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I delighted in the fact that he’d stumbled into the chair, eyes wide. I moved closer, until I was standing before him, and nudged his limb with my knee, teasing.
“It’s not polite to play with your meal, Wadsworth. Hasn’t—”
“I love you, too.” I captured his lips with my own, allowing his arms to circle me and draw me closer still. He opened his mouth to deepen our kiss, and I felt the heavens split open within the universe of my body. I didn’t care about Anastasia and her crimes. Or anything other than—
“Much as I hate to break you two up…” Daciana coughed delicately from the doorway. “We have a visitor.” She eyed my new outfit and grinned. “You look phenomenal. Very intimidating and ‘Bringer of Death.’”
Thomas groaned as I stepped out of his grasp, then shot his sister a withering glare Aunt Amelia would have been proud of. “Bringer of Death is what the villagers will label me if you continue to ruin all of our clandestine moments, Daci. Go entertain your visitor on your own.”
Daciana stuck her tongue out at him. “Stop being cranky. It’s unbecoming. I’d love to entertain our guest, but I have a feeling Audrey Rose might want to say hello.”
Intrigued, I smoothed down the front of my dangerous ensemble. My hair was unbound, but curiosity dragged me from my chambers and down the winding stairs before I could fix it. I halted at the bottom, nearly sending Thomas sprawling to the floor as he bumped into me.
A man with blond hair and familiar gold spectacles paced around the foyer, hands flitting at his sides. It took every bit of my self-control to not jump into his arms.
“Uncle Jonathan? What a lovely surprise! What brings you all the way to Bucharest?”
His attention snapped to me, and I watched his green eyes blink in response to my choice of attire. I was certain the leather scalpel belt around my thigh might cause an embolism, but he took it all in stride. He didn’t bat a lash at the state of my hair, which was a miracle in itself. Uncle inspected the young man beside me, then twisted his mustache. I grabbed hold of the banister, knowing from the gesture that his news wasn’t good.
Irrational fears flashed before my eyes. “Is everything all right at home? How is Father?”
“He’s well.” Uncle nodded as if to confirm the fact. “I’m afraid you both may be delayed in returning home, though. I’ve been summoned to America. There’s a troubling forensic case, and I require the assistance of my two best apprentices.” He tugged a pocket watch from beneath his traveling cloak. “Our ship sails from Liverpool on New Year’s Day. If we’re to make it there, we need to leave tonight.”
“I’m not sure that’s such a wise idea. What does Lord Wadsworth say about it?” Thomas stood straighter, worrying his lip between his teeth. “I suppose my father doesn’t care one way or the other. Has anyone been in communication with him?”
Uncle shook his head slightly. “He’s traveling, Thomas. You know how hard it is to receive the post, which is why I came myself.”
A lock of hair fell across Thomas’s brow, and I longed to reach over and smooth both it and his worries away. I gently squeezed his hand before stepping toward my uncle.
“Come on, Cresswell. I’m sure both of our fathers will approve. Besides,” I said, my tone turning playful, “I fancy another adventure with you.”
A flash of mischief lit his expression. I knew he was recalling the very thing he’d said to me at the end of the Ripper case. “I am rather irresistible, Wadsworth. It’s high time you admitted it.” He held out his arm, a question in his gaze. “Shall we?”
I glanced at my uncle, noting the smile twitching across his face. I’d always wanted to travel across the pond, and saying no to another case and a trip aboard a luxury cruiser seemed foolish. I focused on Thomas’s outstretched arm, knowing he was offering much more than his best manners. He was gifting me with all the love and adventure the universe could provide.
Mr. Thomas Cresswell, last male heir of Prince Dracula, was offering me both his heart and his hand.
Without hesitation, I accepted Thomas’s arm and grinned. “To America!”
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
Aldea Al-DEE-ah
Anastasia ah-nuh-STAH-zee-uh
Andrei AHN-dray
Basarab bah-sah-RAHB
Brasov bra-SHOV
cel Rau chel-RO
Cian KEE-uhn
Daciana dah-see-AH-nah
Danesti Dah-NESH-tee
