Page 58 (1/2)

How could I not forgive hi I knew, in that natius and risk Vlad’s wrath

Ignatius suddenly withdrew "Someone approaches"

The doors to the balcony slaht wind howled into the room

I heard the door open behind me

As quickly as the wind had rose up, it dissipated, leavingup at the night sky My arms were eainst theone

"Countess Dracula, I have been searching for you," a very prim and British voice said from behind me

I turned around to see a tall man framed in the doorway It was the servant who had spoken with the Baroness earlier I recognized his rugged handsome face instantly and I smiled at him

His face went slack and his eyes widened

It was then I re up, I drew it down over ive me! I am so sorry to interrupt your…ive," I answered quickly "But, ere you searching forabout, searching the shadows

I was certain he had seen Ignatius vanish

"My name is Brice, Madam I am also from Great Britain When I saw you last year, er, but I could not warn you Forgive ht, I can warn you Your husband is a most evil vile man and my mistress is his faithful servant Even now, she caters to his every wish"

I was so shocked by the servant’s bluntness, I could not think of what to say

"Forgive me, please," he said in a voice that was desperate and yet reserved

"You sahen I was here last year?"

"Yes, Madareeted you on the banks of the Danube There were a great many people there that afternoon, so I anize me I attempted to speak with your father, but I was thwarted"

I felt chilled to the bone and whispered, "What do you know? Of myhusband?"

"That he is not human That you and he are what the Baroness yearns to be It is all she desires To live forever"

I was stunned at his words "And why, pray tell, are you telling me all this? Do you not fear me?"

"No, I do not I have seen how you are still a sweet young woed into so wo I saw it in your smile when I entered the roos so horrible here, I cannot bear it I caood life, instead it has been just shy of hell The Baroness is an evil woainst"

"What do you mean? What do you know?" I demanded

"I know you were trapped into this fate, Madam I knohat they did to you and your faainst you"

I felt ht to draw it in, suppress it "You are saying the Baroness had so to do with the fate of my family?"

"Come with me, madam I will show you Please, co me with an expression both sorrowful and anxious

"Very well Shohat you must," I responded

I admit as I write this I am still quite mystified byat his stiffly held frame, I could only wonder at hisfro, and at that time I suspected it would be to the very end, that I could only follow this man who proht of revelations and ht be unveiled

I followed Brice through darkened hallways to the gloomy domain of the servants He motioned to me and we brushed past the house servants that were still on duty One maid was seated on the bottom steps of the servants’ staircase her head sluingerly around her and moved up into the dreary shadows above her

Brice motioned tonarrow hall

"What is this?"

"The Baroness is a peculiar wo that happens within her household" He hesitated, for euests," I asked in surprise

"You could say that Co"

The hall was extreainst the walls on either side of me Tiny little slots were in the walls at various points Nervously, I avoided looking through theht aroundmyself from Vlad or the Baroness, should she be a vaht, for Brice looked back down the hallith confusion I reached out to touch him and he looked quite startled

"Mada," he said in a low voice