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The lawyer halted, his eyes wide with disbelief as he peered at Admiral Bell’s stern countenance. Under normal circumstances, such a reaction might have elicited amusement, but the gravity of Charles Holland’s peril held no room for mirth. When the lawyer remained silent, Admiral Bell’s voice thundered out, demanding an answer.
“Well, sir?” the admiral barked.
“W-well,” stammered Mr. Crinkles.
“I’ve summoned you here, and here you stand, with Jack Pringle beside me. What do you have to say for yourself?”
“Just this,” Mr. Crinkles gathered himself, “just this, sir. I have never laid eyes on that letter before today.”
“You’ve never seen it?”
“Never.”
“You didn’t pen it?”
“On my solemn oath, sir, I did not.”
Jack Pringle let out a low whistle, and Admiral Bell wore a puzzled expression. Mr. Crinkles added, “Whoever forged my signature to this letter, I cannot fathom. As for reaching out to you, sir, I had no knowledge of your existence, save as a distinguished officer whose valorous deeds deserve the nation’s reverence.”
Jack and the admiral exchanged incredulous glances. Then the admiral exclaimed, “A lawyer speaking such words?”
“A lawyer, sir,” Crinkles replied, “may honor valor even if he cannot embody it. That letter, sir, is a deceit, and I bid you farewell, honored to have met a gentleman whose legacy is etched in England’s annals. Good day, sir!”
“No, you’re not leaving like that,” Jack interjected, blocking the door. “You’ll share a drink with me, in tribute to Old England’s wooden walls, even if you were twenty lawyers.”
“That’s right, Jack,” the admiral concurred. “Come, Mr. Crinkles, for your sake, I’ll believe there are two honest lawyers in the world, and you might be one of them. We’ll have a bottle of the finest wine this establishment can offer.”
“If that’s your wish, admiral, I comply gladly,” Crinkles said. “Though I must reiterate, I did not write that letter, but I can shed light on some of the matters mentioned within.”
“Can you?”
“I’m afraid so, for I hold respect for the parties involved.”
“Then sit, and enlighten us,” the admiral gestured. “Jack, fetch the wine. We’ll delve into this matter from all angles. Who could have concocted such a letter?”
“I haven’t a clue, sir.”
“Never mind. It brought me here, and that’s something. I’ll find my nephew and unravel this... this vampire business.”
“Shiver me timbers!” Jack exclaimed, setting down the wine amidst the dismayed waitstaff. “I’ve no idea what a vampire is, unless it’s kin to Davy Jones!”
The admiral’s voice sliced through the air like a whip, commanding attention in the dimly lit room. “Silence your ignorant tongue,” he growled, his gaze piercing Jack’s nonchalant demeanor. “No one seeks your commentary, you cumbersome oaf!”
Jack shrugged, setting down the wine with deliberate care before retreating to the shadows. His mind wandered to a time when such insults were absent, replaced instead by the thunder of cannons and the chaos of battle.
“Now, Mister Lawyer,” Admiral Bell’s voice softened slightly, tempered by the rough edges of a seasoned sailor. “Here’s a toast to our newfound camaraderie, for by the devil, I find myself liking you!”
The lawyer nodded graciously. “You are too kind, sir.”
“Not at all. Once upon a time, I’d sooner invite a young shark to dine in my cabin than a lawyer. But now, I see that decency can find its place even in the law. Here’s to your health, and know that Admiral Bell stands by you, whether in friendship or with a bottle at hand.”
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“Balderdash,” Jack interjected.
“What in blazes do you mean by that?” Admiral Bell’s voice boomed, a storm on the verge of breaking.
“I wasn’t speaking to you,” Jack retorted, his tone defiant. “It’s like watching two boys pretend to fight in the street. All show, and I know they won’t.”
“Enough,” the admiral snapped. “Ignore him, Mr. Lawyer. He’s a loose cannon. Focus on what you know about... the... the...”
“The vampire!” the lawyer interjected.
“Ah, yes. One of those fantastical creatures, I presume?”
“I cannot say, sir. But the tale, with all its grim details, has sent shockwaves through the land.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes. Picture this. One night, Miss Flora Bennett, a paragon of beauty and grace, was visited by a sinister being that entered through her window.”
“I’d trade places with that intruder in a heartbeat,” Jack mused.
“Frozen in fear, she barely had time to scream before the creature seized her,” the lawyer continued, unperturbed by Jack’s commentary.
“By the devil’s beard,” Jack interjected, “that must have caused quite a stir.”
“Focus, Jack,” the admiral barked. “Continue, Mr. Lawyer.”
“Fortunately, her cry roused the household. They burst into her room to find her in the clutches of a fiendish figure, fangs sunk into her neck, draining her lifeblood.”
“Unbelievable,” the admiral muttered.
“Before they could apprehend the figure, it fled, leaving a trail of terror behind,” the lawyer elaborated.
“And they let it escape?” the admiral’s incredulity was palpable.
“They pursued, but it vanished over the garden wall, leaving a chilling imprint on all who witnessed the horror.”
“Remarkable,” the admiral murmured. “Jack, what are your thoughts?”
“I’m just getting started,” Jack replied cryptically.
“What about Charles?” the admiral pressed.
“I’m afraid I have no information on him,” the lawyer admitted.
“None?”
The lawyer paused, his gaze fixed on Admiral Bell with a mixture of surprise and concern. “Admiral, I had no knowledge of your nephew’s existence, much less his involvement in these enigmatic and troubling events. I can only share what little information I’ve gleaned from the whispers of this vampire affair. Beyond that, I am as clueless as you are.”
“It’s a mystery indeed,” mused the admiral, his brow furrowed in deep thought. “Who could have penned such a letter to me?”
“I am equally baffled,” replied Crinkles. “I am deeply aggrieved by this misuse of my name. However, since you are here, allow me to express my pride and willingness to assist a valiant defender of our nation. Your name and deeds resonate deeply with every Briton.”
“He talks like a book, doesn’t he?” Jack remarked, a hint of sarcasm in his tone. “I can’t make heads or tails of it, but it sure sounds like fancy gibberish.”
“Enough of your ignorant prattle,” the admiral snapped. “Be silent.”
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“Now, Mr. Lawyer, honesty usually goes hand in hand with sensibility,” the admiral continued, shifting the conversation. “If my nephew truly fancies this girl, bitten by a vampire as she may be, what would you advise?”
“Interfering in family matters is delicate and often unwelcome,” Crinkles replied thoughtfully. “But considering the gravity of this situation, marrying into a family with vampiric tendencies could have dire consequences.”
“It’s a ghastly thought,” the admiral muttered.
“The risk extends beyond the young lady,” Crinkles added. “Children born into such a lineage could face unimaginable horrors.”
“Quite a brood of vampires,” Jack interjected with a shudder.
“Silence, Jack,” the admiral commanded.
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“And if the young lady herself turns into a vampire after death,” Crinkles continued, “she may prey upon her own offspring.”
“Become a vampire herself? Unbelievable,” the admiral exclaimed.
“It’s a grim reality in the world of vampires,” Crinkles affirmed.
“By the saints,” Jack interjected, “we’d have a ship full of vampires before we knew it. What chaos that would be!”
“It’s a chilling prospect,” the admiral conceded, rising from his seat and pacing the room. “Not something one wishes to contemplate.”
“Indeed,” Crinkles agreed. “I’ve shared what I know. I remain at your service, ready to assist you in any way.”
“Thank you, Mr... uh...”
“Crinkles.”
“Ah, Mr. Crinkles, you’ll hear from me soon,” declared Admiral Bell, his voice resonating with determination. “Now that I’m here, I’ll delve into this affair as if it were the deepest abyss. Charles Holland, my dear sister’s son, is my sole kin in this vast world, and his joy means more to me than my own.”
Crinkles turned away, a glint of emotion in his eyes betraying the usually composed lawyer. “Godspeed to you, sir,” he murmured. “Farewell.”
“Good day,” replied the admiral.
“Fare thee well, lawyer,” chimed in Jack. “Mind your steps. By all means, you might outmaneuver the devil and find your way to heaven’s gates, as long as you steer clear of any clumsy missteps towards the journey’s end.”
The old admiral sank into a chair with a heavy sigh.
“Jack,” he called.
“Aye, aye, sir.”
“What’s our next move?”
Jack opened the window to spit out the excess saliva from a massive wad of chewing tobacco he’d been enjoying during the lawyer’s tale of the vampire. Then, turning back to his master, he replied, “What do we do? We seek out Charles, our nephew, get to the bottom of his involvement, meet this young lady, and if possible, confront the vampire itself. We’ll tackle this head-on, gather every detail, and then strategize our next course of action.”
“Jack, you’re spot on. Let’s get going.”
“I know I am. Any idea which way to navigate?”
“None at all. This is uncharted territory for me, and the waters seem treacherous. We’ll enlist a guide, Jack, and then we’ll be on the right path. And if we hit rough waters, it’ll be the pilot’s fault.”
“Which is a small comfort,” Jack remarked wryly. “Let’s go.”