Borne in Blood (19 page)
Authors: Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Tags: #Fantasy, #Fiction, #General, #Historical, #Horror, #Occult & Supernatural, #Guardian and Ward, #Vampires, #Nobility, #blood, #Paramours, #Switzerland
“But.” Ragoczy tapped Scharffensee again. “Shall I say two weeks? If you can accomplish your work sooner, that will be excellent, but two weeks should suffice to complete your mission. If you can accomplish the journey in less time, you will be rewarded for your efforts.” He removed the paper-weights and began to roll the map once more. “Do you need this?”
“No; I have some from my previous employment. I used to spend my evenings memorizing distances.” He frowned. “If the roads were in better repair, I could travel faster. But I don’t want to risk the horse, not in those mountains.”
“Certainly not.” Ragoczy returned the rolled map to the stand in the corner, then picked up the two letters from his secretaire desk. “I would appreciate it if you would report to me on the state of the roads. If there is any part of the road where it would be dangerous for a coach, I will want to know about it.”
“That I will,” said Gutesohnes, taking the letters and slipping them inside his leather waistcoat. “I have a pocket for letters,” he said.
“An excellent notion. Your travel-sack and your waistcoat only.”
“A wallet for food and money—although I carry most money in my shoes.” He patted the top of his boot.
Ragoczy laughed. “Many of us carry valuable things in our shoes.” In his case, his soles were lined with his native earth that allowed him to walk about in daylight and to cross running water without agony. “See that Uchtred provides you with food and water for your first day. I will give you money for your expenses, tomorrow morning.”
“When I leave at dawn,” said Gutesohnes, sounding worn out.
“Which it is why you must sleep well tonight. You’ve had a hard few days, and you need to take care.” Ragoczy started toward the study door. “Remember my offer—I do have tinctures that will help you sleep, and ones that will help you waken. You have only to ask.”
“Did Hochvall take any of your preparations?” Gutesohnes asked suspiciously.
“Yes. In fact, he still does. It helps him to strengthen his leg as the bone knits.”
“I saw him in the stable. He’s looking better, but he’s still using a crutch to get around. A coachman can’t use a crutch.”
“He will do so for at least a month more, I would reckon,” said Ragoczy, who had not seen him since their return. “I will determine his progress later today, after you are ready for your mission.”
Realizing he had over-stepped, Gutesohnes said at his most conciliatory, “I probably should have something to help me sleep. If you have a preparation that eases aching muscles, that would be useful as well.”
“I have an ointment,” said Ragoczy. “You shall have it after you eat.”
Gutesohnes ducked his head. “Thank you, Comte.”
“Given the task I have assigned you, it is the least I can do,” said Ragoczy, holding the door for Gutesohnes.
Astonished at this unexpected courtesy, Gutesohnes almost bowed himself out of the room. He closed the door carefully, then hurried away down the corridor leading to the rear of the house, where he came upon Balduin and Uchtred; he informed them of his early departure.
“I have a duck on a spit even now,” Uchtred told Gutesohnes. “It will be ready in a little over an hour. Turnips with butter and onions, new bread, butter, and cheese. I will rise early to make your food for the road.”
“Half the château will rise to see me off, in fact?” Gutesohnes suggested sarcastically, but unable to conceal his satisfaction at the thought.
“Possibly,” said Balduin, and went to pour each of them a large glass of beer from the pitcher of it taken from the barrel that Farold, the local brewer, had just delivered. “We will all wish you a safe and swift mission.”
“Amen,” said Uchtred.
While the three men were sitting down on kitchen stools to enjoy their drink, Ragoczy left his study and climbed the stairs. He made his way to Hero’s door, knocked on it, and said, “Hero, are you all right?” Then he waited for an answer. When none was forthcoming, he said, a bit more loudly, “I am dispatching a letter to your father-in-law, proposing that I bring you to Scharffensee so that you and your sons may condole together. It will be on its way tomorrow morning.”
There was a sound from inside the room, not quite a word, but it encouraged him.
“Gutesohnes is going to carry my request to the Graf.” Again he waited, and again he heard something beyond the door. “He will probably be gone two weeks, but as soon as we have an answer, I will prepare to take you to them.”
“Do you think he will permit the visit?” The question was not loud but there was great bitterness in her question. “Thank you for trying,”
“I cannot promise he will extend an invitation to you, but he is not likely to say no when it is I who will bear the responsibility of getting you to Scharffensee.” He was about to go on when she interrupted.
“Of course. You are a titled gentleman of fortune,” she said bitterly, “not a widow of limited means.”
“If that will suffice to get you to your sons, then so be it,” Ragoczy said.
There was a sharp intake of breath, and then the latch moved and the door opened. Hero, pale and shaken, stood blocking the way. “Whether you succeed or not, I
do
thank you for trying.” She had a damp linen handkerchief in her hand and she pressed this to her eyes. “Please.”
do
thank you for trying.” She had a damp linen handkerchief in her hand and she pressed this to her eyes. “Please.”
“What is it?” Ragoczy asked gently.
“I need time to myself.” She said it in a rush, as if she expected to be chastised.
“As long as you like,” he said, hearing the slight trembling in her voice.
“But perhaps tonight, you would come to me?”
He looked at her in some surprise. “If that is what you wish, I would be honored.”
“Not to do anything,” she went on. “Just so I will not sleep alone.”
“That is doing something,” he said, his dark eyes fixed on hers. “I would be honored,” he repeated.
She held out her hand to him, her fingers cold; her nails had all been bitten and the edge of one was bleeding. “I don’t deserve your kindness, Comte.”
“Hero.” He touched her cheek, so lightly that she barely felt the caress; there was a world of sympathy in her name.
“But extend yourself a bit more: have Wendela bring me a glass of wine and a bowl of broth in an hour,” she said hurriedly, then stepped back and closed the door.
Ragoczy stood still, waiting in case she should open the door again, then, when he heard the clock strike four, he went back down to the ground floor, his attractive, irregular features set in lines of concern. He returned to his study and lit the oil-lamp on the lowboy, dispelling the first gloom of the coming evening. After pacing the room slowly, he sat down at his secretaire-desk, where he sat staring blankly at the windows.
“My master?” Rogier ventured from the door.
Ragoczy looked up as if startled. “What is it, old friend?”
“Hochvall is here.” He coughed diplomatically. “I can arrange for him to return, if you would prefer?”
It took several seconds for Ragoczy to answer, but when he did, he rose from his chair. “No. There is no reason to do that.” He started toward the door, paused to turn down the lamp, then went to Rogier. “Where is he?”
“In the servants’ parlor. He has lost flesh while we were away.” Rogier held the door for Ragoczy and closed it behind them.
“How is his demeanor?”
“Uncertain. I suspect he has found his recuperation difficult.” Rogier opened the door that led into the servants’ wing of the château. Located to the west of the kitchen, its lower floor had the parlor and dining room of the household servants, with two floors of bedrooms above, one for men and one for women. The parlor, with west-facing windows, was bright still, although the shadows of the mountains were spreading toward them. An oil-lamp had been lit and placed on the small chest on the far side of the room.
Ulf Hochvall was seated in one of the upholstered chairs, his crutch lying beside it. As Ragoczy came into the room, he struggled to his feet, hopping to keep his balance. “Comte.”
“How do I see you, Hochvall? Are you improved? Is your leg healing?” Ragoczy studied him as he spoke: Rogier was right. The man had lost flesh, and his skin looked dry and slack.
“I am better but I am not yet strong,” said Hochvall. “I have had a fever. Levien came from Yvoire to bleed me four times.”
Ragoczy sighed, thinking of the many arguments he had had with Levien’s physician on the subject of bleeding. “That may not have been entirely wise. Bleeding can sometimes increase a fever.”
“It relieved mine,” said Hochvall.
“Then you are one of the fortunate,” said Ragoczy. “Your leg—how does it hold up?”
“It pains me if I use it much,” Hochvall said with a motion of defiance.
“Not surprising, given the severity of the break.” He stepped back. “Come toward me. Without the crutch.” This last instruction made Hochvall stare. “Lean it against the chair and try taking a few steps toward me.”
Reluctantly Hochvall did as he was told, making sure the crutch would not fall before he turned toward Ragoczy. “I do not walk very well,” he said before he took his first few steps.
Ragoczy could see that the injured leg was twisted inward, and he frowned. “Did anyone rewrap your leg after I set it?”
Hochvall halted. “Yes,” he admitted. “I know you said not to, but it was itching so ferociously that my woman insisted I scratch it. That was shortly after you departed. She and my son worked to rewrap it correctly.”
“I am sure they did,” said Ragoczy. “But they did not—” He stopped, knowing it was useless to say anything more.
“They did their best not to hurt me,” said Hochvall in their defense.
“I am certain of that. But in not hurting you, they have harmed you,” said Ragoczy with great patience. “When a bone is just starting to knit, it can easily be unseated from its alignment, which is what has happened here.” He went and picked up Hochvall’s crutch and handed it to him. “If you will practice walking without it, you will be stronger and will improve, but, I fear you will always limp.” Ordinarily he would have tried to soften that blow, but with other demands weighing on him, he could not summon up the words.
“Limp?” Hochvall repeated, unbelieving. “But can I drive a coach with a limp?”
“I do not know yet,” said Ragoczy. “In time you may recover enough to manage it,” he said, all the while trying to decide which of the various tasks that needed doing could be assigned to Hochvall.
“I’m a coachman,” Hochvall insisted, his eyes growing wet.
“I know Yvoire needs a good drayer,” Ragoczy suggested. “If you start there, you can build yourself up again, regain your strength. I am willing to help you establish yourself.”
“A
drayer
? Wagons and carts!” he exclaimed scornfully. “I am a
coachman! A coachman!
” He flung his crutch down, slewed around, took a half-step, stumbled, and fell.
drayer
? Wagons and carts!” he exclaimed scornfully. “I am a
coachman! A coachman!
” He flung his crutch down, slewed around, took a half-step, stumbled, and fell.
As Ragoczy went to help Hochvall to his feet, he wondered how many other things would be broken that day.
Text of a letter from Reinhart Olivier Kreuzbach, attorney-at-law and factor, at Speicher near the Kyll River, Rhenish Prussia, to Saint-Germain Ragoczy, Comte Franciscus at Château Ragoczy near Lake Geneva, Yvoire, Switzerland; carried by postal courier.
To the Honorable Comte Franciscus, Saint-Germain Ragoczy, my most cordial greeting on this, the 27
th
day of September, 1817,
th
day of September, 1817,
Regarding the progress of restoration of your castle above Zemmer since you stopped to inspect it on your way to Amsterdam, there has been much activity. Most of the kitchen is now in good repair, and the storage cellars are once again clean, drained, and sound. For foodstuffs, wine, clothing, furniture, and other such items, the cellars will now provide reliable protection through the winter. There will be windows installed on the ground floor in the Great Hall, the withdrawing room, the morning parlor, and the sitting room, which should then be capable of coming through the winter relatively unscathed. The dining room and servants’ quarters may also be finished shortly, if the rains hold off for another month.
I have taken your advice and retained Pasch Gruenerwald as supervisor of the rebuilding. He has chosen most of the workmen, hired a cook for them, and allocated places for their occupancy in the castle so that their own comfort is contingent upon their proper performance of the work they are paid to do. He reports that most of the men are more than willing, good-paying work being so hard to find, although he has had to dismiss two workers for pilfering goods and supplies. Most have been satisfactory.
The amount you have deposited to cover the expenses through the coming winter are more than adequate. I have assured the men that they need not fear they will not be paid the full amount agreed upon. The joiners and carpenters will arrive in the spring to continue the finishing of the interior. Your wishes are clearly expressed in the instructions you provided and I will keep current on the progress being made, so that you will not be disappointed at the standards upheld by these craftsmen.
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