“Belinda, you are so wicked.” I had to laugh too now.

Belinda slipped her arm through mine. “Listen. It sounds as if the men are assembling for their hunt.” The sound of barking dogs echoed up from down below, mingled with the shouts of men. “Let’s go down and watch them and see if your handsome vampire really is still alive and among them. We’ll see if you can pick him out in daylight, shall we? Of course, if he’s going hunting then he’s definitely not a vampire. They can’t tolerate the sunlight, you know.” She led me down the stairs to a gallery where we could overlook the front hall. A good-sized party of young men had assembled, the fur hats and traditional green jackets making it hard to tell the masters from their servants.

“There you are, plenty of counts and barons and whatnots, all single and all related to you, I suspect. Take your pick.”

“I don’t see my vampire,” I said, studying the young men, some of whom were actually quite presentable as aristocrats go. “That proves it, doesn’t it? He’s not a normal young count staying at the castle. Now you have to believe me.”

“I believe that the local red wine is stronger than you’re used to and it gave you vivid dreams,” Belinda said. “I say, they’re not a bad-looking bunch on the whole, are they? Of course, Anton looks wonderful in his fur hat, doesn’t he? So masculine and primitive. I wanted him to take me hunting with them, but I was told it was boys only. Spoilsports. I love shooting things, don’t you?”

“Actually I don’t. I don’t mind grouse because they are so stupid, and I love hunting on horseback but I’m always relieved when the fox goes to earth.”

“So what shall we do now?” Belinda looked around the deserted hallways.

“I’ve got to go and have a fitting for my dress,” I said. “You can come and keep me company.”

“I might,” she said. “It’s too bad I’m not still designing dresses or I could have picked up ideas.”

“You’re not? You’ve given up your dress design business?”

“Had to, darling.” She frowned. “Couldn’t afford to lose any more money. Nobody wanted to pay me, you see. They’d always say breezily ‘Put it on my account’ and when the time came to pay, they’d come up with every excuse in the book. One woman actually told me I should be grateful I was getting free advertising from her wearing my creation and I should be paying her. So I’m now unemployed like you. Maybe I’ll be glad to be a maid, soon.” She looked up at me with a grin. “So tell me, did you find a suitable maid and bring her with you?”