Safe at last?

If Jane Harker had had her way, she would have landed on a pile of feathers. Unfortunately, she landed on a pile of fertilizer instead. Not that she didn't appreciate the fact the pile had been conveniently located in just such a way that it broke her fall from the top of the wall. But it seemed a bit awkward to not only be naked but to also be covered with fertilizer. Especially since it smelled.

But no matter. She was on the opposite side of the wall which meant that she should be safe now. Now all she had to do was go to the house and find Mina.

Now that she was on the Westenra estate, Jane no longer felt the need to run. Surely there was no way Renfield could follow her here.

Plus here she could get clothes. No longer would she have to be naked. For that matter, she could also get a hot bath -- and after landing on that pile of fertilizer she sure could use one.

Jane was so happy to be out of the clutches of Count Dracula and the three weird girls that she forgot to act like a good Victorian girl and cover her nakedness from would-be viewers. Then again she did not see anyone outside that she needed to conceal her nakedness from.

She still felt awkward feeling her uncovered breasts bounce up and down but now that she was no longer running -- or trying to run -- for her life, it didn't bother her that much.

Anyway, she was safe now. That was all that mattered. That and Mina. And getting dressed. And of course, getting a hot bath -- preferably before she got dressed.

Jane had just got a few yards away from the back entrance of the Westenra house when she saw Tara sweeping the back porch. She looked not much different than usual apart from the fact that she was wearing a black scarf around her neck.

As Jane got closer, Tara looked up, took one look at Jane and then registered an expression of surprise. Then she shook her head.

Why she did so, Jane did not know. But the closer Jane got to the back entrance, the more Tara shook her head.

Then when Jane got closer, Tara held her nose and said, "I'm sorry, Mistress Harker, but you smell."

"I know, Tara," said Jane. "I was hoping that you or one of the other girls would be kind enough to draw me a hot bath."

"I would if I could," said Tara. "But according to Mistress Westenra, you're not welcome here."

"What do you mean, 'I'm not welcome here'?" asked Jane.

"Just that, Mistress Harker," said Tara. "You're not welcome here."

"Why?" asked Jane.

"Ours is not to reason why, Mistress Harker," said Tara.

"Oh, don't be foolish, Tara," said Jane. "Let me talk to your mistress so that we can settle this once and for all."

"My mistress does not wish to be disturbed at this time," said Tara. "And she left me specific orders on what to do when you showed up."

"When I showed up?" asked Jane. "How did she know I was going to show up today? I didn't know I'd even have a chance to get over here until just a short time ago."

"You'd best leave before I am **** to take action against you, Mistress Harker," said Tara.

"Take action?" asked Jane. "What does that mean? Oh, why don't you quit all this nonsense and just let me talk to Mina -- er, Mistress Murray? She can vouch for me."

"I'm afraid I can't do that," said Tara. "After all, Mistress Murray is not the one who pays my salary. And anyway, Mistress Westenra does not wish you to see her."

Then Tara turned and whistled. "Girls! Come quick. We have an imposer trying to break into the house. Come help me capture her."

At that point, Jane lost her patience and pushed Tara out of her way. As Jane ran into the house, she started screaming, "Mina! Where are you? Mina! Where are you? I'm here at last."

"My, my," said a voice from the top of the stairs. "You're yelling loud enough to wake the dead. Funny coincidence that, considering where you've just come from."

Jane looked up and saw her old friend Lucy Westenra dressed in a black nightgown. Besides her stood what looked like an army of maids, most of whom had black scarves around their necks.

"Take her," said Lucy to the maids while pointing to Jane. "And then give her a hot bath because quite frankly she smells very ripe right now. And if we're going to take her back next door after sunset, it's just as well she doesn't smell."