“Well, it doesn’t matter. We had all better grin and bear it.”
***
“Leave it, Amanda. I told you she had to go. I’m sorry she didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. All I know is I’m short-staffed.”
“Sorry…” I started to walk away. “It’s just she said something was wrong…” I stopped when I saw the anger in Anne’s eyes.
“Amanda… I will ask you one more time nicely. I don’t want to lose anyone else. Please, I beg you. Forget about her. Look, I’m sorry, I know you mean well, but it’s for your own good.”
***
“Amanda, I am sure nothing has happened to her.” Michelle rubbed her temples. “I saw her leaving in a car. I was just coming back from Raj’s, I’d bought some snacks and I saw her going past in the back of the car. I waved. Funny she didn’t wave back. She was with a couple of men. To be honest, they were quite good looking, I was a bit jealous.”
“Do you remember anything about the car?”
“Yeah, it was really flash and it had a weird personalised number plate. Ed, something. I think it was Edwin. Just stuck in my mind as being unusual.”
“Thanks ‘Chell.”
Taken away in a flashy car. I pondered this during my morning as I worked, when I had a chance to take a break I went down the road to Raj’s newsagent, the same one I had visited on my first day in London. As the nearest shop, it had become a haven for sweets, snacks and magazines. I stepped into the cluttered shop. “Hi, Raj!” The friendly newsagent looked up smiling.
“Hello there Miss, how are you today… How you girls can eat so many sweeties and stay so slim. I wish I knew how!” He slapped his vast belly.
“Well, come to the stables in the morning and you can muck out and groom with us and you’ll soon lose the weight!
Raj laughed. “It sounds too much like hard work. I’ll leave that to you youngsters!”
“Look Raj, I have a question, do you know anything about a flashy car with personalised number plates?”
“Oh Miss, I only know it’s not mine!”
“Oh, it is something like, Edward, no Edwin… Does that ring any bells?”
Raj’s disposition changed instantly, from jovial to serious. “Now Miss, the only Edwin I know is the one who runs the Blue Moon, but you would do well to stay away from him. He is not a nice man.”
“The Blue Moon?” I paused. “I’ve been in there. I’ll ask him if it’s his.”
“Miss, be careful. People talk and what they say about him is not nice.”
“Thanks, Raj!” I walked back out onto the street.
“Be careful Miss…” Raj spoke to the empty shop.
The Blue Moon was only a few doors down, as it was only eleven in the morning it was dark, but the door was ajar. I pushed it open and stepped into the darkened room. There was a smell of stale beer. “Hello?” I walked further in, hearing voices coming from a doorway behind the bar. As I approached it was opened and a large gentleman stepped out.
“We’re closed. And anyway, your type would not be welcome here…”
“My type?” I stuttered.
The man looked her up and down. “We have a dress code.”
“Oh!” I giggled, glancing at my stained breeches and mucky boots. “I’m sorry… I was just trying to find my friend. I wanted to ask about a car.”
“And what car would that be?” The new man stepped out of the doorway, he was sharply dressed, stocky yet muscled. My mouth fell open for a moment as I looked at him recognising the man who had threatened Anne a couple of months earlier. He laughed a deep rumbling laugh. “Oh look, she’s lost for words!” I blushed deeply.
“I’m sorry…” I muttered. “I…” Pausing to take a breath.
“Take your time. Have you parked your horse outside?” He laughed again, amused at his own joke.
“Sorry… No, I was told that my friend was seen in a car, it had a personalised plate. ‘Edwin’.” She paused as all the people in the room were staring at the stocky man.
“Your friend?” He smiled. “Well, that is my car, however, I don’t remember a young lady in it. And, I am sure, if she was as pretty as you, I would have done. I’m sorry.”
“Oh…” I paused, embarrassed, blushing at the unexpected compliment. “Oh, I’m sorry for having wasted your time.”
“Quite the opposite, you’ ve been a very pleasant distraction. Perhaps you would like to come back later when we are open so that I may buy you a drink?”
“Oh…” I stuttered.
“You know where I am and now you know my name. Just ask for me. I would be charmed to see you again, maybe in something more fitting for my establishment.” He smiled. “You have an advantage over me.” I gasped. “I didn’t catch your name?”
“Oh… I’m Amanda…”
“Well, thank you, Amanda. A beautiful name for a beautiful lady.” He gestured to one of the other men. “Please show Amanda to the door. Until later perhaps.”
Stepping back onto the street my knees buckled and I needed to grasp hold of a lamppost to steady myself.
“What would you like me to do?” Patrick hovered in the office doorway. “Should I deal with her?”
“No…” He chuckled. “She intrigues me. That’s the one that stood up to me. I like her, she has fire in her heart, yet she knows nothing, you never know, she may prove to be useful.”
***
“Where have you been, you’ve a lesson starting in a moment!” Anne called across the yard.
“Sorry, I was trying to find where Liz went so I spoke with that nice man at the club.”
Anne went white. “What?” She gulped, grabbing my arm. “Oh, God Amanda… Please tell me you didn’t. Leave it alone, I beg you…” She sobbed.
“Oh, Anne… I’m sorry… I’ll leave it now… However, he’s asked me out for a drink…” I looked back as I walked into
