The Lady's Guide to Tempting a Transylvanian Count (The Lady's Guide... Book 6) by Emmanuelle de Maupassant

Author:Emmanuelle de Maupassant [de Maupassant, Emmanuelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Castle Press
Published: 2022-09-29T18:30:00+00:00

As soon as the hour was respectable, Sofia sought out the baroness. She only hoped Carmilla would overlook the fact that, the last time Sofia had visited her private sitting room, she’d blundered through indecorously from where she’d been eavesdropping upon the other side of the panelled wall.

At least, this time, she was entering through the door!

“What a delight to see you, my dear.” The older woman looked up from the periodical she’d been reading. “I was just taking some tea. Do let me pour you a cup.”

Sofia took the armchair opposite. Although there were two cups upon the tray, the baroness was alone. Tatiana was likely taking a turn in the garden, or was off wandering the hillside again, looking for her herbs. She and her mother were close, but Sofia supposed it must be tiresome to be always in each other’s company.

While the baroness laid out the strainer and poured from the pot, Sofia looked about the room. It really was a pleasant place to sit, especially on a day such as this, with the sunshine passing through the tall windows. Both armchairs, as well as the footstools and a chaise, were upholstered in yellow silk with a primrose motif.

Sofia had hardly been in the mood to study the room’s paintings on her last visit, but she saw now that the young woman depicted in the canvas over the mantel was most beautiful: dark haired, with light, sparkling eyes.

“My sister, Ana,” said the baroness, witnessing Sofia’s interest. “There are several portraits of her in the castle.”

She handed Sofia her beverage. “As you see, Ana has the Roznovatu eyes, while my own are somewhat darker. Our branch of the family is quite distant, but the blood is strong. Ana sat for this portrait in Bucharest, before she and Balthazar were married. The dress is the very one she wore to the Sutu Palace ball, hosted by the Princess Irina.”

“Oh, the Sutu Palace!” Sofia had heard the balls there rivalled those of the Royal Palace. “It must have been a wonderful occasion.”

“Like a fairytale. So much gilding and crystal—and the chandeliers—reflected in the mirror hanging at the top of the sweeping staircase. My sister and I had been abroad, at a finishing school in Lucerne, and the ball was the first of the season. For both of us, it was a debut, though I was almost two years older.” The baroness sighed softly. “It was at the ball that I first saw Balthazar—before Ana noticed him, or he her.”

She looked directly at Sofia. “You know already, I should think, that the Roznovatu men are unlike others. They have a power that compels—women especially. Even when we know better, we sometimes cannot help ourselves. We see the danger, but some charismatic force does not allow us to escape.”

Sofia knew only too well, thinking of the previous night—though the baroness knew nothing of that. Thank goodness!

“Balthazar had already come into his title and his inheritance, but even without those material attractions, he could have had any woman of his choosing.

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