Royal Blood by Rhys Bowen

The provided text is an excerpt from a fictional novel titled "Royal Blood" by Rhys Bowen, published in 2010. It introduces Lady Georgiana, a penniless royal cousin to King George V, who is frequently tasked with undercover assignments by Queen Mary. The narrative follows Georgiana as she is dispatched to Transylvania to attend a royal wedding as a bridal attendant for Princess Maria Theresa, whom Georgiana knew from school as "Fatty Matty." Upon arrival at the ancient castle, the atmosphere becomes increasingly ominous, with talk of vampires and brigands, and a murder occurs, embroiling Georgiana in a mystery that forces her to confront her fears and investigate the truth behind the suspicious events and characters, including her love interest, Darcy O'Mara, and the sinister head of the secret police, Patrascue. The story culminates in the wedding amidst unresolved suspicions and a dangerous encounter with the real killer.