The Gifts by Liz Hyder

Author:Liz Hyder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bonnier Publishing Fiction

C/o The Unicorn Inn,

Ludlow, Salop

Dear Mister Samuel Covell,

It has been brought to my attenshun by means of the newspapers that you are one of London’s most highly respeckted surgeons. It is most fortuitous that I came across your name for I have something I believe will be of much interest to you.

Tis an angel, sir, much like the storys from the great capital about the angel of the Thames. Well, sir, we have our very own angel up here in Salop. My own flesh and blood, my own son, did with his own eyes see the angel fall from heaven itself, see the wings sprout from her very back.

She was I am sad to say, injured during her capture. She is still alive for now – but I daresay could easily not be if you would prefer such a thing.

I am prepared to sell the angel to you, sir on receipt of one hundred pounds. Tis a large price I know but tis what she is worth.

Please keep this in confidence, sir and if you do not wish to purchase such a unique creature, I would like to know at your earliest convenience so I might offer her to other interested parties.

Yours in sincerity,

George Marshall

‘One hundred pounds, Meake! One hundred pounds!’ exclaims Samuel. ‘Have you ever heard such damned cheek?’ He snatches the letter back from Edward, rips it up and throws it into the nearby hearth where they sit.

‘I shall obviously ignore the rogue, but it has, at least, afforded me some amusement. Meake? You look thoughtful.’

‘I’m sorry,’ says Edward, trying to remain calm as his heart continues to pound, ‘I was thinking of my wife, is all,’ he lies, glad that he managed to memorise both the name of the letter-writer and the address from which it was sent before it was incinerated.

‘Ah! Dearest Annie, is she quite well?’ Samuel asks, concern in his eyes.

And Edward, so overwhelmed, so absorbed with the possibility of a third angel – a veritable holy trinity of gifts – realises with a jolt that he does not, hand on heart, truly know the answer to Samuel’s question.

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