The Payment by Michelle E Lowe

Author:Michelle E Lowe [Lowe, Michelle E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781072070924
Published: 2019-06-17T22:00:00+00:00

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Robert’s heart shattered when he learned the news. Guards from Clerkenwell House of Detention had been telling people about Pierce’s arrest and word spread quickly throughout London. Robert had needed to get out of the house before he went mad, and had found out that morning while fetching eggs at the general store when a man in line told another customer waiting with him.

When Robert and Penelope returned home from the Circle Theater last night, they’d had some explaining to do to their neighbor, Mrs. Paris. Afterward, they waited for someone to show up. After a while, Robert took a hackney carriage back to the theater to search for answers. The crowd, soldiers, and constables who had arrived shortly after the shooting, had all vacated. The theater had closed for the night.

He decided to walk through the city aimlessly, hoping Pierce would simply appear, as he always seemed to. His friend did not, and after a few hours of walking in the cold, Robert caught another carriage home with the hope that at least Archie and Clover were there. The siblings had gone to the palace. Perhaps they had discovered something. Alas, no one had arrived at his home.

“He’ll hang for sure,” stated the customer who mentioned the disheartening news in the general store. “There won’t be any way out for the likes of him this time.”

“Good riddance, I say,” the person he was speaking to added. “This world will be better with one less thief in it.”

Before Robert lost his temper, he left the store and traveled to the prison.

Waiting outside the gate with an eerie carving of a face staring over them was a throng of journalists, civilians, and the curious.

“What is going on?” Robert asked someone from the crowd.

“Rumor has it that Pierce Landcross is being held in there. Arrested for high treason.”

“High treason? For allegedly robbing a train?”

“No, for an assassination attempt on the Queen.”

Robert’s jaw dropped. “You’re joking.”

Just then, the gate opened and out walked none other than Lord Javan. Behind him were armed troops. His lordship looked exhausted.

“Listen up!” he shouted to the crowd before him. “All of you!”

Everyone quieted down, giving him his or her full attention.

“I am Lord Darius Javan, and I am requesting that every one of you disperse at once. There is no reason for any of you to be here.”

“Sir,” a journalist yelled out while raising his hand. “Is Landcross inside?”

Lord Javan waited a beat as if deciding on how to answer. “He is,” he answered at length. “He was brought in last night and is to stand trial tomorrow.”

“Sir, did he actually try killing Queen Victoria?” someone else spoke up.

“I will not speak on such matters now,” his lordship stated petulantly. “Now, remove yourselves from this place, or you shall be incarcerated for public disturbance.”

That prompted most to vacate, especially under the hard glares of the Royal Guard.

Robert stood motionless while people moved around him. His chest hurt greatly with heartache. His long-time friend, the one with whom he had shared so much, was imprisoned.

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