Chapter 3
Alright, so as promised, though I should warn you these are as rough as they come. Erin has not edited these, so they are ripe full of spelling errors, incomplete sentences and every other kind of grammar problem you can imagine but I am going to still post it:
Chapter 3: In which Daniel learns more about his brother
Christian and Daniel ducked towards the docks, pausing at the back door of a gentleman’s club of which Christian was known to be a member. The House of the Thorn, Daniel nocked three times and a large African opened the door. The clean shaved giant stood towering over Daniel, dressed in a fine brown suit, a revolver openly worn at his side with several strange attachments. He glanced at Christian and his deep bass voice spoke “Christian, do I want to ask?”
Christian smiled at the large man “Jules my dear man, I don’t know what you should mean. Could I bother you to allow me and my darling guest.” He motioned to the woman over his shoulder “To bother the establishment for a room and a few spare garments.”
Jules looked over the trio “You know how M would feel about bringing that woman in to this place, let alone a unknown such as him.” He motioned his head towards Daniel.
Christian smiled “Of course, allow me to introduce you. Sgt. Julian Stone, allow me to introduce my brother Daniel Craymore…” he smiled turning to a grumpy looking Daniel “Daniel Sgt Julian Stone.”
Jules shook his head “I need to check in with my superior, I will be right back.”
Daniel watched as the tall man closed the door leaving the trio to wait. “Christian, so umm, before I have any more chaos and so I can get to work, I have this book and note for you.” He reached into his coat pulling out the journal and the note.
Christian arched an eyebrow at his brother “You followed me over a note and a book.” he smiled “I appreciate it, and I am sorry over well…” he looked around “Every thing, but I am sure this could wait till.” As he glanced down at the note, he blanched a bit, his roguish smile faded from his face turning to a much more serious tone “Where is the journal?” Daniel held it up. “Daniel, I am afraid this is much more grave then I thought. Daniel, I am afraid you can’t go to work today. Your life could be in much more serious danger then I could have realized. I am so sorry brother.”
Daniel looked quizzically at Christian “What can you mean? It is simply a journal.”
Christian sighs “Perhaps you are right, how many people knew of you receiving this. How many could you have told?”
Daniel paused “Well, Miss Agatha Lynn, and of course the other tennents at her residence.”
Christian shook his head “Once, I get this young lady settled and a change of clothes you and I should return to your home. IF it is safe, I should know once we arrive there. For now, please keep the journal for me. I am afraid this of extreme importance. Keep it safe, it will not be safe in my hands.”
Daniel watched him with gathering disbelief “This leather book, can not mean that much to the realm. I mean why would any one send you, I mean no offense but a drunken lay about something which matters that much to the realm.”
Christian, regained his smile “Of course not, but please just indulge me this.
Daniel shook his head again, in disbelief, as the woman stirred for the first time, and the stiring involved a very sharp and violent kick into Christian’s side, sending him sprawling down to the ground with the woman on top. “You ass, what have you done to me?” a deep Russian accent rolling the violent words. She rose up using Christian’s own arm to put pressure on his throat.
Christian pushed his arm up “It wasn’t me my dear.” He spun his legs, and using the momentum shifted his weight rolling over to be on top, his mouth inches from hers as he pressed his body into hers, pinning her wrist behind her head. She slipped her other arm free and grabbed hold of well, a gentleman would not mention what she grabbed hold of.
Her voice raised in anger “Here, you have me in some dark alley nearly naked like some what you say, trumpets.”
Christian breathed in strained from the pressure she was putting on him, as he dug his knee into her thigh “Strumpet, and my dear I have done everything to pro..” he paused to breath deeply as she squeezed a bit harder “tect your image.”
She looked harshly at him, as he managed to pull her hand away using his off hand pinning both her wrists to the ground as her legs wrapped around his waste squeezing. “And I suppose, you were not the one who drugged me Christian?”
Christian breathed deeply “Stephania, I swear to you upon my queen that I did no such thing. If I had, do you think I would be half dressed in a back alley chained to you, and you are the one who chained yourself to me may I remind you.”
She released him slowly, leaning back “Christian, as you are so fond of saying to women, I simply wanted to get your attention.”
Christian smiled, sliding off Stephania, offering his hand to her. She stood a little shy of his height, but she was close. She pulled her self up, brushing what clothing she had off. Daniel watched this whole thing play out like it was all from another world. Christian smiled towards his brother “Daniel, I would like to introduce you to Stephania Pytrov, Stephania my brother Daniel.”
Stephania turned and offered a half smile and her hand, “Good morning, I suppose Daniel it is a pleasure to meet you. I wish I was in a more prepared form to meet you for the first time,
Daniel took the hand bowing and offering a gentle kiss “No Miss Pytrov, please there is no need to be ashamed. I have known my brother for years and he has this odd effect of causing people embarrassment. I am sure that the embarrassment is entirely his in deserving.”
Christian shook his head as he watched this, with a half smirk on his face as Stephania smiled at the young man. “So, there is decency which came out of the Craymore line. You more then make up for the cruelty and harshness of your brother. It must not be the raising it must have to do with that new study genetics.” She turned to Christian “Now, where I my things?”
Christian sighed following her as she moved about because of the chain on his wrist “I am afraid they would have burned up in the hotel fire. So, I am afraid what you have on is about all you have available to you at the moment.”
The door slid open and Jules, looked over the crowd “My supervisor has given you the go ahead. Come with as long as she is blindfolded.”
Stephania, seemed to be ready to speak against this when Christian spoke almost a second before she could “It means, being able to get you some clothing and I give you my word upon the honor of the crown that nothing shall happen to you as long as you are with me with in these walls. I just need you to trust me.”
She sighed “It seems, I have very little choice. Christian, if you try anything I promise I shall snap your neck like a twig.”
Christian smiled “I would expect no less my Russian bear.”
Inside the door, along the walls were a handful of firearms and melee weapons. The backdoor also was heavy, a steel door with a steel frame coated in wood to make it less suspicious like walking into a wood coated bank vault. A shield hung on the inside of the door showing a lion with a massive thorn pattern behind it. Which confused Daniel a bit as they moved further into a maze of corridors with people moving about, soldiers, homeless, and he paused was that a member of the house of lords, he just past. As they moved up into a second story of women and men moving about till they entered past a female clerk. A small slight woman surrounded by papers, who glanced towards Christian. “Sir Craymore, the room you requested has been prepared as you wish.”
Christian smiled at her, sitting down on the corner of her desk “Cecilia, what would we ever do with you?”
She shook her head “I suppose go around in the nude with strange women tied to your arm.”
Christian smiled “Most probable, now if you will excuse me. Oh, and could you please send some tools up, I am afraid I must get this chain off of me.” Christian offered a half bow and then went into a room where some clothing a new cane like sheeth for a sword, and a couple of boxes rested. A proper full change of clothing for Christian, as well as a sink and a tub filled with steaming water at the side of the room which had been wheeled in. As Daniel glanced around the room, he noticed a rather ornamental sword hanging in the room behind a shield with a similar crest crossed in half with there own family crest. “Daniel, please take a seat.” He reached over and removed the blindfold from Stephania in a long sweeping motion.
Stephania, glanced around the room blinking “So this is where England’s great hero hangs his hat, eh.” She moved over towards the sword and shield which Daniel was looking at “Sir Craymore, a new development Christian?”
Christian nodded “It was a recent affair. You recall the Hoyle Harlot situation.” He looked up at the sword “I was given my knight hood because of that dirty mess.”
Stephania smiled “Ah, I am glad to see something good has comed from that botch of a job.” She glanced around the room “What I thought you said I would have clean clothing here.”
Christian sighed as he took her over to the water and started washing himself with his free hand. “It will be here Shortly.”
Daniel watched this whole thing wide eyed “But, you are…” he found himself speaking out loud “Christian, what have you gotten me into?”
Christian leaned back “The secret world of espionage my poor brother.”
Daniel looked at Christian “You are a spy? I should have expected something like that from you.” Disdain and dissaproval could be heard deeply in his voice. “You know what father would say about you doing these things, how they would blemish the family name.”
Stephania and Christian both laughed “Of course he would, but really that is my duty to the family. Some one must be the black sheep. It certainly isn’t you or young little Erik.”
The door slid open, and Cecilia entered with women’s clothing as well as a pair of tall boots over one arm, and a tool box under the other. Christian took them with a thank you, which was echoed by Stephania. Daniel and Stephania watched as Christian fooled with the lock for a bit till her heard a rather audible click as the chains fell to the ground. Christian and Stephania both rubbed there red wrists where the chains had chaffed the skin, Christian smiled up towards Stephania “Well, now you can be rid of me.”
Stephania smiled this seductive smile leaned in close “I would be willing to try that again under more pleasant circumstances.” She whispered. Daniel spit out a sip of tea he had just begun drinking. That even made a little color run to Christian’s cheeks.
“Stephania, not infront of my brother.” Christian glanced towards Daniel who was looking very uncomfortable fussing with his coat.
Stephania walked over to him and smiled “We could invite him to join us you know.” She looked at Daniel apologeticly, “I am sorry I do not mean to offend, I am simply joking.”
Christian slid out of his clothes, with out shame in front of the pair dressing in a nice suit he opened a few of the boxes, sliding a stilleto from one into his boot. Slipping his sword into the cane sheath, and rearming himself. Then he turned and while Daniel turned away continued to watch as Stephania undressed she looked pontedly at him “Excuse me Christian, but a moment of privacy?”
Christian smiled “You are excused, but no, no privacy my dear. Not for you, not here.”
Daniel shot Christian a scolding look “How dear you treat a lady like that?”
Christian watched as she changed his arms crossed not responding to Daniel.
Daniel shook his finger at Christian “You have no right to treat any one like this, what would the queen say if she saw you treating any one like this?”
Stephania cleared her throat “Thank you Daniel, I am decent. It is good as I said earlier to know at least one of the Craymore brothers are gentlemen.”
Christian shook his head “Well, I am going to book a ship for New York. I need to be in America as quickly as possible.”
Daniel and Stephania both looked at Christian “Why is this?”
Christian smiled “Well, the second greatest Astro Engineer is at an observatory in Colarado so I figured to understand in detail what is going on here I will be heading that way.”
Stephania crossed her arms “Not with out me.” She moved to stand in the doorway.
Christian bowed towards Stephania “I would expect no less.”
Daniel looked at his brother “Let me see if I understand this, the fate of England has some how fallen into your hands and you are going to Colorado to find out more about what?”
Christian shooks his head leaning back with another off hand comment “An idea of what connection there is between the death of Doctor Harting, and the pirates.”
Daniel paused and looked at Christian “Doctor Harting is dead… the one who…”
Christian nodded cutting of Daniel “Yes our dear fathers friend Doctor Harting is dead.”
Daniel tried again “Wait what do you mean, I mean wasn’t.”
Christian cut him off again slightly sharper this tim “Yes it was just last week that we recieved a letter from him, I would rather not discuss it further it still hurts to speak of it.”
Daniel looked very out of sorts “Christian, what are you…”
Christian smiled hopping up from where he had been leaning on his desk “Come, let’s take you back to your home. So I can get ready for our trip to America.”
Daniel glanced at his brother then to Stephania who had her skirt above her knee as she put the boots on, and he felt a bit flushed as seeing so much of a woman dressing, that he simply nodded to Christian when he made the suggestion.
Christian opened the door to the office with Daniel “Cecilia my dear, I am ducking out will you have a pair of tickets, prepared for a trip to New York. I also will need an withdraw from my expense account and see that Stephania is taken care of and is at the docks in two hours, when I will arrive. First though, I need to see my brother home.”
Chapter 3: In which Daniel learns more about his brother
Christian and Daniel ducked towards the docks, pausing at the back door of a gentleman’s club of which Christian was known to be a member. The House of the Thorn, Daniel nocked three times and a large African opened the door. The clean shaved giant stood towering over Daniel, dressed in a fine brown suit, a revolver openly worn at his side with several strange attachments. He glanced at Christian and his deep bass voice spoke “Christian, do I want to ask?”
Christian smiled at the large man “Jules my dear man, I don’t know what you should mean. Could I bother you to allow me and my darling guest.” He motioned to the woman over his shoulder “To bother the establishment for a room and a few spare garments.”
Jules looked over the trio “You know how M would feel about bringing that woman in to this place, let alone a unknown such as him.” He motioned his head towards Daniel.
Christian smiled “Of course, allow me to introduce you. Sgt. Julian Stone, allow me to introduce my brother Daniel Craymore…” he smiled turning to a grumpy looking Daniel “Daniel Sgt Julian Stone.”
Jules shook his head “I need to check in with my superior, I will be right back.”
Daniel watched as the tall man closed the door leaving the trio to wait. “Christian, so umm, before I have any more chaos and so I can get to work, I have this book and note for you.” He reached into his coat pulling out the journal and the note.
Christian arched an eyebrow at his brother “You followed me over a note and a book.” he smiled “I appreciate it, and I am sorry over well…” he looked around “Every thing, but I am sure this could wait till.” As he glanced down at the note, he blanched a bit, his roguish smile faded from his face turning to a much more serious tone “Where is the journal?” Daniel held it up. “Daniel, I am afraid this is much more grave then I thought. Daniel, I am afraid you can’t go to work today. Your life could be in much more serious danger then I could have realized. I am so sorry brother.”
Daniel looked quizzically at Christian “What can you mean? It is simply a journal.”
Christian sighs “Perhaps you are right, how many people knew of you receiving this. How many could you have told?”
Daniel paused “Well, Miss Agatha Lynn, and of course the other tennents at her residence.”
Christian shook his head “Once, I get this young lady settled and a change of clothes you and I should return to your home. IF it is safe, I should know once we arrive there. For now, please keep the journal for me. I am afraid this of extreme importance. Keep it safe, it will not be safe in my hands.”
Daniel watched him with gathering disbelief “This leather book, can not mean that much to the realm. I mean why would any one send you, I mean no offense but a drunken lay about something which matters that much to the realm.”
Christian, regained his smile “Of course not, but please just indulge me this.
Daniel shook his head again, in disbelief, as the woman stirred for the first time, and the stiring involved a very sharp and violent kick into Christian’s side, sending him sprawling down to the ground with the woman on top. “You ass, what have you done to me?” a deep Russian accent rolling the violent words. She rose up using Christian’s own arm to put pressure on his throat.
Christian pushed his arm up “It wasn’t me my dear.” He spun his legs, and using the momentum shifted his weight rolling over to be on top, his mouth inches from hers as he pressed his body into hers, pinning her wrist behind her head. She slipped her other arm free and grabbed hold of well, a gentleman would not mention what she grabbed hold of.
Her voice raised in anger “Here, you have me in some dark alley nearly naked like some what you say, trumpets.”
Christian breathed in strained from the pressure she was putting on him, as he dug his knee into her thigh “Strumpet, and my dear I have done everything to pro..” he paused to breath deeply as she squeezed a bit harder “tect your image.”
She looked harshly at him, as he managed to pull her hand away using his off hand pinning both her wrists to the ground as her legs wrapped around his waste squeezing. “And I suppose, you were not the one who drugged me Christian?”
Christian breathed deeply “Stephania, I swear to you upon my queen that I did no such thing. If I had, do you think I would be half dressed in a back alley chained to you, and you are the one who chained yourself to me may I remind you.”
She released him slowly, leaning back “Christian, as you are so fond of saying to women, I simply wanted to get your attention.”
Christian smiled, sliding off Stephania, offering his hand to her. She stood a little shy of his height, but she was close. She pulled her self up, brushing what clothing she had off. Daniel watched this whole thing play out like it was all from another world. Christian smiled towards his brother “Daniel, I would like to introduce you to Stephania Pytrov, Stephania my brother Daniel.”
Stephania turned and offered a half smile and her hand, “Good morning, I suppose Daniel it is a pleasure to meet you. I wish I was in a more prepared form to meet you for the first time,
Daniel took the hand bowing and offering a gentle kiss “No Miss Pytrov, please there is no need to be ashamed. I have known my brother for years and he has this odd effect of causing people embarrassment. I am sure that the embarrassment is entirely his in deserving.”
Christian shook his head as he watched this, with a half smirk on his face as Stephania smiled at the young man. “So, there is decency which came out of the Craymore line. You more then make up for the cruelty and harshness of your brother. It must not be the raising it must have to do with that new study genetics.” She turned to Christian “Now, where I my things?”
Christian sighed following her as she moved about because of the chain on his wrist “I am afraid they would have burned up in the hotel fire. So, I am afraid what you have on is about all you have available to you at the moment.”
The door slid open and Jules, looked over the crowd “My supervisor has given you the go ahead. Come with as long as she is blindfolded.”
Stephania, seemed to be ready to speak against this when Christian spoke almost a second before she could “It means, being able to get you some clothing and I give you my word upon the honor of the crown that nothing shall happen to you as long as you are with me with in these walls. I just need you to trust me.”
She sighed “It seems, I have very little choice. Christian, if you try anything I promise I shall snap your neck like a twig.”
Christian smiled “I would expect no less my Russian bear.”
Inside the door, along the walls were a handful of firearms and melee weapons. The backdoor also was heavy, a steel door with a steel frame coated in wood to make it less suspicious like walking into a wood coated bank vault. A shield hung on the inside of the door showing a lion with a massive thorn pattern behind it. Which confused Daniel a bit as they moved further into a maze of corridors with people moving about, soldiers, homeless, and he paused was that a member of the house of lords, he just past. As they moved up into a second story of women and men moving about till they entered past a female clerk. A small slight woman surrounded by papers, who glanced towards Christian. “Sir Craymore, the room you requested has been prepared as you wish.”
Christian smiled at her, sitting down on the corner of her desk “Cecilia, what would we ever do with you?”
She shook her head “I suppose go around in the nude with strange women tied to your arm.”
Christian smiled “Most probable, now if you will excuse me. Oh, and could you please send some tools up, I am afraid I must get this chain off of me.” Christian offered a half bow and then went into a room where some clothing a new cane like sheeth for a sword, and a couple of boxes rested. A proper full change of clothing for Christian, as well as a sink and a tub filled with steaming water at the side of the room which had been wheeled in. As Daniel glanced around the room, he noticed a rather ornamental sword hanging in the room behind a shield with a similar crest crossed in half with there own family crest. “Daniel, please take a seat.” He reached over and removed the blindfold from Stephania in a long sweeping motion.
Stephania, glanced around the room blinking “So this is where England’s great hero hangs his hat, eh.” She moved over towards the sword and shield which Daniel was looking at “Sir Craymore, a new development Christian?”
Christian nodded “It was a recent affair. You recall the Hoyle Harlot situation.” He looked up at the sword “I was given my knight hood because of that dirty mess.”
Stephania smiled “Ah, I am glad to see something good has comed from that botch of a job.” She glanced around the room “What I thought you said I would have clean clothing here.”
Christian sighed as he took her over to the water and started washing himself with his free hand. “It will be here Shortly.”
Daniel watched this whole thing wide eyed “But, you are…” he found himself speaking out loud “Christian, what have you gotten me into?”
Christian leaned back “The secret world of espionage my poor brother.”
Daniel looked at Christian “You are a spy? I should have expected something like that from you.” Disdain and dissaproval could be heard deeply in his voice. “You know what father would say about you doing these things, how they would blemish the family name.”
Stephania and Christian both laughed “Of course he would, but really that is my duty to the family. Some one must be the black sheep. It certainly isn’t you or young little Erik.”
The door slid open, and Cecilia entered with women’s clothing as well as a pair of tall boots over one arm, and a tool box under the other. Christian took them with a thank you, which was echoed by Stephania. Daniel and Stephania watched as Christian fooled with the lock for a bit till her heard a rather audible click as the chains fell to the ground. Christian and Stephania both rubbed there red wrists where the chains had chaffed the skin, Christian smiled up towards Stephania “Well, now you can be rid of me.”
Stephania smiled this seductive smile leaned in close “I would be willing to try that again under more pleasant circumstances.” She whispered. Daniel spit out a sip of tea he had just begun drinking. That even made a little color run to Christian’s cheeks.
“Stephania, not infront of my brother.” Christian glanced towards Daniel who was looking very uncomfortable fussing with his coat.
Stephania walked over to him and smiled “We could invite him to join us you know.” She looked at Daniel apologeticly, “I am sorry I do not mean to offend, I am simply joking.”
Christian slid out of his clothes, with out shame in front of the pair dressing in a nice suit he opened a few of the boxes, sliding a stilleto from one into his boot. Slipping his sword into the cane sheath, and rearming himself. Then he turned and while Daniel turned away continued to watch as Stephania undressed she looked pontedly at him “Excuse me Christian, but a moment of privacy?”
Christian smiled “You are excused, but no, no privacy my dear. Not for you, not here.”
Daniel shot Christian a scolding look “How dear you treat a lady like that?”
Christian watched as she changed his arms crossed not responding to Daniel.
Daniel shook his finger at Christian “You have no right to treat any one like this, what would the queen say if she saw you treating any one like this?”
Stephania cleared her throat “Thank you Daniel, I am decent. It is good as I said earlier to know at least one of the Craymore brothers are gentlemen.”
Christian shook his head “Well, I am going to book a ship for New York. I need to be in America as quickly as possible.”
Daniel and Stephania both looked at Christian “Why is this?”
Christian smiled “Well, the second greatest Astro Engineer is at an observatory in Colarado so I figured to understand in detail what is going on here I will be heading that way.”
Stephania crossed her arms “Not with out me.” She moved to stand in the doorway.
Christian bowed towards Stephania “I would expect no less.”
Daniel looked at his brother “Let me see if I understand this, the fate of England has some how fallen into your hands and you are going to Colorado to find out more about what?”
Christian shooks his head leaning back with another off hand comment “An idea of what connection there is between the death of Doctor Harting, and the pirates.”
Daniel paused and looked at Christian “Doctor Harting is dead… the one who…”
Christian nodded cutting of Daniel “Yes our dear fathers friend Doctor Harting is dead.”
Daniel tried again “Wait what do you mean, I mean wasn’t.”
Christian cut him off again slightly sharper this tim “Yes it was just last week that we recieved a letter from him, I would rather not discuss it further it still hurts to speak of it.”
Daniel looked very out of sorts “Christian, what are you…”
Christian smiled hopping up from where he had been leaning on his desk “Come, let’s take you back to your home. So I can get ready for our trip to America.”
Daniel glanced at his brother then to Stephania who had her skirt above her knee as she put the boots on, and he felt a bit flushed as seeing so much of a woman dressing, that he simply nodded to Christian when he made the suggestion.
Christian opened the door to the office with Daniel “Cecilia my dear, I am ducking out will you have a pair of tickets, prepared for a trip to New York. I also will need an withdraw from my expense account and see that Stephania is taken care of and is at the docks in two hours, when I will arrive. First though, I need to see my brother home.”