Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95222 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 476(@200wpm)___ 381(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
‘About what?’
‘Well,’ I laugh, a little confused. Isn’t it obvious? ‘About your encounter with the highwaymen.’
Casper stops abruptly and glances around, suddenly most fidgety. ‘How do you know of that?’ he asks, increasing my confusion.
‘Well …’ I fade off when I catch Taya beyond Mr Casper making a sign that cannot be mistaken for anything other than I will kill you if you tell on me! ‘Um, well,’ I laugh, scratching around in my mind for an answer as I disintegrate under the threat of her stare. ‘I, ummm …’ Taya starts making unfathomable symbols with her hands, and I am damned if I can decipher them. Is she wiggling something imaginary? Her hand is jiggling, moving from side to side over and over. She’s pretending to write. ‘I am a journalist, Casper,’ I say, tilting my head as Taya visibly deflates and rolls her eyes, at my being slow, I expect. ‘It is my job to know of all things.’ I return my attention to him before I lose my focus and start admiring again how wonderfully wild she looks today. What’s amiss here, with Casper? Is he embarrassed? I know not, but I suppose this might mean that he has not been sharing his encounter with anyone. Anyone except Johnny, of course. ‘I expect it was a terrifying ordeal.’
He laughs but quickly corrects himself. ‘Yes, quite.’
‘I have encountered them myself.’
‘Yes, I read your report.’
‘Indeed.’
‘Indeed,’ he agrees, getting us walking again, both of us with our hands behind our back, casual, waiting for the other to speak. ‘So, if you have encountered them, then you must be privy.’
‘To what?’ I ask.
‘The thrill!’ He practically bursts before my eyes. ‘My God, Melrose, one flutter of her eyelashes and I was ready to hand my coin purse over. I was mesmerised. Mesmerised, I tell you! I couldn’t see her smile, but I could tell it was there, right in her eyes. She was enjoying herself.’
‘And the other two?’ I ask. ‘They were there?’
‘Yes, one guarded each way.’
‘On black horses?’
‘Yes, and she on a white one.’ He comes closer. ‘You must not tell a soul.’
I laugh. ‘Mr Casper, I am a journalist.’
He stops, looking at me in horror. ‘I must insist you refrain, Melrose. I am a respected businessman. I would be a laughing stock if anyone were to find out I offered my money on a plate. And my wife! She cannot know I dreamt of those eyes last night, or that I have had the most outrageous thoughts to ride out to the common once again if only to feel so spellbound.’
‘Dreams?’ My God, that horseman is a witch! And, clearly, I am not alone in my pathetic behaviour. She’s dazzling us all!
His head goes into his hands. ‘Please, you will ruin me.’
I breathe out heavily. ‘I have no desire to ruin you, Casper.’ He is a decent fellow, after all, and he does a fine job for me and the business in all matters of a legal nature. ‘I propose this,’ I say, moving in a little closer. ‘I will run my story, but I will omit the name of the victim.’
‘You will?’
‘Yes, for you, Casper, I will.’ Surely it’ll only add more intrigue, everyone wondering who has fallen victim to the highwaywoman now. ‘Now, can you tell me any more? Height? Features? Did she speak, laugh, did you see her hand when she took your coin purse?’
He looks momentarily stunned by my barrage of questions. ‘No,’ he says simply, looking past me. ‘She was covered, and she wore gloves. Oh, there is Mrs Casper. I must go.’ He dashes off and joins his wife, and I hum, thoughtful, my next headline writing itself.
‘Well?’ Taya asks, joining me. ‘Is it worthy of the pages of your fine newspaper?’
I turn a nonchalant expression onto her. ‘Meh.’
Now, it is Taya’s turn to roll her eyes, and it is adorable. ‘Do not act as if this is not valuable news to you, Frank Melrose.’
‘Fine,’ I relent.
She looks all too pleased with herself. ‘And how might you repay me for this lead?’
‘Excuse me?’ I ask, recoiling, my mind instantly ambushed with a million ways in which I could repay her, and none of it involving gold. God help me, I must remember I am a dead man if I so much as smile at Taya Winters. And I have already done a lot more than smile at her. Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Oh, hell, living is overrated. ‘What do you want?’ I whisper, inhaling as I do, watching as her lips part and she swallows.
She doesn’t answer.
It’s probably a good thing for both of us.
‘I should be going before we are seen alone together.’ She nods, smiles …
And I fall a little harder.
‘Goodbye, my lady,’ I say quietly, watching her pivot and float away.