“Will you only ask my father permission to court me?” I needed to know. “What of my feelings? I might fancy Nicolae. You’ve not asked me directly.”

Thomas unflinchingly held my gaze. “If that’s true, then tell me and I will never speak of this again. I would never force my presence upon you.”

I couldn’t help thinking of the detective inspector who’d worked the Ripper case with us. About his ulterior motives. “It’s quite a lovely thought. But for all I know, you’ve already spoken to my father and a date has been set. Something similar has happened before.”

“Blackburn was a fool. I believe you should always have a choice in the matter. I wouldn’t dream of excluding you from your own life.”

“Father would likely be… I’m not sure. He might not approve of such a modern approach. Your asking my permission before his. I thought you cared about his opinion.”

Thomas lifted his hand to my face, carefully stroking trails of fire across my jawline. “True, I want your father’s approval. But I want your permission. No one else’s. This can’t work any other way. You are not mine to take.” He brushed his lips against mine. Softly, so softly I might have imagined them there. My eyes fluttered shut. He could persuade me to build a steamship to the moon when he kissed me. We could orbit the stars together. “You are yours to give.”

I stepped into the circle of his arms and placed a palm against his chest, guiding him toward the tufted chair. He figured out too late that there was something bigger than a cat chasing him; he’d attracted the attention of a lioness. And he was now my prey.

“Then I choose you, Cresswell.”

I delighted in the fact that he’d stumbled into the chair, eyes wide. I moved closer, until I was standing before him, and nudged his limb with my knee, teasing.

“It’s not polite to play with your meal, Wadsworth. Hasn’t—”

“I love you, too.” I captured his lips with my own, allowing his arms to circle me and draw me closer still. He opened his mouth to deepen our kiss, and I felt the heavens split open within the universe of my body. I didn’t care about Anastasia and her crimes. Or anything other than—

“Much as I hate to break you two up…” Daciana coughed delicately from the doorway. “We have a visitor.” She eyed my new outfit and grinned. “You look phenomenal. Very intimidating and ‘Bringer of Death.’”

Thomas groaned as I stepped out of his grasp, then shot his sister a withering glare Aunt Amelia would have been proud of. “Bringer of Death is what the villagers will label me if you continue to ruin all of our clandestine moments, Daci. Go entertain your visitor on your own.”

Daciana stuck her tongue out at him. “Stop being cranky. It’s unbecoming. I’d love to entertain our guest, but I have a feeling Audrey Rose might want to say hello.”

Intrigued, I smoothed down the front of my dangerous ensemble. My hair was unbound, but curiosity dragged me from my chambers and down the winding stairs before I could fix it. I halted at the bottom, nearly sending Thomas sprawling to the floor as he bumped into me.

A man with blond hair and familiar gold spectacles paced around the foyer, hands flitting at his sides. It took every bit of my self-control to not jump into his arms.

“Uncle Jonathan? What a lovely surprise! What brings you all the way to Bucharest?”

His attention snapped to me, and I watched his green eyes blink in response to my choice of attire. I was certain the leather scalpel belt around my thigh might cause an embolism, but he took it all in stride. He didn’t bat a lash at the state of my hair, which was a miracle in itself. Uncle inspected the young man beside me, then twisted his mustache. I grabbed hold of the banister, knowing from the gesture that his news wasn’t good.

Irrational fears flashed before my eyes. “Is everything all right at home? How is Father?”

“He’s well.” Uncle nodded as if to confirm the fact. “I’m afraid you both may be delayed in returning home, though. I’ve been summoned to America. There’s a troubling forensic case, and I require the assistance of my two best apprentices.” He tugged a pocket watch from beneath his traveling cloak. “Our ship sails from Liverpool on New Year’s Day. If we’re to make it there, we need to leave tonight.”

“I’m not sure that’s such a wise idea. What does Lord Wadsworth say about it?” Thomas stood straighter, worrying his lip between his teeth. “I suppose my father doesn’t care one way or the other. Has anyone been in communication with him?”

Uncle shook his head slightly. “He’s traveling, Thomas. You know how hard it is to receive the post, which is why I came myself.”

A lock of hair fell across Thomas’s brow, and I longed to reach over and smooth both it and his worries away. I gently squeezed his hand before stepping toward my uncle.

“Come on, Cresswell. I’m sure both of our fathers will approve. Besides,” I said, my tone turning playful, “I fancy another adventure with you.”

A flash of mischief lit his expression. I knew he was recalling the very thing he’d said to me at the end of the Ripper case. “I am rather irresistible, Wadsworth. It’s high time you admitted it.” He held out his arm, a question in his gaze. “Shall we?”

I glanced at my uncle, noting the smile twitching across his face. I’d always wanted to travel across the pond, and saying no to another case and a trip aboard a luxury cruiser seemed foolish. I focused on Thomas’s outstretched arm, knowing he was offering much more than his best manners. He was gifting me with all the love and adventure the universe could provide.

Mr. Thomas Cresswell, last male heir of Prince Dracula, was offering me both his heart and his hand.

Without hesitation, I accepted Thomas’s arm and grinned. “To America!”