Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
“I’ll throw in some supper and a bed to collapse upon,” the innkeeper grinned, his black teeth on display as he took a bite of the ring and then beamed.
* * *
“Thank you.” Arthur hid his grimace at the thought of food and went to sit down at one of the long benches. There was a game of Hazard going on at one of the side tables and even after just a glance, Arthur could tell there was quite a bit of cheating going on.
* * *
He bit his lip, wondering if he should join in. He had a feeling however that no one could cover as large a bet as his Avebury property.
* * *
More’s the pity. If I got rid of it, I’d finally be rid of every property my father owned aside from Hampton court which is tied to the duchy and therefore cannot be gambled away.
* * *
While he could not sell it, he’d certainly done his best to run it down by firing the steward and half the staff. It was his one remaining asset after Avebury manor as well as the cache of jewels that still belonged to his mother. Sometimes he felt them like a millstone around his neck tying him to his father like an unbreakable tether. Other times, it was a responsibility he was neglecting, a legacy he was denying – something he did not take at all lightly.
* * *
He sat back with a sigh as the tavern keeper brought him a large tankard of ale, a bowl of soup, and a plate of bread with a stick of butter to the side. The soup was aromatic and of a much better quality than he’d been expecting.
* * *
He decided to tuck in, realizing he hadn’t eaten a thing all day and his stomach was quite upset about it. He ate as he watched the gamblers, realizing that there was cheating going on. He snorted and returned to his soup.
* * *
Perhaps I’ll take the night off from self-destruction and see what the morning brings.
* * *
“Another!” he called, banging his empty tankard on the table.
Janice was feeling a lot better, and she was back on her feet. She tried to resume her routine with some sort of joy but it was difficult. She was not feeling joyous. She could not help thinking about Arthur, and the fact that he’d rescued her and brought her home.
* * *
All of this would be easier if I didn’t know that he cared.
* * *
She pulled on a shawl and decided to go and walk. The weather was slightly windy and numbed her face as she walked. She chose a direction at random and went with it.
* * *
Maybe if I walk for long enough, I can outrun my demons.
* * *
She smiled, feeling that she was being a little melodramatic while at the same time knowing it was no exaggeration. Her chest hurt and whatever she did, she could not seem to make it stop. She wandered aimlessly for a while, just following the path wherever it led, and was somehow not surprised to find herself at Arthur’s gates.
* * *
She took a deep breath as the rain began to fall. Taking it as a sign, she pushed open the gate and walked up the courtyard to the front door. The place looked deserted as it had been the last time she’d been around. Arthur seemed to employ only the bare minimum of staff. Knowing his story, she was not surprised by this.
* * *
As a result, however, the garden was overgrown and the rusty gate was left open with no guards to monitor who came in and out. As an upside, however, there was nobody to see Janice by herself as she knocked on Arthur’s door.
* * *
The butler opened the door, looking her up and down with something like pity. “Lady Janice.” He bowed, “His Grace is in his study.”
* * *
She nodded. “May I see him?”
* * *
He bowed again. “Follow me.”
* * *
The corridor was darkened, as the sconces were unlit and there were not many windows opening into it. The single window at the end of the corridor provided only enough light to stop someone from stumbling on the cobbled stone that lined the floor of the hallway.
* * *
The butler stopped in front of a large mahogany door and hit the knocker before opening the door. “Lady Janice to see you, Your Grace,” he said.
* * *
There was a pause and then the door opened wider to reveal the duke, peering out at her in disbelief. “Janice! To what do I owe this pleasure?” he sounded genuinely pleased to see her and she took comfort in that.
* * *
She shrugged, pulling her red shawl closer around her, as her hair dripped with water. “I was in the neighborhood.”