Jonathan Barrett Gentleman Vampire

by P. N. Elrod

  I focused upon his eyes and spoke softly, as one might to lull a child toward sleep. Elizabeth’s close presence, the room around us, the voices of the men outside, all retreated from my mind. I was aware of myself and Nash and nothing else.

  His breathing slowed, as well as the laboring of his heart.

  “You must listen to me. . . .”

  His eyes ceased to be so large, then clouded over.

  “There’s no need to be afraid,” I droned on. My head began to ache from the effort.

  His face and posture went slack.

  “Do you understand?”

  “Yes. . . .” he whispered.

  That was all I wanted. I stepped away. My head cleared and piece by piece the rest of the world returned to its proper place in the universe.

  Elizabeth stood rooted to her allotted portion. Even as I’d taken the fear out of Nash, she seemed to have herself embraced it once more. “Jonathan, what have you done?”

  “It’s just a way of calming him. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Did . . . she do this to you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m not sure I like it.”

  I shrugged. What mattered was that it had been successful. Nash wasn’t fainting with fear or screaming the house down. He was, in fact, looking quite tranquil given the circumstances. His eyes had cleared and he regarded me with no little puzzlement.

  “Mr. Barrett?”

  “Please sit, Lieutenant.” I indicated to Elizabeth that she should take a place at the table. She did so and we joined her. I felt lightheaded. When Mr. Farr came in with a generous tray, I welcomed the interruption as a chance to order my thoughts.

  Farr was nervous and clumsy for he could not look away from me. I smiled reassuringly and told him to be of good cheer, that everything would soon be explained. He left the room in haste, shutting the door with more force than necessary. Beyond it, I glimpsed a dozen faces eaten up by curiosity trying to peer inside.

  “An explanation, Mr. Barrett?” prompted Nash, sounding normal.

  Elizabeth had recovered somewhat from her apprehension, and both her brow and lips were puckered as she waited to hear what I was going to tell him. I suddenly wished someone else, someone quicker and more knowledgeable about such matters, was with us to do it in my stead. But Nora was very much elsewhere. It was up to me, but I wasn’t sure I was up to it.

  Absurd, I suddenly thought. For the next hour or more I might be delayed here trying to explain the inexplicable to this man and was it really any of his business? It was not. There were more important things for me to do while the night lasted than revealing my whole life to this stranger.

  I reached for Elizabeth’s hand to give her a reassuring squeeze, then once more fixed my gaze upon Lieutenant Nash. This time it was easier.

  * * *

  Picking up the brandy bottle, I poured some into a cup, then tilted it toward Elizabeth questioningly. She shook her head. I had sore need of its bracing effect, but knew better than to try. The once appealing smell drifting in the air around us now made my stomach churn. I passed the cup to Nash, who seemed willing enough to drain it.

  Elizabeth looked more than a little dubious over what I had just done to him. She still did not approve, but saw that necessity outweighed any moral objections. Nash was different from the landlord in that he’d witnessed my death and burial, but under my influence he’d been able to accept an unlikely but more convenient story about my return from the dead. The truth, being so implausible, simply would not do. Besides, I knew that if a lie is repeated often enough it will become truth and the best person to begin the repetition was Nash.

  “I hope everything is clear, Lieutenant,” I said, sitting back. My head pained me quite a lot now.

  He sounded absolutely normal. “Yes, Mr. Barrett.”

  “I suggest that you take yourself out there and offer assurances to your men about this situation. Then I would very much appreciate it if you could arrange for a safe escort for my sister and myself.”

  “It will be a pleasure, Mr. Barrett,” he said with a courteous and sincere smile. So saying, he rose, bowed to each of us, and went into the common room. The rumbling conversation there ceased upon his appearance, then started up as he was bombarded with eager questions.

  Pale faces once more peered in at us, eyes wide, wearing the same foolish expressions usually found on sheep.

  I smiled and waved back at them until the door shut, then crossed my arms on the table and lowered my head into them with a weary sigh.

  “I hope it works,” said Elizabeth.

  “It will have to. I’m too tired to think up anything else.”

  “You didn’t anyway,” she pointed out. “I did.”

  Very, very true. I’d taken her improbable story about a cousin bearing the same name and influenced Nash into believing that was the man who had been killed. It was hardly perfect, but would do, at least for those few in the army who were concerned with what had happened. Our immediate family and circle of friends would have to hear the facts, or something close to them, but that could wait until later.

  “Are you up to the journey back?” she asked.

  “Yes, of course I am.” I straightened and put some starch into my spine. “I was just resting my eyes.”

  “It was . . . most strange to watch you do that.”

  “What did it look like?”

  “Like two men talking, but there was something more going on beneath the talk. As though you both understood one another but everyone else would miss the meaning.”

  “You didn’t, though.”

  “No. I knew, but that poor man . . ..

  “Is now going to do his best to help us,” I told her gently.

  “Well and good, but please don’t mind if I choose to worry.”

  “What is there to worry about?”

  She dropped her gaze, but only for an instant. “I last felt this way when you went off to England. I was afraid you’d change so much that none of us would know you anymore. As it was, you did change, but were still the same. I don’t know if that has any sense.”

  “It does.”

  “You were all grown up, of course, more polished, but still yourself. Now this night I’ve seen and heard things that would drive anyone to madness. I know that you are here, but some part of me cannot trust it. Are you my brother come back from the grave or have I gone mad and just don’t know it yet?”

  “You’re the sanest person in the world, Elizabeth. Don’t ever doubt yourself.”

  “It’s just . . . I’m frightened. And I’m not used to being frightened. The worst part is that I’ve been frightened of you.”

  Oh, but it hurt to hear that, though it was no great surprise. First shock, then joy, and shock again once she’d had time to think things over. All the unnatural aspects of my return were probably battering her like hailstones. That’s how I felt.

  “You wonder if I’m a miracle or a monstrosity?”

  Her gaze dropped once more.

  “I’ve no answer. It could be both, for all I know. There have been tremendous changes within me. I’m able to do things that I can scarce comprehend, but I am yet the same man. Though I could dispel your fears as I did with Nash. . .”

  She gave a small start, raising her head sharply

  “. . . I will do no such thing. Not to you and not to Father. Never. That would be unspeakably vile. It’s also a great risk.”

  “In what way?”

  “The risk is to me—of losing you both by being absolutely truthful about this . . . change. I’m trusting you to accept me, whatever and however I am now. If you cannot, then I am lost. I will not force my will upon either of you; I swear that on my sacred honor.”

  The taut lines altering her expression eased as she shed her fear. “And what about others?” She indi
cated the door. Nash’s authoritative voice came through it as he repeated my own words to the men there.

  “It’s out of my hands. If they wish to be afraid, they will be, so I I can’t help that. As for myself, I wish with all my heart that someone could take away my fears.”

  “Oh, Jonathan.”

  “As for the rest. . .” I shrugged.

  The rest included Jericho, Mrs. Nooth, all the servants, Mrs. Hardinbrook, Beldon, even Mother. So many . . . so many . . . so many . . .

  “I only want to see Father,” I whispered.

  Elizabeth’s hand rested lightly on my shoulder a moment, then she rose and opened the door. “Lieutenant Nash? My brother would like to leave as quickly as possible, please.”

  * * *

  Whether because of my influence or his desire to oblige my sister, Nash swiftly completed arrangements for our escort. We privately informed him of our destination and the need for discretion. Though Father’s friendship with Mrs. Montagu was close to common knowledge in the area, they were each so well respected in their circles that everyone was content to overlook it. Nash agreed, as he had been in town long enough to understand and do likewise. Whether it was due to him being a man of the world or a desire not to offend two influential locals, mattered not to me.

  He also extended himself and placed two horses at our disposal. He stated his willingness to conduct the escort himself and took one, I the other, and Elizabeth was boosted up to ride behind me. Astride. It could hardly have been a ladylike display for her, but she held tightly onto my waist and made no complaint.

  Nash had a man march before us with a lantern, which seemed foolish to me since I could see so well and might have led the way I held my peace on the subject, though. Any display of my new abilities would needlessly stir them up.

  The stars provided me with more than sufficient illumination and now that I had a moment of leisure to consider them, I felt a fresh awakening of awe at their beauty. They were like tiny suns, but unlike the sun itself, could be looked at directly There also seemed to be many more than I was accustomed to seeing. Thousands on top of thousands of them crowded the sky like clouds of glowing dust motes. The light they shed was quite even and diffuse, so that there was a singular lack of deep shadows in the surrounding countryside. Only beneath the thickest clusters of trees did I spy anything approaching real gloom.

  Nash spoke up: “Miss Barrett?”

  “Yes?’

  “On the road you told my sergeant that you were on the king’s business in regard to a message.”

  “What? Oh. Yes. Our father is a friend of Colonel DeQuincey who was the one sending it. I fear that I cannot divulge the contents to you, for we are both under oath.”

  Nash was disappointed, but willing to persist. “I do find it odd that such duties must require a lady to be out so late.”

  “You are not alone in that opinion, Lieutenant,” she said agreeably.

  “Also that none of my men reported any messengers upon the road.”

  Then she took a chance, stepping out on the framework of lies she had formed and that I had placed in his mind. “My brother was the messenger. He is well acquainted with the geography hereabouts, so it is not surprising that he was able to avoid any encounters.”

  He turned his attention upon me. “You must have prodigious knowledge, indeed, sir. One can scarce throw a stone into the woods without it striking one of my men.”

  “True enough,” I said. “I did not have an easy time keeping out of their way.”

  “But if you were on the king’s business, then surely you would have had no need to avoid them.”

  “Being delayed was what I wished to avoid, Lieutenant Nash,” I said stiffly. “My limited knowledge of German combined with the misfortune of falling from and losing my horse and papers all served to turn me into a most suspicious character in the eyes of Sergeant Lauder. After hearing Mr. Hulton’s story, I can see why you sent men out, but I keenly regret the loss of time.” He started to reply, but I continued. “However, your speedy assistance in correcting the matter will not go unmarked or unrewarded.”

  He understood my meaning and managed a slight bow from his saddle. “Your servant, Mr. Barrett.” He was an officer in the king’s army, which made him a nominal gentleman, but the pay was meager enough to keep him open to compromise on some points. With the prospect of a bribe coming in the near future we could count on him to contain his curiosity for the moment—longer, should it become necessary for me to influence him again.

  The night was getting on and despite—or perhaps because of—all the excitements, Elizabeth grew sleepy. Her head rested against my shoulder, matching the rhythm of our plodding horse. But for my change, I should have been in the same state. Though I’d experienced a certain mental lethargy after dealing with Nash and suffered a great heaviness of spirit from the consequences of my change, I was yet energetic in body. Perversely, I found it to be annoying. I should have felt sleepy as well. I missed it. Our country custom of rising and retiring with the sun was, I thought, ingrained in my very bones. No more. That whole part of my life was now completely reversed. The nights that lay ahead did not bear thinking about, for they looked to be rather lonely. I could not expect anyone else to reverse themselves just to keep me company. Noticing that her hands were coming loose, I roused Elizabeth. She jerked awake with a gasp.

  “Just a little farther,” I promised her. “We’ve already passed the turning to our gate.”

  She murmured an inarticulate acknowledgment and endeavored to stretch a little. “I hope Mrs. Montagu has some tea.”

  “I’m sure she will, but I suggest you go first and make the request before they see me. There’s bound to be an uproar once I walk through the door.”

  Now she did come alert. “Heavens, yes. How are we going to do this? If I burst in on them in the dead of night with this news they’ll think I’m as mad as Mother. And if you come in with me it could be worse.”

  “Actually, I did have the idea that you should precede me. Of course you don’t want to burst in. Just knock on the door and take Father off for a quiet chat to get him prepared. Tell him whatever you need to about Nora and—”

  “Jonathan, my dear little brother, there is no way in the world that I could possibly provide him adequate preparation for this.”

  “I’m under no illusions on that point, but I hope you will try.”

  “I shall, but no matter what I say, he’s going to have a terrible shock when he sees you.”

  Alas, yes.

  The man walking ahead with the lantern paused, waiting for the rest of our parade to catch him up. Nash leaned down to confer with him, then straightened to squint ineffectually into what for him was true darkness.

  “What’s the matter?” I asked. I’d also looked around and saw nothing unusual.

  “Lauder’s men aren’t at their stations,” he rumbled.

  Several reasons for that came to mind: they’d fallen asleep or were detained out of sight while attending to bodily needs or they’d somehow lost their way from the road. I did not give voice to them, for they sounded foolish enough as thoughts.

  “Stay here a moment while we scout ahead,” he told us and kicked his horse forward. The half dozen Hessians that marched at our heels followed on his barked order. I reined my animal to keep it in place and watched them go.

  “This does not bode well,” she whispered into my ear.

  We waited, listening for . . . well, anything. I was ready to kick my mount for a fast race home at the first hint of trouble, but all was silent, only the ordinary sounds of the night came to us.

  One man finally trotted back and beckoned us to follow him.

  Nash and the rest were gathered about the narrow course that broke off from the main road to lead to Mrs. Montagu’s house. The men were watchful, but not nervous.

  “Where
are the others?” I demanded.

  “Hereabouts,” Nash replied with false conviction. Considering the fiasco yesterday that had cost me a normal life, I was annoyed at once again seeing evidence of Nash’s incompetence.

  I stood in my stirrups for another look. Nothing but trees, fields, and empty, dusty road before and behind. Not quite empty. There was something lying across the ruts a little ahead, close enough to notice, but too far to identify. A fallen branch, perhaps.

  “They must be very good at woodcraft,” I commented. “I perceive no sign of them at all.”

  “It’s a thick night,” he said. “No moon. None of us can see much.”

  The damned idiot. Men gone missing and him overlooking the danger of it. We could be surrounded by rebels and he’d prefer to get shot than admit something was wrong. “I think we should go on to our destination, Lieutenant.”

  “Certainly.”

  “Herr Oberleutnant!” The man with the lantern had pushed ahead and stumbled over whatever it was on the road. His strident tone brought us to attention. Nash moved toward him. I trailed along, having the idea of there being safety in numbers. Elizabeth tightened her hold around my waist.

  They were all bending over it and the alteration of their manner was such as to make me stop short. I signed to Elizabeth that I was getting down and swung a leg over the horse’s neck and slipped off. She dropped next to me.

  I pushed into the middle of them and recoiled at once. At our feet lay the body of a young Hessian. His head was thrown back so his mouth was wide open as though for a scream. In contrast, his eyes were calm and quite dull. Limbs flung every which way, his chest was cracked open like an eggshell. The intensity of the bloodsmell struck my senses like a harsh slap. The stuff covered him and had soaked into the earth.

  “Oh, my God,” whispered Elizabeth.