The Clockwork Woman - Claire Bott by Doctor Who

Author:Doctor Who [Who, Doctor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: time, adventure, action, hunter, bomb, war, Sci-fi, Doctor Who, SCIENCE FICTION, telos
ISBN: 9781845838027
Publisher: Telos
Published: 2011-04-27T04:00:00+00:00

It was several days after that that I first met Sir Richard. He was one of Bella’s gentleman guests, and he bounded enthusiastically into the room; a tall, muscular fair-haired man, with a familiar glint in his eye when he looked at me.

‘You must be the wondrous Dove that Bella has been telling me about. I am Sir Richard Hampden.’

I extended my hand. ‘I am pleased to meet you, my Lord.’

He took my hand and bowed over it, brushing it with his lips. When he straightened up, there was a faint smile on his face. ‘Indeed, a dainty morsel. The only introduction most whores seem to know is, “Lie down there while I take me drawers off.”’ He took a step back, and gazed at me. ‘But you – ah, you are magnificent! A night with you would be a reward well worth having, indeed.’

I curtseyed demurely. ‘Thank you, my Lord.’

He shook his head and laughed. ‘Oh, don’t thank me. Thank the one who sent you to me – as, indeed, I intend to, when I see him again.’

‘And who might he be?’ I asked, unconcerned as to which of my clients he had been speaking to.

Sir Richard’s smile widened. ‘Oh, a large man, sturdily built. And, by-the-by, a Blackamoor.’

My hands clenched into involuntary fists, and I stared at Richard in amazement. ‘What did you say? Who – his name – tell me his name!’

‘Honoré Lechasseur.’

I sat down heavily on the bed. ‘You do know him.’

‘I know him. He sent me to find you.’ Sir Richard stood for a moment looking in my face, then shook his head in bewilderment. ‘So, he is dear to you, then? Well, you amaze me. I never would have thought such a lovely woman would have been driven to find comfort in a Blackam –’

I shot to my feet. ‘Do not call him that! Do not dare call him that!’

He shrugged. ‘Why not. It is what he is, after all. A plain, descriptive term.’

‘Not the way you say it. When you say it, it is an insult. A slur.’

‘Oh, come now! I have no hatred for Blackamoors, and this one in particular I have a certain fondness for. Why, he is staying in my house, I am helping him look for you. Does that argue dislike?’

I shook my head. ‘No; but you think him less than a man. I see it in the way you talk about him. Well, I tell you he is not. He is a better man than any I have met since.’ I shot a pointed look at this Sir Richard.

The young man scowled, and turned the conversation. ‘Well, in any case, I have been trying to find you for some time.’

‘You have found me. What now?’

Sir Richard leaned closer. ‘Now, we must find a way to get you away from here, and back to your friend.’

This, of course, was the moment when I could have demurred, could have said, ‘I do not wish to leave with you. I would rather stay here.

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