“Then why didn’t he entertain us there?”
Mother, looking tired, gave me a sharp look. “Be polite, my darling. He is a handsome man with foreign ways. He obviously likes you. ” She took a deep breath. “Perhaps he is too obvious in showing his interest, but…” Mother faltered, shaking her head slightly.
I took heart from this gesture. I leaned close to my mother, studying her face. “You don’t like him either, do you?”
“I don’t know. ”
“You don’t like him, do you, Mother?” I was quite insistent.
Mother laid a soft hand against my flushed check. “Something is not right here. I will talk to your father tonight. ”
I hugged my mother impulsively. “Oh, Mama, thank you!”
She gently pushed me away. “I want you to marry, but not this badly. I suspect there is no house in Buda. ”
“Oh, but there is,” Prince Vlad said from across the room. He had been speaking in low tones with Father.
We turned toward him, surprised, May clinging to Mother’s arm. Mother was so startled, she could not respond.
“There is a house in Buda. I really do intend, dear lady, to move to London. My time here is drawing to an end. ” Vlad motioned to the table. “Please eat. ”
I managed to consume a portion of the meal served to me despite the fact that Prince Vlad’s gaze hardly ever strayed from me. I also found it to be very peculiar that he did not eat a bite of the food. The Prince seemed intent on impressing my parents and engaged them in a long conversation about our journey across the Continent. I could not read my father’s expression. He was more stoic than ever. What was even more surprising was that Mother was unusually subdued. I had never seen her so passive. Both of my parents answered the Prince’s questions politely, but simply.
May, meanwhile, stared at Prince Vlad with her large doe eyes, completely transfixed by his odd ways. I frowned at
her, stabbing irritably at my roasted meat. It was far too spicy for my taste.
“Did you enjoy your time in Italy?”
I glanced down the table at the Prince, tilting my head slightly, trying to avoid his direct gaze. “It was lovely. I enjoyed it immensely. I hope to return to live there. ” I narrowed my eyes just a bit, then turned my gaze back to my plate, clearly dismissing him.
The Prince laughed with amusement. “I see. I desire to visit Italy in the near future. I hear it is breathtakingly beautiful. ” His gaze rested on me, as if drinking in my loveliness. “Perhaps we will go there together. ”
My Mother faked a small cough while Father looked on blandly.
“Mama, I’m rather tired,” May said plaintively.
“I am miserably tired as well,” I said.
I wanted to be away from this awful room, the strange food, and the intriguing, yet repellent Prince. I felt out of sorts and very peculiar. It was as if my body was cringing inward on itself, yet strangely stimulated. Part of me wanted to stare deep into the Prince’s eyes and ask him all sorts of fanciful questions about his peculiar kingdom while another aspect wished only to flee. Despite my absolute dislike for the man, he intrigued me.
“We had best retire, Edric,” Mother said. She glanced briefly at Vlad, as if wary of him.
“Yes, the journey must have been very long. You should rest. Forgive me for keeping you so long!” Prince Vlad stood up and moved to my chair.
I pouted slightly. He seemed far too anxious for me to retire. As he slid back my chair, I stood up, quickly stepping far to one side. Father placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, and I sank back against him gratefully. Prince Vlad just smiled slightly, inclined his head, then moved to help May to her feet. Mother instantly hurried to May's side and pretended to fuss over her.
“Are you well? Do you feel feverish?”
Again, Prince Vlad seemed amused at the protectiveness of our parents. I met his gaze defiantly. Something unspoken and dangerous passed between us.
Vlad motioned to the two gypsy women that had served dinner. “Take them to their rooms. My dear guests, your luggage awaits you. I trust you will sleep well. I hope the approaching storm does not disrupt your slumber. I, too, shall now retire. I shall see you in the morning. There will be much to discuss. ”
Vlad took Mother’s hand, kissing it lightly, then May’s, and then, of course, mine. I was repulsed at how cold his fingers were, how dry. I forced myself to let him draw my knuckles to his mouth. His lips lingered on my hand for far too long, and Mother made a noise in her throat. With a charming smile, he released my hand, stepping back.
“I wish you all a very good night,” he said. He flashed one last smile, then strode from the banquet hall.
Mother gave Father a sharp look. He gently took her hand, motioning to the gypsy women with his eyes. We all understood and quietly filed out after them. I was first in line, and followed the strange, dark women up a flight of stairs, my family trailing behind me. I could hear my parents whispering softly, and I strained to her them. I distinctly heard father call Vlad “an odd fish” and my mother’s quiet declaration of “He’s just not right. ” I couldn’t help, but smile. I was confident that they would not leave me in this abominable place. In fact, I was quite certain that we would be leaving in the morning. I hoped we would start the journey back across the Continent to England.