The Highwayman's Lady by Ashe Barker

Author:Ashe Barker [Barker, Ashe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stormy Night Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

I remain silent as Beatrice imparts the main details of my sorry tale to her husband. He listens, punctuating the telling with mouthfuls of duck, his expression inscrutable. At the mention of a lover who is to remain nameless, his eyebrows lift a fraction and he casts a disapproving glance my way but refrains from offering comment. His duck is quite gone by the time Beatrice completes her narrative and she passes him the platter in order that he might slice some more.

“No, thank you, my sweet. I believe I have had my fill.”

I shift in my seat, uncomfortable at the wealth of meaning to be inferred from that comment. Sir Phillip leans back in his chair and fixes his sharp gaze on me. I cannot look away.

“I believe I might contrive to locate this acquaintance of yours, Imogen. I am not without influence, even as far afield as Yorkshire, nor the funds with which to bribe those who might hold the necessary information.”

I shake my head. “Please, Sir Phillip, do not do that.”

“Did you know this man for long? Is he an associate from when you lived in York?”

“No, he is not from York. I… I believe he is Scottish, in fact.”

“Oh? He told you that?”

“No, my lord. It was in the manner of his speech.”

“I see. And… he is a man you met frequently?”

“I knew him but briefly. We spent one night together—at an inn. It was immediately before I came to Scotland.”

“What inn? Where was this establishment?”

“It was called The Blue Man, but I do not know the location.” I wring my hands in my lap, conscious I have already revealed more than I wish to. “Please, my lord, do not question me further. Ours was a most unusual liaison, always destined to be short-lived. I cannot involve him in this.”

“Perhaps you thought your liaison to be temporary, but does not the situation in which you now find yourself change all of that? Perhaps this man would wish to know—he may surprise you and take the honourable course. I have to agree with my wife, a husband for you would be a most convenient device at this time.”

“He was—is—honourable but he will not expect to hear of me again, whatever might have transpired in the months since I last saw him.”

“How can you be so certain? Despite your protestations I cannot but conclude that this man is a scoundrel and an opportunist and disreputable at best. Nevertheless, he also sounds to be a complex individual and not in the least predictable.”

I sigh. Sir Phillip is closer to the mark than he might imagine, on every count. “That is true, but do those very qualities not render him unsuitable as a husband and father?”

He sighs. “I am not convinced they do, but I will respect your wishes on the matter.” His next words are directed to his wife. “A widow, you say? Well, I must bow to your judgement, my dear. Will our current nursery suffice, do you imagine? What with Francis and now…” He waves his hand in my general direction.

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.