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Thank you for stopping by. This week's word prompt is court, my snippet is from Consuela's story, my sequel to Vidal's Honor. This scene takes place in England in 1813 when my hero, Juan, learns his brother has Consuela in his sights.
While he’d rushed back to Spain, his
brother, Diago, had made his way to London, and according to his friend Lord Vidal,
was even now attempting to court Consuela.
The only available room left in the
inn was tiny, with a window locked down tight against the night air, so the
room smelled of stale ale and other unmentionable odours. He smote one fist in
the other and strode from the edge of the bed where he’d sat to the window and
peered out.
“You been and gone and missed it by
five minutes.” The innkeeper told him when he’d rushed in to enquire when the
next coach left for London. “Won’t be
another ‘afore tomorrow afternoon.”
His enquiries into hiring a coach
hadn’t fared any better. It seemed there
was a prize cock fight in the village just five miles down the road and every
available vehicle for hire was already spoken for. Assuming there’d be no spare
horses for hire either he’d not even asked, but now as he watched the shadows
shift across the ground below his window he wondered whether the plan forming
in his mind would land him in prison if he was caught.
‘Another
day won’t make a difference.’ A silent voice in his head urged, but
instinct told Juan the voice lied. If he
didn’t know better he could almost swear he heard Consuela calling out to him
for help.
