CHAPTER 10

Several days later, I looked out of the window as the train slowly screeched to a stop. "Whitby Station!" called the porter as the train finally ceased to move. I rose from my seat and, clutching my valise, picked my way through the crowd of cluttering passengers in the accompanying seats. As I alighted from the coach, I caught sight of my brother's fiancée and my best friend Wilhelmina Murray, whom everyone called 'Mina'. Mina was about Jonathan's age. She was a dainty, pretty woman with dark hair, though not as dark as mine.

Next to her was our other friend, Lucy Westenra. Lucy was closer to my age than Mina was, our ages separate by only a year. We even shared the same month of birth, September. Though I liked Lucy very much and was close to her, I was much closer to Mina. Lucy was a tall, delicate girl with a beautiful face, and hair as fair as the rays of the sun. She looked and glowed like a fallen angel.

Mina instantly took me in her arms while Lucy took my valise. "It is so good to see you, dear," said Mina, putting her arm around my shoulder and leading me away from the station. "I don't know how I knew that you would be arriving today but I'm glad that you did."

"Never mind that," interjected Lucy, laughing sweetly. "I cannot wait to tell you about my news, but that's not important right now. Tell us all about Transylvania."

As the brougham rattled along the quiet country lane of Whitby village, I told Mina and Lucy all about my experiences in Transylvania, omitting certain details about the count and Jonathan's anxiety. When I'd finished, Lucy told me about her three wedding proposals. Some girls would have wondered if I, being a year older than Lucy, would be jealous of her wedding proposals when I had none so far. But as I've said before, I was not interested in young men or wedding proposals at that time. Lucy's first proposal had been from a Dr. John Seward, who ran a lunatic asylum. Pretty amazing for a man of only twenty-nine!

The second proposal had come from Quincey Morris, an American from Texas. According to Lucy, he was very kind and charming. The third had come from Arthur Holmwood, son of Lord Godalming. Arthur Holmwood was the man whose love and proposal Lucy had accepted. They were to be married in the autumn, and Lucy was already planning her wedding and how her house was to be arranged. The brougham arrived at Lucy's house and we met her mother at the door. Mrs. Westenra greeted us warmly, then said to Lucy and Mina, "Dr. Seward is coming for lunch, so I'll need you girls to go to the bakery and fetch some crumpets. "

Lucy nodded, and she and Mina beckoned to me to follow them. Mrs. Westenra wouldn't hear of it, however, and insisted that I go upstairs and rest for an hour or so. I wasn't at all tired, but I reluctantly trudged up the stairs (a maid following with my valise) and threw myself on the bed when I was alone.

As soon as the maid had left, however, I arose from the bed and crouched at the door, listening hard. Finally, the maid's footsteps died away completely. I opened the door and slipped outside. I knew that Mrs. Westenra would be in her boudoir for her nap, so I did not worry myself with running into her.

I crept down the stairs and made my way to the library (I had been in Lucy's house many times before, so I knew my way around). I opened the door a crack and peered in. The room was empty, so I traipsed inside and lay on the chaise. I selected a book, A Study of India, and began to read. With every turn of the page, I became so engrossed in the world of Brahma, gypsies in long veils, and caravans that I lost track of time and forgot where I was. That is why I jumped when I happened to look up from the book and saw a man standing in the center of the room.

I was so startled by his appearance that I lost my balance and fell backwards off the chaise. The man was instantly at my side, helping me to my feet. "I am dreadfully sorry. I was looking for Mrs. Westenra. She usually spends her time in here."

He stared at me closely. "I've never seen you before, and I'm quite certain that Mrs. Westenra did not hire a new housemaid."

I felt a smile break across my face and I laughed a little. "No, I am not a housemaid. I'm Teresa Harker, a friend to Mina Murray, and Lucy Westenra."

I began to notice more details about this man. He was tall, and had dark hair and keen blue eyes. He was quite handsome. He looked to be about nine or ten years older than I.

He introduced himself with an inclination of his head. "I'm John Seward, physician at the Carfax sanitarium. "

I instantly sprang into action. "Oh, Mrs. Westenra was expecting you for lunch, sir, and I think she'll be up presently. Do you want me to send a maid to get some tea, brandy, anything you like?"

Dr. Seward stared at me for one whole minute. Then he laughed softly. "I must say, that is one I've never heard before."

I was puzzled. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, Miss Harker, that one doesn't often hear a young lady offering a respected gentleman brandy as refreshment this early in the day. Or is this some new philosophy among women these days?"

I felt my ears turn red under my chignon, but I bit my tongue and said nothing. "I see I've insulted you," said Seward. "I apologize."

I accepted his apology with an inclination of my head and, to change the subject, asked him if he had read Lowell's Anatomy of the Human Body. He seemed astounded to hear that I had also read it. "I don't know many young ladies that would read it."

What was it with this man and his thoughts about women?

"But," he continued, "I am delighted to meet a woman who has read it. Do you read often?"

I looked him directly in the eyes. "All the time."

"And pardon me, but what do the gentlemen do when you read?"

I laughed. "I'm not interested in marriage proposals. I want something more tangible like a career. Maybe as a traveling journalist."

This time he laughed, not so much at my dreams as at the thought of what Englishmen would do if they found out what women dream of these days. We talked some more, and it was almost as though I was with Jonathan again. What was it Jonathan was so afraid of that he wouldn't tell me? Why did the count make him so nervous and, even, terrified? My thoughts were interrupted by Mrs. Westenra's surprise that Seward and I had met, and her announcement that lunch was ready.