Read Online Jane Austen: Blood Persuasion by Janet Mullany - Free Book Online Page A

to become en sanglant, shaming herself by thinking of Luke—that is, Luke in a state of undress no gentlewoman should contemplate—and her teeth ached and smarted. She could not become entirely en sanglant, but her canines were sharp enough to do what was necessary. A quick nip into her own wrist, and a drop of her blood and then more until the tea was dark and opaque. She had no idea of the strength of her blood, but it could not be very powerful.
    She stanched the wound, afraid Mrs. Andrews would turn and see what she was about, and lifted Martha’s head, tilting the saucer so that a little of the liquid ran into her mouth. Some dribbled down her chin and Jane scooped it back between Martha’s lips, not wanting to waste any. “Wake up, dearest friend,” she murmured.
    Martha’s eyes fluttered beneath her eyelids as though she dreamed, and a slow smile spread over her face.
    Then her eyes opened wide. Jane clasped her hand. “My dear, how do you feel? I—”
    The smile on Martha’s face faded. She looked at Jane and screamed.
    The whirr and thud of the spinning wheel ceased. Mrs. Andrews said, “Why, Miss Lloyd, you’re awake, thank the Lord—”
    “Get her away from me!” Martha screamed. “She’s one of them!”
    What could Martha see in her? She was not en sanglant . Had her appearance changed in some subtle, horrifying way?
    Mrs. Andrews meanwhile bent over Martha, murmuring soothing words. She looked up at Jane. “She is not herself, Miss Jane. Whatever shall we do?”
    Martha was curled upon herself, sobbing.
    Jane touched her friend’s arm. “Martha, dearest, you must listen to me. Look at me.”
    As Martha raised her head and met her gaze, Jane summoned the strength of the Damned to soothe her. “You are mistaken. You know me as your dearest friend, one who will never harm you.”
    Martha’s face relaxed and she nodded. “Oh, dear me! Why, Jane, what has happened?”
    Jane helped her to her feet and into a chair. “You swooned in the woods. Young Samuel found you, and Mr. Andrews brought you here.”
    “I’m glad to see you are feeling better, Miss Lloyd,” Mrs. Andrews said. “I’ll make some more tea—”
    “Pray do not trouble yourself, Mrs. Andrews. Miss Lloyd may finish mine.” Jane tipped tea from the saucer back into the cup and handed it to Martha. Her friend might as well receive as much benefit as she could from the drops of Jane’s blood.
    Indeed, as Martha drank, the color returned to her face and the brightness was restored to her handsome eyes. In no time at all, she said, “I feel so much better and refreshed. I think I am ready to walk home, for I do not wish to impose upon your hospitality further, Mrs. Andrews.”
    “If you think so, Miss Lloyd. We could take you in our cart, although it’s not fit for a lady. I’ll let Samuel and Mr. Andrews know you’re recovered. I know they’ll be much relieved.” Mrs. Andrews glanced at Martha in astonishment, much, as Jane thought, as Lazarus’s companions must have done. Not only had Martha come back from the dead, or as good as, but she appeared to be bursting with energy.
    “Well, well, Miss Lloyd, this is a welcome surprise,” Mr. Andrews said as he and his son entered the kitchen. “We feared the worst.”
    “It’s a good thing Samuel found you,” Jane said. “You might have lain there for hours.”
    “You say I was in the woods?” Martha looked at them all with astonishment. “Why should I be in the woods?”
    “You do not remember?” Jane asked.
    For a moment Martha looked troubled before assuring everyone with a gay laugh that she was exceedingly well and looking forward to her own dinner. She and Jane left the Andrewses’ house and set off for their own home.
    “Why are you so angry, Jane?”
    “I’m not angry with you. I was frightened for your sake. I was afraid you would die.”
    “It is exceedingly mysterious,” Martha said. “I do not even remember how or why I arrived there. I had called