I have indeed read the rules
April 23, 1967, I’ll be 42 in a couple of months *hides*
I am female
Texas (Central time zone) and I keep odd hours
Both please
The soft glow of the street lamps cast long shadows on the empty streets. Whatever had possessed her to get out on a foggy London night? It was not safe, there had been murders in the Whitechapel district, and although the women murdered had been prostitutes. It still should have been more than enough to keep her indoors instead of out running an errand for her employer. A flash of lightning illuminated the cityscape; the torrential downfall that followed drenched the slender young woman. Her long auburn hair plastered to her pale face. Drenched, she hurried on her way, anxious to complete her task, get home, dry off, and tuck herself into her warm bed.
Cursing her employer for sending her out on a night such as this, she rounded a corner hugging herself, her head bent against the pounding rain. Her employer Lady Stoddingworth was nigh insufferable. Hypochondriac, overly dramatic and demanding. No one in their right mind would send an innocent young woman of 20 out on a night like this under normal conditions. Nevertheless, to send her out into possible danger was unheard of.
Arriving at the address given to her, her teeth chattered as she lifted the heavy knocker. She shifted from foot to foot trying to warm up, impossible in the cold rain. The door swung open sending a shaft of blinding light to illuminate the drenched woman.
“Yes, may I help you Miss,” the tone in the butler’s voice condescending.
“I am Lady Stoddingworth’s maid, she sent me to fetch the doctor. I’m afraid she has taken ill. ” She explained in a quiet voice.
“Very well, wait here I will inform the doctor. ” He shut the door in her face and left her standing in the near dark again.
The butler returned after a few minutes. “Miss you may tell your Mistress that Dr. Howard will be there in an hour, he has an emergency first and then he will attend Lady Stoddingworth. ”
Without waiting for a response from her, the butler shut the door in her face again. “How rude,” she grumbled. She had hoped the doctor might see fit to allow her to ride in the carriage with him, to save her the long, cold, and very wet trip back to her employer’s house. Alas, she was destined to walk. She started for home, her soft footsteps barely heard on the wet street. Hearing the click of boots behind her, she stopped and turned, the footsteps behind her stopped as well. Seeing no one behind her, she chided herself for an overactive imagination and started walking again. The heavy tread of the boots seemed to get closer. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the tall shadow of a man; his dark clothing rendered it impossible for her to tell anything about him other than his height. Panicking she started to run, looking back over her shoulder as she turned a corner she ran headlong into an immovable object. Her breath whooshed out of her lungs as she landed on her rump. Looking up her eyes widened. A handsome man, tall and lean was standing above her with his hand extended to assist her.
“Pardon me, milady, you rounded that corner as if the hounds of hell were nipping at your ankles. Are you alright?” his voice, deep and seductive seemed to calm Alice.
Accepting his hand, she allowed him to pull her up. “Now what’s a pretty young girl like you doing out in the foul weather?” he asked his eyes travelling over her slight figure, his lips curved in a smile. “It’s not safe for you here little one, allow me to escort you home. ” Hypnotized by his voice and eyes, Alice nodded her head, her ability to speak temporarily gone, rendering her mute. She smiled shyly and took his arm. Imagine her, on the arm of a fancy gentleman.
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