in love with the mysterious Ignatius, and now my brother was waiting for me.
It is as if I have finally broken free from my dark prison.
As I ran up the steps, these thoughts were in my mind and I felt giddy with the happiness I felt.
“Glynis!”
Vlad’s voice was sharp and impatient.
I quickly ascended the remaining steps and hurried into my room. Vlad was waiting for me in quite the restless mood. He was clad in a fashionable suit and his hair and mustache were neatly trimmed.
“First you are stalked by hunters and do not return until the next night. Then you awaken late. Is this how a small measure of freedom corrupts you?” he asked testily.
“I am sorry, Master. Please, forgive me,” I said quickly, my eyes properly downcast.
He waved one hand at me. “Hurry and get dressed. Your brother is waiting for us.”
I could not help but smile. Vlad had already laid out a light blue dress and veil for me. We had discussed having me dress in mourning, but Vlad had feared it would upset my brother too much if he saw me as a completely desolate creature. We wanted him to pity me, but believe I had found some happiness. I found it all quite hysterical. Vlad slapped me when I had laughed a little too long at the thought of him being portrayed as a hero of our sordid fake love story.
“You will remember what you are to say,” Vlad said firmly.
“Of course, my darling husband,” I answered quite sweetly.
He frowned at me, then turned his attention to the view outside my window. My maids came to my aid and quickly helped me to dress.
“You are an insolent creature,” Vlad said after a long pause.
“I shall try not to be,” I answered.
He turned and looked at me coolly. “I think it would be quite difficult for you.”
I smiled ever so innocently at him.
“Is your brother like your father or your mother?” Vlad asked suddenly.
“Actually, he is quite a bit like me,” I answered.
“Really?” Vlad looked pensive, then shrugged. “I am sure I can deal with him.”
I hurriedly twisted and pinned up my hair into a neat style. “Well, he does put on a very calm façade. But be warned, he has a fiery temper.”
Vlad turned to regard me. “I have dealt with you quite well.”
I began to fuss with the veil. “Yes, but you will not be able to beat him into submission.”
Vlad snarled at me, then regained his calm. He stood quite still for a few moments then walked over to me. Only his green eyes now betrayed his anxiousness. He began to help me arrange the heavy veil over my face and I could feel the trembling of his hands.
“You really do want this to work,” I said softly.
“I want to go to England,” Vlad responded. “I will not be kept a prisoner forever.”
It was as if my own words were coming from his mouth and it sent chills down my spine.
Vlad stood back and surveyed his creation. He smiled with satisfaction and reached out his hand. “Come, Glynis. Let us go greet our future.”
I am an impatient creature by my very nature. I do not deal well with anticipation. I felt as if I would explode at any moment from the excitement I felt as our carriage wound its way through the streets of Buda to Sir Stephen’s estate.
I could not help myself and began to cry softly.
Vlad glanced at me, attempting to study my face through the thick veil. My sniffling gave me away and he snorted with contempt.
“Control yourself,” he ordered shortly.
I tried to fight down my tears of pure joy, but I was sure my bright smile could be seen beaming through the thick folds of my lace veil.
The carriage turned into the drive to Sir Stephen’s home and I sat forward in anticipation. My heart began to beat wildly within me. It was such a human reaction in a vampiric body that it surprised me.
The next few moments were a blur.
The carriage stopped.
The front door swung open.
I unlatched the carriage door.
Andrew raced down the steps toward me.
I flung myself into his arms.
Then we were locked in an embrace so tight, I am quite sure he could scarcely breathe.
“Glynis, Glynis, Glynis,” he sobbed in my ear as he clutched me to him.
“Andrew,” I wailed, my voice cracking with emotion.
My elder brother kissed my cheek through the veil and rocked me tenderly in his arms, murmuring my name over and over again. Joy, so complete and all encompassing, filled me so that the world around me disappeared. All I could feel was my brother’s love warming my soul and his arms holding me. In those wonderful moments, I felt not only his arms around me, but also my father’s, mother’s, and May’s. For a brief instant, my family was whole and complete. The love we had shared filled me and banished the darkness within with its wonderful light.
“Andrew, Andrew, you are here,” I whispered emotionally.
“I came for you, Glynis,” Andrew answered. “I came to bring you home.”
I clutched him desperately and whispered, “I want to go home.”
“Angeline is waiting for us there. And the baby, John. You must see him, Glynis. He has the exact same shade of red hair as you do. We named him John Andrew Glenn. Glenn after you, Glynis. You must see him!”
“I want to,” I said through my tears. My face was so wet the veil was sticking to my cheeks. “I want to go home.”
“And we shall, dear wife, when we go to live in England,” Vlad’s voice said.
It was like a knife sliced through the happy haze surrounding Andrew and me. My brother became aware of the imposing man dressed all in black for the first time. His blue eyes swept over the Count. I held onto my brother tightly, daring not to look at Vlad. His voice sounded strained, and I knew I had made a serious mistake.
“I am Dracula,” Vlad said in his somber tones.
“Oh, yes. Count Dracula, the man who saved my sister,” Andrew said in a tightly controlled voice. It was vividly clear that he did not like the Count. It was an instant and intense dislike.