[Reviews - 468]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story | ePub eBook Chapter or Story | Printer Chapter or Story

Has been viewed 2964 times

- Text Size +




Chapter 76 News from London



AN* I know there are many of you enjoying the smut, but I need to warn you that we are going down the plot route now. Angelus is back, and we need to kill him soon – don’t we.

There is an element of this chapter which takes place in the Scottish capital, Edinburgh. As the Scots tongue is hard to write, and understand, I will not be using it. I know I would understand it as I am Scots born and bred, however we do not talk like 1940’s Lassie films and I am determined not to confuse my readers. For any British readers, I apologise in advance as they probably would be able to follow the brogue, but I want the story to flow. My own personal gripe is when authors try to write Spike as if he had a cockney accent and it makes the reading of a story quite difficult at times.

For all my other readers, I promise you it will make the story much easier to read.

If I have offended anyone, I apologise in advance. I am sure you will let me know when you review.



##

Annandale sat at his desk in the study reading through the pile of letters delivered that morning. The advertisement for a mesmerist had not been successful; so far there had been no replies. They had placed the notice in the local press, and had posted it as far as the Scottish papers. Each day he trolled through his correspondence hoping to find an answer.

Today the letters were mainly bills for the improvements to the house. With care he set them aside to be dealt with later, and continued through the letters. His eye caught a missive almost at the bottom of the pile; his attention was caught by the direction on the envelope. It had been written very ill, and only the Annandale name was legible. Tearing open the envelope, Annandale’s curiosity was aroused.

Inside was a single piece of paper. The writing was similar to a child, yet the premise was plain. Someone from Edinburgh had finally answered their advertisement, offering to demonstrate the art of mesmerism for a fee suitable to both parties. He almost ran to the bell to call for the family.

Once the butler had been informed that the Duke required the presence of everyone in the drawing room within the next hour, Annandale went back to his desk to study the letter in more detail. The author was not an educated man, that much was obvious from the childish scrawl on the paper, yet the content intrigued him greatly.

For the first time in weeks, hope rose in his breast. If they were lucky, and this man’s claims were true, his son would be free of the curse of Drusilla forever.

It was almost two hours before the whole family could be assembled. Annandale dared not to ask why William and Buffy were so late to join them. The flush on Buffy’s cheeks told him all he needed to know.

Standing with his back to the fireplace, Annandale looked around at the assembled family.

“I have asked you all to meet me here as I think I have some wonderful news.” Six expectants faces looked at him, and he could not keep the smile from his face. “I think we have found someone who will help William with the mesmeric spell Drusilla placed on him.”

There were startled gasps from all assembled, yet no one said a word. They waited eagerly for him to continue.

“I received a letter today in reply to our advertisement in ‘The Scotsman’. There is a gentlemen in Edinburgh called Hamish Johnstone who is willing to come to Annandale and display his prowess in mesmerism for a mutually agreeable fee.” Pausing for a moment, Annandale moved his eyes to his son. “I don’t want to wait on the man to make his way here, William. I want you to go to meet him in Edinburgh. In fact I think Joyce and I should accompany you and Buffy on the trip to ensure the man can do as he claims.”

When William started to protest that only he and Buffy need take the trip, his father raised his hand to silence him.

“I understand why you would want to take this trip alone, son, but you are not best placed to judge the man’s talents. Joyce and I can question him and ask for a demonstration of his skills. I need to know that he can help you, William.”

William could see the reasoning behind his father’s arguments and stilled his tongue. His first thought had been that he could spend a few days alone with Buffy, but in hindsight he knew his father was right. They need him to be fixed. Without argument, he nodded his head in agreement.

Annandale smiled his pleasure. “It will take two days to get to Edinburgh and I would like to leave as soon as possible.” Turning a loving smile towards Joyce, he asked if she could be ready to leave that afternoon.

Joyce rose from her chair and walked towards him, taking his hand in hers. “We shall be ready within the hour, Thomas. I shall leave it to you and William to make the travel arrangements, while Buffy and I supervise the packing.”

Lifting her hand to his lips to place a loving kiss on her knuckles, Annandale agreed to her plan.

They had much to do, and little time to do it in, but they would be on the road within the hour.

##

Angelus and Penn woke with bad heads. Poor ale and bad wine had left them in a state of flux. Both men had indulged themselves too much at the nearest Inn, making use of the wenches on offer and swallowing the rancid brew. It had taken the edge of their appetites, but now they must prepare.

It was mid-afternoon before either man felt fit enough to venture into the cellar and prepare it for their guests. By the light of the lamps they had brought down with them, they tested the walls for sturdiness, and hammered rings into the walls to hold the bindings. Together they had transferred one of the mattresses from upstairs to the floor of the cellar in readiness for their debauchery. By the early evening they were complete.

While Penn prepared an evening meal, Angelus sat in the sitting room by the fire. He had thought long and hard on how he would take Faith and Dawn, and his plans were not going well. The chits hardly left the estate and were rarely seen without Telford or Whitmore in tow. He would have to lure them to him one at a time. The question he needed to answer was, how.

Rising to pour himself a brandy, he remembered a comment made by one of the whores as they had drank together. She had mentioned that there would be a Fair held on common land to the east of the town, and everyone was excited that the Duke would attend. His brain had registered her tattle at the time, but the bad ale had made him almost forget. If he remembered correctly the fair would be in four days time. The Duke would wish to show himself and his family to his townsfolk on such an auspicious occasion.

There would be ample opportunity to kidnap the women. If they were careful, the women might not be missed for some time, giving him and Penn enough time to transport them back to the cottage. He would talk it over with Penn during dinner.

As if he knew that his presence was required, Penn entered the room carrying two plates of food. Their fare was simple but nourishing, and their stomachs were glad of the repast. Talking excitedly together, the men discussed the supplies they would need.

The closed carriage Angelus had brought with him would be perfect for the deed. The coachman, loyal to Angelus, could be counted on to help them transport the women. The only supply they needed was something to knock the women out. Penn volunteered to go to the local apothecary the next day for the chloroform.

Both men were well versed in its use, they knew exactly how much to administer.

Bed sheets had already been torn into strips and would be used to bind the women to the wall. Angelus had first wanted to use chains, but Penn had argued that the women should leave unmarked. An unmarked whore could claim the best price for bedding.

Penn had tried to convince Angelus not to break in the Summers girl when they could make a fortune auctioning her virginity to the Ton. There were many who would pay a high price to remove the bitch of her hymen. The more she bled, they higher the price would be. Angelus could see the argument, but he had waited a long time to train this girl. He was determined that he be her first. By the time he was finished, she would be broken and obedient. He liked them that way.

Angelus, happy that his plans were coming together, settled down to wait.

##

Dawn, since the departure of her mother and sister from Annandale, was bored and restless. Clem and Faith spent every moment together and they seemed to forget that she was there. She wished that Xander would join them as he had always been the best of brothers, and would have found a way to entertain her. Sighing over the sampler she was stitching, she wondered what else she could do.

Remembering that Willow had mentioned a Fair in the town, she wondered if she could persuade Clem and Faith to accompany her. A distraction from life at the house would be most welcome to them all, and she was sure she could persuade them. Doubting that Annandale and William would be back in time to attend, she thought that it would be nice if someone from the family made an appearance.

At least that was the argument she would use on Clem and Faith when they sat down to dinner that evening. Smiling to herself at her plan, she started to stitch with renewed vigour.

##

The Annandales arrived in Edinburgh in just less than two days. Smoke from thousands of chimneys hung over the town like a cloud. This was the sight that greeted any visitor to Edinburgh, and was the reason the city was named ‘Auld Reekie’. The smells from the gutters permeated through the windows of the carriage causing them all to lift handkerchiefs to their faces to try and dull the odour. It did not help much.

Impatient to meet the man who would cure his son, Annandale had allowed them few stops. He was determined to find out all he could of Hamish Johnstone before they settled into a hotel for the night. It was still late afternoon, and if the traffic was with them they could arrange to see him tonight. Stopping the coach to give the driver Johnstone’s direction, he settled back in the squabs and sighed.

Joyce, holding tightly to his hand, leaned in and placed her head on his shoulder. “Not long now, Thomas. Soon William will be cured, and we can return to Annandale.”

Thomas lifted his arm and placed it around her shoulders. Kissing the top of her head, he held her close to him for comfort. In the opposite seat, William and Buffy were doing their best to ignore this sign of affection from their respective parents. At this moment, Thomas did not care what they thought. He needed Joyce beside him; it was as simple as that.

As the coach wound its way through the narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town, Thomas started to have doubts. If this man could not help his son, then their options were limited. His had been the only reply to the advertisements, and he hoped they had not come on a wild goose chase. The man HAD to be able to help them.

When the coach slowed to a stop, all four occupants drew back the curtains to observe their surroundings. The squalor was evident as the sewage of a thousand homes ran in the streets. Thomas decided that the family would be safer within the confines of the coach, and decided that only he would make first contact with Johnstone. Taking one of the coach attendants as escort, he jumped from the coach and climbed the stair of the tenement. Knocking loudly on what he hoped was the correct door; he waited for his family’s salvation.

The battered slatted door opened a small crack, and a small face appeared near the handle. “Can I help you?” asked the urchin peeking round the door. “We’re at our dinner, and my mum is pouring the soup.”

Annandale decided there and then that if this man cured his son he would move him from this awful home to a cottage on his estate. Anything had to be better than this squalor and he hoped the man would be grateful. A yearly annuity would be set up in his name which would keep the wolf from the door, and if the man showed talent he could still practice his trade.

“Can you tell me child, if Hamish Johnstone is at home?” Annandale gently asked. He did not wish to scare the little boy. As he waited on his answer, the door opened wider and a small man stood in the doorway behind the child.

“I am Hamish Johnstone, sir. How can I help you?”

Sighing in relief that he had found him, Annandale extended his hand in greeting.

“Mr Johnstone. I have travelled for almost two days to meet you. I am the Duke of Annandale and I wish to thank you for replying to my advertisement.”

Hamish Johnstone stared at the man in horror. A Duke had knocked on his door and he had answered it in his shirtsleeves. A blush crept over his features and he was lost for words. Annandale, sensitive to the man’s distress, spoke calmly and gently to him.

“I know you did not expect a visit, Mr Johnstone, but my family and I could not wait on your arrival in Annandale. I do not wish to discuss our business on the stairwell, and I would be grateful if you could see your way to coming down to my carriage once you have finished your meal.”

Johnstone continued to stare. He gently shook his head in agreement, and quietly closed the door. Annandale made his way back to the street, sure that the man would follow within a few moments. He doubted the man would have much of an appetite once he returned to his table.

Annandale was proved right as Hamish Johnstone knocked on the door of the carriage moments after he returned. Inviting him inside, Annandale bade the coachman to take them on a tour of the new town while he outlined his proposal to his guest.

The smell of decayed humanity permeated the inside of the coach. The man obviously did not have access to clean water to bathe and his clothes stank of the dirt he lived in. It took all the will-power Annandale, and the family, possessed not to show their disgust on their faces. If the man did his job well, he would be free of this poverty forever.

“Tell me of your talent, Mr Johnstone. I need to know the particulars. The reason I ask is that I need someone to perform a very delicate task, and I hope you are that man.”

Hamish was still over-whelmed to be in the presence of a Duke, and was unsure how to address him. “Do I call you, your Grace?” he asked in a small voice.

Annandale was determined to put the man at ease. “If you like, but I would prefer if you called me Thomas. The rest of the party you see are my son, Lord Whitmore. His wife, Lady Whitmore and this lady to my right is the dowager Duchess of Craven.” Thomas could see Johnstone retreat further inside himself, and he wished at that moment to be an ordinary man and not a Duke.

Hamish hesitantly replied to the introductions. “You wish me to call you Thomas, your Grace?”

“Indeed Hamish, for if you perform your talent well, I promise I will be your friend for life.”

Nodding his head, Hamish sighed with relief. Thomas, noticing that the man was starting to relax, was glad. If he could not win the man’s confidence, then this would have been a wasted journey.

“What do you wish me to do for you, Thomas?”

Now that the man had asked the question, Annandale was not sure how to answer him. He had made up his mind that he would test the man’s skill before laying out his reason for their visit.

“I need you to prove to me, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you can mesmerise people. I want you to use your skills on me, with these people as witnesses to the act. When all four of us are satisfied of your talent, Hamish, then I will ask you to perform a very special mesmerism for us.”

Hamish sat back in the squabs next to the one they called Lord William and stared thoughtfully at the Duke. He may be poor, but he had his pride. If this top-lofty Duke expected him to perform some illegal task, he would refuse with pleasure. He felt it his duty to tell the man before this went any further.

“I will not be party to a crime, Thomas, no matter how much you pay me.”

Proud that Hamish Johnstone answered him so, Annandale smiled at him. “What we will ask of you, Hamish, will not be illegal. We just need someone with your skills to help us with a problem.”

Taking his time to ponder over the Duke’s words, Hamish looked round at the occupants in the carriage. They all dressed like quality, but he was suspicious of their actions. He knew he did not smell fresh, and neither would they if they had to carry their water themselves from a well over a mile away. He hid his resentment of their wealth, and turned his face back to the Duke.

“We will need to discuss terms, your Grace.” He deliberately used Thomas’ title to formalise the transaction. If they were quality, they could pay. “I will require twenty Scottish pounds if you want me to do as you bid.”

Annandale just looked at Hamish and smiled. “If you complete the task, Hamish, I will move you and your whole family to a cottage on my estate. You will receive an annuity of one hundred pounds a year for your lifetime, and should you die before your wife, the annuity will continue after your death. I will find you employment on the estate, and ensure that your children go to school.” Holding out his hand to Hamish, Annandale continued. “Do we have a deal, Hamish?”

This was the opportunity of a lifetime. Apart from the small amount Hamish made from using his skills at circuses, he did not have work. This man sitting opposite him was handing him wealth beyond his wildest dreams, and including his family in the prize. He would be more than stupid to refuse his offer.

“We have a deal, Thomas. When would you like me show you what I can do?”

Annandale had not thought that far ahead. The family still had to find a hotel for the night, and if all went well they would be returning to Annandale in the morning. Knocking for his coachman’s attention, he bid him return Hamish to his home.

“We have still to find rooms for the night, Hamish. Once we are settled I will send the coach to collect you. If we are successful tonight, I wish to return to Annandale on the morrow. I will give you money tonight for your work, and will send a carriage in a week to transport you to your new home. Is this acceptable to you, Hamish?”

Even if the carriage did not appear in a week, at least his family would eat. He was sure the Duke would be generous once he knew what skills he possessed. Nodding his head in agreement, Hamish bid them farewell and returned to his home. He would wait patiently for the return of the coach.

Once he had gone, Thomas turned to the family and smiled. “I hope we have found the right man for the job.”

No one had said a word during the Duke’s exchange with Johnstone. William, curious as to why his father would be so generous, asked him why he offered the man so much.

“You did not see how the man and his family lived, William. If this man can take away whatever hex Drusilla placed on you, then he will be forever in my debt.”

Joyce leaned forward in her seat, her eyes catching William’s. “I agree with your father on this, William. The man impressed me very much by refusing to commit a crime. If he was a charlatan then he would have jumped at the chance to make easy money. He has nothing, William, yet he would not compromise his pride to earn money.”

William smiled at Joyce and included his father in his gaze. “If you are happy, father, then I am willing to go through with whatever you ask.”

Buffy let out a sigh of relief that William would go through with this. She had wondered if he really understood the magnitude of what they were about to do. She hoped he would be able to recover from the memories they would unlock, and she was determined to help him through this.

She would help him be a better man.

Anxious to get this over with, Annandale bid the coachman to take them to a hotel in the new town. At least the accommodation would be clean, and they would have the privacy they required for Hamish to do his work. He could not say that he did not feel some doubt as to the man’s skills, but he would know soon enough.

Within the hour, they were settling into their rooms. A private sitting room had been acquired, and a hearty meal ordered. The coach would be returning with Hamish soon, and then they could begin.

Before long, Annandale’s son would return to the man he was.

##

In the Annandale dining room, Dawn was using all her powers of persuasion to get Clem and Faith to accompany her to the Fair. It was but two days hence and she was sure they would let her go. They had been at Annandale some weeks now, and apart from a few journeys into Carlisle, she had kept to the house and grounds.

Clem smiled at the young girl bouncing excitedly on her seat. Her face was full of apprehension that they would not take her, and he was loath to disappoint her. Still happy over the news that he was to be a father, he was full of benevolence.

“If you promise to behave and stay close to Faith and I, then I see no reason why we should not all go to the Fair.”

A high pitched squeal of delight assailed his ears from his young charge, and he felt good that he had made her happy. Dawn had managed to worm her way into his heart, and she felt like the sister he never had. He could refuse her nothing.

“If you screech much louder, Dawn, we will have the hounds at the door looking for the master of the hunt.” He gently chided her.

Dawn could not keep her excitement in. She rose from her chair and ran round the table to give Clem a hug. Faith laughed at his embarrassment and gently shook her head. What a wonderful father her husband would make. His children would want for nothing and they would both love them with all their heart.

Returning to her place to finish her meal, Dawn had never felt so happy in a long time. The death of her father had lain heavy in her chest, and now she could feel her grief lift with the love she found around her.

As the last course was removed, the dining room door opened wide and the startled group stared at the intruder.

“Xander,” Dawn cried in excitement, jumping up from the table to hug her brother. “Why are you here? I thought you would be stuck at Craven Hall for months yet.”

Holding his sister close to him, Xander realised how much he had missed her. Both she and Buffy were infinitely precious to him, and their safety was the reason he was here. Looking round the table over the top of Dawn’s head, he wondered where the rest of the group were.

“Clem. Where is Annandale and William? I have news from London that cannot wait.”

Dawn drew herself from his arms and looked up into his face. “They have gone to Edinburgh to see a man who will remove Dru’s power over William.”

Xander stared at his sister. He did not know of the power the woman had held over William for years, and was confused at his sister’s statement. “What power are you talking about, Dawn? I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Clem stood up from the table and walked over to Xander. “Come join us in the drawing room and we will explain all, Xander. There is much to tell you.”

Nodding at Clem, Xander followed the little group to the drawing room. Once he was seated comfortably with a glass of good brandy in his hand, Clem explained the mesmerism Dru had used to control William. Calmly he explained why the rest of the family were in Edinburgh looking for a fix.

Xander could hardly believe his ears. Everything fell into place. It even explained the news he was about to impart.

“I have travelled north, Clem, to let you know that Drusilla disappeared from Bedlam over two weeks ago. According to my sources Angelus left for Ireland within days of her disappearance, but there are many who think he aided her escape and is hiding her somewhere. On my way here, I stopped at some Inns and made enquires about a man and a woman travelling together, mentioning that the woman was prone to fits and such. About two days ago, an innkeeper told me the tale of a man and woman travelling with a baby. The woman wailed for two days in her room, and the innkeeper swore her husband was driven to distraction over her antics. They left and continued on their journey, but I can find no trace of them since that Inn. I believe they are close by waiting to do something. What, I do not know, but I do not believe that Angelus is back in Ireland.”

Clem stared at Xander in horror. All their nightmares were coming to pass, and half the family were miles away. Annandale and William had only been gone two days, they would be lucky to return for another three. It would be up to Xander and he to keep the family safe from Angelus. He prayed the man they had found in Edinburgh could remove the hex from William. They would need all their wits to be safe.

“Ladies,” he addressed his wife and Dawn. “I think you need to excuse us for a while. Xander and I need to plan how we deal with this new development.”

Faith stood and walked over to her husband to hug him tightly.

“I have every faith in you, Clem. I trust you to keep us safe. Now go to the study with Xander while I keep Dawn company for a while. We will talk when you come to bed, my darling, I promise to wait up for you.”

Clem returned her hug and kissed her hair. “I will be as quick as I can, sweetheart, but it may take some time. I will need to speak to the servants and there are things we will need to do.”

Smiling at Clem, Faith moved gently out of his arms and turned to the frightened Dawn. “Come with me, Dawnie, we will make lists of names to call my son and give them to Clem for approval.”

Running into Faith’s arms for comfort, the women slowly climbed the stairs. Once they had gone, Clem and Xander made their way to the study to talk.

There was much to do, and much to plan. In the absence of the Duke, both he and Xander would need to take it upon themselves to keep them safe.

It was the least they could do.





You must login (register) to review.