?
"Well, my dear Mary Beth. After a very short time,
you already seem to know more than either Ludwig or I. I am grateful that you
have chosen to work with me, I really am. In the mean time, would you perhaps be
interested in some fortifications?
?
Our cook had a few experiments lately, something
inspired by her encounter with Oriental men. I am sure she would be delighted to
let you try it out. And Ludwig would be only too happy to bring it to you, just
ask him for anything. Isn't it right Ludwig?"
?
Van Hoff eagerly inquired, making the footman
grunted in acknowledgment. Ludwig supposed his time could be spent better with
Bethany, but it won't do to mention that, he?knew better than to argue with
the Master.?
?
*
"I think...it is pronounced Renfield. Yes, that
sounds right," Elizabeth mused, remembering Keres mentioning a few names, some
of them all mixed up in her head just then.
?
She distinctly remembered her new friend talking
about several people, but precisely which needed to be invited was beyond
her.?Nonetheless, Elizabeth supposed there would be no harm done in
including a few more people.?What was a good party after all, if not for
meeting many promising people.
?
"I think, there was somebody else, but as I cannot
remember them yet, it can wait. We will start with those, dear Heidi," Elizabeth
happily suggested, all the more gracious for her words were not called into
doubt, did not seem to garner any objections or require clarifications. She
consequently ?felt pleased with Heidi, their earlier exchange
notwithstanding.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, March 10, 2021 9:48
AM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet
Dreams
Thank you Doctor, Mary Beth replied with a smile. How could she
resist, especially when he called her such endearing names. He…, He appeared
earlier to be having some sort of argument, I would surmise that perhaps it is
with his wife, apparently some sort of struggle had been going on before hand,
although of course I am not sure of the subject matter of this. That’s about
all I know for now. But I will try to listen later when he awakens, assuming
of course, that he is coherent enough for me to hear and understand what he
is??saying.
Heidi quickly took out parchment and Quill, and began writing. Rena…,
And, Henry…, Hide, from London. All right, I have those names, she stated,
wondering where the mistress had met these people, seeing as she did not know
them. Next please?
She held the quill,?poised to write the next names. God
loves you.
On
Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 9:53 PM, Ishamael Moridin <ishamael13@...>
wrote:
"I was wondering about that, but could not glean what he is saying. Can
you, dearest Mary Beth? Rest assured, it is no requirement. You have been
indispensable to all of us," Van Hoff sincerely complimented.
****
"Oh good," Elizabeth muttered distractedly, subsiding more comfortably
into her bed, relieved that she did not need to explain herself
further.
?
"So, the names are..." the young woman started, paused for a second to
consider and continued, as the names flowed into her mind. Even trying to
think of where she knew them from, made her entire body shudder from head to
toe with increased fever. While not thinking about it, allowed her body to
relax instead.
?
"The names are...Rena and Henry Hyde...from...London, no less,"
Elizabeth concluded, with an embarrassed chuckle. She did not know if the
girl would voice an objection, and fervently wished she would keep such
objections to herself. As Elizabeth had no strength, nor inclination, to
argue about that.
?
?
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, March 7, 2021 12:24
PM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet
Dreams
Marybeth nodded, I’ll do all I can doctor. She turned her
attention to the patient then, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder.
They’re there now, there now, Mr. Victor, everything is going to be all
right. He struggled, but gradually began to calm down, she turned back to
VAN Hoff, he appears to be having some sort of a mental argument with
someone.
Heidi also blinked, a party, mistress? Yes sure I know how to prepare
for a party, but I will need the names of those whom you wish to invite,
so that I may send out the proper invitations. And you have a feeling that
he’s going to be well soon? Well that is wonderful, I am??most
certain you??will be glad to have him?back with you again.
She looked concerned however, that he might not be quite well enough to
attend a party yet.
On
Saturday, March 6, 2021, 11:09 PM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
"Heidi. I know it is late a bit..." Elizabeth passed a tired hand
over her feverish feeling forehead, right below the comfortingly
loosened hair.
?
She realized with a start that perhaps her idea might not find
immediate understanding with the occasionally obtuse girl.
?
"You see, Heidi. I know it may sound strange, but I have a
feeling...that Victor will be well soon," Elizabeth prevaricated,
clutching onto a semblance of something reasonable even if she did not
care one bit how Victor? felt.
?
"And he will need to be cheered up. You must start making
preparations for a party, as soon as you can. I trust you know how,"
Elizabeth remembered to inquired, blinking her eyes furiously as if in
an effort to chase away a dark mirage?from her dreams.
?
It was trying to intrude into her conscious mind, but she resolved
to not let it show. At least as much as possible. And with it being
suprisingly shapeless, more like a voice incessantly demanding from her
to do something,?she hoped she had a good chance at succeeding to
banish it entirely.
****
"Yes Mary Beth, I called for you. I am sorry to have bothered you
so soon, but as you can see, the patient can find no respite and he
needs to sleep peacefully enough for full recovery.
?
Being fully sedated as he is, I am reluctant to give him anything
stronger, lest it affects him?in unpredictable ways. I was hoping
it would be a woman's gentle touch that is necessary to put him at ease.
Yours especially, because of your soothing presence," Van Hoff explained
his decision, some regret at?disturbing his assistant evident in
his voice.???
?
?????
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, February 25, 2021
1:05 PM
Subject: Re: [A-Twist-Of-Fate]
Sweet Dreams
As the argument in Victor’s dream continued, Mary
Beth was soon on the scene. You called for me, Doctor? She began
speaking to and making shushing noises to Victor, trying her best to
soothe him. There?there now, it’s going to be all right. I’m
certain your dear wife will come to see you soon, for now, you must
get some much-needed rest. Her voice proved to be quite helpful. She
also tried to hold a sponge with warm milk to his lips. He was able to
swallow some, and this also seemed to have a soporific effect on him.
Soon, he was sleeping once more. Heidi was soon knocking softly on
Elizabeth’s door. Once inside, she bowed and asked, you sent for me,
mistress? What is your bidding this night?
God loves you.
On
Tuesday, February 23, 2021, 11:28 PM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
Elizabeth found her body getting restless She had to do
Something. Right now. It just seemed imperative.
?
"Abby, Abby, where are you? I need you. You must fetch Heidi
back. We have an urgent party to attend. Abby? No I am not asleep. I
don't think," Elizabeth reassured with a shaky smile.
?
****
Dr Van Hoff carefully regarded the patient, trying to move him
to a better side, with the intention to have him relaxed and go back
to sleep. It seemed to have worked for a second, but then the
argument continued.
?
"I cannot keep doing this all night," Van Hoff muttered and
though he could not swear to it, he found himself surprised at
possibly hearing Ludwig agreeing with him.
?
"How long has Mary?Beth been asleep? I worry that?she
does not get enough, yet she has such a nice touch.?With the
patient of course, is what I mean. Perhaps she can succeed where I
cannot.?But I fear it is imperative for the patient's recovery
that he gets good sleep. Ludwig, can you check with Mary Beth if she
is able to resume her duties now,?with myself akin the next
shift?
?
By then I will have studied everything I was supposed to have
learned about possible solutions. Thank you Ludwig, there is a good
chap," Van Hoff complimented not truly waiting for the man to offer
any kind of an answer.???
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 22,
2021 10:00 AM
Subject: Re:
[A-Twist-Of-Fate] Sweet Dreams
Victor had indeed been tossing and turning in his
sleep, or lack there of, whichever One might choose to call
it.?in his dream, he had seen Elizabeth, laughing, looking
happy, but taunting him, even as she ignored him. He had also
heard her accusing him of, something, ?though?he could
not figure out what. ?his argument was of course, highly
intelligible, sounding like the moans of a very ill patient, but
in the dream, in his own mind he was saying, I was never
unfaithful to you with anyone. He was telling her that she had
basically no right to accuse him of such ridiculous occurrences.
In his dream, he seemed to hear her planning something, but
what it was he did not know. He could only assume it had something
to do with the ghost of a memory playing at the edges of his mind,
some sort of activity, some sort of, party? What had?they
been planning. He wondered, the pain and chills were coming back
to him, as was the fever. It had left for a while but was now
rampant in him again. God loves you.
On
Sunday, February 21, 2021, 1:03 AM, Ishamael Moridin
<ishamael13@...> wrote:
Dr Van Hoff has been perusing an intriguing volume by James
Esdaile, which despite containing numerous discoveries of the
mind and the?body connections, read at times as a
fantastical novel with the protagonist who happened to be a
medical explorer of sorts.
?
Carefully observing the peculiar table of correspondences
between a Hindu acolyte's sleep cycle and the perceived physical
injury painstakingly described by Esdaile, Van Hoff started
wondering if he began noticing a?pattern or if he was
merely seeing one due to his own physical fatigue.
?
At least there was something useful at any rate about the
Dark God's?priests and their unusual healing methods,
Esdaile was as right about those as he was about the permanent
ways in which the acolytes of the Dark Goddess solved their
problems.
?
The heavy steps?in the library instantly drew his
attention away from the fascinating treatise. The foot
man?was a bigger man than most, rumors circulating of his
one time?participation in the boxing ring and the general
interest in pugilism, which to Van Hoff's mind was a welcome
addition?to the household and its sense of unassailable
safety.
?
Before he had to cajole the man into speaking, as was their
way, Ludwig unexpectedly volunteered his own explanation.
?
""It's the patient, M'Lord. He is moving in his sleep,
turning, as if in pain and talking to somebody. I could not make
it out, but?me thought he was arguing," Ludwig
added.?
?
Unsurprised by his lack of details, as well as by his
inappropriate?form of address that Van Hoff had tried to
eradicate, since he was not Nobility, not even minor one, the
doctor motioned for the footman to lead him on.
?
He could have found the room easily himself, but every time
he ignored propriety with Ludwig, the man was going to be worse
the next time, as Van Hoff well knew.?
?
****
Elizabeth did not sleep as soundly as she had expected that
night. Something kept nagging at her, and though she could not
remember exactly what, when she woke up, her mind starting
planning a party of its?volition.
?
It was dark, and she did not want to think about it, and
thought Victor would not be?in good?shape for her to
plan a party, but she was not able to stop herself. Going over
and?over the details ahead of time, and smiling in
anticipation of the pleasant introductions to new friends that
were
sure?to?follow.?????????
|
Ishamael Moridin