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)
* * *
“Good.” He moved past her in the corridor. “I’ll just go and say goodnight.”
* * *
“Alright. I’ll go down for a night cap while you are doing that.”
* * *
He nodded, walking down the corridor, his heartbeat accelerating with fear. He pushed open the door and peered inside. His mother was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. With silent footsteps, he walked up to her and smiled. “Mama? Are you warm enough?” he touched her arm, resting outside the pile of blankets on her bed. It was suitably warm and flushed.
* * *
He smiled. “You feel quite warm.” His eyes flicked to the fireplace in which a fire blazed.
* * *
To his shock, she turned her head slowly and her eyes moved from the canopy of the bed to him. Her stare was still blank but she was looking right at him.
* * *
“Mama?” he whispered in wonder.
* * *
She didn’t say anything.
* * *
He opened his mouth and then closed it again. He swallowed, staring at her. “I love you and I’m sorry.” A single tear rolled down his eyes. “I didn’t help you, didn’t do anything to stop his beatings. I was weak and…” he choked, looking down and shaking his head. “Can you ever forgive me?” he whispered.
* * *
She blinked slowly.
* * *
He bent down, staring into her eyes, hoping to see…something. There was nothing but an infinite pool of blue. He sighed, shoulders dropping with defeat. “Alright then, I have to go out and find the woman I love-”
* * *
He froze, hearing his words as he said them.
* * *
“Oh lord…I love her.” He gaped at nothing, staring into space. “I love her,” he repeated in wonder. He looked to his mother, hoping to share the joy of this revelation but she was back to looking at the canopy over her bed. He nodded in acceptance. “Well, I shall see you later, mother.”
* * *
He straightened up and walked out, closing the door gently behind him. Going downstairs, he found Sister Sarah and Frederick in lively conversation about the benefits of bathing pools. Frederick was inclined to think that hot pools were more beneficial than cold while Sister Sarah disagreed. He smiled, enjoying the low-stakes nature of their conversation. However, he soon grew impatient.
* * *
“Frederick, we must go.”
* * *
“Ah yes.” He nodded to Sarah, “It was lovely to meet you. Give my best wishes to your patient.”
* * *
“It was wonderful to make your acquaintance as well.”
* * *
He put down the cup of tea he’d been drinking and joined Arthur at the door. They took horses to town as they were more flexible to maneuver than carriages. The tavern was filled with the locals, both villagers and gentry.
* * *
They took a seat near the fireplace and summoned the tavern keeper. “A drink for all your patrons, sir,” Frederick said to him.
* * *
The tavern keeper grinned. “Right away guv’nor. And what might I get you?”
* * *
“A bottle of your best mead my good man,” Frederick said with a grin of his own. The man went off at once, a new bounce in his step.
* * *
Arthur leaned towards him. “You are very good at this. I would not have known how to soften them up.”
* * *
“Well…I’ve had plenty of practice,” Frederick said drily. “I spend far too much time in places like this.”
* * *
Arthur nodded, looking around, “In that case, where do you suggest we begin?”
* * *
Frederick turned and smiled at the group of men sitting at the next bench. “Good evening men. Do you know me?”
* * *
The men glanced at him and one of them nodded reluctantly. They were clearly not gentry.
* * *
“And you know my sisters?”
* * *
The men looked at each other in uncertainty. Frederick got to his feet, picked up his tankard, and moved to their tables. “I accuse you of nothing. It’s just…you see someone took my sister, abducted her. And we were simply wondering if anyone saw anything.”
* * *
“Your sister was abducted?” the man who had nodded exclaimed with surprise. “Is that the one who wears breeches?”
* * *
Frederick nodded. “Yes. She is. Although she was not wearing breeches at the time. Have you seen her?”
* * *
The man sighed, shaking his head. “Unfortunately not. That is fearful news. Lady Janice is very kind.”
* * *
“Yes, that she is. Would you recommend where we might proceed?”
* * *
The man got to his feet and stood on the table. “Oy! Men? Some grubshite has taken Lady Janice for ransom. Did anyone hear or see anything?”
* * *
There was uproar as a large number of the men began to speak at once. The speaker raised his hands making a quelling gesture. “One at a time, please. I cannot hear you all.”