“I came for you, Glynis,” Andrew answered. “I came to bring you home. ”
I clutched him desperately and whispered, “I want to go home. ”
“Angeline is waiting for us there. And the baby, John. You must see him, Glynis. He has the exact same shade of red hair as you do. We named him John Andrew Glenn. Glenn after you, Glynis. You must see him!”
“I want to,” I said through my tears. My face was so wet the veil was sticking to my cheeks. “I want to go home. ”
“And we shall, dear wife, when we go to live in England,” Vlad’s voice said.
It was like a knife sliced through the happy haze surrounding Andrew and me. My brother became aware of the imposing man dressed all in black for the first time. His blue eyes swept over the Count. I held onto my brother tightly, daring not to look at Vlad. His voice sounded strained, and I knew I had made a serious mistake.
“I am Dracula,” Vlad said in his somber tones.
“Oh, yes. Count Dracula, the man who saved my sister,” Andrew said in a tightly controlled voice. It was vividly clear that he did not like the Count. It was an instant and intense dislike.
“I am her husband,” Vlad insisted firmly.
I could see that Andrew was trying to peer through the heavy veil into my eyes. “Glynis, did you really marry him?”
I wanted to scream out in protest and tell Andrew all that I had endured, but I bit my lip and only nodded.
Andrew took a deep breath, then extended his hand to Vlad. “Then I must welcome you to the family. ”
Vlad took Andrew’s hand and smiled, flashing his very white teeth. “It is a pleasure to finally know my brother -in -law. ”
“Are you coming in?” a beautiful woman called out from the doorway from where she stood with Sir Stephen.
“Yes, it will be more comfortable inside,” Sir Stephen insisted.
Andrew kept a hold on my hand and led me up the stairs to the doorway. Vlad followed us. I glanced back to see his face was impassive, but his eyes were stormy.
When I reached the doorway, I felt as though I had impacted with a wall. Andrew passed over the threshold easily, but I found myself rooted to the doorstep. Vlad came up behind me and glared at Sir Stephen.
“Come along, Glynis,” Andrew said, his hand still holding mine, clearly unsure of why I was reticent to enter the house.
“I think I should go in with my husband,” I said quickly, darting a panicked glance at Vlad.
The woman, who I now realized must be Maria, Stephen’s wife, stood waiting for us in the hallway looking quite bewildered. Stephen, the simpering fool, simply looked afraid.
Vlad caught Stephen’s gaze and I felt his dark powers swirl up.
Invite her in.
I heard the silent order and Sir Stephen gulped in response. He surged forward, raising his hand outward.
“Come in, come in,” he said breathlessly.
I felt the invisible wall collapse before me and I stepped into the house. Vlad shot a venomous look at Sir Stephen when Andrew was not looking. The man nearly fell over a vase in his haste to step back from his Master.
Andrew took my hand and led me into a grand sitting room. He sat with me on a couch and attempted to stare through the veils hiding my face.
“Are you happy, Glynis?” he asked suddenly.
“Of course she is,” Vlad answered for me. He sat down in a chair opposite us and gave me a rather stern look.
Andrew pointedly ignored him and persisted. “Are you, Glynis?”
I leaned toward Andrew, took his head. “Yes, Andrew. I am now. ” It was the truth. Staring into my brother’s face brought wonderful contentment and happiness.