Chapter 6
London 1759
A uniformed butler opened the large black door and standing in the street was a well-dressed gentleman. "Can I help you, Sir?"
"I'm Charles Denman. I believe Lord Beaufort is expecting me" the butler stood to one side to allow the Charles Denman to enter. "Please follow me"
The butler opened the two ornately carved doors that lead into a large room; most of the walls were covered in row upon row of books. The room would have been quite dark if it wasn't for the large picture window that overlooked the landscape gardens. "Charles Denman, your Lordship". For one of the two high-backed leather chairs that were arranged around the magnificent fireplace appeared Lord Beaufort. "Charles, my good man.I'm glad you could make it," he said as he strode across the room with his hand outstretched. "You should know I couldn't resist an invitation to have dinner with such a good friend as you Henry" Methos said as they shook hands. "Come let us have a drink and you can tell me all about your travels" With glasses in hand they sat in the chairs by the fire "Come now Charles I want to here all about what you got upto in the Americas" Methos thought carefully and told him of the business contacts he had made but left out the real reason for his trip, which had been to settle an old score with Vaska, a small smile crossed Methos's face as he remember the look on Vaska's face as he took his head.
They were deep in conversation when the door to the library opened Henry stood up to see who had entered "Ah, there you are my dear.I have someone I would like you to meet" Henry said as he gestured to the other chair. Methos stood up to greet the person who had come into the room and found himself looking into a pair of the deepest blue eyes Methos had ever seen. Her hair was the colour of jet that framed her face and fell over her shoulders, Methos's breath was taken away by the beauty of the young woman who stood before him "Charles, I would like to introduce you to my Niece, Louisa Beaufort" Methos at first couldn't speak he seemed to be lost in her eyes. A warm smile broke on her face when she realised the effect she was having on the handsome stranger, Methos finally managed to move towards her and taking her hand, that she had outstretched, he kissed the back "It is a pleasure to meet you Louisa" her eyes sparkled as she looked at Methos "My Uncle has told me all about your adventures.I can't wait to hear all about your newest one"
From the hall came the sound of knocking, Methos felt the presence of another Immortal, he looked around the room nervously making sure that he had an avenue of escape if he needed it. "Ah, my last guest.my new business partner.I hope you don't mind I asked him to join us for dinner, Charles"
The door to the library opened and a tall well dress man with copper coloured hair was shown into the room "Benjamin Cristo, your Lordship". As the young gentleman entered the room his eyes first locked with Methos's then they went to Louisa. As Cristo walked towards Louise she stepped back, this action wasn't lost on Methos. "Ah.the charming Louise.it's good to see you again" Louisa hesitantly held out her hand and she smiled weakly "Always a pleasure, sir" but there was no warmth in her voice or her eyes. The door to the library opened again and the butler entered "Dinner is served My Lord"
"Gentleman, shall we?" said Lord Beaufort. Cristo extended his arm to Louisa but she took Methos's arm instead. Cristo threw Methos (Charles) a look of utter hatred, who just smiled in return as they walked passed arm in arm.
Several Months later.
Sitting on the white marble seat in the rose garden of Lord Beaufort's London home was Methos (Charles Denman), he got to his feet as he saw Louise walking towards him, 'she looks even more beautiful today than when I first met her' he thought. She smiled warmly at him and waved "Charles, I didn't think you would come today". Methos took her hands in his and led her to the marble seat "I couldn't sail without seeing your face again.I need to etch it into my mind if I'm to survive the next few months without you", her eyes fell "I wish you didn't have to go, my love" she said sadly. His hands caressed her face and raised it to look at him "Louisa, this voyage will be my last.and I promise you we will then be together to the end of our days" he kissed her tenderly. "I wish you would take me with you" she pleaded, he stroked her cheek gently "Louisa.Louisa you know I can't, your Uncle needs you here.and I will only be gone for 4 months at the most". It was then that he noticed she was looking towards the house, he followed her gaze and there on the terrace was Lord Beaufort and Benjamin Cristo "Louisa.what is it?" Louisa's eyes came back to his "Nothing" she smiled weakly at him; he took her hands in his "I know something is troubling you"
"It's just that.. I wish my Uncle wasn't in partnership with Mr. Cristo.I don't trust him.every time he touches me my skin crawls.and now my Uncle has asked him to stay for the summer" Methos (Charles) smiled at her "Don't worry I've already ask your Uncle for your hand and he has given us his blessing.we will be married as soon as I return, I promise"
Joe's Bar
Methos took Duncan's hand off the brandy bottle and poured another drink "What happened Methos?"
Swilling the brandy in the glass Methos was lost in thought for a few minutes "When my ship docked four months later I was met by Lord Beaufort and Louisa wasn't with him." Methos took a drink of the brandy, Duncan looked into Methos's eyes and they had seemed to go cold. "Cristo pursued her didn't he?" asked Duncan, "Relentlessly, for the entire time I was away" Joe walked over and joined them at the bar "So, what happened to her, Methos?" Joe asked as he took down two more glasses.
Methos swallowed hard "He killed her" he said as he then drained the glass. A silence fell over the three of them, which was broken by Duncan "You went after him didn't you?"
Methos's eyes blazed with anger "Yeah, I went after him. I should have found a way to .but he surrounds himself with loyal men MacLeod. When I did face him I only just escaped with my head"
"So you just let him walk away," Joe exclaimed, Methos lent on the bar "If he killed me it wouldn't bring her back, now would it?"
"No I suppose it wouldn't" Joe said as he poured them all a brandy
Duncan rubbed his eyes "I think I met him and two of his friends about 130 years ago in London" Duncan said leaning forward putting his arms on the bar.
"How did you get away?" Joe asked.
"I took a dive into the Thames" Duncan looked at Methos.
"But Cristo called Dani, Louisa the other night. Why would he do that?" Joe said
Methos swirled the liquid around in the glass and then drank it down in one,
"Well, are we going to meet this special lady friend of yours MacLeod?" Methos smiled at Duncan. Both Joe and Duncan could see that he wasn't going to say anymore about Louisa at least for the moment. "Well to break you out of one of your black moods when even Richie couldn't, she must be quite special"
Duncan stood up "I better be going Dani's on her own. I'm taking her out to dinner tonight but I'll drop by later to see what you found out. I take it that you both will be here?" said Duncan.
"You can count on it," replied Methos
London 1759
A uniformed butler opened the large black door and standing in the street was a well-dressed gentleman. "Can I help you, Sir?"
"I'm Charles Denman. I believe Lord Beaufort is expecting me" the butler stood to one side to allow the Charles Denman to enter. "Please follow me"
The butler opened the two ornately carved doors that lead into a large room; most of the walls were covered in row upon row of books. The room would have been quite dark if it wasn't for the large picture window that overlooked the landscape gardens. "Charles Denman, your Lordship". For one of the two high-backed leather chairs that were arranged around the magnificent fireplace appeared Lord Beaufort. "Charles, my good man.I'm glad you could make it," he said as he strode across the room with his hand outstretched. "You should know I couldn't resist an invitation to have dinner with such a good friend as you Henry" Methos said as they shook hands. "Come let us have a drink and you can tell me all about your travels" With glasses in hand they sat in the chairs by the fire "Come now Charles I want to here all about what you got upto in the Americas" Methos thought carefully and told him of the business contacts he had made but left out the real reason for his trip, which had been to settle an old score with Vaska, a small smile crossed Methos's face as he remember the look on Vaska's face as he took his head.
They were deep in conversation when the door to the library opened Henry stood up to see who had entered "Ah, there you are my dear.I have someone I would like you to meet" Henry said as he gestured to the other chair. Methos stood up to greet the person who had come into the room and found himself looking into a pair of the deepest blue eyes Methos had ever seen. Her hair was the colour of jet that framed her face and fell over her shoulders, Methos's breath was taken away by the beauty of the young woman who stood before him "Charles, I would like to introduce you to my Niece, Louisa Beaufort" Methos at first couldn't speak he seemed to be lost in her eyes. A warm smile broke on her face when she realised the effect she was having on the handsome stranger, Methos finally managed to move towards her and taking her hand, that she had outstretched, he kissed the back "It is a pleasure to meet you Louisa" her eyes sparkled as she looked at Methos "My Uncle has told me all about your adventures.I can't wait to hear all about your newest one"
From the hall came the sound of knocking, Methos felt the presence of another Immortal, he looked around the room nervously making sure that he had an avenue of escape if he needed it. "Ah, my last guest.my new business partner.I hope you don't mind I asked him to join us for dinner, Charles"
The door to the library opened and a tall well dress man with copper coloured hair was shown into the room "Benjamin Cristo, your Lordship". As the young gentleman entered the room his eyes first locked with Methos's then they went to Louisa. As Cristo walked towards Louise she stepped back, this action wasn't lost on Methos. "Ah.the charming Louise.it's good to see you again" Louisa hesitantly held out her hand and she smiled weakly "Always a pleasure, sir" but there was no warmth in her voice or her eyes. The door to the library opened again and the butler entered "Dinner is served My Lord"
"Gentleman, shall we?" said Lord Beaufort. Cristo extended his arm to Louisa but she took Methos's arm instead. Cristo threw Methos (Charles) a look of utter hatred, who just smiled in return as they walked passed arm in arm.
Several Months later.
Sitting on the white marble seat in the rose garden of Lord Beaufort's London home was Methos (Charles Denman), he got to his feet as he saw Louise walking towards him, 'she looks even more beautiful today than when I first met her' he thought. She smiled warmly at him and waved "Charles, I didn't think you would come today". Methos took her hands in his and led her to the marble seat "I couldn't sail without seeing your face again.I need to etch it into my mind if I'm to survive the next few months without you", her eyes fell "I wish you didn't have to go, my love" she said sadly. His hands caressed her face and raised it to look at him "Louisa, this voyage will be my last.and I promise you we will then be together to the end of our days" he kissed her tenderly. "I wish you would take me with you" she pleaded, he stroked her cheek gently "Louisa.Louisa you know I can't, your Uncle needs you here.and I will only be gone for 4 months at the most". It was then that he noticed she was looking towards the house, he followed her gaze and there on the terrace was Lord Beaufort and Benjamin Cristo "Louisa.what is it?" Louisa's eyes came back to his "Nothing" she smiled weakly at him; he took her hands in his "I know something is troubling you"
"It's just that.. I wish my Uncle wasn't in partnership with Mr. Cristo.I don't trust him.every time he touches me my skin crawls.and now my Uncle has asked him to stay for the summer" Methos (Charles) smiled at her "Don't worry I've already ask your Uncle for your hand and he has given us his blessing.we will be married as soon as I return, I promise"
Joe's Bar
Methos took Duncan's hand off the brandy bottle and poured another drink "What happened Methos?"
Swilling the brandy in the glass Methos was lost in thought for a few minutes "When my ship docked four months later I was met by Lord Beaufort and Louisa wasn't with him." Methos took a drink of the brandy, Duncan looked into Methos's eyes and they had seemed to go cold. "Cristo pursued her didn't he?" asked Duncan, "Relentlessly, for the entire time I was away" Joe walked over and joined them at the bar "So, what happened to her, Methos?" Joe asked as he took down two more glasses.
Methos swallowed hard "He killed her" he said as he then drained the glass. A silence fell over the three of them, which was broken by Duncan "You went after him didn't you?"
Methos's eyes blazed with anger "Yeah, I went after him. I should have found a way to .but he surrounds himself with loyal men MacLeod. When I did face him I only just escaped with my head"
"So you just let him walk away," Joe exclaimed, Methos lent on the bar "If he killed me it wouldn't bring her back, now would it?"
"No I suppose it wouldn't" Joe said as he poured them all a brandy
Duncan rubbed his eyes "I think I met him and two of his friends about 130 years ago in London" Duncan said leaning forward putting his arms on the bar.
"How did you get away?" Joe asked.
"I took a dive into the Thames" Duncan looked at Methos.
"But Cristo called Dani, Louisa the other night. Why would he do that?" Joe said
Methos swirled the liquid around in the glass and then drank it down in one,
"Well, are we going to meet this special lady friend of yours MacLeod?" Methos smiled at Duncan. Both Joe and Duncan could see that he wasn't going to say anymore about Louisa at least for the moment. "Well to break you out of one of your black moods when even Richie couldn't, she must be quite special"
Duncan stood up "I better be going Dani's on her own. I'm taking her out to dinner tonight but I'll drop by later to see what you found out. I take it that you both will be here?" said Duncan.
"You can count on it," replied Methos