Few hours later the guests showed up at the Sáradi mansion as well. They came with elegant chaises, the ladies parading in colourful gowns, the gentlemen in tuxedos. They were welcomed by the butler, and Count Sáradi along with Elizabeth, and his cousins, Marton and Richard. All the guests were escorted to the decorated dining hall, to the long table laid with porcelain plates and silverware. Many people came, and the formerly quiet mansion became loud with laughter and chatting, and filled with the scent of ladies' perfume.
Count Dracula was eyeing the events from his castle, in his large mirror, when Igor crippled behind him.
„ Master, the demons are about to wake up any minute! Why don't we have them crush this little party?" Igor asked with an evil smile.
„ It would definitely be fun, but not now, Igor. We don't want to draw their attention. Hopefully my existence has been forgotten in a hundred years, and now it is only up to me when I want the mortals to find out about my presence again. No, we'll leave them alone for now, and strike after all have left, and our little Elizabeth is in bed." said Dracula wit an evil smirk on his face „ I will have her in my arms by morning. It is a real pity I cannot get her myself, but I cannot enter no house without being invited!" Dracula made a pitying face „ That idiotic Sáradi has no idea whose company his guests miss!" he said, and the pity turned into and egoistic laughter.
„ Let me know when the demons awake, Igor! I shall retire to my chambers for now!" he said, and left the room, changing into his bat form.
Agnes was alone in her room in the Sáradi mansion, looking at the arriving guests and the darkening sky from the window. The face of the Moon was covered by heavy clouds, the night was promising a rain. As the clock struck half past seven, somebody knocked at her door.
„ Come in!" she answered without turning her gaze from the window. Elizabeth stepped inside, wearing a gown in the colour of yellow roses, decorated with pearls. She noticed with surprise that only the fireplace gave a little light to the room, and Agnes' silhouette was hardly noticeable by the window.
„ What are you doing here in the dark alone?" she asked, and lit some of the candles on the table.
„ I was just thinking. And the feeling was more comfortable this way!" answered Agnes, turning to her sister.
„ Well, it's you business, I'm really ashamed of it, but I'm still afraid in the dark!" said Elizabeth „ Actually I came to get you down to the dining hall, dinner will be served any minute!" Elizabeth paused for a while „ But now I have to ask you about those scars on your wrist! I saw them in the afternoon! How did those get there? Who hurt you?" she asked.
„ I made them." answered Agnes, turning back to the widow.
„ After Aziz's death?" asked Elizabeth. Agnes nodded.
„ Now I see what you meant by the master arriving just in time to save you! How could you have done that?" asked Elizabeth demandingly, but didn't get any answer. Heavy quiet settled upon the room. Elizabeth continued after a while „ I'm really sorry Agnes!"
„ It's not your fault, and the wounds have healed long ago. But I will always have to wear gloves, and face my failure whenever I look at them. But this is not your problem, forget about it!" said Agnes, turned back from the window, and hugged her sister.
„ This is your evening Elizabeth, I don't want you to think of what happened to me, you should have fun! Let's get going!" said Agnes, and set off to the door. She turned back to Elizabeth before going outside to the corridor.
„ Just one more question, it is really important! The guests, who are here, do they know about me? What did you tell them?"
„ Well, most of them know everything! I told them all about the places you have been. I even showed few of your letters to my friends as well!" answered Elizabeth cheerfully.
„ That's exactly what I was afraid of!" said Agnes quietly under her nose „ Alright, let's get going. The people are probably waiting for us!"
Few minutes later, they entered the dining hall, which was swimming in the light of many candles. By the long table, at which only the sisters sat at noon, about 70 people were sitting at that moment. They all were having conversations among each other, making such a noise that they couldn't even hear themselves. Count Sáradi and presided at the other end of the table, with two empty chairs to his left. Elizabeth and Agnes flit towards their places behind the guests. Ferenc stood up as he noticed the two ladies, and patted his glass with a spoon. The crystal gave a tinkling sound, which drew the guests' attention. All gazes became fixed on the count, and Agnes and Elizabeth standing beside him. Ferenc took Elizabeth's hand.
„ My dear relatives, friends, guests! All of you present here know my charming fiancé Elizabeth Desewffy." he said, and turned to Elizabeth who bowed her head to the crowd. Ferenc went on
„ But none of you have met the beautiful Agnes Desewffy, the sister of my fiancé yet. It is my pleasure to introduce you to my future sister-in-law!"
„ Sister-in-law, oh my goodness!" Agnes thought, as she bowed her head politely, but noticed that some of the guests have started whispering already.
„ Then let's see the delicious dinner!" sounded the voice of Ferenc again „ Bon apetit to all of you!" he said, and then all three sat down. Agnes got a place between Richard and Elizabeth, and the young spark turned to her right away.
„ Oh, I'm so glad to have met you miss! I'm Richard Sáradi!" he said, and kissed Agnes' hand. Agnes recognized the young man, whom she had seen with Ferenc in the afternoon, and his concupiscent gaze caught her eye as well.
„ My pleasure, mister, I'm Agnes Desewffy!" answered Agnes laconically „ But I believe that I have met the young man next to you, and I owe him an introduction as well!"
Richard was surprised, as he had to lean back a bit, for Agnes to see his brother. Young Marton was more than happy that such a lovely lady remembered him.
„ I'm Marton Sáradi, it's really a pleasure to meet you miss!" said the boy with sparkling eyes. Agnes saw the signs of respect and good manner in his gestures and eyes, which Richard seemed to have lacked. The kissing of Agnes' hand didn't come into question because of the distance, but Marton was hoping to have the chance of get to know Agnes better that evening. During dinner Agnes had to listen to Richard's poorly performed platonics and courting. She tried to start a conversation with her sister occasionally, but it was useless, for Elizabeth was only preoccupied with her fiancé. After dinner the guests all went over to the ballroom. The grand room was situated in the East wing of the mansion, and Agnes had walk along the long corridors hooked on Richard. But as soon as they entered the lavishly decorated ballroom, which was noisy with the tuning of the orchestra, she left Richard high and dry to look for other company. Finally Elizabeth found her, and led her to a table, which had tonics on it.
Footnote: I read that Dracula could enter no house without being invited in by one of the residents, that is why I made him say what he said.
Review plz! Thank you for reading!
