Forever Young Birth Of A Nation (88 page)

“Yes. Their husbands spoke mainly concerning
banking, financing, and private trusts. After all,
‘a penny
saved is a penny earned’
.”

Laughing harder he said “I am undone and
quoted too! Good heavens; and by a five-year old at that! Mr.
Laforge was the last person to do that to me! We might well be able
to use you inside that building yonder, Aimee. I shall propose an
amendment today that we allow five-year olds to be secretary of the
treasury in the President’s cabinet, if you will promise to make
yourself available for the job immediately!” he said, still
laughing and shaking his head as Aimee laughed delightedly. Looking
pointedly at Ian he said “Seriously though, I played chess with
both of them and could not hope to win.”

“I’ve never beaten either of them sir.” said
Ian with a smile, shaking his head.

“Nor have I.” said Cosette while smiling
sweetly, and also shaking her head.

Looking at Aimee then Franklin said “Oh no!
Don’t tell me that you have beaten either of those two at chess,
Aimee! Do you play chess?”

Laughing delightedly Aimee said “Yes sir.
I’ve never beaten either one even once. They both think too far
ahead.”

“Indeed they do. Who don’t those two know in
France? Oh look! Washington is coming out. Allow me to introduce
you three to him.” he said as he turned and raised his arm,
beckoning for the tall Virginian. “And Ian, I am going to be
talking to some people in that building about your bank here, what
is it called?”

“This one will be called ‘Laforge &
McCloud Merchants’ Bank’ sir. The ones in New York and Boston are
‘Milliken Merchants’ Bank’.”

“I shall remember that, Ian. General
Washington, I have some people here that you must meet. This is Ian
McCloud, his wife Cosette, and their daughter Aimee. Everyone, this
is General George Washington.”

Giving a rare smile Washington nodded at all
three, including Aimee, saying “I have already met these fine
people Ben, excepting for Aimee here. I am pleased to meet you,
Aimee.”

Curtseying correctly, Aimee said “An honor,
sir.”

“So you have met the McClouds then?”

“Yes. Had I not, I would have died during
the war, I assure you.”

Looking at them as if he was seeing them for
the first time, Franklin’s eyes narrowed as he said “It seems that
everyone associated with my two banker friends in France is
multifaceted.”

“I didn’t know of your banking contacts,
Ian.” Lowering his voice somewhat he continued “Ben, you remember
what I told you after the war was over concerning our spy ring, the
Culpers?”

“Yes; a fine idea, and you said it worked
well.”

“Ian and Cosette were both employed by the
Culpers carrying intelligence reports. Ian here stopped a pair of
assassins at Valley Forge in ‘80 and the two of them stopped a team
of five near Tappan, in New York back in ‘81.”

About then a group approached and asked
Franklin to join them. “Ian, promise me that you won’t leave
Philadelphia until we can talk again; all of you.”

“We promise, sir.” He smiled and took his
leave then, walking away with the group who began to ply him with
questions.

Washington regarded the three with his
particularly direct stare as he said “Ben has paid a high price for
his participation in our cause.”

“How is that sir?”

“He is estranged from his eldest son, a
Tory. In fact he has gone to Britain to live.” Looking at Aimee
then, he again gave a slight smile saying “I never knew that the
two of you had a child.”

“Sir; we can’t have children. Aimee was an
orphan who we adopted in Paris. She was staying with the Lafayettes
and is now with us.”

“So she is… one of you then? One of your…
kind?” he said, pointedly with his eyebrows raised.

“Yes sir.”

“I see; are there others… like her I
mean?”

“She is the only one we know of.”

Looking down at her he said “How old are you
now, Aimee?”

“I am truly twenty one years old sir.”

“How extraordinary! You are all frozen in
time, so to speak; forever young, as it were.” He looked back up at
Ian and Cosette, saying “Our young nation bears a debt of gratitude
toward you both, and your friends in France and Spain as well.”

“No thanks are necessary sir. We both got to
be a part of the birth of a nation. How often can anyone say they
have done that? We feel privileged to have been a small part of
it.”

Aimee stepped forward and raised both of her
arms, so Washington bent and picked her up. She smiled sweetly and
kissed him on his cheek. As he put her down then he said “Thank
you, Aimee. What was that for?”

“My father says you are the greatest living
American and that he and mother are proud to have served under you,
sir.”

Yvonne got out of the carriage in front of
Grover’s Merchants’ Bank of New York, still wondering how her
account had been transferred there. In fact it had been because the
new government of the Confederation had ordered the Wellington Bank
of Commerce to transfer all accounts to either Milliken Merchants’
or to Grover Merchants’ banks due to Wellington being viewed as a
Tory owned entity that was an enemy of the American people and of
their government. They were allowed to keep all of their assets,
minus accounts of depositors, but ordered to leave the United
States. The depositors were equally divided according to accounts
in terms of current balances in British Pounds Sterling and
transferred to the two remaining banks in New York City. Purely by
chance Yvonne had ended up with her account at Grover’s instead of
Milliken, much to her relief.

So it was that Yvonne arrived at Grover’s
bank, disguised wearing a finely made black wig. She had made the
trip solely to see if perhaps Miles Edwards had been willing to
send her more money, which was why she had left a small amount of
money in her account in New York City over four years ago.

After presenting her true documentation and
her bank book, she waited, looking about the place in idle
curiosity. She thought of dropping in on June Stedman and then in
thinking about that, she realized that if June hadn’t been
deported, she had long since left New York City and started over
again under an assumed name.

The middle-aged teller finally returned,
following a bank officer who politely asked Yvonne to come to his
office. Once inside, the officer closed the door and went around to
his side of the large ornate desk and sat down smiling broadly at
Yvonne. “Mrs. Devrie, we are glad that you have come back. If you
do not mind me asking, where have you been?”

“Why I have been abroad, sir, and also in
some other parts of this country. Why do you ask, sir?” she said,
somewhat worried that somehow the Lafayettes might be looking for
her.

“Oh no reason in particular. There has been
one large draft deposited in your account during your absence. It
was accompanied by a sealed letter for your eyes only.”

Shocked but elated, Yvonne nonetheless acted
calm as if she had expected nothing less, saying “Very good, sir.”
as she looked at him expectantly.

Seeing that he would get no further
explanation the officer handed her the bankbook corrected to a new
sum totaling over five thousand pounds. Yvonne opened it, only
stifling her surprise and delight with a concerted effort. She
looked up then, closing the book and raising her eyebrows as the
officer handed her a letter in an envelope sealed with wax which
bore a distinct symbol that Yvonne had seen somewhere before. She
broke the seal and opened it to find a letter also sealed with the
same wax seal and symbol. Breaking that, she opened it to find that
unlike the envelope, the letter was written in the French
language.

Dear Monsieur and Madame Devrie,

It is with pleasure that I write you to
assure you of my continued support of our mutual cause in America.
I have taken the liberty of depositing the sum of five thousand
pounds in your account at your bank in New York City. Please use
this to further our mutual goals as laid out when the two of you
last visited me in Paris in 1775. Do not hesitate to inform me if
more help is needed.

If you should happen to see our mutual
friend Arnaud Moreau, please tell him that I am anxious to hear
from him as well. I have never satisfactorily resolved the facts
surrounding the death of my brother as you well know.

My servant, Jacques St. Laurent now lives in
New York City. He has leased the house you formerly leased on Long
Island. Please do see him at your earliest convenience. He has been
instructed to assist you in all of our mutual endeavors regarding a
certain American banker. Being one of your particular persuasion he
will be anxious to meet with you.

With Kindest regards

Donatien Alphonse Francoise Marquis de
Sade

***

The leased carriage pulled up to the
weed-choked driveway on Queen’s Highway on Long Island. Instructing
the driver to wait, Yvonne walked hurriedly to the farm house
several hundred feet away from the road. She noted with some
interest that the broken windows had been replaced and the grounds
about the house itself were well kept now, although the approach to
it still looked abysmal.

At the door she did not even get to knock as
it began to open at her approach. A tall handsome dark-haired man
with dark brooding eyes stood impassively watching as she
approached the porch.

“Monsieur St. Laurent?”

“I am he. Who might you be,
Mademoiselle?”

Smiling brilliantly Yvonne said “I am Yvonne
Devrie.” as she removed her broad-brimmed hat and her black wig,
shaking out her lustrous red hair with a seductive smile.

St. Laurent’s demeanor changed immediately,
his eyes glowed a deep topaz color as he bowed, kissing her
extended hand. He smiled brilliantly then, saying “The description
of your beauty was not exaggerated, Madame Devrie. As you
undoubtedly know, I am your obedient servant regarding all matters
pertaining to one Ian McCloud.”

“How delightful, Monsieur” she said as she
gave a dazzling smile while making her distinct eyes to glow like
two emeralds. “Might we sit and discuss that in depth now?”

“It would be my delight, Madame. Please do
come in.”

As she entered the place, Yvonne thought
we are definitely getting out of the cobbler business and we are
definitely relocating. Now how do I balance my sexual indiscretions
with this man and keep Johnny satisfied? What a delicious dilemma
to occupy me while I plot the death of Ian McCloud.

I am back in the game, McCloud!

Thank you for reading
‘Forever Young Birth Of A Nation’.
For a current look at
this vampire clan read my newest book
‘
Forever Young Irina’
, set in
Seattle in the year 2000. The next book in this series will be
‘Forever Young Reign of Terror’
Where Ian
McCloud will be drawn into the turbulent times of the French
revolution and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. All of the
Forever Young
series are available in both print and ebook
editions at most all retailers.

Please do not hesitate to tell me any way I
could have made your reading experience more enjoyable. I am a work
in progress.

Gerald Simpkins

[email protected]

Abraham Woodhull:
Part of Culpers spy
ring.

Adam Macrae:
Alias used by Ian
McCloud.

Aimee:
Child vampire.

Alexander Dubois:
Vampire taken in by
Lafayette vampire family.

Andre Amsler:
Vampire in Lafayette
vampire family, husband to Celeste.

Andrew Norris:
Captain of merchantman
New Hope
.

Angus McCloud:
Ian’s uncle and
captain of
Elsie’s Cloud.

Anna Strong:
Part of Culpers spy
ring.

Arnaud Moreau:
French Vampire seeking
revenge from Ian McCloud.

Arnold Moore:
Alias used by the
vampire Arnaud Moreau.

Bartholomew:
Vampire in Yvonne’s
American coven.

Benjamin Franklin:
Founding Father,
ambassador to France, etc.

Benjamin Tallmadge:
Spymaster
directing activities of Culpers spy ring.

Bess McKinley:
Owner of Bessie’s
Boarding House in NYC.

Caleb Brewster:
Part of Culpers spy
ring.

Captain Mcwhertor:
Merchant captain
who carried message for Ian.

Celeste Bouchard:
Vampire in
Lafayette family, prescient and telepath.

Celine Bouchard:
Celeste’s and Louis’
daughter, prescient and telepath.

Charlotte Miller:
Tavern Wench at
Green Dragon Tavern
in NYC.

Col. Harold Grundy:
British Army
Colonel, enemy of Ian McCloud.

Cosette McCloud:
Vampire wife of Ian
McCloud.

Culpers:
Name given to a patriot spy
ring in New York City during Revolutionary War.

Cynthia Robbins:
Artist and
Adept
vampire who lives in London.

Darren Roberts:
Scout and hunter for
G. Washington’s Army.

Deiter:
Austrian
Adept
vampire.

Donatien Alphonse Francoise Marquis de
Sade:

Esther Gage:
Wife of British General
Gage.

Elsie McCloud:
Ian’s mother.

Eunice Morehouse:
Mother of man found
murdered by vampire.

Lt. Clay Walker:
British Army officer
in NYC.

Franklin:
Vampire in Yvonne’s
coven.

Frederick Connors:
London
Constable.

Freiderich:
Vampire from Austria.