3. Bram Stoker

Admittedly, this is straying slightly from Stoker's storyline, but none of us would want Anthony to end up like that. I have tried to stick to the style of the original work: told through diary entries and letters, and wonderfully Victorian High Gothic.

So this is set in 1912. The Titanic has sunk and Matthew Crawley, a solicitor from Manchester, is the new heir to the title of Earl of Grantham. He visits Downton and meets the Crawley sisters. Although in love with Mary, he becomes engaged to Edith because Mary, in a fit of pique, turns him down. He insists on concluding his ongoing cases which include one involving a mysterious Count Strallan from Whitby who wants to purchase a property not far from Downton called Locksley…

Lady Edith Crawley's Journal

23rd June 1912
Matthew continues to flirt with Mary, and she with him. I am fond of Matthew, and although I am not in love with him, as I understand that emotion, it still hurts. Tomorrow Matthew says he is going to take a client from Whitby around to an estate just east of here. I have insisted that I go with him. The change will be welcome, and I may have the opportunity of talking to him. It would be best for everyone if he and Mary could come to an amicable agreement and release me from being a pawn in their games.

24th June 1912
I don't know what to say. I cannot but smile, but I feel always on the edge of tears. Count Strallan is…the most devastatingly handsome man I have ever met. And the kindest and most polite and gentlemanly. But there is a sweet dangerousness to him as well. When I am with him I feel that he is looking at me as though he is a predator and I am his prey. I will admit it: he excites me more than any man ever has, including Matthew.

Matthew and I arrived at the house, Locksley Grange, a beautiful Queen Anne manor, some quarter of an hour earlier than arranged, but the Count was there before us. His carriage is totally enclosed with no windows, which I considered strange but Matthew explained that the Count sadly suffers from an allergic reaction to sunlight and must take steps to protect his skin from it or be left with the most horrific burns. Matthew opened up the front door and left it wide open. The coachman jumped down and knocked on the carriage door. Without delay a very tall figure alighted. He was dressed in a dark coat of strikingly formal cut and under his top hat his head and shoulders were covered with a black silk veil, such as undertakers sometimes wear. He entered the house at surprising speed, shut the door behind him and swept off his hat and veil with one graceful movement. Instantly I was mesmerised by his eyes, the colour of the bluest South Sea. Matthew greeted him, but the Count stepped towards me ignoring my fiancé until he introduced us.

"Count Strallan, I would like you to meet my fiancée, Lady Edith Crawley."

"At last. Lady Edith, it is all my pleasure."

"Count, have we…"

"…met before? I am sure of it, my lady."

He uttered the words with intensity and a barely-controlled passion, thrilling me to my core.

Matthew showed him around the house, but the Count appeared to have made up his mind to buy the property the moment he set eyes upon me. A date for completion was set, and the Count took his leave of us, kissing my hand with such ardour that I was near fainting.

8th July 1912
Count Strallan invited all the county to Locksley for drinks this evening. Sybil, Mama and I were very excited; Papa, Granny, Mary and Matthew less so. We arrived just after dusk, as instructed. The wine that was served was magnificent and of a blend and vintage none could guess at. We met many of the local families but saw nothing of our host for more than an hour. Papa was growing ever more angry when at last I saw the tall figure of the Count approach us. He spoke to Mama, Mary, Matthew, and Sybil very graciously and told Papa what a wonderful house Downton was, placating them and captivating them all completely. He was especially gallant towards Granny, almost flirting with her. I have never seen Granny blush like that before. Then he turned to me.

"Lady Edith, I have something in my library which I think will be of especial interest to you. Do excuse us." He led me into the quiet of a sumptuous book-lined room.

"This room is gorgeous, Count Strallan!" I exclaimed without thinking.

"Do you like it? Do you really? I am so pleased." He smiled gently and, I thought, a little sadly at me.

A string quartet began to play out in the hall, causing the soirée to take on a particularly elegant feel. Unfortunately it startled the Count's dogs in their kennels and they began to howl.

"Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!" he breathed, his eyes closed.

"I love dogs" I blurted.

He opened his eyes once more and held mine with a look that saw into my very soul. I was sure that he was about to kiss me, when the door was thrown open and Matthew announced that we were returning to Downton. In the carriage, I discovered that Mary and he had quarrelled and an exit with me was intended to snub my sister. Having found the love of my life, I felt sorry for her, and ashamed of my wanton behaviour with Count Strallan while I was still engaged to Matthew. I took the opportunity of his emotional upset to inform him that I was breaking off our engagement, and urging him to settle with Mary, something that appeared to have been his intention all along.

10th July 1912
He came to me last night. I was abed and almost asleep, and thoughts of his voice and his eyes and my desires were throbbing through my head. The candles flickered, there was a sudden breeze from I know not where, and Count Strallan stood in front of my bed. Strangely I was not afraid.

"I apologise for this intrusion, but I need to know" he implored.

"What?" I answered, sitting up.

"You are truly lovely to me, and I believe we have met in another life. Do you believe this to be true?"

"Yes" I whispered, "my soul is wedded to yours, I feel it, and long to make it so once more."

He seemed to struggle for breath for a moment, then suddenly I was in his arms and his kiss was fierce on my mouth.

"Do you truly wish to be one with me, be like me, be with me forever?" he pleaded.

"Yes." The word escaped me like the last breath after death. He kissed my neck, and then I felt his bite, and he sucked my blood as I writhed in ecstasy. He scratched his own body just above the collar bone, bleeding himself for me and offered me the wound. Instinctively I knew to drink his life-giving essence, as he too succumbed to the heights of love.

"And you, my best beloved one, are now to me, flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood, kin of my kin, my bountiful wife, my companion, and my love."

Upon the instant, Matthew and Papa, having heard voices broke into my bedroom. Appalled they were at the sight of so much blood, and their inaction gave Anthony and I a few precious seconds to turn to incorporeal mist and make our escape through the window. We returned to Locksley, materialising in Anthony's bedchamber.

"Are you alright?" he enquired, with carefullest concern.

"Never better, my love" I stated, quite truthfully.

"Then, more than anything in this world or the next, I want to consummate the union we have just solemnised".

His loving eyes bore into me, and I answered by taking him in my arms.

14th September 1912

My life with Anthony is perfectly complete. At dusk we wake and we leave the house to dine – chicken, pork, beef, lamb – whatever we fancy and is available. We never kill or distress the animals – we want no trouble with the other farmers, but furthermore, there is no need. Most times we can supply our needs from our own stock.

Our appetites fulfilled, we return home. We read and talk; if it is still dark we stroll among the orchards.

Then we make love, sometimes feeding upon each other.

We bother no one, and no one bothers us.

We will be happy and in love until the end of time.