Timeworn Phrases

Dracula's Account

The answer that came softly from Kelantha�s lips was the one I expected to hear, but I would not be taken in by a capricious whim of hers that promised submission one moment and mutiny the next.  With the last of her laces tightened, every ruffle of her gown in place, she began to delicately sweep her hair up, her movements soft and fluid as one caught in the remaining moments of a dream.  Holding her arm, I spun her around to face me and looked deeply into her eyes. �I won�t return home to find another exhibit of your hunting episodes in my bedchamber, my darling.�

�What a pity, Vladislaus,� she said, a coy smile playing over her features. �I ought to have impressed you with my virtuoso skills.�

She was taunting me again, refusing to back down no matter what our past quarrels had been. Violence and wrath had no effect; she would never give up where she felt she had been wronged, despite however drastically her retaliations had been received. I took several steps backward to suppress the danger her impertinent repartee had provoked.

�Middling, at best,� I answered dryly.

�Only know this�my victims die on their knees before me as before an angel of mercy, or calm in my arms with a smile on their lips. They know nothing of what awaits them, or the fate that drives me to prolong my existence by ending theirs.�

Drawing closer, I smoothed one loose curl in place and allowed my hand to linger by the side of her face until the light in her eyes had softened, and she was inclining toward me before she fully realized. I turned away from her and stated in low tones, �I must attend to our guest.�

�Do you not wish me to go with you?� she asked.

�The morning is at your leisure.� I shed a smile over her before continuing, �You are a virtuoso, my lovely one, and perhaps you may wish to rest after exercising your skills so magnificently.�

Closing the door, I had only gained the first turn of the corridor before an uneasy countenance and a startled exclamation blocked my progress abruptly.

�Padre mio!� he muttered under his breath, to my stifled amusement. �You rise very early, Count.�

�A habit you share, I see, signor,� I answered. �Forgive me for not seeking you out sooner; I returned to the castle very late and did not wish to disturb you.�

The redness of his weary eyes proved little could have disturbed a man so beset by his own nerves. I gave him brief instructions to meet me in the drawing room in a quarter of an hour, and when he arrived, the breakfast tray I had arranged for him was placed parallel to the chair where I sat, willing him to draw nearer that I may observe him more closely.

Eduardo took the seat nearest mine and occupied himself with the coffee as I gazed at him unhurriedly, watching his clumsy fingers nearly succeed in knocking over the sugar but miraculously catching the handle before harm was done.  It was a rapid movement of reflex that came naturally to him, one that would have escaped ordinary notice but that I took due notice of. His suspended all movement at my continued observation, turning to glance at me uncertainly. I leaned forward, placing my hands on the armrests languidly and granting a warm smile.

�Your efforts are soon to be rewarded, signor. Inquiries within town proved that one of names on the passenger list of an early summer ship�La Sauterelle, to be precise�was Giovanni Cavalieri.�

�Oh!� Eduardo cried. �That must be the ship he boarded in Rome.�

I titled my head slightly, taking on a low tone of concern as I asked, �Why, did he not leave any information for you? No word at all as to the details of his business?�

�None whatsoever, Count. I only managed to gain a few particulars from his superior.�

�And what sort of firm is Orsini and Rosenburg? Well established in the Mediterranean, I take it?�

�Very.�

�How disappointing that the good banker never reached my door. Still, now that I have shared my news, I am highly interested in hearing yours.�

�Mine, Excellency?� Eduardo�s left hand twitched as he tentatively raised the cup to his lips and sipped briefly. �What do you wish to know?�

�All that you wish to tell. Have you and your brother long been settled in Rome?�

�These past ten years at least. Our family is from an obscure town in Northern Italy I am sure you aren�t familiar with, Excellency�Legnago.�

�Then your father was a Lombardy merchant.�

�Yes!� Eduardo agreed, lifting his eyes in surprise. �Have you been there?�

I waved my hand in the air casually, as if dismissing his ill-founded presumption. �No, I have not had that pleasure. It was merely a supposition based on what I have understood from my correspondents.�

At the term correspondents Eduardo opened his mouth as if to speak, then remained silent as though he had thought better of it. 

�Will the countess be joining us?� he offhandedly asked at length.

�The countess,� I echoed, �usually spends her mornings studying devotedly. She does not like to be disturbed by anyone�would you like me to leave word that you missed her presence?�

�No,� Eduardo said hastily, rising from his seat, �I would not wish to displease her. Thank you for breakfast; and now, if you will, I shall ask only one thing more of you. As I will be making my way into town today, I had hoped you would alert me as to the nearest church, and the time Mass is conducted.�

�It would be difficult to pass through Bistritz and not notice its church, signor,� came the pleasant response, the searing undercurrent noticeable only to me. �Any of the places you inquire within will be happy to direct you to it. Mass is said at the eighth hour.�

With an additional grazie and slight bow, he rushed out of the room, no doubt to saddle the horse he had arrived with. Leaving the breakfast tray, I slipped quietly down the corridor to his chamber, where a few minor efforts procured the item I knew he must possess. Within the drawers of the writing desk lay a journal and several sheets of parchment, none of which seemed extensively used. The journal was almost entirely blank save a few pages in the beginning, which, to my surprise, were penned in English.  Further examination determined its utter uselessness�apart from a small number of exceptions, in which Eduardo�s wide-eyed view of our household proved droll. I would have replaced it without any further endeavors, had not passage stood out from the page.

�I shall try to follow Giovanni�s example and update this journal daily. Until I see him again, it is a comfort to me to know he has the rosary Padre Buscontti gave him, along with the reliable valise given us during our last days at Legnago.�

If Giovanni had taken a valise, surely it would have been in the carriage the night of his arrival.  Memories of that evening rose in quick succession, and I could clearly see a carpeted valise amongst the bags belonging to Kelantha. 

Her room was empty when I returned to it. Disregarding the numerous gowns and heavy cloaks in her wardrobe, each drawer proved to be futile. The very last one was locked, but I would not be denied access to furniture in my own house. I needed no key to unlock it, and once the drawer slid open, the very valise in question was the sole item within. Opening it directly, the tools to be expected of a foolish assassin were tucked neatly inside. I pushed the tins of wafers and wooden stakes aside with contempt, wondering why Kelantha kept them, and at last came to the journal. It was considerably used, the edges worn, with light, spidery script inscribed on the pages. Amidst useless relics I had found the only tool of consequence; and, retreating to my own chamber, I slipped it between other aged volumes, their fraying spines indistinguishable in the soft candlelight.  

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