More then Just a Bride

chapter 4

I laid my plan down exactly. It was almost too easy in the end. I wrote back to the count telling him to send a carriage at seven, then I told my father I had been invited as miss isabelle Langdons particular friend to dine with her.

He wanted to believe it so much that he sent me away with his blessing. As instructed a carriage was waiting outside our rooms at seven o'clock exactly.

I should have been nervous , after all, going for a drink with no chaperone in a mans house would be seen as scandalous if i was caught. but i found the whole thing more exciting then anything, more exciting then i had experienced in years.

I cant claim that dracula could read my inner most thoughts, but he was right about one thing, i was bored and jaded of the society that had shaped me thus far. He was proving to be a remedy for this illness, there was never a dull convocation with him, and never a moment where i found myself repeating the same well rehearsed lines.

instead each convocation was mind altering and perspective changing, he seem to understand my path in life even better then myself.

we pulled up outside a town house as nice as any i had seen; though admittedly it was somewhat simpler then the rooms my father let for our stay in town. the driver was a pale, he stepped down and assisted me out of the carriage, i couldn't help but notice a hesitancy in his gaze as he pointed the to the door i was looking for. "be careful my lady, i do not like this part of budapest" his accent was thick but i understood his meaning well enough. Before i could enquire as to why he had apprehensions about this part of town he had mounted the box again and was on his way.

As i approached the house i for the first time felt some trepidation. i had never done something this reckless before. i raised my hand to knock but the door opened before my skin felt the wood. count dracula looked over me and smiled. "you look ravishing, did you know that is my favourite shade of red"

i looked down a the dress i had picked for the evening, it was a deep dark velvet red, it was actually one of the finest dresses i owned around my neck I had fashioned a thick choker out of lace in a similar shade to the dress, it was not the fashion to do this but I liked it. i thought if i was to spend the evening with a count i should look my best. i looked at the counts attire, he had clearly not had the same thought. He was adorned in trousers a white shirt, unbuttoned at the top and had his suspenders lazily on show. I had never even seen my father or brothers so casually atired, i blushed a little.

I suspected that he noticed my girlish blush as he smirked and stepped aside to allow me to enter his home. "you will forgive the lack of servants, i sent them home for the night as i wanted to have you all to myself"

"your being impertinent again count" i said as he took my traveling cloak and hung it up on the wall.

"my apologies my lady" he chimed "but your presence demands nothing but my fullest attention"

When he spoke so frankly it only made me more intrigued, i had never been treated so openly and honestly. like mr langdon earlier most men do not wish to have honest and interesting convocations with women. our job was to been seen and smile in a pretty manner but not to express opinions or talk of serious matters.

the count lead me into a small wood paneled room that was lined with books and simple decor, it was a pleasant looking room with only a few lamps and a fire to light its contents. It was warm and homely yet its dark corners still left something to the imagination. "take a seat by the fire" he instructed as he walked to the cabinets on the far wall and retrieved two cups.

he handed me a crystal glass filled with red wine whilst he drank out of a silver one. he sat opposite me and savoured the first sip from his own glass "this one is a good vintage" he explained at my quizzical gaze. I took a sip from my own.