Murder in Covent Garden: A Miss Merrill and Aunt Violet Mystery by Anita Davison

Author:Anita Davison [Davison, Anita]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

15

A hackney was waiting on the cobbles about fifty yards from the public house. The horse stood with rear hooves crossed and head down which suggested they had been waiting there a while. The cab was old, the upholstery faded, the paintwork scratched, making her hope the horse was in better condition.

‘Where are we going?’ Hannah placed a foot on the step but hesitated as every nerve ending told her to run.

‘What’s the matter? You were keen enough a minute ago.’

Hannah climbed inside, taking the corner seat with a view of the pub door, but there was no sign of Archie. Nell slumped onto the squab opposite; her feet raised onto the vacant part of the seat next to Hannah.

She glanced through the carriage window and saw Archie pushing his way through the crowd on the cobbles. Halting, he scratched his head while searching the street both ways. Then he met Hannah’s eyes, started and hesitated. His expression became grim as he debated what to do just as a burly man with dirty blond hair detached from the crowd on the pavement and barrelled into him.

Taken off guard, Archie lost his balance, stumbled sideways and went down, his knees hitting the cobbles. He rolled to one side and scrambled to his feet again, just as the man straight-armed him, the blow going wide as Archie dodged smartly to one side.

The driver clicked his tongue at his horse and the hackney lurched forward. Hannah twisted in her seat and looked back at the street behind them, watching helplessly as Archie fielded off punches. By now, patrons gathered outside and surged forward around the pair, offering shouts of encouragement.

Hannah clenched her bag, her knuckles cramped and white. Her last image before they turned the corner was of Penny, unsuccessfully trying to push through the crowd.

Nell’s mouth quirked into a smile as she turned from the window as the hackney gathered speed along James Street. ‘Know him, do you?’

‘Know who?’ Hannah arranged her face into calm disinterest.

‘I reckon that young chap who was watching us must have taken a fancy to you. Do you know him?’

‘Er, no. I’ve never seen him before.’ Hannah looked away and tried not to betray her churning insides. ‘But what’s wrong with him looking?’ She shrugged. ‘That’s hardly a reason for that man to attack him.’

‘Where we’re going, it doesn’t do to be followed.’ Nell leaned across the space between them and patted Hannah’s knee. ‘And don’t fret about your admirer. My boy will only rough him up a bit.’

Hannah’s pulse racked up and she gripped the hand strap over the window. She contemplated kicking open the door and leaping out onto the street. Her hesitation betrayed her as the hackney was now moving too fast for such an action not to result in serious injury.

Helpless to go to Archie’s rescue, she could only hope he was not badly hurt, but the thought she had stumbled into the middle of this so-called ‘gang’ Aidan had referred to sent panic through her.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.