Four Summoners Tales Part 48

"You underestimate his resolve," Lady Caroline said, growing exasperated by my failure to quake in fear. "If Sophia takes the throne, he stands to be one of the most powerful men in the country, and his return from the grave has emboldened him.You must flee.Tonight.Take what you can carry and leave London. If you do not, you will be dead before morning, and your secrets will be in Albert's hands."

"I will not flee," I said. "I would have to abandon my home and my wealth."

"Leave your d.a.m.n wealth!" she shouted at me."You stole it from my friends once they saw what you had done to me.The money is as vile as your terrible secret. Besides," she added with a sneer, "I have no doubt a man of your stripe can always procure more."

I did not love that she should judge me so, but I knew I was not entirely undeserving of her rebuke.

Indeed, I was prepared to tell her as much when my serving man-James, I called him, though I did not know his real name-came into the room to tell me that there were two men outside, one of whom could not be called a gentleman, and they both insisted upon seeing me at once.

Lady Caroline gasped. "I did not think them to come so soon."

I turned to my man. "In a few moments, I will ask you to lead Lady Caroline out the back way and to safety. I shall deal with these men myself."

"No!" Lady Caroline exclaimed. "They will kill you!"

"Perhaps they believe they will," I replied.

I asked the serving man to hold them off for a few more minutes.When he left the room, I turned back to Lady Caroline. "I will not run from my own home, and I will not see you hurt. He cannot know you were here."

She nodded, and then, to my surprise, she reached out and took my hand. She yet wore her gloves, but my own hand was naked, and the smoothness of the satin was exquisite.

"I will never again allow you to come to harm," I said.

She took away her hand. It was like having my heart torn from my chest. "I wish things might have been different between us," she said.

I wanted to tell her that they still might be, but I did not think she would want to hear those words just now, so I nodded and sent her on her way. I then directed my man to admit Sir Albert. My orders were that my man would show him the way to the parlor but not enter it himself.

When Sir Albert entered a few minutes later, I was prepared. I stood in my parlor, goblet of wine in my hand, sword at my side, prominently displayed. My suit was very well cut, emphasizing my own handsome physique-the strength in my shoulders and calves was quite evident. Sir Albert might have been a large man himself, but I fancied I made an imposing figure.

Sir Albert walked through the door, and I began to wonder if I had been overly optimistic. I had forgotten just how tall, just how fit he had been that day at his house. He strode into the room like a giant entering a village he was prepared to crush under his boots. And he was not the worst of it. By his side was a nasty-looking fellow in rough clothes, though neat. He was not as tall as Sir Albert, but he was brutish in appearance, animal-like, with a low brow, long hair, a protruding muzzle, and scars across his face. He grinned at me, showing a set of uneven teeth, ranging in color from yellow to black.

Should the situation descend to physical violence, I had no doubt that I would be bested, but I was my father's son. I did not allow others to determine the manner in which events unfolded. I made those determinations for myself.There would be no violence but upon my terms. These men would leave, and have gained nothing for their efforts.

"You're January?" Sir Albert said without ceremony. "I am Mister Reginald January," I agreed. "Who addresses me?"

He walked over to my decanter of wine and casually knocked it over, allowing it to spill upon my very expensive Levantine rug. The stain spread out like the creeping fog. "Don't a.s.sume airs with me. You know d.a.m.n well who addresses you. I may owe you a debt of thanks for bringing me back from death, but you never intended it as a favor. And you are no gentleman, despite what your stolen money suggests. I know precisely what you are, for my wh.o.r.e of a wife told me."

"One moment," I said. "You shall not insult Lady Caroline."

The brutish companion stepped forward and, before I had time to react, struck me across the face. I reeled backward, wine goblet flying from my hand. My head struck a painting upon the wall, tearing the canvas.The portrait did not dislodge, but I slid down, feeling as though I might lose consciousness or vomit, or perhaps both. It was not a good showing.

"This is Hubert," Sir Albert said, gesturing toward the brute.

"A pleasure to make your acquaintance," said Hubert as he unb.u.t.toned his breeches and began to p.i.s.s upon my divan.

While Hubert indulged in a long and forceful urination, waving his p.e.n.i.s up and down to create a dramatic arc, Sir Albert proceeded with his discourse.

"I am being gentle with you thus far," he said, "because I wish you to consider my terms. I will possess the means of raising the dead from you.You will provide me with this knowledge, and then you will flee. I prefer you flee the kingdom entirely, for if I receive word of any necromancy in England, I shall be forced to respond as the threat warrants. Perhaps he has the means to bring himself back, and killing a man who can raise the dead suggests its own set of difficulties, does it not, Hubert?"

Hubert was still p.i.s.sing. "It presents a bit of a dilemma, Sir Albert."

"Indeed it does," Sir Albert agreed. He scratched his chin thoughtfully, as though considering the matter for the first time, though this presentation smelled to me of the lamp. "It is a curious question, do you not think? How can I sufficiently threaten a man who has no fear of death?" He snapped his fingers and grinned, as though an idea had just struck him. "I have it. What think you of this, January? If you do not vanish from the kingdom, I shall cut off your hands and feet.And, for good measure, I shall tear out your tongue.Yes, that does sound quite good. It should certainly keep the necromancy to a minimum, I should think. A man who cannot speak or gesture or hold anything cannot raise the dead, I suspect. It should be a pleasure to watch him try at any rate. But I doubt he would. A man maimed in the most terrible way, rendered a prisoner within his own body, I should think he would give up on life entirely."

Hubert, who had finally emptied what I could only presume to be the world's most capacious bladder, had tucked away his unwelcome organ and was in the process of b.u.t.toning his breeches. "But such a man could not look after himself, Sir Albert. Surely he would die, and you would have accomplished nothing."

"Right you are, Hubert." Sir Albert looked at me. "He's cleverer than you thought, isn't he?"

Looking at the p.i.s.s stain upon my divan, I could not but reflect that I did not share Sir Albert's opinion, but I chose to keep that fact in reserve.

Sir Albert continued. "We must then keep Mr. January alive. Here's the very thing. I shall have him transported to St. Bartholomew's Hospital in his incapacitated condition, where I shall pay to have him kept alive for as long as can be effected. What think you of my solution, Hubert?"

"Very elegant, sir," Hubert said as he picked his teeth with his thumbnail.

"And I would, from time to time, pay him a visit, to remind him who had done him this terrible service and who was committed to keeping him alive and in a state of utter misery and sorrow for as long as human ingenuity could contrive. Is that not an eloquent punishment?"