Chapter 3
London 1826
Charles Dray opened the door and looked out at the white veil that shroud London, turning round he said, "Duncan, it's a terrible night, won't you reconsider and stay the night it won't take long to make the spare room ready". Duncan put on his top hat and fasten his cloak around his neck, "Thank you, Charles but I can't and it's only a short walk over the bridge." Duncan stepped out into the street tipped his hat to Charles "Thank you for a lovely evening, I'll call at your offices tomorrow to sign the papers. Good night Charles". "Goodnight Duncan" and with that Charles closed the door and Duncan was alone in the street.
Duncan started to walk towards London bridge the fog was the thickest he had ever seen, usually from Charles's house he could see the lights on the bridge but not tonight. Duncan became aware of footsteps behind him but because of the fog he couldn't see anyone. As he approached London Bridge he could hear the footsteps behind him suddenly quicken their pace, he looked over his shoulder but he could only just make out the shape of a person through the fog. As he turned back he nearly collided with a well- dressed man leaning on the rail of the bridge "Excuse me" Duncan said as he went to walk around the man. The man turned towards him lifting his hat "Good Evening, Mr. MacLeod" Duncan stopped looking surprised he didn't recognise the man "Good Evening. Do I know you?"
"No, but I have a friend who's dying meet you" the man said.
Out of the corner of his eye Duncan saw another man appearing out of the fog "And who would this friend be?" Duncan asked as he moved so that the bridge rail was behind him. While Duncan had his attention focus on the two men when he felt the presence of an Immortal. Out of the fog in front of him came a figure, Duncan's hand went to the hilt of his sword hided inside his cloak. While Duncan was focused on the approaching Immortal; he didn't see the other men producing pistols from their coats. "What can I do for you Gentlemen?" Duncan asked. The approaching Immortal brought his sword out from his cloak and as he did the two men fired hitting Duncan in the chest, he fell back against the rail, the other Immortal advanced towards him swing his sword, Duncan could just make out that it was a Rapier the hilt had red jewels embedded in it, which glinted in the dim light, the movement of his arm caused the cloak to revile it's red lining. As the Immortal approached Duncan, the two mortals faded back into the fog.
"WHO ARE YOU" Duncan growled. The pain and blood loss from his wounds made him light headed he knew that he had to get out of there before his strength failed him so using the rail for support he pulled himself up, rolling over the rail he plunged into the icing waters of the Thames.
Duncan's Loft
Duncan opened his eyes and took another drink of his brandy, 'It must be the same man' Duncan thought but he never did find out his name or who this Louisa is or was, maybe Joe will be able to fill in the blanks. Duncan put down his glass and reached for the phone dialling the bar. "Hi, Joe"
"Mac, you just caught me. It's really late you know. What's up?" Joe said.
"I'm not quite sure"
"Your not quite sure? Maybe I can help" Joe replied.
"That's why I called Joe," Duncan then told Joe all about what had happened earlier that evening and about the unidentified Immortal. Joe waited until Duncan had finished "OK Mac, I'll do some checking but it doesn't ring any bells. Come by the bar in the morning I should have something by then."
"Thanks Joe, I'll see you later" Just as Duncan replaced the receiver Dani came out of the bathroom collected her glass from the table and finished the remaining brandy. Duncan could see that her face had a little more colour in it now but she was still very pale.
"Would you like another Brandy?" Duncan said getting up
"No, thank you, I think would like to get some sleep now if that's OK" she said with a little smile.
She looked so small standing there in his robe, which was dragging on the floor as she walked; she looked so fragile now, nothing like she had in the alley. He did know what it was about her but when she looks into my eyes it feels like she can see into my soul' he thought. Duncan hadn't realised it but he had been staring into her eyes lost in the blue warmth they held.
Dani stepped forward and put her arm on his "Are you alright?"
"Yes, Sorry, I.." he smiled and looked away.
Duncan didn't finish what he was saying and Dani didn't ask she had seen the sorrow in his eyes before he turned away. Duncan went over to the cupboard that contained the extra bedding and returned with them to the sofa.
"I'll have a shower myself before going to bed, I'll leave this lamp on it shouldn't give off to much light, so you shouldn't be distrubed. Goodnight Dani"
"Goodnight Duncan and thank you". Dani climbed into the bed as Duncan went into the bathroom.
She laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, she had many questions she wanted to ask him, what was behind the pain she had seen in his eyes was for someone he had lost or something else but the questions would have to wait until the morning, listening to the distant sound of running water she drifted into sleep.
London 1826
Charles Dray opened the door and looked out at the white veil that shroud London, turning round he said, "Duncan, it's a terrible night, won't you reconsider and stay the night it won't take long to make the spare room ready". Duncan put on his top hat and fasten his cloak around his neck, "Thank you, Charles but I can't and it's only a short walk over the bridge." Duncan stepped out into the street tipped his hat to Charles "Thank you for a lovely evening, I'll call at your offices tomorrow to sign the papers. Good night Charles". "Goodnight Duncan" and with that Charles closed the door and Duncan was alone in the street.
Duncan started to walk towards London bridge the fog was the thickest he had ever seen, usually from Charles's house he could see the lights on the bridge but not tonight. Duncan became aware of footsteps behind him but because of the fog he couldn't see anyone. As he approached London Bridge he could hear the footsteps behind him suddenly quicken their pace, he looked over his shoulder but he could only just make out the shape of a person through the fog. As he turned back he nearly collided with a well- dressed man leaning on the rail of the bridge "Excuse me" Duncan said as he went to walk around the man. The man turned towards him lifting his hat "Good Evening, Mr. MacLeod" Duncan stopped looking surprised he didn't recognise the man "Good Evening. Do I know you?"
"No, but I have a friend who's dying meet you" the man said.
Out of the corner of his eye Duncan saw another man appearing out of the fog "And who would this friend be?" Duncan asked as he moved so that the bridge rail was behind him. While Duncan had his attention focus on the two men when he felt the presence of an Immortal. Out of the fog in front of him came a figure, Duncan's hand went to the hilt of his sword hided inside his cloak. While Duncan was focused on the approaching Immortal; he didn't see the other men producing pistols from their coats. "What can I do for you Gentlemen?" Duncan asked. The approaching Immortal brought his sword out from his cloak and as he did the two men fired hitting Duncan in the chest, he fell back against the rail, the other Immortal advanced towards him swing his sword, Duncan could just make out that it was a Rapier the hilt had red jewels embedded in it, which glinted in the dim light, the movement of his arm caused the cloak to revile it's red lining. As the Immortal approached Duncan, the two mortals faded back into the fog.
"WHO ARE YOU" Duncan growled. The pain and blood loss from his wounds made him light headed he knew that he had to get out of there before his strength failed him so using the rail for support he pulled himself up, rolling over the rail he plunged into the icing waters of the Thames.
Duncan's Loft
Duncan opened his eyes and took another drink of his brandy, 'It must be the same man' Duncan thought but he never did find out his name or who this Louisa is or was, maybe Joe will be able to fill in the blanks. Duncan put down his glass and reached for the phone dialling the bar. "Hi, Joe"
"Mac, you just caught me. It's really late you know. What's up?" Joe said.
"I'm not quite sure"
"Your not quite sure? Maybe I can help" Joe replied.
"That's why I called Joe," Duncan then told Joe all about what had happened earlier that evening and about the unidentified Immortal. Joe waited until Duncan had finished "OK Mac, I'll do some checking but it doesn't ring any bells. Come by the bar in the morning I should have something by then."
"Thanks Joe, I'll see you later" Just as Duncan replaced the receiver Dani came out of the bathroom collected her glass from the table and finished the remaining brandy. Duncan could see that her face had a little more colour in it now but she was still very pale.
"Would you like another Brandy?" Duncan said getting up
"No, thank you, I think would like to get some sleep now if that's OK" she said with a little smile.
She looked so small standing there in his robe, which was dragging on the floor as she walked; she looked so fragile now, nothing like she had in the alley. He did know what it was about her but when she looks into my eyes it feels like she can see into my soul' he thought. Duncan hadn't realised it but he had been staring into her eyes lost in the blue warmth they held.
Dani stepped forward and put her arm on his "Are you alright?"
"Yes, Sorry, I.." he smiled and looked away.
Duncan didn't finish what he was saying and Dani didn't ask she had seen the sorrow in his eyes before he turned away. Duncan went over to the cupboard that contained the extra bedding and returned with them to the sofa.
"I'll have a shower myself before going to bed, I'll leave this lamp on it shouldn't give off to much light, so you shouldn't be distrubed. Goodnight Dani"
"Goodnight Duncan and thank you". Dani climbed into the bed as Duncan went into the bathroom.
She laid her head on the pillow and closed her eyes, she had many questions she wanted to ask him, what was behind the pain she had seen in his eyes was for someone he had lost or something else but the questions would have to wait until the morning, listening to the distant sound of running water she drifted into sleep.