Chapter 19 – Night Chill
~~~~April, 1884~~~~
Nikola looked at his prototype device speculatively, writing down in his notebook as he went.
He had been staying precariously in the Sanctuary since he arrived from Strassbourg several months ago.
Helen had allowed him to stay, as bitter as she was, John of course was not happy, James held his own measure of distaste, though Nigel was happy enough to clasp Nikola on the back.
Nikola had kept to himself and his machine for the majority of the last few months, hoping that enough time will pass for Helen to forgive him; he was just trying to give her space.
He sat down and looked at his blueprints, making small adjustments here and there.
He felt a hand on his shoulder and he jumped.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," said Helen, she came around into his view and he let a small smile crest his lips as his eyes rested upon her.
"I wasn't expecting you to come…" he started and Helen shook her head.
"I've been petty, and it's been unfair to you, I am very grateful for your patience," she smiled slightly at him.
"You had every right to be upset with me, I had been quite unfair to you as well," he took her hand.
"Will you forgive me if I forgive you?" she looks at him.
"Of course," he looked at her with a slight hint of suspicion. "What brought this on, if I may ask?"
"I've just been thinking lately, that's all," she nodded her head and looked away at his machine. "Is this the prototype for you generator?"
He nodded.
"Yes, again, it's not complete, it's like a sculpture, I keep chipping away at it until it is at the height of its efficiency," he smiled proudly at it as he spoke.
"I'm sure it will be a marvel once it's done," she looked at him.
"It's art, Helen, art is never completely done, only improved little by little," his eyes came in contact with hers. "I missed you, Helen."
She broke the eye contact and looked back at his invention.
"I haven't stopped thinking of you since I left, I only left because I didn't want to put you in danger, the truth is Helen…you are very important to me," he took her hand again and kissed the top of it. "It's taken me this long to realize how much…"
Helen stopped him.
"Please stop, Nikola, it's not the time for it," she pulled her hand out of his.
"No, I think this is something you need to here, it will explain everything," Nikola stepped closer.
"Not now Nikola," she stepped back.
Nikola sighed and looked down at his hands.
"Fine…when you're ready," he turned back to his blueprints rather disheartened.
"Let us be friends again, Nikola, then we can get back to talking so personally," she stepped up again. "I feel as if we hardly know each other anymore."
Nikola nodded.
"I see, well, maybe you can join me for lunch," he looked at her again.
"Not today Nikola, but sometime soon," she smiled honestly at him.
"Ok," he turned back to the blueprint.
"What are you working on?" she stepped up to him, peering over his shoulder.
"Just making some notes," he muttered.
"About your device?" she asked.
"Of course," he shrugged.
"What do you call it?"
"The Electro-magnet Rotating Electrical Conductor motor," he said.
Helen laughed.
"It needs a better name," she sighed.
"Then you name it!" he huffed.
"EREC," she mumbled.
"Eric?"
"E-R-E-C, EREC, clever, no?" she grins proudly.
"No," he glares flatly.
She frowns.
"It's easier to say," she teased.
"But it's confusing," he turned and headed back to the machine.
"Well it's better then Electro Magnet Rotating Conductor, people don't like things that take them five minutes to say, call it an induction motor!"
"Now there is something clever, how did you know?" he stared at her incredulously.
"I may have gazed at your notes from time to time," she smirked.
"You minx," he stared at her.
She laughed and pecked him on the cheek.
"Will we see you at dinner tonight?" she said as she sauntered over to the door.
"Possibly," he grinned at her as she left.
"I'll keep a plate warm," she walked out and was met with the dark glare of John Druitt.
"Have a nice chat with Tesla," he probed.
"John, don't scare me like that," she put a hand to her heart.
"Forgive me Helen, I was just curious," his eyes lightened and Helen let out a sigh of relief.
"It was a talk long overdue, to be sure," she said taking John's arm.
"Indeed, the tensions in this house have been rather thick as of late," said John walking in step with her. "Did you tell him?"
"Tell him what?" Helen looked up at the tall man.
"About us? He should know of our courting," John stopped Helen to look at her sternly.
"A time will come when it is right, I can't just dump the whole load on him at once."
"What if he tries to make a move on you again?" John took her hand.
"He has never tried, what are you talking about?" Helen looked at John suspiciously.
"Please Helen, the man nearly undressed you with his eyes every time you walk into the room…need I remind you of that night in the alley!" barked John.
"That wasn't his fault, he was overcome," Helen yanked her hands out of Johns and proceeded to walk with a faster pace.
"You can't deny that you have not noticed the way he looks at you, the way he regards you, Helen, it is best you tell him the truth before he gets any ideas," John followed after her.
"And I will, just give it time, I promise you he won't steal me away from you," she turned and softly caressed his cheek.
"Why are you trying to protect his feelings, Helen?" asked John sincerely.
"He is my friend, has been for a long time…I will tell him when I am ready," she let out a long breath and stepped out on to the balcony.
"Helen, if he is truly your friend he will be happy for you…for us," he followed and put his hand on her shoulder. "We've been courting secretly for months because you wanted to tell him yourself, now you have that chance."
"Everything as been so frayed between us since Paris, I don't want him to leave again…you didn't se the disappointment in his eyes when he figured out the growth in our friendship, how do you think he will take the news of our courtship?" she pulled a stray blonde lock from her face.
"Are you ashamed of it, Helen?" John stepped up to her and Helen shook her head.
"Of course not, I have never been so happy…I guess I just want Nikola to be happy for us too," she looked down and John cupped her chin in his fingers.
"Nikola's opinion shouldn't matter," he leant down and kissed her softly, like he had the first time they kissed. Helen had been bitter after Nikola's abandonment of her in Paris and his one kiss had blown it all away. In that moment she knew that she would love John for a long time.
The kiss deepened as she wrapped her arms around his neck, and his hand lowered to her waist.
It made her feel lighter than air…until a lead bolt dragged her all the way down.
She saw something in her peripheral vision. A figure watching in the archway.
She turned her gaze a fraction and was met with a pair of blue-grey eyes, heartbroken blue-grey eyes.
She pulled away from John but in that instant the figure had disappeared back into the shadows.
"What is it?" asked John.
"Oh…nothing…just a night chill, may we go inside?" she looked at him and he nodded.
He led her off the balcony and back into the house.
A part of her wanted to separate from John and find the figure that had so silently watched them and explain herself and the situation to him and apologize.
The other, crueler, part of her wanted nothing more than to let that dark creature sneak back into its shadows and weep for it's cowardice. She had earned the right to be happy with a man who put her first above all his other loves. She deserved to find a stable man who didn't run away with the wind and leave false promises.
The second part won, and she let John escort her to the parlor as they waited for dinner to be ready.
Nikola did not join them.