Forever Young Birth Of A Nation Page 2

  “Oh, how clumsy of me Edwards! You saved the day there and prevented a big mess. Thank you sir!”

  “Think nothing of it sir. Good day.”

  “Good day to you sir.” Got you! So you are a vampire. Even better, you do not know that I am too. What in hell are you really doing here? And who mentored you to fall for a trick like that? As he thought on the subject, he realized that a vampire unknown to him now knew that Ian and James were in New York City, and worse yet, it was the younger brother of the man he himself had killed. Is he after the killer or does he think Ian killed his brother? And if so, where did he get that idea? He resolved to hire a private investigator immediately to learn all about young Edwards. He would do that today, and would dispatch a coded message to both Henri and to Ian.

  Chapter 3

  That evening, Ian and James met Andrew and treated him to dinner. They spoke briefly of what he hoped to trade for while in the colonies and the orders he had yet to fill while in New York. They bid Andrew a good night and within a half hour, both Ian and James were dressed in dark seamen’s clothing. In four minutes they had swam the Hudson River and rocketed away to the west. In around ten minutes they were in the deep woods some ten miles from the shore. Ian smelled deer and in less than two more minutes they had made a kill and soon they were filling their copper flasks.

  He felt better than he could recall feeling since Alandra had died. Being in the deep woods hunting with James was just what he needed and both of them exulted in both running full out through the darkness and the hunt itself. It was a relief of sorts to relax their guard and for a short while, just to be the creatures that they truly were, and not have to guard against betraying themselves to humans. The trip over had been more of a strain on them than they realized what with constantly having to be on their guard, confined with humans on the weeks-long voyage from England.

  The pair made their way back to the city, swimming across the Hudson like two porpoises in the moonlight. Once ashore, they wrung out their clothes and then ran for some three miles in a few minutes just to dry them. After dropping off their ruck sacks, the night was spent in prowling the streets of New York. Frequenting every tavern that they could find, they would sit and soak up all of the gossip that they could. They began to pick up a picture of events in the colonies during this time, and even more importantly they began to get a sense of the attitude of the colonists themselves, as compared to the newspaper articles they had both been reading.

  The next day was unremarkable except that they found a boarding house that Ian especially liked. The place had a very private rear entrance which let out into a narrow alleyway, and it was even covered by an extended portico with climbing roses growing on either side of it. If others wanted to watch them they would have to be in a place where likely the two could see them. Ian explained all of this to James before they talked to the owner.

  It was run by an elderly Scottish lady named Bess McKinley, whom they both took a liking too immediately. The place was neat, clean, and well kept. She was a no-nonsense person and quite gruff in manner, but Ian could tell that she liked them both. Her husband was a fisherman and together they made a good living in the bustling new city. Ian and James arranged to move their belongings from the Harbor Inn to Bessie’s Boarding House that very afternoon.

  The balance of the day was spent in various taverns and Inns gathering local gossip and developing a feel for the attitude of the colonists. The city was divided between sympathizing Tories loyal to the Crown and more independent minded folks, leaning more toward the colonies having more autonomy, and resentful of the onslaught of new taxes. The newspaper articles concerning the hostilities made it appear as if it was only the work of a small number of malcontents who had duped a small number of ignorant country bumpkins to join them. Ian knew that was a lie already just from talking to local merchants and others.

  After hunting in the New Jersey countryside that evening after dark, they again resumed their tactic of gathering information, splitting up so as to learn more. As the day before, they stayed out until dawn and then turned their information gathering attention to the dock areas where the fishermen and produce sellers were. Much of the produce was grown in New Jersey so they got to hear a lot about what folks from that area thought about the current situation between the Crown and the colonies.

  They went to see Andrew Norris aboard the New Hope which was now at a dock being unloaded. By early afternoon they had deposited half of the startup funds for the banks at Grover Merchant’s Bank and the other half at Wellington Bank of Commerce. They had a little more time for gathering intelligence so they went to the Harbor Inn for some three hours before bathing and dressing for the gala and dinner.

  Having picked up Andrew at 6:30, they made their way to Government House in a carriage. They did not bother to hire the driver to wait for them that night. After all, what danger could threaten two Adept vampires on the streets of a human city? They figured to walk Andrew back to the wharf anyway, being as the weather was so nice.

  Their wait at the entrance was very brief even though they had no invitations, and soon they were inside, mingling with all of the guests. General Gage himself spotted them and called “Ian McCloud, come here sir” while beckoning in a friendly fashion. His wife was with him, her hair coiffed beautifully in a style which Ian had seen in London before departing for the colonies. She was a small slender lady with warm brown eyes, and wheat colored hair. Introductions were made all around, and when it was Ian’s turn to be introduced to Mrs. Gage he bowed slightly as he kissed the back of her gloved hand saying “Enchanted Lady Gage. We congratulate the two of you on your wedding anniversary.” James stepped forward and was introduced doing exactly as Ian had done, as did Andrew. Ian then said “We have brought you a gift to commemorate this occasion.” Reaching into his breast pocket he withdrew two flat black felt cases, each with a pearl button to secure it. Handing them to General Gage and to his wife he smiled warmly. The two opened the cases and saw the sun glasses, Gage exclaiming “Ian whatever are these?”

  “They are sun glasses sir.”

  “Why Mr. McCloud, these are just marvelously made.” she said as she put on the ivory framed sun glasses. She went on “Oh Thomas aren’t these just marvelous?”

  “Yes, yes Esther. My Ian, what fine workmanship! Thank you so much. Wherever did you get these?”

  “They are made in France by Lafayette Industries.”

  Andrew then spoke up saying “Lady Gage, Ian invented them while he lived there.”

  Esther turned to Ian, looking anew at him “No! Really Mr. McCloud? Whatever inspired you to think of such a thing?”

  “Someone dear to me has a problem with bright sunlight and I had the first pair ever made just for her.” He thought and she is a vampire like two of us are, but you do not need to know that!

  About that time the guests were all summoned to dine. As they made their way to the sumptuous banquet table, Lady Gage plied Ian and James with questions as her husband amusedly looked on. As it turned out, a major who was with General Gage knew Andrew Norris. He informed the Gages that he knew Norris and the two of them paired off to talk as the group continued to the banquet table. Each guest group was separated and ushered to their place and the three men were quite a way down the table from General Gage and his wife as it turned out. They were seated with the Major who knew Andrew and the two were soon engaged in conversation as the other guests were settled. There were some eighty odd people there as best Ian could tell.

  The Anglican Bishop of New York asked everyone to stand as he offered a prayer. General Gage then bade everyone be seated as wine was brought around to each guest. After all were served, they waited expectantly. When Gage stood all stood with him and he offered a toast with the words “God Save the King” to which all responded likewise and drank. Gage was disturbed by the constant news of colonials rebelling against the Crown and even while artfully talking with the guests nearest him, he pondered what besides the hostilities he might offer for a topic of conversation that evening. The young Major who was a friend of Captain Andrew Norris came to him and whispered something.

  Supper was nearly through when General Gage stood and using his fork he made a pinging noise on the crystal goblet he held. The conversation died down as he said “Some eight years ago a Scottish trading vessel in the Mediterranean was attacked by two pirate ships. That crew defeated the pirates in a brilliantly fought battle and as a result, the daughter of the Spanish Ambassador to France was saved from being sold into slavery. She and a companion had been captured at sea by these same pirates who murdered her aunt, uncle, and the entire crew of their ship. It has just been brought to my attention that we have with us tonight one of the men who rescued the daughter of the Spanish Ambassador to France from those pirates. Ian McCloud, would you please stand up for everyone sir?”

  Embarrassed, Ian stood uncomfortably to scattered applause as General Gage said “Mr. McCloud, would you do us the honor of relating that story after dinner. I am sure that there are more than a few of us who would love to hear your account.” Ian nodded and sat back down. Norris leaned over saying “Ian I am sorry. I shared your adventure with my friend and it appears that he told Gage.”

  “Oh, think nothing of it Andrew. It’s not as if I have not had to tell it before.”

  Nearer to General Gage sat Colonel Grundy, and with him sat Colonel Matthew Davis and his daughter Rebecca. Her attention shifted to Ian when he stood and she found herself staring at him in fascination even after he sat down. As the meal drew to a close and dessert had been offered, she was stealing glances his direction as often as she could without being obvious. She thought he looks as if he could be Mediterranean in nationality but for those piercing blue eyes. My, but he is handsome! I must dance with him tonight if at all possible. She sat pondering how to accomplish that without offending Grundy and certainly without herself asking him. All the while she conversed adroitly with Grundy and her father.

  Dinner being at an end, Gage and no small gathering were at one side of the ballroom floor when he caught Ian’s eye and beckoned to him, smiling broadly. In under a minute Ian was relating the harrowing battle at sea with the pirates that had happened some eight years earlier. He kept it to a minimal commentary and instead just let whoever was curious to ask questions. There were nearly as many women as men listening to the story unfold. Several of the men present allowed as how they had heard the account and had wondered if it had been only a maritime legend after all. Andrew then chimed in and mentioned the storm that had hit Ian and his shipmates only five days after the battle so Ian had to relate the story of the storm. Several men present were naval officers and had heard of the storm because of its unusual ferocity. All were amazed that Ian and a crew of only eight others had survived the storm and had even had the prize ship restored and sold for a handsome profit.

  The music had started by then so General Gage and his wife took the floor to begin a minuet by themselves as the guests of honor. It turned out that the entire British military compliment had collaborated to honor the Gages and had all chipped in to pay for the gala. Grundy waited patiently until Gage beckoned and then with Rebecca, he joined in the minuet with many of the guests. A few of the naval officers stayed gathered about Ian questioning him about details of the storm and the battle for the duration of two songs. As the ladies prompted the men to dance then, Ian saw a chance to make a polite escape. He had noticed a group of young girls gathered nearby, so he walked to the group and deliberately chose the youngest of them, a girl of only twelve years age. After they had properly introduced each other, she shyly smiled up at him, curtseyed properly, and taking his arm followed him to the dance floor.

  Rebecca had followed this with some interest. All of the single men at the ball had gone directly to seek out attractive single ladies, whereas Ian and his companion had gone to dance with the children.

  Ian danced the minuet with her, conversing politely all the while and complimenting her on her dancing skills. Soon she was at ease and laughing, having a good time with this dark handsome stranger. When that dance ended Ian properly escorted her back to her companions, complimenting her on her dancing skills in front of them all and thanking her. He asked another one to dance as a tune written by Vivaldi began to be played. By then Andrew had followed Ian and James’ lead and both had asked young girls from the same group of eight to dance. As Rebecca noticed that her esteem grew for the tall Scot and his companions.

  Ian had reasoned that this was the best way to ensure that he did not ruffle any man’s feathers over some lady. Besides that he thought that the children at least deserved to dance at least once that evening instead of only watching others or dancing with their fathers. Soon others including boys of that age group had begun to seek dance partners from the group. After dancing with five of the eight girls there, Ian saw that all were taken for the next dance so he made his way to where he could have a drink of fruit punch. Liquor had been excluded from the refreshments due to the presence of children at the event.

  He had gotten a glass of punch from the white-gloved attendant when he was approached by Gage himself, accompanied by a ravishing young brunette with large beautiful hazel colored eyes. Gage introduced her to Ian, saying “Ian, meet Rebecca Davis, daughter of Colonel Harold Davis. Rebecca, meet Ian McCloud, banker and pirate-killer extraordinaire.”

  “Enchanted Miss Davis” Ian said as he bowed in a courtly fashion, kissing the back of her hand.

  “Charmed, Mr. McCloud” said Rebecca as she curtsied, flashing Ian a dazzling smile. “How exciting to meet a man known to be a pirate killer!”

  Laughing, Ian said “There were well over thirty of us that were pirate killers that day, Miss Davis. In fact we had done the same in the South China Sea several months before that as well.”

  “Oh my! You have fought pirates in the seas of China as well? What took you there, Mr. McCloud?”

  “Trade. I can tell you that it is not a glamorous past time. And banking pays a lot better too.” She clapped her hands and laughed delightedly.

  “Ian, please take this young lady to the dance floor for me. I have just completed some eight dances now and I need a rest.”

  As they made their way to the dance floor, Rebecca said “Mr. McCloud, you hardly look like any banker that I ever saw.” Ian chuckled and said “Please Miss Davis, do call me Ian. I was a sailor all of my life before becoming a banker.”

  They began to dance then, a minuet but one with some more exacting moves called for. Ian silently thanked Marie Lafayette for her endless patience in teaching him every method of dance known in Europe. He performed them flawlessly, and really better than Rebecca. She was duly impressed and said so.

  “Not many do this particular dance well, Ian. You are quite skilled in dance.”

  “Thank you, Miss Davis. I had a wonderful teacher.”

  “Ian, however did you end up going from being a merchant seaman to being a banker?” Ian told her a carefully constructed story that he had used throughout Europe whenever asked. Vampires were of course, omitted. He told of being attacked by a bear while in France and of being nursed back to health by the Lafayettes, where he met Cosette, who he fell in love with and married.

  “So you are married after all?”

  He detected the slightest disappointment in her voice, but he related to her the carefully constructed story of Cosette’s death. There had been a fire around that time in which some children had died in a large building in Arles as Henri had learned some time later. They had all agreed to pick that incident as the one in which Cosette had died, should any of them ever be asked. This was only a precaution in the unlikely event that someone might be curious enough to check out the story. Certainly they could not go about telling anyone that she died when they raided the home of a Satanist who had seventeen vampires on his payroll.

  “I am sorry to hear that Ian. So you have remained a bachelor ever since then?”

  “No, Miss Davis. I was married again not two years ago to Alandra Vasquez, the lady who I helped free from the Pirates. She was killed accidentally less than three months ago.”

  Showing genuine concern and sympathy in her large beautiful eyes, she then said “Oh, Ian! I am so sorry! I did not mean to bring up such a painful thing. How clumsy and thoughtless of me!”

  “Nonsense; how could you have known?”

  “Ian, please do call me Rebecca. I am embarrassed beyond my ability to say it that I have brought up such a thing. You are by far the most interesting person I have ever met at one of these affairs. I… I was only eager to learn more about you.”

  “Please Rebecca. Say no more.” After saying that, he lapsed into silence and simply danced with her, however he did smile kindly at her from time to time. As the dance ended they were far across the floor from where her group was, and she turned to him with a sorrowful look on her face. “Ian, please accept my apology. I am so sorry to have caused you grief.”

  He turned to her and stood holding both of her hands, a sympathetic but sad look on his face. “There, there lass. No grief over this thing now, please. I…Look…..I…I came to this land to forget those sorrows. I hoped that by staying busy, I could avoid thinking about it. You’ve done nothing wrong. I…look; it has been my delight to dance with you, Rebecca. Please promise me you will save me a dance the next time we are at one of these affairs.”

  Oh my! I want to dance all of this night with this man! I do love his voice and those eyes, how striking! He has a way about him…. what is it about him? She brightened noticeably then and nodded enthusiastically, saying “Oh yes, Ian! I promise to save you a dance the next time.” She thought I would save every dance for you if only you knew it!