Jillian Chantal

This week’s word prompt for Tuesday Tales is Push. I am still working on my Regency era story. This week, my heroine is in Vauxhall Gardens and has gone in search of the hero who she saw across the room at one of the musical performances.  She gets more than she bargained for in her quest. Be sure to check out the other tales here. 

In a few moments, she realized she was hopelessly lost. How had she gotten so off the beaten path that she didn’t remember from what direction she came? Had she really taken that many turns when she thought she was staying on one route?

Panic rose in her. With effort, she attempted to push it down and quash the dread in her chest. What would happen to her if she couldn’t find her way to her parents?

She calmed herself for a second. Didn’t she tell her mother this was just like being in an acquaintance’s ballroom? She knew these people. Someone would assist her. No need to fret.

Then she took a moment to glance around her. Not seeing a soul she of her circle but finding many rough-seeming men leering at her was more than disconcerting. Would one of them try to hurt her?

Two of the meanest faced men she’d ever seen stepped up to her. Both were dressed in serge coats of grey and worn breeches that looked as if they dated back to the days of the first King George. One had a missing eye and the other had a wad of something black in his mouth and was missing about half his teeth. They both smelled as if someone had dumped the contents of their bedpan on them.

The one with no teeth grabbed her upper arm. He spat on the ground. “Lookie what we have her, Gus. A pretty miss who no one cares enough about to make sure her purity is protected. What are we going to do about this tragedy?”

“I say we take her out into that secluded spot we just left that plain prostitute. This time around, we can have some sweet, fresh piece. Won’t that be a treat? I don’t know about you, but I can go again.”

“You can take her first. I still a bit of time to recover from that other one but I’ll enjoy watching you first.” No Teeth ran the back of his dirty hand across Hetty’s cheek. “She shore is purty, ain’t she, Gus?”

Hetty turned her head to get his hand off her and, at the same time, kicked him in the shin. She twisted to try to escape.

One-eyed Gus smacked her across the face. “Behave. Don’t you make a fuss.” He held up a knife that seemed to come from nowhere. “Come quietly or I’ll make that pretty face of yours such that no man would ever look at you again.” He put his face close to hers with his reeking breath. “Wouldn’t want that now, would you?”

I’ve been absent from Tuesday Tales for a bit. Things seemed to get in the way and lots of craziness and stress at the day job have been leaving me a bit lacking in energy to work on my WIP. I also went to Texas for a few days in there.

Be sure to read the other entries here.  Remember, Picture Prompts are limited to 300 words. Mine is 301. Shhh, don’t tell.

This is a new story I haven’t shared yet on TT. It’s set in the Regency era. The hero in a lecturer at Oxford University and also has an interest in science. The heroine is also interested in experiments and has even recreated Ben Franklin’s experiment with the kite and key. This scene is where her father has now given his permission for her to be at the laboratory with a chaperone. Prior to this, he had to be there with her. Her brother isn’t happy with the idea. Now that you’re acclimated to the story, here goes:  

“So you see, Mr. Fortescue, my husband is now amenable to allowing Hester to visit the laboratory with a chaperone. You’ve shown by ably coming to our aid last night that we can trust you with our daughter’s reputation.”

Laurence darted a glance at Hetty and raised his eyebrows.

She interpreted his action as a question of whether she’d told them the truth about the events in the gardens. Giving him a slight shake of the head, she spoke before he could. “I promise not to abuse the privilege, Mr. Fortescue. I’ll only come when you’re working on something that interests me.”

Hoping he took her meaning that she was coming as soon as they returned to Oxford since she wanted him to assist her with the abnormal heat she still emanated, she ended her statement with a smile.

“I’m sure you would never take advantage and come too often. You’ll be welcome any time.” Laurence returned the smile then addressed her father. “I appreciate the confidence you’ve shown me, sir. I assure you I will live up to it.”

A loud snort came from John’s direction followed by the sound of someone taking a big gulp of wine.

“Did you have something you wanted to say, son?” Hetty’s father asked.

“I think I made my position clear earlier, sir, so no.”

“Perhaps you’d like to be excused from the table then?”

John seemed to take the hint and stood. He tossed his serviette on the table and strode to the door. “This is a disaster and scandal in the making.”

As soon as the words left John’s mouth, Hetty’s father flung his wineglass at him. It arced in one direction as the contents flew in the other. The crystal shattered as it hit the doorknob in the moment John disappeared.