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I felt radiant. Tonight I felt alive, not the undead creature I truly am. Perhaps it was the opulence of my new gown, but I felt every inch the Countess Dracula.

A delicate black veil edged with tiny gold beads fell to just below my chin and my red tresses were swept up into a fashionable knot with curls trailing down over my forehead. An elegant shimmering black feather sprang boldly over my head from a jeweled gold comb.

Vlad had spared no expense in the making of my gown for this special night and it was magnificent. The high-waisted black silk dress had puffed sleeves that slipped provocatively off my pale shoulders. It was latest style sweeping through the aristocratic circles. The dress was so stiff from all the fine embroidery and tiny, fussy details, like the gold bows encircling the padded hem of my dress, I almost felt like a walking statue.

Vlad nodded with approval as he gazed up at me. Andrew positively beamed with joy.

“You look fabulous,” Andrew declared.

I smiled behind my veil and poked him affectionately with my black feathered fan. “You are too kind. ”

“My wife is exquisitely beautiful tonight,” Vlad said proudly as he donned his top hat, then leaned over to kiss my lips through the veil.

This remark obviously touched Andrew deeply for he graced Vlad with one of the brightest smiles to touch his face since his arrival in Buda.

“Thank you, husband,” I said, remembering my manners.

Vlad slipped into his long black cloak as I moved to help him secure it about his throat. “Where is Dr. Baum?”

“He is attending with Sir Stephen and Maria. We will meet him there,” Andrew answered.

“I am so excited about tonight. I think it is going to be marvelous,” I gushed with excitement.

Vlad reached out to touch the cold diamonds decorating my throat. “You will impress all of them with your grace and beauty, dear wife. You shall be the talk of the evening. Everyone will be watching you. ”

It was his way of telling me to be careful in word and deed. Earlier, I was firmly instructed not to reveal too much about my past. Vlad wanted us to remain slightly aloof and mysterious. Ever since we had received the invitation, Vlad had been reminding me incessantly that I was to be polite, charming and elusive. To add to my mystic, Vlad had already instructed everyone to hold their tongue about my supposed disfigurement. They were to lie tonight and say that I was still in mourning and therefore veiled according to some strange foreign mourning tradition. Andrew had nearly balked at this, but when I insisted, he had relented.

“We had best be off before we are too late,” Andrew said as he helped me into my satin cloak.

Our little trio hurried out to the waiting carriage and were soon traveling the lighted streets of Buda. After a few minutes, the driver steered the horses up a particularly steep road that was lined with lush trees and fragrant flowers. I could see the windows of the palace glimmering above the tree line. As the carriage drew closer to our destination, the sounds of the merry laughter and sweet music began to waft down to us on the night breeze. I grabbed hold of Andrew’s hand excitedly.

The carriage swept around a curve and I was dazzled by the brightly lit countenance of the Dosza Palace. Carriages of all sizes were pulling up to the stairs leading up to the lovely palace. Smartly uniformed men were escorting guests up the red carpet into the glittering interior.

“Oh, Vlad! Look! It is so very lovely,” I cried out in awe.

Andrew laughed at my enthusiasm and smiled at Vlad. “You would think she had never been to any party before. ”

Vlad just smiled his dark little smile as he prepared to exit the carriage. A footman stepped up to the carriage as it rolled to a stop and his white-gloved hand opened the door. Vlad stepped down, then reached back his hand for me. I carefully lowered myself from the carriage and nervously fluttered my fan in front of my veiled face. Staring up toward the grand entrance, I tried to calm my nerves.

“What a lovely palace,” Andrew decided with much appreciation.

“The Doszas do not want for anything,” Vlad responded with just a touch of mockery.

I tucked my hand into the crook of Vlad’s arm and began the long ascent up the red carpet. Andrew followed a few steps behind. Lively chatter, subdued laughter, and music wove together into a delightful mosaic of sound. I could feel my senses sharpening, taking in all the night offered: the sweet fragrance of the blooming flowers, the soft coolness of the wind, the noises of the party, and the extravagance of the palace.

As we entered the grand entrance, Vlad quickly whispered to a butler as I gawked at the sheer opulence that surrounded us. I almost felt blinded by the candlelight shimmering over the surfaces of marble and gold. Glancing back at Andrew, I saw him raise an eyebrow.

“Quite homey,” he whispered with a wink.

“For the King of England perhaps,” I whispered back.

“Count and Countess Dracula of Wallachia and Earl Andrew Wright of England,” the slender butler’s voice boomed out across the grand foyer.

The people milling about in the crowded foyer seemed to look up in unison. I could see the startled expressions clearly and a few looked positively nervous. I was beginning to feel very unwelcomed when suddenly a woman dressed in a bright red gown with a huge gold and red satin turban perched on her coiled black hair, hurried toward us. As she drew closer, I recognized her as someone I had met briefly during my family’s visit in Buda. She was quite lovely. Her eyes were as black as night and, when she drew near, I could see that her gaze was wise and full of cunning.

“Dearest Count Dracula, I am so glad you decided to come to my little party,” she gushed in a smooth, sensuous voice. Her eyes were positively glowing with delight.

“Baroness Dosza, it is my pleasure to be here. It has been a very long time since we last saw each other. Please let me introduce you to my wife and her brother from England, Earl Wright,” Vlad said in such a polite courtly manner it surprised me.