WINDOWKNOCKER'S 'HEIRLOOMS'

TITLE: Windowknocker's 'Heirlooms' - 1851 New Orleans
TYPE: Undertaker-related gothic-drama
AUTHOR: Megan Seekings
FIRST RELEASE: 1996
RATED: PG

_{SUMMERY: A sequel to 'A Tale by Kandle Light', and the third installment of the Windowknocker series, 'Heirlooms' was a collection of several short stories that follow the days, weeks, and years after the 'death' of Kandle (Kane the Undertaker) through the view of the generations of Bearer family members who keeps him --and his cursed existence-- a well-guarded secret. Passed down through the family, 'Heirlooms' begins with the Rev. Joshua Bearer in the late 1600's and concludes with his descendant, Paul Bearer over three centuries later.}

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2

The mansion in the square was alight from top to bottom. Carriages arrived at the door to leave richly clad men and women. Inside, music played and the general and his daughter stood at the head of the receiving line to greet the cream of New Orleans society. The guest moved on after this formal greeting to gather in groups in the great living room for wine and conversation or went directly to the ballroom for dancing. Georgina Picquery and Captain Lafon followed the latter course and joined the dancers.

Georgina remained in the young captain's company for the better part of the evening and began to worry when it grew late and Kandle still had not arrived. Towards midevening she excused herself from Jason and went up to the balcony to consult Lizzy Anna.

Elizabeth looked sad. "I can't imagine why he hasn't come, Georgina," she tried to soothed gently. "I personally addressed his invitation."

Georgina looked at her and then out towards the swirling costumed guest already out on the dance floor directly below. She sighed. "Something must have happened to prevent his attending ...Oh my, what if he's taken ill?!"

Lizzy Anna studied her seriously, "He means a great deal to you, doesn't he?"

"I love him." Georgina said simply.

Her girlfriend glanced down from the balcony, tracing Georgina Picquery's earlier inspection of the big hall below filled with chatting couples. Then she touched Georgina's arm and pointed. "Look!" she said.

Georgina followed her friend's glance just as the front door was being opened. She heard his voice first before she saw him and knew immediately that it had to be him for his dialect differed so greatly from the gumbo pot mix of Cajun and Creole French overtones of the swampy deep south. Erect and attractive in his tiered black coat, Kandle presented a magnificent form that others must have noticed for many of those dancing paused when they saw him. Others lowed their drinks.

Giggling voices introduced and collected around him, "Good evening, Kane." "Rêveur Kandle." "A pleasure for sure, Kane."

"That won't be necessary, thank you." The Undertaker bowed when a servant stepped to take his coat.  Smiling faintly, he removed his broad hat to hold it in his hands instead. It was decorated in pins of ruffled ribbons that matched the floret buttons of his coat.

Georgina could no longer contain her joy, "Kandle!" she called, waving from the balcony. It made Lizzy Anna chuckle. "Well I declare, at least play a lil' harder to get, Georgina, dear."

"Kandle, up here!"

Even though she had known him for some time now, as he slowly climbed to curled staircase to join her, Georgina faced him with the same breathless excitement of a first date. There was such a magnetism to this tall, dark man. His melancholy, oval face with its features all framed in a thin coat of black whiskers that drew attention to his deep-set silvery stare, and the thick ebony hair that fell in twisted lengths to his shoulders had a deep meaning for her.

Kane took her hand once he was finally at her side and touched it to his lips. He smiled, revealing white teeth. "I deeply apologize for the hour," he said. "I'm very late."

"Just so as long as you are here," she told him happily. "I was afraid you wouldn't come."

Those hypnotic eyes met hers. "How could I possibly stay away knowing that you would be here?" He bowed politely, turning those eyes on Lizzy Anna, "Ma'am." he acknowledged.

"I had quite the time getting Mama's permission," Georgina confided as they began to descend the stairs. "But when I agreed to let Jason Lafon escort me she allowed me to attend."

The Undertaker nodded, smiling thinly. "If I remember correctly he is the rather stuffy young fellow she wants you to take for a husband?"

Georgina blushed. Kane could make her blush at will. "The same," she affirmed quietly.

He took her arm. "A disquieting thought," he replied. "Shall we drive it from our minds by enjoying a dance?"

"Please."

They took their places on the floor for a lovely waltz. Kandle was a perfect partner and whirled her lightly around the room. Georgina felt she had never enjoyed a better dance. But then, she had come to feel that same way towards anything that she and Kane did together. At last the music ended, and quite breathless, she allowed him to lead her away from the floor to one of the quieter side rooms.

Studying her with concern, he asked, "Shouldn't you return to the captain?"

Georgina shook her head. "It was agreed between us that if I came with him that he was to allow me to spend as much time as I wished with you."

Kane smiled gravely. "I can't imagine the captain enjoying such an arrangement."

"He is an officer and a gentleman," she started firmly. "He must keep his word."

"Let's hope he remembers that."

Georgina looked at the Undertaker with indignation. "You have no idea how unfairly he spoke of you earlier tonight. He'd have me think you were a monster!"

"A monster?" There was a questioning light in the silver eyes just now.

"Yes," she said solemnly. "He went on and on about how you roam around the shady districts of the city associating with criminals."

"The captain has a lively imagination," Kandle observed coolly.

"Why he even had the nerve to claim that some people told him that you were responsible for the death of a fisherman who drowned in the canal last week. They pulled his body from the water and found his neck covered in marks."

Kandle's face took on a strange expression, as if what she'd said had been something he'd heard many times before.

"Bruises, I think he said. Really I can't say."

"And you believed him?" He asked.

"Of course not!" Georgina's eyes bloomed. She was shocked that he would even suggest it. Puffing with boredom now, she shrugged it off. "It was so ridiculously fantastic that I scarcely paid much attention really... Oh, Kane let's just leave! I don't want to stay any longer. You can take me home."

"What about Captain Lafon?"

Georgina shrugged. "I don't see him around. He may have left on his own or found some other girl. I don't care. I don't think we should wait for him after all of the horrible things he said."

3

Kandle was waiting for her just outside the door. His caped long coat fluttering in a random gust that danced the colored streamers directly overhead, Georgina came out in her wrap. She fell in his arms at once. In return, he held her tightly before she pressed her lips to his for a lasting kiss. She had been in his arms before, but Georgina always longed for the moment to be repeated. It seemed she was only happy when she was with him.

And yet the moment that should have been filled with the same passion suddenly felt awkward. She released him, staring up at his face through the shadows anxiously, "Are you in good health, dear Kane?"

The bright eyes that peered back at her through the darkness showed little surprise. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

"Your lips. They're so cold. Unnaturally cold."

He smiled at her through a fall of black hair. "Is that it? Don't let it worry you. It is ...there's a small chill tonight and I'm afraid I have not yet adjusted yet to the unusual conditions of the deeper American South. You needn't be alarmed."

"I'm frightened for you all the time," Georgina confessed, nearly sobbing. She snuggled close to him as they walked ahead. "I want to be near you always. Why can't we get married right away, Kandle? We could elope."

His arm was around her. "I'd like that," he agreed with a sigh. "But I have a certain problem which must be settled before I can think of marriage in my life again."

"Again?" Georgina giggled playfully. "I'm jealous."

"It was a long time ago."

"In Virginia?"

"No actually. I'm not originally from Virginia."

"Oh?" Georgina said with a note of surprise. "I didn't know."

"There's a lot of me yet that you do not know," he replied.

She snuggled him. "You'll have to share them with me one day." She said, still grinning.

"I shall like that." The Undertaker agreed and returned her smile.

"So," Georgina began. "What sort of problem, if I may ask?"

"Matters I left behind in Virginia," Kandle told her. "Nothing you should concern yourself with. It is something I must work out for myself."

"How long will it take?"

They crossed the street and his arm tightened around her waist, "No longer than I can help," he promised.   

"I have a strange feeling," she said unhappily. "I have a doubt that we won't ever have a life together. That Mama or something will prevent our marrying."

"You mustn't think such things."

His words were to calm her, but the sad truth was that Kandle was all to aware of what happened to him whenever others had those sudden 'strange feelings'. Those 'feelings' were the stubborn residue of the vow that Darin Hill had made him all those countless years before in his miserable death. True to the sinister bastard's intent, Kane the Undertaker was, 150 years later, just as loveless and lonesome as Darin swore he would always be.

Georgina Picquery caught the forlorn glance. "I'm sorry," she apologized. "It was not my intention to doubt you."

Kane was immediate. "No," he dismissed quickly. "Not at all. I won't let you think of it."

"Still, you seem so sad now."  

"I find that I often am," he agreed sadly.

Though his arm still wrapped hers, Kandle looked ahead with the same distance yearning as men desire to hold onto passing years and it made Georgina wonder whatever could have hurt him so, and how much she wanted to be the one to mend it. When the Undertaker spoke again, it was pained; scantily a whisper.

"Take this kiss upon the brow," he said, and as if recalling, "And, in parting from you now, thus much let me avow."

"Pardon?"

"My hope has flown away."

Georgina didn't understand, but this much she did know for fact that no matter what he would convince her of to the contrary, obvious she had hurt him. She must have! Whatever else could it be?!

"Oh, Kandle I am so very sorry. Let's not talk of it anymore. I will wait for you."

His focus came back to her now, along with his attention of what he had actually said. "No. It's I who should apologize. I came here to New Orleans hoping to mend a few matters of my past. However it would seem that they trouble me yet."

"Give it time." Georgina could not know just what he meant, but she tried soothing him smiling. "After all, you've only just arrived."

She was happy when he smiled back. His eyes swept over her in calm regards, "Yes, that is true."

Warm earlier in the day, the cooler night air all along the canal was patched in fog smelling of stagnant dampness and old wood and wet foliage. The Undertaker's long coat tails fluttered around his gate. Waiting for a buggy to pass before they crossed another lane, there was a queer aromatic scent of pine Georgina thought she could detect. Strange. It was odd and out of place.

"You mentioned that you're not originally from Virginia?" she asked dreamily, hoping to rouse a new conversation from her gentleman companion. But Kane stalled for a moment. When he finally did answer her, his yes was depressed and that worried her. She began to suspect that perhaps some unhappy love affair had been the cause of his coming here. He did mention having almost married once.

"I was born in New England," he supplied, his arm left her waist to hold her hand. "From a small depot town in New Hampshire."

Georgina was amazed.

"My, but you've traveled so far south."

"I am indebted to the Bearers. It is their family that has fostered me these many years. I shall go where they travel. Still, I suspect that you would find Evan's Hill a great deal quieter than New Orleans," he warned. "Just a tiny village along the lakes."

Georgina studied his handsome profile and in a tone of awed discovery said, "You sound as if you may regret leaving."

"There are times I do feel that way."

He answered her yes, but his response was just as aggravate, even as dejected as the first discussion before. Georgina had come to realize there were times when an invisible curtain came between her and the man she had grown to love. Invisible, but still a barrier that was completely, at times, impenetrable. There were things about Kandle DeSullivan and his past she feared she would never know, that for one reason or another he'd prefer that she didn't know about them.

As if to read her thoughts, the Undertaker's hand moved to take its place around her waist once more. He smiled tenderly.

"It's been some time now since I last returned to New Hampshire," he said. "It's quite possible that the village has grown in my absence. I wonder if I would recognize it now."

They strolled along through almost deserted streets. Georgina leaned close to him and fervently wished that she could be with him always. At the same time aware the moment of their parting for the night was nearly at hand. Even now she could see her home and she looked up at Kandle again with ineffable sadness on her pretty face.

"Take me with you, Kane," she whispered.

Grey eyes through black curls gave her a melancholy smile. "Soon," he promised. "Be patient." And he kissed her gently.

Standing for a moment in each other's arms more in the shadow of the eves. Then he gave her another brief kiss and left her. She watched his caped figure as he started out across the street, pausing but a instant to wave goodbye before he moved off into the darkness of the Cajun night and was lost to her.

Returning his wave, she remained staring wistfully after him for a few seconds more before turning to make the small walk to the front door and the rapper there announcing her arrival home.

TO BE CONTINUED~