Charles’s posture softened. Ivy let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. Was there still a chance she wouldn’t have to witness another silly duel?
‘I just didn’t expect you would ever come back to Transylvania,’ said Vincenzo. ‘I thought I was safe living in a tiny village, being the centre of attention there. For years, it was enough for me. Then I heard that there was to be a royal wedding, I saw the newspaper reports – Tessa’s photo and rumours of wedding guests, including you. I couldn’t resist coming. I’m sorry.’
Ivy’s father rested his hand on Vincenzo’s shoulder. ‘Apology accepted. You were right about what you said before – it’s all in the past.’
Now that is how vampires should act, thought Ivy.
Prince Alex pushed his way through to the centre of the ring, his dark eyebrows drawn together. He looked as if he’d been getting ready for his wedding when the gong had struck. He already had his cummerbund fastened around his waist, but his sleeves were loose, awaiting some cufflinks. A flutter of hope sparked in Ivy’s chest. Maybe there will be a wedding, after all!
‘Speaking of the old ways –’ Alex cleared his throat – ‘what are we going to do about the duel? I’m pleased to see you two have made amends, but once a challenge has been issued, it cannot be refused.’
Charles ran his fingers through his hair, tilting his head. ‘Says who, exactly?’
A young vampire stepped out of the crowd. ‘How dare you talk to the Prince that way!’
Alex held up his hand. ‘No, it’s OK. Go on, Ka– Charles.’
Ivy’s dad went on: ‘Who says that we must follow through with a duel once the challenge has been issued? Who came up with these rules?’
Alex pursed his lips, looking as though he was trying to work out some particularly tricky maths problem in his head. ‘I don’t know. That’s just how things have always been done.’
Charles looked back to Vincenzo. ‘I am proud to be a vampire and I haven’t turned my back on the old ways entirely, but that doesn’t mean I think our system is perfect. Remember what Professor Igor taught us at Wallachia all those many years ago: a person is on the right road in life when he walks it alone.’
As soon as their dad finished, Olivia started clapping wildly. Every head turned in her direction. ‘What?’ she asked, shrinking back. ‘Vampires don’t applaud?’
Ivy laughed. She thought about what her father had said, how the right path was the one you created for yourself, and she realised she had never been more proud of her father. If her dad could graduate from the Academy without becoming a Wallachia drone, why couldn’t she? Maybe it would be good for her. And, who knew – maybe she would be good for it too.
‘Vincenzo.’ Charles extended a hand to his old friend. Vincenzo hesitated but, after a moment, took the proffered palm. The two vampires pulled each other into a back-thumping hug. A cheer rose up from the crowd, but as fast as it had started, it died off.
Ivy followed the slowly turning heads, wondering what was drawing their attention. Then her heart sank to her toes.
Tessa was standing alone in the doorway.
Nobody moved. The tension stretched between the crowd and the former servant girl like a thick rubber band. Ivy waited, but nobody said anything. The silence felt more suspenseful than a horror movie! What was Tessa going to do – go on with the wedding or let her big day be ruined?
‘Tessa.’ Vincenzo advanced towards his niece, arms opened wide. But before he could get within a few feet of her, Tessa span around and dashed off across the grounds with her hair flying, running barefoot at a speed only a vampire could reach.
Ivy frowned at the fleeing figure. As far as she was concerned, Tessa was practically family. Almost like a third sister. Ivy tapped Olivia on the shoulder. ‘Come on, I think this is a job for us.’
Olivia nodded. ‘Twin sisters to the rescue.’
Olivia and Ivy slowed down when they saw Tessa. She was sitting on the edge of the rose meadow plucking grass from the ground and idly throwing it aside. Silently, they took a seat on either side of her and waited for her to talk.
Olivia rested her chin on her knees, staring out at the blues, purples and yellows that speckled the field. The fragrant mix of juniper and rose filled the air, making her feel peaceful for the first time in days.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen my uncle in years, you know. I’ve had nothing to do with him since I was a child, long before my father died.’ Tessa twirled a blade of grass between her fingers. ‘My family fell out with him when he made one scene too many. I began work at the palace and in time I almost forgot about the scandal he’d brought to our door. I fell in love with Alex and decided I just wouldn’t mention my uncle to anyone. It would be better that way.’ She rested her chin on her knees. ‘But when he turned up yesterday I knew I couldn’t escape my past any more. I know he seems nice enough now, but he’s brought my family a lot of unhappiness.’ She pressed her heels into the ground. ‘And now he’s doing it again! The Queen had finally learned to accept me – and then he showed up.’
Olivia saw Ivy shoot her a worried look. She also saw that Tessa had noticed it. ‘You think I’m exaggerating,’ Tessa went on, ‘but it’s true. Mark my words. Before the night is out, he’ll have drunk too much O-Neg and be singing a stupid song, or who knows what other totally mortifying thing!’
Olivia giggled, then quickly tried to cover it up with a fake cough. ‘Sorry,’ she said when Tessa clearly wasn’t buying the coughing routine. ‘But I think families are made to be embarrassing. It’s like their job. Trust me, I understand. My dad does tai chi in the front yard! Where the whole street can see him!’ Tessa let out a soft snort. ‘But listen to you.’ Olivia gently touched the bride-to-be’s arm. ‘You’re talking as if there will be a wedding now. That’s progress.’
Tessa shook her head. ‘I don’t know. I’m worried that my uncle will make the Queen disapprove of me again. The Queen and I have come a long way, but Uncle Vincenzo doesn’t exactly make my humble roots seem any more endearing. She already thinks I’m not good enough for Alex. This can only make things worse.’
‘Is your uncle really a bad man, though, or is he just sometimes a bit silly and OTT?’ Olivia asked.
Tessa rolled her eyes. ‘He’s not bad exactly. You’re right. He doesn’t mean to do the things he does – he just gets a bit overexcited.’
‘And don’t you want the Queen to accept you for who you are?’ Ivy said. ‘I thought that was the whole point of this year’s Valentine’s Ball. You and Alex got together and you didn’t have to change into some horrible, posh vampire, remember?’ Ivy shuddered. ‘I think we have enough of those running around. Vincenzo may be a little over-the-top . . .’ Tessa raised one eyebrow. ‘OK, a lot over-the-top and, well, he may be quite loud. In fact, he might be all the things you don’t like. But he can work on being reliable and he can work on becoming a better uncle and those are the things that matter. So is it really that terrible if he acts a bit crazy in front of all these stuck-up vamps?’