Royal Blood - By Rhys Bowen Page 0,44
said.
“I am sorry. Please let our people know if there is anything to do to make you more comfortable.”
I could hardly request a guard against vampires, could I? I was glad I hadn’t given in to panic and rushed to his room. I’d have to be really desperate before I knocked on Siegfried’s door again.
“Today I take the men out shooting,” Siegfried said. “Maybe we find a wild boar. But later I hope we have the chance to speak together again. There are matters I wish to discuss with you. Important matters.” He got to his feet, gave that jerky little bow of his and departed. Oh, golly, he wasn’t going to bring up the marriage thing again, was he? How did one find a polite way to say “Not if you were the last man on earth”?
The sound of voices coming down the hallway made me look up. Lady Middlesex and Miss Deer-Harte came in, the latter waving her arms as she talked in animated fashion. Lady Middlesex cut her off when she saw me.
“Here’s a how-de-doo,” she said to me. “We’ve just heard that the wretched pass is closed. Avalanche or something. The car can’t take us to the station. We have to stay here whether we like it or not.”
“I really don’t think I could face another night in this place,” Miss Deer-Harte said. “Did you hear the wind moaning last night? At least I suppose it had to be the wind. It sounded like a soul in torment. And then someone was creeping down the hallway in the wee hours. I couldn’t sleep and I was sure I heard footsteps, so I opened my door a crack and what do you think I saw? A dark figure creeping down the hall.”
“It was only one of the servants, Deer-Harte. I’ve told you that already,” Lady Middlesex said abruptly.
“Servants don’t creep. This man was creeping—slinking as if he didn’t want to be seen. Up to no good, I’m sure, if he wasn’t a ghost or some other kind of creature.”
“Really, Deer-Harte, your imagination,” Lady Middlesex said. “It will get you into trouble one day.”
“I know what I saw, Lady M. Of course in a castle this size I suppose all kinds of nighttime trysts and assignations occur. One hears about foreign appetites for bedroom activities.”
“Don’t be so disgusting, Deer-Harte. Ah, there’s Her Highness now.” She bobbed a curtsy as Matty came in. “So kind of you to allow us to stay on, Your Highness. Much appreciated.” And she bobbed a jerky curtsy.
“We didn’t have much choice as it happens,” Matty said frankly. “There’s nowhere else within miles. We’re completely snowed in. But there’s plenty of room and you are welcome to stay. I must say the snow has put a damper on the festivities. The parents and entourage were expected to arrive today, but it doesn’t look as if they’ll be able to get here for a while now. Not until the local people have managed to dig out the pass.”
“Oh, dear. I do hope the wedding ceremonies can take place on time,” Miss Deer-Harte said.
“The actual ceremony is not until next week, so let’s hope all is back to normal by then.”
“Presumably you’ll have various royal representatives arriving,” Miss Deer-Harte said.
“This will be a relatively small occasion, mostly relatives,” Matty said. “After all, we are related to most of the royal houses of Europe. Horribly inbred, I’m afraid. No wonder we’re all so batty.” She laughed again and I got the impression that she was playing a part, forcing herself to be gay. “The big formal celebration will take place in Bulgaria when we return from our honeymoon. That’s when there will be heads of state and an official blessing in the cathedral and I’m presented to the people as their own dear princess—all that sort of boring stuff.”
“I expect you’ll have to get used to the boring stuff, as you call it, when you are married to the heir to the throne,” Lady Middlesex said. “I find some of my official duties as a high commissioner’s wife quite taxing but one knows one’s duty and does what is expected of one, doesn’t one?”
“I suppose one does,” Matty said, giving me a grin. “We’re meeting with the couturiere from Paris this morning, Georgie. I’m looking forward to it. In the small salon. It’s lined with mirrors so we can admire ourselves.”
She paused and stared at the side table that was laden with cold meats, cheeses, fruits and