Unwept (20 page)

It called to Ellis.

“Ellis?” Jenny prodded.

“Oh, I'm sorry,” she replied, shaking herself from her reveries. “What were you saying?”

“You
are
distracted.” Jenny laughed. “Well, a good party will set you to rights. Diversion is always a good cure for distraction, I always say.”

Jenny took Ellis by the right hand and led her to one of the two facing flights of stairs that gave access down from the veranda at the back of the house to the terrace just below.

In moments they had descended into the milling crowd. Ellis had shared with Jenny one of the party dresses from her trunk and her cousin had been most anxious to show it off from the moment she had seen it. Now, however, as Ellis moved through the crowd, she found no familiar faces among them. As the soiree had been given in her honor, she had expected the guest list to have included someone she had met before—

But,
she reminded herself,
you don't really know anybody.
Still, she would have thought that some of the faces in the crowd would be recognizable from the Nightbirds Literary Society or Jenny's friends who occasionally called at Summersend. There were no soldiers present so far as Ellis could see and, for that matter, Dr. Carmichael's scarecrow visage was absent as well. She would have even welcomed seeing the rather sour face of Finny Disir. Yet both Ely and Alicia had been so insistent that Ellis come. Surely they must be here somewhere in the throng.

The laughing, roaring horde pressed close about as Jenny tried to lead them across the terrace from the base of the stairs. The music had ended and been replaced rather incongruously with a waltz. The crowd around them shifted, jostling them suddenly. Jenny's grip slipped from Ellis's hand. Almost at once Ellis lost sight of her cousin in the throng.

“Jenny!” Ellis called out, but her words were swallowed up by the laughter, chatter and shrieking of the mob about her. “Jenny!”

Someone firmly gripped Ellis's hand, pulling her sideways through the crowd and into the more open, welcoming expanse of the dance floor.

Ely,
she thought gratefully as she blindly stumbled onto the floor.
His first dance.

She followed the lead with the lift of her hand, pirouetting under the arm and emerging into a classic dance hold.

It was not Ely.

She was staring with suddenly wide eyes into the face of the man of her nightmares.

He wore a charcoal gray military greatcoat of worsted wool with the cape still attached, but if there had ever been rank insignia or service pins adorning it they had been removed. He wore no cap. His carefully combed hair was dark and wavy. His eyes were of a gray-green color that she found compelling, but they spoke to her of a sadness and longing of such depths that it frightened her. He had a face of that type that was perpetually youthful at any age.

But it was the paisley-shaped bruise that surrounded his right eye and arched across his forehead that made her tremble.

The waltz spun its opening bars across the terrace with scratchy tones from the Victrola.

The Nightmare Man pressed lightly with his right hand while pulling her waist with his left.

Transfixed, Ellis spun with him into the small world of their dance.

“Do you know me?” he asked with hope.

Passion. Heat. Pain. Desire. Giving. Taking. Holding. Fear
.
His voice called up thoughts and impressions unbidden.
Terrible. Familiar.

“Who are you?” Ellis gasped as all of Gamin whirled around them.

“I am Jonas,” he said.

Ecstasy. Trembling. Anger. Betrayal. Tears
.

“No. I don't know you.” She knew it was a lie even as she spoke the words.

He knew it, too. He smiled even as his eyes welled up with tears.

“You have known me forever,” Jonas said as they whirled among the dancers on the floor. “I have loved you since before you breathed your first breath. I love you still and I've crossed heaven and hell to bring you back.”

“I just
came
back!”

“This isn't where you belong.”

“I
do
belong here!”

“Not anymore,” he said, the world spinning in the distance beyond them. “I failed you once before. I am so sorry—more sorry than I can say—but I swear I will never fail you again. I've come to free you from this place forever.”

“Like you freed those women in Halifax or Bar Harbor, I suppose,” Ellis insisted. “Or that artist woman here in Gamin. I'll not be going anywhere with you, sir!”

“This isn't the life you're meant to live,” Jonas insisted. “You need to live, Ellis … and I can help you live again.”

“Live
again
?” Ellis felt a chill run through her as she said the words. “So you see me as dead already?”

“No.” Jonas smiled. “Not yet, but very soon if—”

Jonas suddenly flew backward. Ellis, released from their dance hold, stumbled, turning once before she regained her footing.

Merrick held Jonas by the collar of his greatcoat. The tall man hooked his foot behind Jonas's ankle and threw him back down onto the stones of the terrace.

Someone stopped the music.

Ely and Alicia pushed their way through the stunned partygoers and hurried to Ellis's side.

“His face! Just as you described it!” Alicia said in a hushed whisper. “Who is he, Ellis?”

“I … I d-d-don't know,” Ellis stammered.

“This is a private function, Lieutenant.” Merrick seethed as he stood between the prostrate Jonas and where Ellis stood trying to catch her breath. “I was most clear that soldiers were not welcome at this event or ever, for that matter, at my home. And need I add that it is the law in Gamin that soldiers be in uniform at all times. Now I find that these very distinct instructions have been lost on you.”

Jonas struggled to his feet, rubbing his chin. He unbuttoned his greatcoat, pulling it open. As he extended his arms, the panels of the coat opened up like wings.

The lining of the coat had been rendered in silk paisley.

“As you can see, I am in uniform,” Jonas said. Beneath the paisley-lined greatcoat he wore an officer's jacket with a leather belt and shoulder strap. His jodhpurs and jacket, however, both bore dark stains and dirt. “I see that you have also banished Dr. Carmichael from your gathering. At least your prejudices are evenhanded, Merrick.”

“Get out,
Lieutenant
.” Merrick spat the last word with distaste. “You're not welcome here.”

“Welcome or not, I've come for her,” Jonas said, pointing at Ellis.

“She's come home,” Merrick said, shaking his head. “You're an outsider and cannot possibly think that you have any authority here.”

“She was mine,” Jonas insisted.

“She was mine first,” Merrick countered. “You're a thief. Your stolen goods were returned to their rightful place and now you whine that the property you stole is no longer yours. But this is
my
day, Jonas. My rules. My law.”

“I'm not bound by your law,” Jonas replied. “I've come for her, Merrick … and nothing is going to stop me!”

Merrick leaped toward Jonas with a cry. His grasp closed around the collar of the greatcoat as Jonas turned. The coat sagged.

Moths, hundreds in various sizes and shapes, erupted from the collar of the coat, rushing upward into the deepening night sky.

Silence gripped the crowd.

Ellis trembled between Alicia and Ely, the world growing distant as she felt she was about to faint.

Merrick turned, the now-empty coat still held up in his grip.

A broad smile came to his face.

“Magic!” Merrick declared with a laugh. “Abracadabra! I've made the bogeyman disappear!”

Tittering laughter sprinkled through the crowd.

“I hope you all enjoyed our little entertainment.” Merrick beamed, waving the greatcoat as though it were a matador's cape. The laughter grew as Merrick posed with the coat, flicking it for his audience. Soon applause ensued and a few cheers. Merrick took a bow. “I may not be Houdini, but I trust our little drama was diverting!”

Ellis was not applauding, nor, she realized, were Alicia and Ely next to her. Above Merrick's smile Ellis noticed his brow was glistening. The man was sweating.

Jenny emerged at last from the cheering mob, excited and flushed. “Ellis, was that the man you saw in your dream?”

“Yes.” Ellis nodded, trying to swallow, but her mouth had suddenly gone quite dry.

“Of course, it couldn't have been the man in your dream really,” Jenny went on. “I mean, it must have all been part of Merrick's clever little performance.”

“There was nothing clever about it!” Ellis snapped at Jenny. “Even if he had arranged such a thing, it would have been a cruel joke!”

“I'm sure he meant well,” Jenny said, taken suddenly aback. “Really, Ellie, I know that Merrick can sometimes do things that make him appear difficult, but he has our best interests at heart.”

“Does he?” Alicia demanded. “Don't you
ever
question him?”

“Why should I?” Jenny answered. “It's his day and I honor it as we all should.”

Merrick took another bow and then raised his hand in a beckoning gesture. “Let the party continue. Strike up the music once more, my good friends. I feel like a nice Castle Walk.”

The Victrola screeched back to life as the needle dropped back into the recorded groove. It was another Joplin ragtime dance—the “Pleasant Moments” rag—and the dancers returned to the floor moving at once into a Castle Walk step. It was a simple step, Ellis observed, one easily taught to the inexperienced.

Merrick tossed the greatcoat over a lawn chair at the edge of the dance floor and strode up to where Ellis was standing. Jenny brightened considerably as he approached, but her expression fell as Merrick ignored her and spoke directly to Ellis.

“I see that my little play has upset you,” Merrick said, holding out his hand by way of invitation. “Perhaps I can make amends by—”

“I believe Miss Harkington has promised her first dance to me,” Ely interrupted.

“But Ellis has already danced,” Merrick said, casting a cool eye on the young man.

“I hardly think that the unwanted attentions of a masher should qualify for the first dance of the evening,” Ely said, taking up Ellis's hand.

“I'm sure that Miss March will be delighted to be your partner, Merrick,” Alicia added. “Then when Mr. Rossini has returned with Ellis she will be delighted to take a turn around the floor with you.”

Jenny beamed up at Merrick.

“Miss Harkington?” Ely urged.

“Mr. Rossini.” Ellis nodded as she moved in front of him to take up her dancing position.

Ely gave gentle pressure with his hand and Ellis stepped back with the beat. They quickly merged with the other couples on the floor, Merrick staring after them in their wake.

“Mr. Rossini,” Ellis said. “Thank you for being kind, but did you
see
that man with the paisley-shaped—”

“We have not much time,” Ely said, his words quick and clipped. “Can you show us the gate?”

“Show you the … what gate?”

“We have to get out,” Ely continued. “I've been trying for some time. I've listened to the soldiers and spoken with Dr. Carmichael, but I don't want the responsibility that either of them demands. Alicia and I both want to get out—the same way you did—and you're the only one who can show us the way.”

“Out?” Ellis was feeling dizzy again. “Out from where?”

“Here!” Ely insisted even as they both continued the precise steps around the floor. “Gamin!”

“But why?” Ellis asked. “You seem so happy here—”

“It's a prison, Ellis,” Ely said. “I'm tired of pretending at life.… I want to live it like you did.”

“Like I
did
?” Something cold and hard formed inside of her.

“All you need to do is show us the way you left,” Ely said.

“But I don't
remember
leaving,” Ellis said. “I don't remember anything!”

“Well, how did you get back?” Ely asked. “You were away … in the city.… How did you get here?”

“On the train,” Ellis said. “It's the first thing I remember with any clarity at all: waking up on the train.”

“Then that's where we'll start,” Ely said. “Alicia is arranging it so that Merrick will be occupied for some time. Alicia will join us on the south side of the house and we'll leave at once.”

“Leave?” Ellis was shocked. “Why should I leave?”

“Because none of this makes any sense to you, does it?” Ely said. “Because you're not insane—they only want you to think you are. And mostly, Ellis, you should show us the way because none of this madness will stop until you do.”

“What about Jenny?” Ellis asked.

“Show us the way out,” Ely said, “and then you can save Jenny, too.”

18

TWISTED RAILS

Their carriage plunged down High Street. Ellis sat wedged into the seat with Ely clutching the reins on her left and Alicia gripping one of the steel bow sockets supporting the top on their right. Ely glanced nervously behind them from time to time, sweat breaking out on his brow despite the chill of the evening air rushing past them. The lights from the party at the Norembega fell behind them, the sounds of it fading into the clatter of the horses' hooves and the rumble of the narrow tires below. The canvas top swayed above them in their headlong rush. The road was bright before them under a rising moon and the pools of light from the occasional gas lamps on either side. Porch lights, too, illuminated the scene from the homes on either side. It all struck Ellis as potentially idyllic if the company with her crammed into the seat of the carriage were not so desperate.