DRACULA: A VERY SPECIAL FLAVOUR

OH, HOW WE DANCED...

ON THE RUSSIAN SHIP DEMETER 1897 - ON ROUTE TO ENGLAND

She was old now. Over 60. Once her beauty was radiant. The suitors would do anything for her hand in marriage, and oh, didn't she love the attention.

Her hair is now grey. But once, it was black and glossy, a very smooth sheen.

Now, her skin is wrinkled with age, but once it was clear and smooth and was ever so soft and silky.

She was beautiful. And it was all such a long time ago.

Her name is Valeria. And she is the Grand Duchess of Bavaria, a state in Germany. And she was sat alone at the dining table in the eating gallery of the ship. She studied the menu. Her eye sight wasn't like it used to be. The ship creaked. The other guests in the gallery chatted over fine wine and pre-ordered food, that looked ever so delicious to eat.

She sighed. What would she order. There was so many choices. Until a shadow made the flame of her oil lamp flicker on the table.

She looked up to see the tall man looked down at her. He smiled and waved his hand towards the menu she was holding.

"I think it's safe to have the fish", he said.

Valeria looked up from the menu and almost laughed at being interrupted, "I beg your pardon?"

"We are surrounded by water, one must hope that the fish is fresh", said the gentleman speaking excellent German, her native language.

Impressed by that, Valeria sighed at the menu, "I'm afraid that I am very careful of what I eat"

The gentleman tilted his head somewhat in the glow of the gas lights, he really was very smartly attired. One might say, immaculate, "Me too...may I join you?"

She was quite taken aback by his forwardness. But there was something about his dark eyes, that smile, that handsome face, the hint of one might see as cheeky in the tone of voice, it was like she had...,"But we haven't been introduced..and yet you do seem a little familiar"

He parted his hands, "Oh dear lady, I promise to be as familiar as you like"

She felt safe with him. He was familiar, but she just couldn't place him, of where she might have acquainted him in her long past, "I am the Grand Duchess Valeria, of Bavaria..."

The man came forward and took hold of her outstretched hand, she was wearing thin silky gloves studded with sparkling jewels, "and I am count Dracula", and he kissed her hand.

"Oh I must ask, have we been acquainted before? I feel like that I know you"

Dracula sat down opposite her, and raised his eye brows accompanied with a half smirk, "It has been said, may I ask why you are travelling to England?"

Valeria didn't seem to notice how he changed the topic of conversation with her, "I have been invited"

Dracula took the liberty to pour her some wine, his face was breathtaking in the soft glow of the gaslight, "Oh?"

She took the glass and put it to her lips, "I am connected by birth to the ruling house, but I am not in favour, because a gentleman in England wishes to write my story"

Dracula watched her closely. Valeria looked up at him and blushed, and almost immediately was ashamed, after all she was 63 years old...no 64, it was her birthday.

"It's your birthday and you spent it in a ship cast for England?", said the count sitting back in his chair.

Valeria was taken unawares. She frowned at him, "Yes...but how could you possibly know that?"