Kindred (9 page)

“How long are you going to toss that in my face? It was not my fault. Daniel loved me.”

“That’s what they all proclaim when they desire something.”

“My dear, sweet maiden aunt, how would you know? Or did something transpire to make you an expert on love and a little less maidenly?

“I had my share of suitors, Adeline. Many came sniffing. Some for me. Most for the money. But I managed to keep my … head. The middle-aged woman held her head high, proud that that she had fought off assaults on all fronts, fiscal and fleshly. “Next time girl, remember in this order—the ceremony, then the celebration. You can hope for a man with means. What I am trying to say is, you really cannot be fussy. Never mind what he looks like or how old he is.”

“I am to have no choice in whom I wed? I truly loved Daniel.”

Felicity laughed aloud.

“Adeline, stop lying. It is only you and I in this room. We both know why you allowed that drunken dullard Daniel certain ‘freedoms’. His is the wealthiest family in London, if not England.”

“He had manners and good breeding, too.”

“Yes, along with all that money! I have seen how your eyes light up when monetary matters are discussed. You are as your mother was, careless, short-sighted and grasping. It worked for Corelia. She trapped my brother who was, unlike your Daniel, a good man. But it was not enough for Corelia. She left my brother and her children for a richer man who in turn abandoned her.”

“Aunt Felicity, I know the story. I am not like her. I will not repeat her mistakes. I will be happy!”

“Ha! The odds are not in your favor, girl. Your father killed himself. I took in you and Paul. Your mother, last I heard, goes to the highest bidder. That cannot last. Hiding age with paint only works but for so long.”

“I hate you,” Adeline hissed.

“I am sure you do, the truth hurts. You would do well to remember that for the moment, you and Paul depend on me to live. Eventually, he will be able to provide for himself. He will be a ‘working man’, but medicine is an honorable profession. You, on the other hand, have no money, no prospects and a past.”

“Witch!”

“I may be, but I am not the one who is desperate for a husband.”

“I cannot go on like this!” Tears rolled down Adeline’s cheeks and splashed on the shawl she twisted. “I cannot live on your crumbs. I must have something of my own.”

“Adeline, I do not mean to be unkind.” Her aunt rose from her chair, trod over to her and yanked the shawl from her grip. “At this season’s Christmas galas, look your most fetching. No virginal, demure, dresses. You are twenty years old. Time is fleeting. Reveal as much flesh as is legally possible, there’ll be many girls present who are younger than you. Be enticing. And remember—ceremony, then celebration.”

Chapter Ten

The professor of anatomy bent down to light his long pipe at the fireplace as he conversed with Lelaheo. In his late sixties, he was short but still ramrod straight. Slim, he was fanatical about his diet. His hair was a wavy brown, no gray yet. The crinkling at the

corners of his very blue eyes and his acceptance of stiff knees, were the only outward signs that he was not a younger man. Herr Doktor Nachman ben Lazer was a study in contradictions. Though a Jew, his excellence in his field and wry humor afforded him entrée into certain levels of genteel and Gentile society in the city. He never lied about his heritage and was never silent about it. He used his ready acceptance by Gentiles as a means to fight for better treatment of other Jews at the university, whether they be instructor or student. Though he was tolerated, he was still a Jew on faculty at a university

which made no attempt to hide its dislike for his kind. Always willing to lend a helping hand, he answered a former pupil’s plea to aid another outsider.

“So, how are you to be called?” Herr Doktor ben Lazar asked, pulling his long robe closer around him, tying the corded sash tighter.

“I am enrolled as Cassian Harkness, but you may address me as Lelaheo if you wish.” He fidgeted in his chair in the dark room.

“I will call you some other choice names that come to mind if you do not apply yourself to your studies.” Herr Doktor ben Lazer stood by the fire puffing and puffing, then blew circles of smoke towards the ceiling. “Harkness? Harkness! Why this Harkness

name? I thought you were Douglas’ charge?”

“By the time Doctor Twain rescued me from the Reverend, I had already been christened such.”

“I see.” The doctor drew the smoke in even harder. “So, Gisele will show you to your rooms. Get you settled. Then come back here. We will talk. Have a smoke. You do smoke?” Lelaheo nodded in affirmation. Nachman smiled. “Good. Gisele will bring coffee. We will talk some more. Then we will eat. Does that sound like something you

would like?”

“Yes, Herr Doktor.”

“Good, good.” He cleared his throat, then bellowed, “Gisele!”

“A letter from Germany,” Kindred yelled, racing into the kitchen. Joshua and Dr. Twain were at table as Rozina topped off their cups of coffee again. The beverage of choice now that tea was becoming hard to acquire. The brew chased away the late October chill which had settled upon the land. Kindred handed the packet to Dr. Twain.

Douglas fished his glasses out of his vest pocket and ripped open the letter. He perused the contents, moving his lips as he read to himself.

“Twain, we waitin’,” declared Rozina loudly.

“Sorry. Lelaheo says the ocean crossing was hellish. He was seasick the entire first week.”

“I told him to carry some ginger, but no, he said he would not get ill. Serves him right,” Joshua remarked before taking a sip from his cup.

Shhh!” Kindred and Rozina expressed in unison.

Dr. Twain continued.

“He also said by the time he hopped a coach to Nachman’s, he was accustomed to the swaying motion.”

“The future physician, sick!” Joshua interrupted again.

“Boy, one mo’ time.” Rozina menaced him with her infamous ladle.

“He has found his place in the household. Nachman is understanding and extremely helpful. Lelaheo sleeps with his books and Nachman quizzes him constantly and randomly. He has made a friend at the university, a young man named Paul Penvenen.” Douglas looked up from the letter, a small smile on his lips. “Lad hails from

London. David has a sister named Adeline who visits them.”

“How often?” asked Kindred, one eyebrow arched high.

“Several times a week. She brings them treats and offers moral support. She is traveling with an aunt. He and David frequent the coffee houses. If it is like I remember it, the students philosophize and pontificate endlessly. I recall my student days in Köln. Oh, the public house was the place to be ....”

“Father? The letter,” said Kindred, inclining her head at the papers he held.

“Oh, yes. Where was I?” He shuffled the pages and cleared his throat. “Lelaheo says by the time we get this, the first round of exams will be under way. He sends Yule greetings too. He plans on spending some of the holiday break with Paul’s family in London.”

“How much?” Kindred inquired, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair.

“The remainder he will pass studying intensely. He has enclosed separate pages for each of you.” Douglas passed out the sealed notes. “He ends with love to all and how much he misses us.” Dr. Twain stealthily combined a wiping of a tear from his eyes with the motion of removing his spectacles. “I miss that boy.”

“We all do,” Joshua added.

“Bin t’ree munt’,” Rozina added, sniffling.

“Three very long months,” Kindred remarked. “I need some air.” She got up and went outside to the garden to read her note.

Chapter Eleven

The energy of Köln was everything Cassian imagined it would be. This former first century B.C. Roman garrison never ceased to amaze him. His favorite place was a coffee house just off the Domplatz. This huge square was home to Der Dom, the Gothic

cathedral with the unfinished double spires. It was visible from any point in the city. He and the Penvenen siblings passed rare free hours there some evenings. Cassian welcomed these respites from the rigors of study, drills and exams. Tonight, Nachman joined them.

“So Paul, your family is of noble stock and you are pursuing a career?” Absorbed, Nachman remarked. “I only know of one other person from such a background who has done that. Doctor Twain, Cassian’s benefactor. A generation ago.”

“I want to contribute to humanity instead of living off of it,” said Paul.

Nachman observed the brother and sister sitting across from him. Twins, their actions mirrored one another’s, their temperaments and miens differed greatly. The two blond heads bent toward each other had little in common, he noted. Paul was slim and tall. He had the same pale hair as his sister and the same fair complexion. Caring and generosity lived in his face. The large mouth, a rounded jaw, concave nose and wide-open eyes were traits of a giving person. Nachman felt that Paul would make an excellent

physician.

Adeline’s features were those of a person concerned with their lot in life. Not good, not bad. Just self-centered. Petit, voluptuous and soft described her form. Her visage announced that she either was sizing up a person, or distrusted a person. She squinted like a marksman, as if she had something forever in her sights. Unlike her

brother’s nose, Adeline’s was straight, her mouth was small with a short upper lip, she had an angular jaw line. This girl was not the shy, retiring type he mused.

Cassian sat quietly rubbing his eyes and temples gingerly. The din of the clientele usually invigorated him, but tonight it irritated him. He was still recovering from last night’s kölsch drinking contest with Paul and some other students. He had barely made it to the anatomy lecture this morning. Nachman was none to happy when Paul heaved him through the door very late in the evening. But with all the pressure of classes, exams and “setting an example”, he needed a diversion. A cheap, tasty diversion. When he was being just as silly, irreverent and witty as anyone else, he was not “that red foreigner from across the ocean.” His system did not like it. And let him know. When he had a little too much, he got sick and passed out after. The former was just plain distasteful, the latter unsettling. He had passed out last night and on one other occasion prior to that. He

promised himself in future that he would finish his evenings with coffee only.

“Douglas wanted to help humanity a generation ago,” added Cassian. “It is reassuring to know some things do not change.”

“I had forgotten that Doctor Twain comes from a wealthy, I mean, well-to-do, old family,” Adeline observed. “Is he married? The remaining Twains are still socially prominent.”

“Medicine is his wife. You have seen or met his relations?” Cassian perked up.

“They believed he was wasting his life. Shame. He is a successful physician and businessman. Twainhaven turns a profit every year. Douglas could give up medicine and only run the farm and he would still want for nothing. Twainhaven is our inheritance.”

“
Our inheritance
?” Adeline inquired.

“Me, Rozina, Kindred, Joshua. And all our legal heirs in perpetuity.”

“You are unusual Cassian. The first of your people to come to Europe. To be educated in Western ways. To attend medical school. There is no end to what you could accomplish.” Adeline picked at the apple pastry on her plate “You are too modest. What is Twainhaven worth exactly? The … colonials have no problem with …
you
owning

land?”

Herr Doktor ben Lazer’s brows lifted into his hairline, but he remained quiet.

Cassian chuckled.

“Worth? I do not know. I am not good at such things.” He swirled the last of his coffee around in the cup. “Are you asking do the colonists object to me acquiring land which had been my people’s anyway?”

“Cheeky,” said Paul.

Cassian drained his cup and signaled to the server. “I am at that. Besides, about what would your maiden aunt have to comment if I were not?”

****

“I leave for London in two days, Herr Doktor ben Lazer.” Cassian was on his knees in the middle of his book strewn room. He finished packing a small trunk, then stuffed a valise with more papers and books. The doctor stood in the doorway.

“Nachman! Nachman! How many times must I tell you? Address me as Nachman.”

“We are too new to our relationship for me to address you so. Besides, you are my elder.”

“I am your friend too, Cassian. And as your friend and as an elder I have some requests to make of you.”

“Anything, Herr Dok ... Nachman.”

“Do not be so forthcoming with the Penvenens.” He threw up both his hands, waving them in the air. “You have only just met them. It is not necessary to divulge particulars about Twainhaven.”

“Why? They are just curious about a strange place.”

“Adeline is a little too curious. Just heed my request. Also, Paul has literally carried you through that front door after an evening out. You have been so inebriated that you were unconscious.”

“I am sorry, Nachman.”

“This mindless imbibing. No one can like Kölsch that much. You barely make my lectures on the mornings after these binges.”

“I am sorry. Will you tell Douglas?” Lelaheo’s tone turned child-like.

“This carousing could hamper your studies. I will keep this between you and me. Douglas does not have to be the wiser.”

“Thank you, Nachman.”

“I am glad that is in the open. Enjoy you time in London. Be light-hearted. Be charming, but most of all be careful.”

“I will.”

He patted the young man on the back. “Let’s go down stairs and have a smoke.”

Chapter Twelve

London

The coach pulled up to a rather sedate, stone townhouse on a street just off St. Martin’s Lane. A young girl was outside sweeping the sidewalk. The coachman jumped down to open the door. Paul hopped out then turned and assisted Adeline. Cassian emerged directly after. The footmen grappled with collecting their luggage from the top of the coach, climbed back up and drove away. Servants hurried out of the house to fetch the trunks, Cassian carried his own valise.