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I now realize I cannot openly defy hiue, evenand shrewd to outwit him and eventually escape I will have to be clever indeed, not merely subservient and hope for the best All this I understood and took to heart as she spoke to me

"Promise me, dear Glynis, promise ainst hiedslowly "I promise, Cneajna I will obey hiloith ht

27th of November, 1819

Today was utterly dreadful The news the post brought has devastated us to our core I can barely stand my own despair Even my child seemed distressed within me and I forced myself to rest for a few hours in the afternoon How can one endure losing threehusband It was his wracking sobs that drew me to the doorway of the parlor My own tears et upon ainst the floor as I padded toward hi my heavy stomach The child within me stirred briefly, then settled down once more

"Andrew, dearest?"

He did not move Sprawled in a chair, his face in one hand, the other clutching the fateful letter fro for his family

Oh, how dreadful is the parcel we received just this morn! I wish it had never arrived; that we had never opened it; that we had not found the letters within There had been three letters: one from Sir Stephen of Buda, a letter from our beloved Glynis, and the last from Count Vlad Dracula Sir Stephen’s correspondence had been a brief letter of condolence It had confused my husband until he had opened Glynis’ letter and read of his faau Pass He had instantly become inconsolable I had to literally pry the letter froers to read it

I moved to the table where Susanna had laid out a tea tray for us I could see he had touched nothing

"Andrew, darling Perhaps a cup of tea would help soothe your nerves," I said softly

He looked up at me with confusion His eyes were nearly swollen shut and his face was a deep red "What is it, Angeline?"

"A cup of tea, love?"

He looked at the tray for a moment, then nodded "Yes, please I ahtly and quickly prepared a hot cup for hiratefully he took it fro hands and commenced to sip it After a fes, he set it down on his knee and peered into the dark liquid

"I knew so I know," I responded I carefully lowered myself onto the chair across from him "But we must be happy that Glynis survived It is a ravely "Yes, yes She is a strong girl She would be the one to survive But, Angeline, her letter is so odd It is so stilted and so unlike her She does not explain how the accident happened or what her condition is Maybe it is May who survived and she is confused"

"No, darling, she is in shock, and that is why her usual cleverness is "

Andreiped his eyes on the cuff of his shirt and sniffled "Father, Mother, and May, all gone How can I survive this pain?"

"I am here for you, my love, and soon the baby will be here Then Glynis will return to us and we shall be a family once ain Not as it was, but it will be good We just need to " I wondered, for a moment if my words sounded as e his sister’s letter against his chest "I want them to return home I want them to be alive Here, with us"

I looked down at the parcel on the floor and leaned over it Lifting it up, I saw that Count Dracula’s letter remained unopened as were several small items wrapped in brown paper "Have you not read the letter from Count Dracula yet, dearest?"

"I have not the heart to do it Please read it to eline"

I carefully broke the seal on the letter, briefly taking noticing of the figure of a dragon staes onis rather flamboyant, but I think I can make it out Shall I start to read?"

"Yes, love, yes, please do," Andrehispered

"Dearest sir, it isyou of the deaths of your beloved faau Pass has robbed them of life and only one sister has re a severe store ept off the pass into the river below All were lost with the sole exception of Lady Glynis My ht her to my castle Upon my orders, my men searched for days for other survivors, but they were unable to find any other le" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>