𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚖𝚝𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚘 𝚜𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚊 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝, who in twisting those freezing fingers to one side then firmly grasped mr. harker by the hand and wrist. he could feel the warm blood racing there, just beneath the surface; his thumb resting just below the thumping, thrumming pulse. but such touch was fleeting enough, retreated when his questionings had grown too personal and the stammering solicitor struggled to find his words.
“ nonsense. the description you give is most appreciated. in fact, your speaking of your wife reminds me much of my own, though in truth my memory is not what it once was, and the years have been unkind… but this miss mina sparks the memory of her quite well. indeed, that i should be lucky to meet so accomplished a woman in my time in london, i would very much like to make her my wife… ”
but the count would have no more of this idle chatter, it seemed. for he clapped his hands and then shook them, as if by some great, silent wind he were ushering the conversation away. instead he took to gathering up the papers between them both, careful not to allow the ink to stick the pages together, and while setting them aside looked at mr. harker quite sternly.
“ … but i shall have no more work tonight for you. you are my guest, and i would learn more of you and of the place from which you come. from you i have asked for honesty, and with the pleasantries and niceties dealt with between us, there shall be room for nothing but. you see, these past nights have been something of respite for me, and your stories have brought much mirth to my heart. i would hear more of them, if you are not disobliged to my requests… nay, in fact, i would like very much to regale mister hawkins in my letters that we are to become good friends, you and i… ”
Something in the way Dracula spoke caused Jon’s brow to furrow with puzzlement; he could comprehend what it was about his host’s words which caused something within his chest to flutter with a distant and cold discomfort, but, for the shortest of moments, Mr. Harker felt an urgent need to be home, to be amongst his own and, most importantly, TO BE WITH MINA. But the moment quickly passed and Jon thought it best to blame that sudden wave of panic on the wine he had had for supper. A finger discreetly loosened the collar around his neck; he wouldn’t want the count to think that he had made him nervous with all these talks of love and marriage ( you’re a man , Jonathan , not a boy ! ).
It was when he clapped that Jon’s heavily-lidded eyes widened to focus back on Dracula. It seemed his host had grown tired of the topic at hand. As his long fingers reached out to gather the papers Mr. Harker had been looking through, the solicitor did little more than watch, confused and with ink stained hands. The count was used to stay up way past the witching hours, that much Jon had learned, could it be that their work day was ending earlier than usual? And those eyes. — MY GOD — the way those eyes pierced through his flesh and soul … Jonathan thought he might have offended Dracula in some manner. Had it been all the idle chit chat? Had he made himself look lazy or slow? He was ready to stand up and quickly apologise, but the old man was quicker with his words.
Poor Jon must have looked like a fool, sitting there, staring at his client in complete silence. But he did not know how to possibly react without appearing unprofessional. Respite, mirth, good friends ( imagine that , good friends ) ! What a relief to hear such things! Yet Jon kept his composure. Doing as his father had taught him, he got up from his chair, bowed his head ever so slightly and replied as clearly and respectfully as he was allowed to. “ Count Dracula, I am your guest. And it brings me nothing but joy to learn that you’ve enjoyed my company thus far. ” He wished to say more on the topic but didn’t. “ But you asked me for honesty and that I shall continue to offer. Therefore, forgive me for asking but I must for, if I did not do so, I would find no peace during the rest of my stay here: is this wise? ” Mr. Harker asked. He felt ashamed of his nervousness. So much so that he walked away from the count and closer to the fire, hoping that he could blame the lack of eye contact on his cold hands.
“ I have come here to work under Mr. Hawkins’ instructions —— If you were to send him a letter with such contents, I fear that he might come to believe that I’ve taken advantage of both you and your hospitality or that I might have elected leisure over work. ”
