My Dark and Handsome Count

Part 2

16 hours before the party...

The local story of the day had me second guessing attending the party. As reported in the Mystic Falls Times: A Schooner from France enter the docks and was carrying cargo to the house of Salvatore in those early hours before dawn. Four seamen carried the crate labeled 'Count Damon, House of Salvatore, Mystic Falls, USA'. As the seamen were trying to load the crate into the house, one of them had heard a strange sound. The other three simply ignored him believing he misheard something. To their shock, a wolf leaped from behind them and attacked each of the men. The crate had carried some kind of plant which was said to be vervain. During the attack a lit lantern had fallen from one of the seamen and burned the crate to oblivion. Not one remaining reminiscence of the plant had survived. Worst one of the seamen who survived had gone insane and began to eat any insect near his grasp.

Hearing this story troubled me. I began to have second thoughts about attending the party now.

I tried to convince myself not to go, but it would mean not seeing Count Damon.

I heard a knock on my bedroom door and told whoever it was to enter. One of my maid entered the room and told me that a visitor had come to see me. I asked her who it was and she said it was a Count. Right away I told her to send him in.

The Count entered my room and kissed my hand. "My do you look lovely today." I asked him what brought him to my home and at this time of morning. "I thought I would pay your father and yourself a courtesy call." I thought him that was very kind of him. I expressed my concern for him seeing on how their was a report of a wolf attack just outside his home.

"Yes, it is unfortunate that had happened." 

I asked him if the party would still continue as planned. "Yes it will." 

I asked about the seaman who went insane. "I took pity on him. He now is a personal cooker at my home."

 Besides being so handsome, the Count seem to have a good and generous heart as well.

"I look forward to see you at the party Idona." He took my hand and kissed it before leaving.

Suddenly any worry I had about attending the party just disappeared like mist.

The night of the party...

I arrived to see that Damon had been anticipating my arrival more than anyone else.

"Welcome to the house of Salvatore, Idona! Come, go, and leave with a sense of happiness."

He had seemed cheery and colorful as he made that greeting to me.

I curtsy and bowed. "Count Damon."

He took my coat and we went into the grand hall and danced. 

During our dance, Damon spoke about something troublesome.

"Their might be danger coming to my area soon." I became concern for him. 

"I would need you to be attending to the house immediately, as of tonight." 

I was being offered a housekeeper job? 

"Do not worry, I will make sure that your father is aware and can stay here for a while."

Speechless I thanked him and we continued with our dance.

Later that night...

Damon summon a buggy to take me to the village to collect food for the home.