Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 317(@300wpm)
* * *
Who exactly is Mr. Greer?
* * *
The brigand opened the door and stepped aside. Arthur stepped into the room and then stopped short, in shock. Sitting in his chair was none other than Pearson, his father’s former butler. He had a face Arthur could never forget even as old and decrepit as he looked. The scar on his left side that made his eye slant, his cold blue gaze, none of that had changed one bit.
* * *
He was sneering at Arthur already, his hands steepled, boot-clad legs on the table. “Well, well, well, who do we have here? Not the poor wee lad what ran off then came crawling back as soon as he ‘eard his old man had died,” he said.
* * *
The other men in the room laughed as if on cue.
* * *
Arthur’s chest was tight. He felt as if he could not breathe. Of course, it was Pearson. The man had always enjoyed torturing Arthur.
* * *
“Where is my wife and mother? Whatever you want has nothing to do with them.”
* * *
“Calm your tits. They’re alright. I got them locked up tight. Nobody’ll touch them.” He grinned evilly and again; his men laughed.
* * *
“I want to see them,” Arthur demanded.
* * *
“In time. After you give me what I came for.”
* * *
“No. First I see my family. After I know they’re alright, you can take whatever you want.”
* * *
Pearson smirked cruelly. “You always were too soft for your own good, boy. Your father tried to make a man of you. I suppose he failed.”
* * *
Arthur just stared at him, unblinkingly.
* * *
“Fine,” Pearson said, nodding to one of his men, “Bring them.”
* * *
One of the men left the room and they waited in silence. Arthur’s heart was beating in triple time, just hoping against hope that nothing bad had happened to Janice or his mother. He did not want to think what a setback it might be for his mother to be thrust into such a situation. His heart was already sinking, preparing for the worst.
* * *
The man came in, propelling Janice and his mother before him like unruly cats. Janice stopped short when she laid eyes on him, her mouth dropping open. “Arthur!” she cried.
* * *
He closed the distance between them, taking hold of her hands and looking intently into her eyes. “Are you alright?” he asked.
* * *
She nodded slowly. “I’m fine. What…?” she looked around in confusion at the other men in the room.
* * *
“Don’t worry. I’m giving them what they want, and they will leave us alone.” He turned to Pearson, “Those are my conditions,” he said firmly. “And you will allow my mother to retire to her room right away, with her nurse, and not disturb them in any way.”
* * *
Pearson’s eyes rested contemptuously on Lady Weasley. He waved a dismissive hand. “You may take her,” he said to one of his men.
* * *
“No!” Arthur stretched out a hand to stop him, “Fetch her nurse. Where is she?”
* * *
Pearson sighed impatiently. “We do not have time for your pet peeves boy. If you want your mother out of here, you will let my man take her.”
* * *
“No!” Arthur growled just as his mother whimpered in fear. He moved to stand in front of her. “Nobody touches her.”
* * *
“I can take her, Your Grace,” Janice offered, watching him intently.
* * *
He met her eyes and she nodded encouragingly. “Alright. Take her.”
* * *
“Ar-thur,” his mother said laboriously.
* * *
He turned and took her in his arms. “It’s going to be alright,” he whispered.
* * *
“Bad…man,” she said in his ear, and Arthur’s eyes widened and he tightened his arms around her.
* * *
“I know,” he whispered back. “I won’t let him hurt you.”
* * *
Her arms crept up to his shoulders and dug in. “Hurt…you,” she whispered urgently.
* * *
He turned and kissed her cheek. “I won’t let him hurt me either. Now, will you go with Janice?”
* * *
She stepped back, giving him a worried look, and then nodded. Janice took her hand and gave him one last look before leading Lady Weasley to the door. One of the men followed them out. Arthur turned back to face Pearson. “Well then? What is it you want?”
* * *
“I wants the treasure. Give me the trunk and I’ll be on my way.”
* * *
Arthur laughed out loud, too surprised to control himself. “I beg your pardon? Trunk? Treasure? Have you taken leave of your senses?”
* * *
Pearson got to his feet, glaring at Arthur. “You would make fun of me? I worked hard for that gingerbread so why am I the one on the rocks while you’re swimming in lard? Gambling houses away like it means nothing,” he spat.