THE

PIERCED
HEART
A Nove l
Lynn Shepherd
d
DE L ACORT E P R E S S
NE W YOR K
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 5 6/13/14 11:55 AM
Te Pierced Heart is a work ol ction. Namcs, charactcrs, placcs, and incidcnts cithcr
arc thc product ol thc authors imagination or arc uscd ctitiously. Any rcscmblancc to
actual pcrsons, living or dcad, cvcnts, or localcs is cntircly coincidcntal.
Copyright 2014 by Lynn Shcphcrd
All rights rcscrvcd.
Publishcd in thc Unitcd Statcs by clacortc Prcss, an imprint ol Random Housc, a division ol
Random Housc LLC, a Pcnguin Random Housc Company, Ncw York.
vi~cov:v Pvvss and thc Housv colophon arc rcgistcrcd tradcmarks ol Random Housc LLC.
Library ol Congrcss Cataloging in Publication ata
Shcphcrd, Lynn
Tc picrccd hcart: a novcl/Lynn Shcphcrd.
pagcs cm
!S8N 978 0 345 54543 5
c8ook !S8N 978 0 345 54544 2
1. Privatc invcstigators Fiction. 2. Scrial murdcr invcstigation Fiction. !. Titlc.
PR6119.H465P54 2014
823'.92 dc23
2014010836
Printcd in thc Unitcd Statcs ol Amcrica on acidlrcc papcr
www.bantamdcll.com
2 4 6 8 9 7 5 3 1
First dition
8ook dcsign by Carolinc Cunningham
Shep_9780345545435_5p_all_r2.indd 6 6/30/14 3:48 PM

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THE PIERCED HEART
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For El i zabet h
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 7 6/13/14 11:55 AM
!thoughtitwassomctrickolthcmoonlight,
somcwcirdccctolshadow,but!kcptlooking,
anditcouldbcnodclusion ...
8v~:S:oxvv,DRACULA
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 9 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE
PIERCED
HEART
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 1 6/13/14 11:55 AM
CHAPTER ONE
TnvAus:vi~x:vivv,M~vcn+8+
T
nv :v~ix ivv: Pv~cuv at8:35v:on15 March,arrivingat
\icnnabclorcnoon.!tisthclthdaysinccCharlcsMaddoxlclt
Londonundcrgrcyskicsandalouringrain,andhccouldhavcdonc
thcwholcjourncyinlittlcmorcthantwo,hadhcbccnsomindcd,but
hchadrcasonsolhisownlorprolongingthisrstcxcursionbcyond
hisnativcshorcs.Hispassagchasbccnpaidlor,loroncthingand
handsomcly, which is why wc scc him stcpping down not lrom thc
backolthctrain,stinkingolpipcsmokcandgarliclromhourspcntup
with squawking chickcns, raucous soldicrs, and mumbling old nuns,
butlromthcrarccdatmosphcrc(incvcryscnsc)olthccarriagcla
bcllcdvvs:vxi~ssv.nthcplatlormhcndsaportcralrcadywait
ingtotakchisbag,thoughthatcxchangcdocsnottakcplacc,itmust
bcsaid,withoutasomcwhatcondcsccndingliltolthccycbrowwhcn
itbccomcsclcarthatoncrathcrbattcrcdtrunkisallthcnglishHcrr
posscsscs.Hchaslcarncd,thisluggagclackcy,thatagrcatdcalcanbc
dcduccdlromthcstatcandscalcolagcntlcmansbaggagc,butthc
lamcntablylittlcthisparticularpasscngcrcarricssitsrathcroddlywith
thcarroganccinhisairandthcliltolhischin.Andthcrcis,onthc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 3 6/13/14 11:55 AM
4 LYNN S HEP HERD
othcr hand, no qucstion at all that Charlcs Maddoxs clothcs arc lar
toounkcmptlorthccompanyhchaskcpt,houraltcrhour,inthcwcll
upholstcrcd surroundings ol his dcsignatcd compartmcnt, watching
out thc window, and bcing watchcd in his turndid hc but know
itby cach succccding changc ol lcllow travcllcrs. And what would
thcy havc sccn, thc thoughtlul Frcnch pricst, thc two plumply scll
satiscd8clgianmcrchants,thclamilyolprcttyandcxcitablcFlcmish
daughtcrswithpinchlaccdgovcrncssinvigilantattcndancc:Agrimly
bcautilulyoungman,withahcadolrowdydarkbronzccurls,anda
lmolsomcthingvcrylikcdcspairthatgrcyshisskinanddullswhat
mustothcrwiscbcthcmostarrcstingblucstarc.Lookingathim,you
might wcll dcduccas thc pricst did, having studicd him intcrmit
tcntly ovcr thc pagcs ol his Aquinas lor most ol thc distancc lrom
LigctoCologncthatthisisayoungmanwhokccpshisgriclsclosc,
lorwhompainisaprivatcmattcrlorhimscllalonc.Andyouwouldbc
right.Forhispart,Charlcshasstudiouslyavoidcdcontactolanykind
with his companions, rathcr to thc annoyancc ol thc cldcst Flcmish
daughtcr,rcsplcndcntinhcrribbons,whohasbccnscrutinisinghim
cvcrybitasintcntlyasthcMonsignor,thoughwithquitcanothcrmo
tivcinmind.
Charlcssintcrcst,insolarashchadonc,hasbccninthclandscapc
thcmilcsollincdatcldsthatrunhcrcandthcrcintowhitcwashcd
rcdroolcdvillagcs,thcndissolvcagainintodarklythickquillcdlor
csts,anddistantglimpscsoldomcdchurchcsandsunglintingspircs.
!tissocommonlorusnow,totravclbytrain,thatwccannotimaginc
whatitwaslikcthcn,towatchawholcncwworldatsuchunprccc
dcntcd spccdto obscrvc a contincnt unroll in a rcctanglc ol glass,
andsccwithacincmaticcyc,longbclorcthatwordwascvcncoincd.
For a man likc Charlcs, blcsscd with what a latcr ccntury will call a
photographicmcmory(andloramanolhisprolcssionblessedisin
dccdthcword),thcrusholimagcsisalmosttoomuch,anditiswith
somcrcliclthathcspcndsaslowdayolcxplorationatalootspacc,
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THE P I ERCED HEART 5
rstinAntwcrp,andthcninLcipzig,thoughrathcrmorclrugallythc
sccondtimc,sincchisallowanccwillnotothcrwiscsucc.Andnow
hccomcsatlasttohisnaldcstinationtircdandclaustrophobic,and
innccdolabath.8utthcrcwill,itsccms,bcnotimclorthat.Hchas
barclylcltthcplatlormolthciscnbahnholwhcnhcisaccostcd,with
thc utmost courtcsy, by a small thin man wcaring impcccablc livcry,
who addrcsscs him by namc and thcn givcs a low bow.Tc man
itsccmshasnonglish,andCharlcsnoGcrman,sohcisuncasyat
rst,tondhisbagscizcdinasurprisinglyvigorousgrip,butwhcnhc
lollowsthcmanoutintobrightsunshincandarowolstandingcar
riagcs,hcisrclicvcdtondthatthconchcislcdtobcarsthcsamc
crcstasthclcttcrolinvitationhchasinhisjackctpockct.Tcbattlc
mcnts and barrcd hclm ol thc armorial bcarings ol thc 8aron \on
Rciscnbcrg.
Now what, you might bc wondcring, could a pccr ol so proud and
ancicnt a lincagc want with thc company ol a struggling and rathcr
scruyyoungprivatcdctcctivc:Andwhy,morcovcr,shouldhcbcso
carncst to sccurc it that hc is prcparcd to pay his passagc hallway
acrossuropc:Pcrtincntqucstions,!agrcc,thoughtoanswcrthcm!
willhavctotakcyoubackwardssomcthrccmonths,tothatroomon
thcrstoorolthctallclcganthouscothcStrandwhichlorthirty
ycars scrvcd Charlcss grcatunclc as his occ, whcn hc was univcr
sally acknowlcdgcd to bc thc lorcmost thicl takcr in ngland. Tc
scllsamcroomwhcrcwcwouldhavcloundCharlcshimscll,thatcold
day at thc turn ol last ycar, dccp in discussion with a portly balding
maninasombrcsuitolblackoladccidcdlyclcricalappcarancc,but
whowasnot,asittranspircd,thcclcrgymanCharlcsrsttookhimlor,
butthcocialrcprcscntativcolthc8odlcianLibraryinthcUnivcr
sityolxlord.!tisaninstitutionwithaproudandancicntlincagcol
itsown,anduniquccollcctionsthat,asthisMr Turnbullcarclullycx
plaincd,arcnotonlypricclcssbutcvcrmorccostlytomaintain.Soil
alorcigngcntlcmananoblcmannolcssshoulduncxpcctcdlyap
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 5 6/13/14 11:55 AM
6 LYNN S HEP HERD
proach thc Curators with thc ocr ol a quitc alarmingly largc sum
towardsthcupkccpoloncolthc8odlciansncstandmostlamous
bcqucsts,itwouldbcarashcustodianindccdwhodismisscdsuchan
ocr out ol hand. Just as it would bc a most imprudcnt onc who
lailcd to cnsurc that judicious cnquirics wcrc madc bclorc such a
vcryconspicuousdonationwasacccptcd.nquirics,Mr Turnbullcon
ccdcd at oncc, which thc Curators thcmsclvcs wcrc clcarly not in a
position to conduct, but which a man likc Charlcscncrgctic, dis
crcct,intclligcntwasadmirablyplaccdtoundcrtakconthcirbchall.
Andcnquirics,asitturncdout,thathavcbccnbothlorcsccnandlorc
stallcd,sinccthc8aron\onRciscnbcrgaccompanicdhisocrwithan
invitationtoanyoncthcCuratorsmightwishtoappoint,tovisithim
athisanccstralhomc,andvcrilyhiscrcdcntialstothcirlullsatislac
tion.AslorCharlcs,hcdidnothcsitatc.vcnthoughhisgrcatunclcs
hcalthislrailandhismindlailing,Charlcshaslcaptatthcchanccol
bcingwccksaway,athousandmilcslromLondon,andhismcmorics,
andthathouscjustothcStrand.!tmaybcthatyouknowwhathas
drivcnhimsodcspcratctobcgonc,butknowornot,itwillnotbca
sccrctlong.
Tc coachman straps Charlcss trunk to thc rool ol thc hcavy and
rathcroldlashioncdcoach,thcnopcnsthcdoorandlusscsaboutwith
blankctsandaaskolbrandy,botholwhichsccmtoCharlcstobc
irritatinglyunncccssary,sincccvcnilthcrcisachillbrcczcthcsunis
bright, and insidc thc carriagc thc air is warm. As thcy movc slowly
away, Charlcs lowcrs thc glass so that hc can scc thc city, ghting
down what hc knows is rathcr an unrcasonablc cxaspcration that hc
wasntablctosnatchalcwhourstosccitlorhimscll.Tcycrossthc
slowdccpblucolthcVicnRivcr,andthcnskirtthchugclortica
tionsthatloralcwycarsyctwillcirclcold\icnnainamanypointcd
star.Pcrhapsthccoachmanscnscshispasscngcrsimpaticncc,bccausc
allatonccthcyturnothcmainroadandtakconcolthcslowcrand
morcwindingroutcsacrossthcgardcnsthatringthcrampartslikca
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 6 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 7
grassymoat,andwcrconccnolcssvitaltothccitysdclcnccsthanthc
towcringwallsabovc.Tcrcisalairthcrctodaythcairisloudwith
thcblarcolbarrclorgansandhurdygurdics,andasthcypassalong
thcranksolbrightlystripcdboothswiththcirjugglcrs,glassblowcrs,
andpuppctthcatrcs,Charlcsisstruckbyhowlarhchascomcandyct
howlamiliarthisallsccms.Tcoldcitymayshimmcrabovcthcmlikc
acitadcllromchivalry,butthcrcisnothingtodistinguishthisSunday
showorthccrowdsolsmilingandstrollingpromcnadcrs,lromthosc
Charlcs sccs cvcry wcck in thc strccts ol London. Childrcn rolling
hoops,lathcrsintallhats,andmatronsinthcirtrailingsilkscvcnthc
damnlashionsarcthcsamc.Hcsitsbackagaininhisscat,obscurcly
disappointcd, but it is a scnsation that docs not lar outlast thc city
boundarics.Asthccarriagchcadsoutoltownandintothchintcrland
ol lorcsts and vincyards, ncithcr thc landscapc nor thc littlc owcr
dcckcdshrincshcglimpscsatthcsidcolthcroadrcscmblcanything
Charlcswillcvcrsccinngland.Andasthcvallcysnarrow,thcskics
darkcn ovcrhcad, and Charlcs looks up to watcrlalls springing lrom
mossystoncs,andvincsplantcdtcrraccwisconshccrslopcs,andoncc
ortwiccanabandoncdmonastcryclingingpcrilouslytothcovcrhang
ingclis,whcrccrowscacklcandapaboutthcruincdchoirs.
Altcr somc two hours thc carriagc slows, and a lcw minutcs latcr
Charlcsisjoltcdlromhisrcvcricbythcsoundolhoovcsoncobblcs.
A glancc outsidc rcvcals that thcyvc comc to a halt bclorc a ycllow
stuccolaccdbuilding,hardbyanclaboratcironworkgatcgivingout
ovcrcldsnowgrcyinhcavyrain.Hcopcnsthcdoor,surpriscdtond
CastlcRciscnbcrgsounassuming,butittakcsnomorcthanaminutc
lor him to rcalisc his mistakc: Tis building is nothing morc than
a larmstcad, and thcir stop no morc than a momcntary pausc. 8ut
any chancc lor air and movcmcnt is wclcomc altcr so many hours
constraincd. Charlcs lcaps lrom thc carriagc and walks out into thc
wct,muchtothcamuscddisdainolscvcralsmallboysplayingwitha
littlcgrcydogonthclarthcrsidcolthcyard,whcrcwincbarrclsarc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 7 6/13/14 11:55 AM
8 LYNN S HEP HERD
stackcd undcr thc opcn barn and mounds ol scasoncd timbcr await
thc coopcrs crozc. Tcrc arc chickcns picking at thc grass bctwccn
thc cobblcs, and thc air smclls ol woodsmokc. Tc rain is now
trickling down thc back ol his ncck so hc turns and makcs his way
to thc door ol thc housc, whcrc thc coachman is waiting to show
himdownthclowvaultcdpassagctoaroomwithatablclaidbclorc
a rc, and a mctal turccn warming on thc hcarth.Tc larmcrs wilc
is withdrawn and wary, and will not mcct his cyc as shc ladlcs thc
mcat onto his dish, but thc lood is hot and surprisingly appctising.
Somcsortolstcw,clcarly,butavourcdwithadrypcppcryspicchc
cannotnamc.Hcmakcsahallhcartcdattcmpttoaskhcrwhatitis
callcdknowing lull wcll shc cannot possibly spcak nglishand
isnotmuchthcwiscrwhcnshcmuttcrssomcthingthatsoundslikc
paprikash, bclorc turning to pokc thc alrcady roaring rc. Charlcs
has by now draincd thc agon ol rough rcd winc shc had placcd by
hisplatc,andgctstohislccttondthcprivy:!ldinncrcannotwait
lorthcirdcstination,thcymusthavcagooddcalmorcthananhours
road ahcad ol thcm.Tc journcy must havc tircd him morc than hc
rcaliscd,bccauscloronccinhislilchctakcsawrongturnonhisway
back and nds himscll on thc othcr sidc ol thc yard, whcrc hc can
sccthccoachmanandancldcrlythicksctmaninalcathcraprontalk
ing in lowcrcd but carncst voiccs bchind thc coach, as two stablc
boysbackncwhorscsintothcshalts.!lhchadstaycdinthckitchcn
thcy would havc bccn scrccncd lrom his vicw, but lrom whcrc hc
is now Charlcs can scc thc urgcncy ol thc coachmans gcsturcs, and
thc uncasc on thc larmcrs lacc. Somcthing has clcarly unscttlcd
thc old man, and Charlcs sccs him cross himscll. !ntrigucd but not
undulyalarmcd,Charlcsstridcsouttowardsthcm,intcndingtothank
hishostwithahandshakcandoncortwoolthckrcuzcrcoinshcac
quircdinPraguc,butthcmanstartsatthcsightolhimandrctrcats
atoncctothclarmdoorwithoutabackwardsglancc.Charlcslooksto
thc coachman but hc, too, is not mccting his gazc. Charlcs shrugs,
storingthcincidcntawaylorhisrstlcttcrhomctohisunclcMaddox.
Tcnhcsctsalootsquarclyonthccarriagcstcpandswingsupintohis
scat.
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 8 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 9
Tc sun is alrcady sctting and thc tcmpcraturc is dropping last, and
Charlcs apprcciatcs, now, both thc blankcts and thc brandy hc had
dcridcd in thc warmth ol a \icnncsc altcrnoon. As thcy pull away
downtothcmainroadthcrainbcginsagain,butnowitisathinlrccz
ingmiasmathatspccklcsthccarriagcglassandchillsthcairtoicc.!t
is soon too dark to disccrn much bcyond thc laint glow cast by thc
coachmans lamp, and Charlcs can only gucss at thc lay ol thc land
aboutthcmbythcscattcrcdlightsvisiblcondistanthills,clustcrcdlikc
constcllationsbcncaththcstrangcstars.Andasthchoursdragbyand
thc sound ol thc hoovcs clattcrs monotonously on, Charlcs is lullcd
intothathallucinatoryhallslccpthatdricsthcmouth,andhollowsthc
cycs,andmcddlcsmcmorywithmiragc.Hcwillwondcr,altcrwards,il
itwasthcccctolthcwinc,orthcoddlymctallictastingbrandyhc
downcdtoolast,andilhcwasdrcamingordcludcdwhcnhcglimpscd
thc ickcr ol palc bluc lights advancing and rcccding through thc
trccs,whcthcrthchowlinginhishcadwasmcrclylarmdogsdrivcn
mad by loxcs, and not thc blackpcltcd wolvcs hc thought hc saw
ringcd about thc road, panting and stcaming as thc horscs rcarcd in
tcrrorandhisownhcartbattcrcdagainsthisboncs.Andthcnasthc
bcastscloscdinandhclcltthcirrankbrcathhotonhisskinashc
hcard his own voicc crying out aloud, did hc rcally scc thc pack lall
suddcnly back into thc darkncss, whimpcring and cravcn bclorc a
lacclcssgurcsilhoucttcdagainstthcsky,andahandolsilcntpowcr
raiscdagainstthcmoon:
Herr Maddox! Herr Maddox!
Charlcs starts up and looks about him wildcycd. Tc coachman is
staring at him through thc window, and Charlcs rcachcs ovcr and
winds it down, all too awarc that his hands arc trcmbling.Tc man
looksathimnarrowly,thcnsignalslorhimtogctoutolthccoach.Tc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 9 6/13/14 11:55 AM
10 LYNN S HEP HERD
skyisclcarnow,andthcmoonhighabovcthclorcst,butolmanor
wollorcvcndog,thcrcisnosign.Tccoachmanisspcakingtohim
again,andlromhisgcsturcsandpointingngcrsCharlcscvcntually
rcaliscsthatthcyhavcstoppcdatthchcadolasharpdcclinc,andthc
manwantshimtowalkdowntohclpsparcthchorscs.Forthcncxt
hall an hour Charlcs trudgcs bchind thc coach as thc horscs slithcr
andjcrkinthcmud,andthcraincollcctcdinthcwhcclrutsickcrs
ghastlyrccctionsupontothcovcrhangingtrccs.Ashiscarsbccomc
attuncdtothcsilcncc,Charlcscanhcarsmallanimalsmovinginthc
dark,andoncc,hcissurc,adccrplungingawayintothcshadows.Tcn
as thc ncar horsc suddcnly loscs its looting and thc harncss clattcrs
against thc sidc ol thc coach, a hugc whitc owl swoops noisclcssly
down,barclyawingtipaway,ghostlywithitswraithcnormouscycs.
Tclowcrthcydcsccndthccoldcritbccomcs,andthcdampairthick
cnswithtcndrilsolmistthathanginthcairlikcawsinicc.Andthcn
thcyturnanalbcndandthctrccsopcntorcvcalthclongblackcurvc
olthcanubc,glittcringinthcmoonlight.Tccoachmanbringsthc
horscstoahaltandopcnsthcdoorlorhistircdandshivcringpasscn
gcr.Tclaststrctcholthcjourncylollowsthcbcndolthcrivcralong
a widc and woodcd shorclinc until Charlcs sccs a high promontory
jutting out into thc watcr, and abovc it an immcnsc baroquc schloss
standingloursquarc,itsstccproolsoaringtoaticrcdtowcrcrowncdby
an onion domc. A lcw minutcs latcr thcy arc approaching a narrow
stonc causcway, barcly widcr than thc carriagc, which asccnds lorty
lcct or morc to a vast arch cut dircctly into thc cli, ovcrlookcd on
cithcr sidc by thc circular turrcts ol thc gatchousc abovc. Hcrc and
thcrclampsarcburninginthcturrctwindows,butwhcnthcycmcrgc
onthcothcrsidcolthcarchwayCharlcscansccnotoncsinglclight
inallthccastlcssmoothandcloscdlaadc.
Tcarchwayopcnsontoapavcdcourtyardwhcrcthccastlcovcrlooks
thcrivcr,droppingshccrbclow.Tccarriagccomcstoastopbyahugc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 10 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 11
oak door studdcd with nails and surmountcd by a wcathcrcd stonc
crcst.Asmallcrdoorhasbccncutintothcwood,whichputsCharlcs
suddcnly in mind ol thc collcgc gatcs hc saw in xlord, and as thc
coachman unstraps his bag and lilts it down, thc inncr door opcns.
Charlcsisnotsurc,atrst,ilhcisinthcprcscnccolhishost,butwhcn
thcgurcinthcdoorwayclcarshisthroatandwclcomcshimsoltlyin
cxccllcnt though hcavily acccntcd nglish, hc is no longcr in any
doubt.
Vithallthatwcwilldiscovcrolthismanandallhcwillbctothis
storywcwillpausc,hcrc,amomcntandallowCharlcssrstimprcs
sionstohavclullsway.Sowhatisithcnowsccs,asthchighclouds
shrcd across thc moon, and thc wind cchocs wildly about thc high
walls: A tall man, tallcr than Charlcs in lact, il hc wcrc not slightly
stoopcd.Alongdarkcoatolsomchcavymattcmatcrialthatrcccts
nolight.Anantiquclampswinginglromonchand,thcwickcutlow
andthcamcguttcring.Ahighlorchcadandthinsilvcrhairwispcd
about thc cars. Yct thcsc arc but dctails. Vhat draws and holds thc
gazc,ishislacc.Tccxtraordinarypalccycs,hcavyliddcdandashcn
lashcd.Tchcadtoosmallsurclyloramanolsuchahcight,and
thcboncsolthcskullpainlullyvisiblcundcrskinstrctchcdsowhitc
Charlcswondcrsloramomcntilthc8aronisanalbino.Andwhcnhc
holdsouthishandthcngcrsCharlcstakcsbricyinhisownarcas
wanasacorpscanhourold.
Charlcsbows.Frcihcrr\onRciscnbcrg.
! am plcascd to wclcomc you to my homc, Hcrr Maddox,
thc 8aron rcplics, his voicc still low, as il hc sucrs lrom thc night
air.!knowyoucomchcrconavisitolbusincss,but!hopc,noncthc
lcss,thatyouwilllacknothingwhilcyouarcwithus,andthatwhcn
you comc to lcavc, you will takc with you all that you comc hcrc to
scck.
!tisnodoubtthcrcsultollcarningthclanguagcinacadcmiclash
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 11 6/13/14 11:55 AM
12 LYNN S HEP HERD
ionandrarclyspcakingit,butthclormalityolthc8aronsspccchhas
acuriouslydistancingccct,andasCharlcslollowshimintothclolty
stoncpavcdhallitisasilthosclcwpaccsacrossthcthrcsholdhavc
bornc him ccnturics back. Hcrc, as outsidc, no lights arc burning,
andinthcwcakglowolthcsilvcrlampCharlcswondcrsagain,with
a jcrk ol uncasc, il his cycs arc oncc morc dccciving him, lor as thc
swingolthclantcrnthrowsshadowslikcblackcncdbranchcsspiking
acrossthcwallsitsccmslorallthcworldasilthcgrcatroomhasbccn
builtinsidcthclorcstthatprcsscscloscuponthcpromontoryoncvcry
sidc. And hc is surcsure this timcthat hc can scc thc glittcr ol
animal cycs, and thc shapc ol gurcs in thc darkncss, hunchcd and
hoodcd
Hcchcckshispaccamomcnt,butthc8arondocsnotturnorslow,
and as hc rounds a corncr ahcad and thc dark pours back, Charlcs
makcshastctocatchhimup.Tcylollowanarrowpassagctoaight
olstcps,thcnasccndalongspiralstairolwornandpittcdstonc,and
Charlcsndshimscllatlast,brcathlcsswiththcclimbandmorcthan
a littlc unncrvcd, in a small, windowlcss octagonal room ringcd by
bookshclvcsandlitonlybythcrcinthcgratc.Adooroppositcstands
opcn onto a bcdroom whcrc a grcat carvcd lourpostcr has bccn
warmcdandturncd,andabottlcolTokaywincandaplatcolcoldcuts
andchccscisawaitinghim.
!bcgyoutocxcuscmc,saysthc8aron,turningtolacchim.Tc
amcs cast a goldcn glow about his lcaturcs, but thc ccct is oddly
articiallikcablackandwhitclmwronglyrccolourcd.
!havcmyscllalrcadydincd,hccontinucs,andwillnot,thcrclorc,
join you. ! am cognisant, likcwisc, that you havc had a long journcy,
and would no doubt prclcr to sup in privacy, and rctirc at a timc ol
your own choosing. ! anticipatc much plcasurc in making your ac
quaintancc, but will rcscrvc that gratication lor thc morrow, whcn
you will bc rcstcd. Should thcrc bc any comlort ! havc omittcd to
providc,donotscruplctoringloroncolthcscrvants.Tcyhavcbccn
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 12 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 13
instructcdtoassistyouinallyourcquirc.Andnow,il!may,!willbid
yougoodnight.
Andwiththathcbowsonccmorc,andrctircs.Tcairinthcroom
swirls,thcnscttlcs,lcavingalaintsccntolsomcthingacidic,chcmical.
Charlcsturnsupthclamp,andstartstowandcraboutthcroomashc
discards his laycrs ol clothcs.Tc shclvcs arc stackcd with scicntic
booksandjournals,mostolthcminGcrman,butasurprisingnumbcr
innglish,aswcllasFrcnch.Tcrcarcbooksolgcologyandbotany,
chcmistry and mctallurgy, physics and cosmology, as wcll as a largc
scctionmostolthcscinGcrmanonhumananatomyandphysiol
ogy.Charlcspullsoutavolumcortwoinnglishandgocstoplacc
thcmbythcbcd.Tcnhcsitsdownatthcsmalltablcandstartsupon
hislood.
Tclollowingmorninghcwakcslatc.!tisthcrsttimcinwccksthat
hchasnotdrcamcdolhcrthcwomanwhosclacchccannotrccall
without shamc, and thc sick laltcr ol a tcrriblc scllrcproach. Tc
woman who scrvcd in his unclcs kitchcn and sharcdhowcvcr
bricyCharlcssbcd.Tcwomanwhowouldhavcbornchischild,
only Charlcs did not know that until it was lar too latc, and both
mothcrandunbornbabywcrcdyingbclorchiscycs.Hccannotsum
mon Molly now on any day but that last, as hcr body slippcd into
oblivionandhcrcycsswamwithtcarsolincomprchcnsionanddcspair
whilchcrbloodrancoldonthclrcczingstoncoor.Andaslorthat
othcr lacchis childsit hovcrs at thc lringcs ol his unconscious,
cvcr prcscnt, but ncvcr lully sccn, ncvcr quitc closc cnough lor his
drcaminghandtorcach.
8utlastnight,hcdidnotdrcam,andnowhclicsstaringatthccciling
inblanktcrror,uttcrlyunawarcolwhcrchcis.Tcnhiscyclightson
thccoathookcdovcrthcbackolthcchair,andwhcnhcrcachcsouta
hand hc nds thc old copy ol thc Proceedings of the Royal Society of
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 13 6/13/14 11:55 AM
14 LYNN S HEP HERD
Londonhclcllaslccpovcrthcnightbclorc,havingtricdandlailcd
todcciphcrthctinyannotationspcncillcdthickaboutanarticlctitlcd
n thc Mutual Rclations ol thc\ital and Physical Forccs, by onc
Villiam8.Carpcntcr,M,FRS.Hcsitsupandrcaliscsthatthcrc
thatshouldhavcdicdbynowisbrightandwcllstokcd,andthctablc
thatborcancmptybottlcandthcrcmainsolhissuppcrnowcarricsa
trayolbrcaklastandapotolcocc.Somconchasbccnintothcroom
whilchcwasslccping,andCharlcslooksquicklyabouthimarccx
hcimmcdiatclyrccogniscstobcridiculous,sinccthcrcisclcarlyno
onc thcrc now. Hc discntanglcs himscll lrom his bcdding, slightly
pinkaboutthcchccksatwhatthcmaidmighthavcsccn,andmakcs
hiswaytothcwashstand,whcrchcdouscshishcadandncckinwatcr
andlooksaboutloramirror.Vhich,rathcroddly,hccannotnd,ci
thcr thcrc, or anywhcrc clsc in thc room. Hc shavcs as bcst hc can
without onc, sincc its not an articlc hc cvcr carrics with him, thcn
drcsscsandpourshimscllacupolhotthickblackcoccbclorcgoing
ovcrtoopcnthcshuttcrs,scratchingabscntmindcdlyallthcwhilcat
a littlc raw patch on his ncck.Tc room, hc nds, has a vicw ol thc
rivcrandthcwoodcdbankbcyond,andlromhisclcvatcdcyrichccan
sccthccormorantsonthcwatcrwhcclingandsquawkinginthcgust
ingwind,andthrccstorcysdownthccrccpcrcovcrcdwall,thcpavcd
courtyardbclorcthccastlcdoor,whcrcaladinarcdcapiscarrying
whatlookslikcaplatcoloaldowntowardsthcgatc.Tcrcsasmall
vcssclbuctingthcrivcrcurrcnt,butthcboatandthcboyarcthconly
signs ol human habitation visiblc lor milcs. Charlcs turns away
and sits down to his brcaklast, a littlc conccrncd at how much ol
thc day has alrcady gonc. Hall an hour latcr hc cmcrgcs lrom his
room and makcs his way downstairs. At thc loot ol thc spiral stcps
hc nds an archway opcning onto a gallcry that rings thrcc sidcs ol
thchall.ncpartollastnightsstrangcncss,atlcast,isnowcxplaincd:
Tc branching shadows Charlcs saw in thc gloom wcrc cast by
nothing morc uncanny than thc antlcrs and ancicnt wcaponry xcd
aroundthcpalcwalls,andthccycsinthcdarkncssnomorcthanglass
rccctionslromthcstucdhcadsolhugclongdcaddogs,thcirtccth
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 14 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 15
barcdinapcrmancntvicioussnarl.Andaslorthcgurcshcglimpscd
lurkinginthcshadows,hcsccsnow,withaquicksnortathisownidi
ocy, that thcy wcrc only suits ol armour, asscmblcd lor battlc about
cmptyair.
Andcmptyairisallthcrcstolthchallcontains,atlcastatthismo
mcnt.Tcrcisnosignolscrvants,andccrtainlynosignolthcmastcr
olthchousc.Tcdayoutsidcisbrightwithsunandloudwithawcst
crnwind,butinsidcthccastlcisbothdimmcdandsilcntacurious
mucd silcncc which sccms to suck cvcn thc ccho lrom thc stonc.
Charlcshcsitatcsamomcnt,wondcringwhcthcrtogodown,whcnhc
hcarsadooropcnlarthcralongthcgallcryasmalllowdoorwhich
mustbcdircctlybclowthctowcranddomcabovc.Tc8aroncmcrgcs
lromit,thcncarclullylocksitbchindhimwithalargcironkcy,bclorc
procccdingslowlyandthoughtlullytowardswhcrcCharlcsisstand
ing.Sothoughtlulishc,inlact,thatCharlcsalmosthastostcpintohis
pathtoattracthisattcntion.
Ah!saysthc8aron,startingback.Hciswcaring,Charlcsnoticcs,
cxactlythcsamcclothcsashcworcthcnightbclorc.
!apologisc,Frcihcrr!didnotintcndtoalarmyou.
No,no,saysthc8aron,composinghislcaturcsquickly.Youhavc
mcrclyanticipatcdmc.!wasabouttoscndascrvanttocnquircwhcthcr
youwouldcarctobcginthcbusincssolyoursojournatCastlcRciscn
bcrg.
Hc starts to walk on, gcsturing Charlcs to accompany him, and
Charlcssccshimglanccbacktowardsthclockcddoor,andngcrthc
kcyhchasplaccdinthcpockctolhislongdarkcoat.
!inlcr,thc8aroncontinucs,hisvoiccstilllowandslightlyrasping,
thatthcCuratorsolSirTomas8odlcysLibraryrcquirctwoquitc
distinctcatcgoricsolrcassurancclromyourvisithcrc:
Charlcs avcrts his cycs.! am not surc ! undcrstand your mcan
ing.
Mydcaryoungmanil!mayprcsumctocallyousoil!wcrca
lunctionary cntrustcd with a rolc such as thcirs, prcscntcd with an
ocrsuchasthconc!havcmadc,thcrcwouldbctwomattcrs!should
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 15 6/13/14 11:55 AM
16 LYNN S HEP HERD
wish to asccrtain. Firstly, that thc bcnclactor in qucstion was indccd
thcmanhcclaimcdtobc,andsccondly,thatthcrcwouldbcnodangcr,
noworatanyluturctimc,olany
Hcpauscsamomcnt,clcarlyscarchinglorthcappositcword.
embarrassment,shallwcsay,arisinginconscqucnccolacccpting
suchagilt.
Charlcs rcddcns, dcspitc himscll, and hc hcars thc 8aron laugh
soltly.Tcrcisnonccdlorcmbarrassmcntonyourpart,Mr Maddox.
Youarcmcrclycarryingoutthctaskyouhavcbccnassigncd,andthc
Curators,inthcirturn,mcrclylulllingthcdutythcyowc.!takcno
ocncc,indccdas!havcalrcadystatcd,!shouldundcrtakccxactlythc
samccnquirics,wcrc!inthcirplacc.
! conlcss ! havc wondcrcd, bcgins Charlcs, as thcy dcsccnd thc
stairs,whyyouchoscthcAshmolc8cqucstasthcrccipicntolyour
gcncrosity. ! was lucky cnough to bc allowcd to vicw it whcn ! mct
thc Curators in xlord, and whilc thc illuminatcd 8cstiary is un
qucstionably charming and no doubt pricclcss, somc ol thc othcr
itcms
Tc8aronsmilcsatCharlcs,rcvcaling,lorthcrsttimc,alincol
sharpdiscolourcdtccthandpalcrcccdinggums.Youarcrclcrring,!
dcducc, to thc astrological and alchcmical trcatiscs that makc up a
grcatpartolthccollcction:
ToscolSimonFormaninparticular.!rcadonlyalcwpagcs,but
thcmanwasquitcobviouslyacharlatanallthatnonscnscaboutcon
juring astral powcrs and summoning spirits. And claiming hc could
trcatillncssbycastinghoroscopcsandlcttingbloodaccordingtothc
phascsolthcmoon:!tsludicrous,nottomcntionlraudulcnt.Small
wondcrthcythrcwhimingaol.
And yct hc saw morc than a thousand paticnts a ycar, says thc
8aronsoltly.
Charlcslctsoutasnortoldcrision.!lsomcolthcmwcrchcalcd,it
hadnothingwhatsocvcrtodowithwcaringFormansamulctsorrccit
inghissocallcdmagicalincantations.Hccurcdbycoincidcncc,or
atbcstplacebo.
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 16 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 17
Hcstops,awarcandamazcdthathiscompaniondocsnotsccm
tobcagrccingwithhim.Youdonotconcur:
Tc 8aron raiscs an cycbrow. ! would obscrvc mcrcly that such
lcarningwasnotcondcmncdasprcpostcrousatthctimc.!amsurc!
donotnccdtorcmindyouthatSir!saacNcwtonconductcdalchcmi
calcxpcrimcntsolhisown.rthatSirliasAshmolcwashimscllan
alchcmist,aswcllasaloundcrolyourRoyalSocicty.
8ut that was ncarly two hundrcd ycars ago!Tcrc havc bccn so
many advanccmcnts in scicntic knowlcdgc sincc thcnthcrc is no
cxcusclorsuchabsurdsupcrstition
Advanccmcntsthcrchavcindccdbccn,intcrruptsthc8aron.And
yctwcarcnoncarcrndingthcanswcrstowhichthcalchcmistsas
pircdthanAshmolcorFormanwcrc,lorallthccortsolthcscicntic
cstablishmcnt.Alchcmy,Mr Maddox,wasconccrncdnotmcrclywith
thctransmutationolbascmctals,butthctransgurationolthchuman
soul,thatitmightcommuncwiththatsccrctcncrgywhichbothillu
minatcsandanimatcsthckosmos.Tccncrgyolthcancicntswhichis
now lost to our sccptical, mattcrollact ninctccnth ccntury, thc cn
crgythatlightsthcaurora borealis,andthrobsinthcdccpplaccsolthc
carth,andwhichourlorclathcrsmarkcdwithsacrcdsitcsolstanding
stoncs.
Charlcs starcs at him, opcnmouthcd, bclorc rcmcmbcring his
manncrsandhismissionhcrc,andinclininghishcad.!bowtoyour
largrcatcrknowlcdgc,Frcihcrr.
8ythctimcthcycomctoahaltbclorcalargcwoodcndoor,Charlcs
has alrcady rcviscd all thc many unscttling imprcssions ol thc last
twcntylourhoursandcomctothcconclusionthatallcanbccxplaincd
byhishostsincrcasinglyobviousccccntricity.Tc8aroniscvidcntly
onc ol thosc idlc aristocrats whosc wcalth allows thc indulgcncc ol
cvcnthcmostoutlandisholwhims.8utilsomcolthatwcalthcango
towardsprcscrvingthcAshmolc8cqucst,thcnitisnotclcarlylor
Charlcstostandinthcway.
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 17 6/13/14 11:55 AM
18 LYNN S HEP HERD
Sothcrcisarathcrsupcriorsmilconhislipsasthc8aronopcnsthc
doorandgcsturcshimtocntcrasmilcthatslipsslowlylromhislacc
ashctakcstwo,thcnthrccstcpslorward,andstandsgazingabouthim.
!t is thc most bcautilul library Charlcs has cvcr sccn. A woodand
gildcdcocrcdcciling,shclvcsthatrcachlromlriczctooor,andall
along thc wall bclorc him a linc ol tall windows shicldcd by hcavy
muslindrapcs,givingovcrthcrivcrrampartontothcwatcrbclow.And
atthclarlclt,amanwithathickdarkbcardanddclcrcntialdrcssis
layingpapcrscarclullyontoadcsk.
!nanticipationolyourrcquircmcnts,saysthc8aron,!havctakcn
thclibcrtyolrcqucstingthccustodianolmyownvcrymuchmorc
modcstcollcction to lurnish you with ccrtain documcnts that may
bcolassistanccinyourtask.
Tctwoolthcmprocccdatastatclypaccpastbookstandsbcaring
volumcs hcld opcn by vclvct ribbons, armillary globcs mountcd on
circularlramcs,andglasscascscontainingwhatlooktoCharlcstobc
originalmcdiacvalmanuscripts.
Tisisastonishing,sir,hcsays,asovcrwhclmcdasachildlctloosc
inatoyshop.!congratulatcyou.
Tc 8aron inclincs his hcad. A library such as this is not thc
workoloncman,orcvcnoloncgcncration.Somcolthcbooksyou
scc hcrc havc bccn in thc posscssion ol my lamily lor morc than
vc hundrcd ycars. Many othcrs havc bccn acquircd morc rcccntly,
cithcr by my lathcr, or by myscll. My lathcr spcnt his lilc as Court
Librarian in thc scrvicc ol thc King ol Vurttcmbcrg. ! still rccall
bcingpcrmittcd,lorthcrsttimc,tocntcrthcroyalapartmcntsand
vicw my lathcr at workcataloguing, classilying, rcstoring. ! had a
naturalcuriosity,asachild,andmylathcrtookcarctonurturcit,and
toinstilatthcsamctimcapropcrrcgardlorcorrcctncssolmcthod,
and ordcrlincss ol thought. His own passionas thc books you scc
aboutyouamplyattcstwaslorhistory,andlorlitcraturc.Hcwasan
avid collcctor ol such works, and cndcavourcd to imbuc my young
mindwithsomcthingolhisowncnthusiasm.!lcar!wasasaddisap
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 18 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 19
pointmcnt to him, howcvcr, lor my own intcrcsts inclincd quitc an
othcrway.
Charlcssmilcs.!lcarthat!,too,disappointcdmylathcrbylailing
tolollowinthccourschcprclcrrcdlormc.
!ndccd:saysthc8aron,stoppingandlookingCharlcslullinthc
lacclorthcrsttimc.Andwhatwouldhchavcchoscn:
Mcdicinc,rcplicsCharlcs,ushingalittlc,thoughwhcthcratthc
mcmoryolthatdisastrouscxpcrimcnt,oratthcopinionshcwasjust
asscrting,itwouldbchardtosay.Mylathcriswasadistinguishcd
physician,andathisinsistcncc!,too,lollowcdamcdicaltraininglor
somcmonths.8ut!hadnoaptitudclorthcwork,andaninsucicnt
cmpathyorso!wastoldlorthcsucringsolmylcllowmcn.Tc
surgconwhosupcrviscdmystudicsobscrvcdonccthat!approachcd
illncssasilitwcrcanintcllcctualpuzzlclascinatcdbydctcrmining
thc naturc and causc ol thc complaint, yct all but indicrcnt to thc
conscqucnttaskolccctingausclulcurc.
Hc stops, thc smilc dying on his lips, and lcaring hc has said too
much,lorthcrcisanoddcxprcssion,now,inhishostscycs.
idhc,indccd,saysthc8aroncvcntually.!scc.Vcmusttalkol
thisagain.8ut!amalraid!havctolcavcyou,lorthcmomcnt,tothc
carcolthccxccllcntHcrr8rcmmcr,as!havcbusincssolmyownto
attcndto.Vhcnyouhavcsccnallyourcquirc,hcwillcscortyoutothc
dining parlour, whcrc you will nd lunchcon awaiting you. Good
morning,Mr Maddox.
Andwiththathcisgonc.
Charlcs turns to thc librarian, who bows low, thcn lcads Charlcs
towardsabaizctablc,whcrchchasunrollcdalargcscrollandsccurcd
it carclully with small lcadcn wcights. Hc is wcaring whitc cotton
glovcs,andasks,inpcrlcctnglish,thatHcrrMaddoxplcascrclrain
lromtouchingthcparchmcnt.!tis,hccxplains,arcprcscntationolthc
8aronslamilytrcc,originallycraltcdmorcthanaccnturybclorc,and
addcdto,withgrcatcarc,withcachsuccccdinghcirandalliancc.And
itisindccdabcautilulthingthcpapcrthickandnclytcxturcd,thc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 19 6/13/14 11:55 AM
20 LYNN S HEP HERD
calligraphycxquisitc,andthcnclydctailcdcoatsolarmsasbrightas
thcymusthavcbccnthcdaythcywcrcrstinkcd.Hcrr8rcmmcris
nowlookingatCharlcscxpcctantly,andhcrcaliscssuddcnlythathcis
bcingshownthisitcmnotasanartclact,butascvidcncc.Hctakcshis
notcbookquicklylromhispockctandaskshiscompanionilhccan
assisthimindcciphcringthcGcrmaninscriptions.Hallanhourlatcr
hchassixpagcsolnotcscovcringcvcryconccivablcaspcctolthc8ar
onsantcccdcncc,aswcllasthccxtcntolhiscstatcs,thchistoryolhis
schloss,andthcidcntityolhissucccssor,shouldthcprcscnt8aron\on
Rciscnbcrgdicassccmslikclywithoutasonolhisown.
Asavctting,itissurclyaspositivcasthc8odlcianCuratorscouldpos
siblycxpcct,andbythccndolitCharlcsisbcginningtowondcrhow
hc is to ll his timc lor thc rcst ol his allottcd stay.Vhcn a silcncc
dcsccnds,Charlcsvcnturcsahallidlcqucstionastothcnaturcolthc
busincssthathascallcdthc8aronaway,butHcrr8rcmmcraccts
not to undcrstand him, his cycs xcd on thc task ol rcrolling thc
scroll.Charlcswatchcshim,awarcolarstickcrolprcmonition
a dctcctivc instinct that tclls him all may not bc what it sccms. !ts
possiblchc acknowlcdgcs at onccthat thc man is nothing morc
thanuncomlortablcwiththcprospcctoldiscussinghiscmploycrsal
lairswithastrangcr,butthcslightushonhisthinchccksargucslor
somcthingclsc,somcthingmorc.!nthcmcantimcHcrr8rcmmcrhas
placcd thc scroll carclully in a long papcr tubc and gonc to ring thc
bcll,andbythctimcthcscrvantappcarshcissmilingandbowingand
puttinghimscllatCharlcssdisposalilhcshouldrcquircmorcassis
tancc.!tisasilthcqucstionhadncvcrbccnaskcd.
Tcrc is a contrarincss in Charlcsa rcluctancc to acccpt no lor an
answcrthat has stood him in good stcad in his choscn prolcssion
almostasoltcnasithaslandcdhimintroublc,soitwillnotsurprisc
youtohcarthathcisnowmakingamcntalnotctocnquircaboutthc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 20 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 21
8aronsbusincsswhcnhcsccshishostatlunchcon.8utwhcnthcscr
vantopcnsthcdoortothcvastbloodrcddiningroomCharlcssccsat
onccthatatablcthatcouldcasilyscattwodozcnissctnowonlylor
onc.Candlcsarclit,cvcnthoughitisscarcclypastnoon,andthchcavy
brocadc curtains arc drawn.Tc scrvant has alrcady closcd thc door
bchind him, and ol othcr scrvcrs thcrc is no sign, so Charlcs hclps
himsclllromthcrathcrostcntatioussilvcrgiltturccn,andthcncatsin
acombinationolsilcnccandlrustration.Vhcnhcnallypushcsthc
platcawayandgctsup,hcrcaliscsthc8aronisstandingsilcntlyinthc
doorway bchind him. How long hc has bccn thcrc, Charlcs has no
idca.
You havc alrcady catcn, Frcihcrr \on Rciscnbcrg: asks Charlcs,
somcwhatwronglootcd.
Tc8aronshakcshishcad.!rarclydincduringthcday,Mr Mad
dox,andconncmydictalwaystoastrictvcgctablcrcgimcn.
Vhich might cxplain, thinks Charlcs, both thc pallor ol his skin
andthatslighttrcmorhcnoticcsnowinthc8aronshands.
!toccurrcdtomc,continucs\onRciscnbcrg,lromyourrcmarks
carlicrthismorning,thatyoumightbcintcrcstcdtovisitmycollcc
tion.
!thought!hadalrcadydoncso
Tc 8aron is alrcady waving his hand. ! do not spcak ol thc
libraryitisabaublc,anacctation
Charlcsraiscshiscycbrowstojudgconlyolthclcwtrcasurcshc
glimpscdthatmorning,thc\onRciscnbcrgarchivcisworthaKings
ransom,andascholarsrapturc.
onotmistakcmc,continucsthc8aron.!havcajustapprccia
tionolthcvalucolthcvolumcs!amlortunatccnoughtoposscss,but
that valucto mcis largcly sentimental. ! bclicvc that is your n
glishphrasc:
Charlcs nods.Scntimcntal valuc, ycs, that is thc phrasc. 8ccausc
thcybclongcdtoyourlathcr.
Quitcso.Vhcrcasmyowncollcctionisolquitcanothcrordcr,and
quitcanothcrvaluc.!rarclyinvitcvisitorstosccit,andncvcronthc
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 21 6/13/14 11:55 AM
22 LYNN S HEP HERD
strcngtholsoslightanacquaintanccship,butitsccmstomcthatyou
arc ol a cast ol mindand an intclligcnccas might apprcciatc its
worth.
Charlcsiswcllawarcthathcisbcingattcrcd,andpartolhismind
notcshowvcryskillullythc8aronhasbothgaugcdandcngagcdhim.
8utthcrcisanothcrpartolhismindthatwondcrswhatcxactlythis
curious man might bc hoarding in this cxtraordinary and sccmingly
hallcmptyhousc,andwhcthcritmighthavcsomcbcaringonthctask
hchasbccnscnthcrctoachicvc.
Hccastshisnapkindownonthctablc.!shouldbchonourcd,sir.
Tcy procccd lrom thc diningroom up thc stairs, and Charlcs as
sumcs lor a momcnt that thcir dcstination is thc door hc saw thc
8aron lock so carclully a lcw hours bclorc, but nohc is lcd to an
othcrlargcrcntrancconthclarthcrsidc,toaroomcxactlyabovcthc
library,andolcxactlythcsamchcightandgrandcur.nlythisisnota
library.!ndccdthconlyspaccitrcscmblcs,inCharlcsscxpcricncc,is
thc magniccnt North Gallcry ol thc 8ritish Muscum, whcrc morc
thanathousandspccimcnsolmincrals,crystals,mctals,andgcological
orcsarcdisplaycd,catalogucdlromAchmitctoZundcrcrtsc,andol
lcring thc captivatcd visitoras Charlcs wcll knowscvcrything
lromachunkolmctcoritcknownasthccclcbratcdYorkshircStonc,
wcighing56lbs,whichlcllncarVoldCottagc,inthcparisholTwing,
inthcastRiding,tosamplcsolhydrousoxidcoliron,amongthc
most rcmarkablc varictics ol which spccics arc a shining brownish
blackvarictyuscdashairpowdcrbythc8ootchuananativcsbcyond
thcGrcatRivcrinSouthAlrica.
Tc8ritishMuscumboastslourgallcricsthcsizcolthisroom,butthc
8arons is as crowdcd and as carclully curatcd as any onc ol thcm.
Tcrc arc tablcs bcaring scicntic instrumcnts, somc clcarly antiquc
andprobablyolimmcnscvaluc,andothcrswiththcstainsolrcccnt
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 22 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 23
usc,includingoncmicroscopcthatstillbcarsaslidccovcrcdwithsomc
thickrcddishrcsiduc.Tcrcarccabinctsolthc8aronsownmincral
ogical spccimcns, cach onc scrupulously labcllcd in Latin, Gcrman,
and (in rathcr smallcr lcttcring, it must bc said) nglish, and onc
wholccascolprcciousandscmiprcciousstoncswhicharclargcrthan
any Charlcs has cvcr sccn in 8loomsburysoapy rosc quartz, thc
squarcspikcsoladccppurplcamcthyst,andalrostopaqucdiamond
thcsizcolCharlcssst.Andrathcrmorcunncrvingly,acascolhuman
bodypartsjarrcdincthanolgrcyishbrainslikclossiliscdcoral,two
hcartscutcarclullyinhall,onchcalthy,oncdiscascd,ashrivcllcdpcnis
andtcsticlcs,andadclormcdloctusthathasCharlcsturningawayand
quickcning his pacc. At onc cnd ol thc room thc wall is hung with
lramcdprintsthatlooklromadistancclikcconvcntionallandscapcs
wild sccncrics bcsct by storms, and ruincd towcrs standing against
glowcringclouds.8utasCharlcsdrawscloscrhcrcaliscsthatthcpic
turcsarcnotlandscapcsatallbutindustrialsitcsthctowcrsarclur
naccchimncys,andthccloudsthcbclcholsmokcandsootytar.Hc
glanccsbackatthc8aron,aqucstioninhiscycs,buthishostmcrcly
gcsturcshim,bywayolcxplanation,towardsanothcrscricsoltablcs
rangcd along thc windows. Vhcn hc approachcs thc rst ol thcm,
Charlcs is at a loss to know what hcs looking atthcrcs a kidncy
shapcdglassrctort,somcsortolburncr,alcwscrapsolrustcolourcd
wood, and a ccramic bowl containing a waxy colourlcss substancc,
crumblingwhitcatthcrim.Tcnhcnoticcsadiagramproppcdatthc
lrontolthctablc,butthcwritingissosmallhccannotscctorcaditin
thc dim light. Hc rcachcs upwithout cvcn thinkingto raisc thc
blind,butndshishandatonccstaycdbythc8aronsdryandsurpris
inglylorcclulgrasp.
!wouldaskyounottolctinthclight,hcsayssoltly.!ndit
distrcssing.
Looking at him at such closc rangc, at thosc palc cycs and thc rcd
marksonthcakingpallidskin,Charlcswondcrslorthcrsttimcil
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 23 6/13/14 11:55 AM
24 LYNN S HEP HERD
thcmanhassomcsortolmcdicalconditionsomcthingcxaccrbatcd
byhismonkishdictthatrcndcrshimscnsitivctothcsun,andaccounts
lorthcraspinghoarscncssinhisthroat.Adiscascsuchasxeroderma
pigmentosum will not, ol coursc, bc discovcrcd lor thc bcst part ol a
ccntury,butCharlcshassccnpaticntssucringlromlupusbclorc,and
dclibcratcswhcthcrtomcntionitaltcrall,whatkindolmcdicalcarc
canbconocrhcrc,somanymilcslromcivilisation:8utbclorchc
canndwordsolsucicnttactthc8aronbcginstospcakagain,and
thcmomcnthaspasscd.Tisparticulardisplaydocumcntsadiscov
cryolsomcnotcachicvcdbymcansolaproccsstcrmcddrydistilla
tion.Tisinvolvcsinsimplctcrms,youundcrstandthchcatingol
asolidmatcrialtoproduccagascoussubstancc,whichisthcn,inits
turn, rcndcrcd solid by thc action ol watcr, or ol alcohol. Hcncc thc
itcmsyouscchcrc.Tcdiagrambclorcyousctsoutthcvariousstagcs
olthccxpcrimcntthchcating,thcscparationolthcvariousrcsiducs,
andsoon.And,olcoursc,thcnalrcsult.
Charlcslookscloscratthcccramicbowl.!tlooksalittlclikcparal
nwax
!tshoulddoso,lorthat,indccd,iswhatitis.FromthcLatinparum
anis,mcaninglackinganity,bccauscthisparticularwax
docsnotrcactwithothcrsubstanccs.Ycs,!know,saysCharlcs,
a littlc too quickly. 8ut hc is imprcsscd, dcspitc himscll: For all his
anccstry,thcmandocssccmtohavcdcvotcdhimsclltoscriousstudy.
Sothispartolyourcollcctionisdcvotcdtothcrccrcationolscicn
ticdiscovcrics:
!tisdcdicatcd,Mr Maddox,tothcrccrcationolmyscicnticdis
covcrics.
8ut!thoughtparanwasinvcntcdbyaScotsmanChristianson,
orsomcsuchnamc
Tc 8arons cycs narrow.Robcrt Christisons work succeeded minc.
Tcinvcntionwas,withoutqucstion,my own.
Charlcsstarcsathim,andthcnatthclincolbaizctablcsandthcn,
onccmorc,atthcmanbclorchim,allhiscondcsccndingprcconccp
tionscrashingabouthim.How did he not know this?Altcrall,itwould
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 24 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 25
hardly havc bccn that dicult to nd it out. Hc curscs himscll
silcntlywhyoncarthdidnthcrcscarchhishostinLondonwhcnhc
hadthcchanccwhywashcsostupidlyarrogantastoassumcthatno
aristocratcouldcvcrbcrcnowncdloranythingothcrthanhislincagc:
Am!toundcrstand,hcsaysslowly,thatallolthcscdisplaysrclatc
toyourowninvcntions:
Mostolthcmconccrnmycxpcrimcntswithcoaltar,andthcusclul
substanccs that may bc obtaincd thcrclrom. ! am surc that you will
comcuponsomcolthcm,cvcninngland.Crcosotc,pcrhaps,orpit
tacal:
Pittacal:saysCharlcs,hishcadstillspinning.
Tc8aronsmilcs.!sccyouarcnolinguist,Mr Maddox.Tcnamc
dcrivcslromthcGrccklortarandbcautilul.!tis,!conlcss,arathcr
charmingtalc.!hadsuccccdcdincrcatingcrcosotcsomctimcbclorc,
and onc ol my larmstcads having at that timc a pcrsistcnt problcm
withstraydogs,itoccurrcdtomcthatitsstrongodourmightbccca
ciousindctcrringthcm,ilpaintcdontothcwoodcngatcs.!wasnot,as
ithappcns,corrcctinthisassumption,butbyhappyaccidcnt!discov
crcdthatthcrcactionolthcdogsurincwiththccrcosotcproduccda
stainolthcmostrcmarkablcdarkbluc.
Scrcndipity,saysCharlcs,whoisindccdnolinguistbutis,allthc
samc,rathcrwcllrcadinhisnativctonguc.Ahappyaccidcnt.
Tc8aronbows.Quitcso.Andthusaltcrvariousrcncmcntsto
thcproccss!invcntcdpittacal.Tcrstdycmadcbymantobcpro
duccdlorwidcsprcadsalc.!thas,indccd,nanccdmucholmysubsc
qucntwork.Asyouwillscc.
Forthcncxthourthc8aronconductsCharlcsonatourolhisaccom
plishmcnts,lromthcantiscptic,tothcpcrlumcbasc,tothcbrightrcd
dyc, pointing out thc littlc triumphs ol cach discovcry, thc spccic
challcngcs ol cach proccss.Tc picturcs, Charlcs rcaliscs now, arc ol
thc lactorics and ironworks thc 8aron has cstablishcd across largc
tractsolthcAustrianmpirc:Tcmanisclcarlynotmcrclyancmi
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 25 6/13/14 11:55 AM
26 LYNN S HEP HERD
ncnt scicntist, but a hugcly succcsslul industrialist, and Charlcs can
scarcclyimagincthcwcalththatindustrymustbccarning.!toccursto
himthatthcovcrclaboratcdinncrscrvicchchaddismisscdassilvcr
giltandthcrclorcrathcrvulgarmaywcll,inlact,bcsolidgold.
8y thc timc thcir pcrambulations arc concludcd thc sctting sun is
aming thc anubc into a glittcr ol moltcn topaz. Charlcs is just
startingtowondcrwhcndinncrmightbcscrvcdwhcnthcdooropcns
andamaninsmallwircrimmcdspcctaclcsandalongdarkcoatmakcs
hiswaybrisklytowardsthc8aron.!tsthcrsttimcCharlcshassccn
anyoncinthishouscmovcatsuchapacc,andhcisintrigucdtoscc
whatcanhavcprovokcdsuchurgcncy.Tcmanbowsstiy,thcntakcs
thc 8aron asidc. Charlcs accts to bc cngrosscd in thc mcthod lor
producingaparticularlycvilsmcllingoilthcuscolwhichhchasstill
notlullygraspcd,buthctakcscarctostandwhcrchccanobscrvcthc
laccsolthctwomcn.TcyspcakinGcrman,butthatshardlyasur
prisc,andinanycascCharlcsdocsntcatchanymorcthanastrayword
or twosomcthing that sounds likc Leiden, which Charlcs gucsscs
maybcarclcrcncctothctownbutthcrcisnomistakingthcanxicty
inthcbcspcctaclcdmanscycs.Altcralcwmomcntscarncstdiscus
sionthc8aronrcturnstoCharlcsssidcandbcgslcavctoabscnthim
scllloralcwmomcnts.
Anuncxpcctcdvisitorrcquircsmyprcscncc.
Autchman,!gathcr.
Tc8aronlrowns,thcnhislaccclcarsandhcsmilcsbricy.Apcr
son lrom Prtschach, in lact. 8ut ! hopc his intcrvcntion will bc ol
signicantlylcssimportthanthatlamouslycndurcdbyMr Colcridgc.
Shouldyouprclcr,!canhavcascrvantcscortyoudowntodinncrdi
rcctly.
No, says Charlcs at oncc, suddcnly not at all intcrcstcd in lood,
andvcryintcrcstcdindccdinthcidcntityolthcbcspcctaclcdman,and
thclactthathchasnothcardthchugccastlcdooropcn,orcaughtany
soundsolarrivaldownstairs.
!willcontinucmycxaminationolyourgallcry,Frcihcrr\onRci
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 26 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 27
scnbcrg.Tcrcissomuch!havcnotycthadachancctolookat.nc
rarclyhasthcopportunitytovicwsoimprcssivcanduniqucacollcc
tion.
Tc8aronbows,clcarlyattcrcdcvcnilhiscxprcssionrcmainsstu
diouslyimpassivc.!nthatcasc!shallrcturnassoonas!amablc.And
!knowthatinyourcasc,Mr Maddox,thcrcisnonccdtoaskyounot
totampcrwithanyolthcitcms!havcdisplaycdhcrc.
Lclttohimscll,Charlcstakcsalurthcr,slightlybriskcrturnaboutthc
room,andwritcsalcwlincsinhispockctbook,torcmindhimscllol
anylactshcshouldvcrilyonhisrcturntoLondon.
Hcndshimscll,nally,bclorcacarvcdwoodcndooratthclarcndol
thc room, and looks about him quickly bclorc trying thc handlc,
thoughhchaslittlchopcolndingitunlockcd.8uthciswrong.Tc
door swings opcn, and lor thc sccond timc that day, Charlcs stands
astoundcdatwhathcsccs.8utthistimcitisnotwondcrthatassails
him,butahorricddisbclicl.
Tcroomisdark,andthcwomanisslccping.ncarmungoutabovc
hcronhcrpillowintouchingabandon,hcrbosomrisingandlalling
withhcrgcntlcslumbcringbrcath.Tcrcisahallsmilconhcrlacc,as
ilhcrdrcamsdclight,andhcrthinlaccnightgownhasslippcdslightly
to rcvcal a bcautilul whitc brcast, its nipplc slightly hardcncd in thc
coolair.!tisatcndcrsccnc,itsintimacyallthcmorcmovinglorits
vcrymundanity.Vcrcitnotloroncthing.Tcbcdshcislyingonis
insidcaglassbox,andthcwomanisnotawomanatall.
Shciswax.
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 27 6/13/14 11:55 AM
28 LYNN S HEP HERD
Charlcscirclcsslowlyaroundthccasc,notingthcawlcssdctailthc
palcblucvcinsthatsccmtorunbcncathhcrskin,andthccyclashcs
inscrtcd,surcly,oncbycxquisitconc.Hccanonlyacclaimsuchcralts
manship,butthcmorchcstarcsthcmorcuncomlortablchcbccomcs
with thc naturc ol that starcthc voycur this modcl makcs ol him,
andthcmotivationolthcmanwhokccpsithiddcnhcrc.Hcwondcrs
suddcnlybclorcruthlcsslycrushingthcthoughtashclcclshimscll
hardcninrcsponschowrcalthcbodyisbcncaththcbcdclothcs.
Andthcn,asthcdyingsundropsbcncaththcrollolcloudsalastarc
ollightoodsrcdthroughthcdarkcncdroomandCharlcssccsthat
thcrcarcatlcastadozcnothcrwaxcngurcsringcdaboutthcwalls,
and all ol thcm lcmalc. Vomcn strctchcd languorously on silkcn
couchcs,thcircycscloscd,ocringthcirnakcdbodicstothcspccta
torsgazc,womcninopcnlycroticposturcs,goldcnhaircdandbluc
cycd,thcirlcgssprcadandthcirgcnitaliamonstrousandunnaturally
distcndcd,cithcrhairlcssorcovcrcdwithwhatlookslikcanimallur,
young girls smiling scrcncly with thcir bcllics hollowcd out to show
thcloctusinthcwomb,orthcirbrcastspcclcdbacktocxposcthcor
gansbcncath.Somcmcrctorsos,othcrshcadlcss,andonc,knccsbcnt
and opcn, whosc hcart has bccn cmpticd lrom hcr boncs and laid,
glistcning,onhcrownbclly.
Howcvcr imprcsscd hc had bccomc, thcsc last lcw hours, with his
hostsachicvcmcnts,thcrcisnothingthatcanjustilywhatCharlcshas
discovcrcd hcrcno scicntic objcctivc, howcvcr highmindcd, that
canmakcthischambcrolhorroranythingbutpornographicandob
sccnc. Charlcs is no ingnue, hcs bccn prcscnt whcn living womcn
wcrc cut opcn to lrcc an unborn child, or thc dcad disscctcd in thc
intcrcstsolinstruction,butithasncvcroccurrcdtohimthatsomconc
would want to mimic such things lor thc sakc ol a privatc and pcr
vcrtcdgratication.Forthatissurclywhatthisis.8ccauschcnoticcs
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 28 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 29
nowashcdidnotatrstthatthcglasscascsurroundingthcslccping
girlhasadoorwithalittlcsilvcrlock.Andsinccshccannotgctout,
thcrcisonlyoncothcrpurposcitcanpossiblylull.
!sccthat!waswrong.Yourcuriosity,Mr Maddox,hasoutrunyour
courtcsy.
Charlcsspinsroundtoscchishoststandingatthcdoor,hisantiquc
lamponccagaininhishand.
!didnotgivcyoupcrmissiontocntcrthisroom.
Tcdoorwasunlockcd!thought,thatistosay,!assumcd
Hcstops,hislaccrcd.Tcrcisnowordlorwhathcisdoingthat
docsnotgivchimaway.Andthc8aronmightwcllcountcrthatcvcn
ilhchasbccninvitcdhcrctovcrily,hchasccrtainlynotbccnliccnscd
tospy.
Tc8aronwatchcshimamomcnt,thcnpullshiscoatabouthimasil
hc lccls thc cold. And it is indccd chill in this high unhcatcd room.
Tcnhcwalksslowlytowardsthcwaxworkolthcslccpinggirl.nc
olthcgloricsolmycollcction,hcwhispcrs,placinghishandbricy
onthcglass,whcrcitlcavcsnomark.HcrnamcisMincttc.ncol
thc grcat chef doeuvres ol thc mastcr ccroplast Philippc Curtius.
CraltcdinFranccin1766,andlashioncdsothcysayinthclikc
ncss ol a mistrcss ol Louis thc Filtccnth. Tcrc is anothcrnot so
ncin thc cxhibition ol MadamcTussaud, in London, which cm
ploys,likcwisc,ahiddcnclockworkhcart.!hadassumcdamansuchas
yourscllwouldhavcsccnit.
!havcnotastclorthcgrotcsquc,rcplicsCharlcs,alittlcsharply.
Nomorchavc!,saysthc8aroninancvcntonc,watchingCharlcs
allthcwhilc.!canassurcyou!havcnotacquircdanddisplaycdthcsc
thingslorthatrcason,butlorwhatthcyillustratcwhatthcyapc.
!donotundcrstandyou.Charlcssvoicciscoldnow,hisrcvulsion
ncarthcsurlacc.
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 29 6/13/14 11:55 AM
30 LYNN S HEP HERD
Andsomcthingolthisthc8aronclcarlyscnscs,butwhcnhcspcaks
againitisintoncsnotolsclljustication,butolscllposscssion.You
mayhavcnoticcd,carlicr,thatthcscqucnccolmychcmicaldiscovcrics
ccascdsomcltccnycarsago.!twasthcnthat!turncdmyattcntion
to othcr clds ol scicncc. And most cspccially, to thc scicncc ol thc
humanmind.
Charlcsrcmcmbcrsthcjournalsupstairs.8uthcsaysonly,!tisnot
asubjcct!havcstudicd.
Havcyounot:rcplicsthc8aron.!shouldhavcthoughtthat,in
ouragc,thcrcisnohighcrandmorccompcllingcldloranymanwho
wishcstobcconsidcrcdatruescicntist.
!lhcintcndcditascondcsccnsion,ithasitsccct,lorthcrcarctwo
spotsolcolournow,inCharlcsschccks.Yctthc8aronmakcsnomovc
toapologisc,butturnsandwalksslowlyupthcroom.
!nthctimcthathaspasscdsinccthcn!havcdcvotcdmysclltothc
cxaminationolMcsmcrism,whichcaninduccboththcstuporolcat
alcpsyandthclcrmcntolhystcria,andolGalvanism,whichcansccm
ingly rcanimatc thc dcad. And ! havc rcturncd, again and again, to
thoscmcntalphcnomcnathatscicncccannotcxplainthoscstatcsol
consciousncssthathovcrbctwccndcathandlilc,justasthcscgurcs!
havc collcctcd hcrc mimic thc living, but arc not so, and disquict us
withthcvcryscmblanccolbrcath.
Hc stops now bclorc a casc hungunlikc all thc rcstwith long
vclvctcurtains.
Somnambulism,continucsthc8aron,catatonia,lunacy,andthc
horrorsthatmurdcrslccp,thcsc,Mr Maddox,havcbccnmystudy.Tc
twilitrcgionolthcdrcamingmindthatsupcrstitiononlycancxplain,
and whcrc scicncc has not yct darcd vcnturc. Tat, hc says, as hc
swccpsthccurtainasidc,hasbccnthcdarkncss!havcsoughttoillu
minatc.
Charlcs rccogniscs it at onccthc whitcgurcd woman thrown
back ovcr thc bcd, thc grinning monkcycnd astridc hcr body, and
thc whitccycd horsc lccring through thc wombrcd drapcs. Fusclis
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 30 6/13/14 11:55 AM
THE P I ERCED HEART 31
NightmarepcrhapsthcmostinlamousimagcolthcGothicimagi
nation.nlythisisnotthcpainting,orcvcnaprintolthcpainting.!t
isacopyinwax,sizcdtothclilc.Asthclightlromthclampwavcrsin
thcsuddcndraughtCharlcshasamomcntarywildconvictionthatthis
girl is actually alivcthat hcr brcast is hcaving with unlcigncd lcar.
8utno.Shcisanimatcd,onlyasMincttcisanimatcd,byaninvisiblc
mcchanicalhcart,asunrcalasthcdcmonthatbcarslorcvcrdownupon
hcrcxposcdbrcast,withwizcncdngcrsthattwitchandpaw.
Shep_9780345545435_4p_all_r1.indd 31 6/13/14 11:55 AM