Read Online Silver by Scott Cairns - Free Book Online Page B

the very earth itself and fall through the heavens. Avoiding the throng of people in front of them, Avery veered off the main path and headed down past the waterside and up towards the Porchester Terrace Gate. He had thought long and hard about this moment and he decided it was now or never.
    “ I have a favour to ask of you, Kate,” Avery stopped and Kate continued past, turning after a few steps so that they were some distance from each other, when Kate replied, “Yes Miss?”             
    “ I have two things to ask of you and I am afraid you may find both strange. The first is an errand that I wish to run in St Giles,” he held up a hand as Kate’s face fell, the area around St Giles being of questionable character.  “I will explain what I wish to do in a moment and I shall understand if you will not come with me. However, if you do, I need your assurances that the details of where we go must remain with only the two of us.”
            He kept his eyes on Kate’s as she nodded slowly at him, indicating only that she understood. She was hesitant but her curiosity forbade her from denying him.
    “Yes, of course, Miss,” she answered. “And the second thing, Miss Silver?” she asked neutrally. She seemed nervous of the serious turn that this conversation had taken but her eyes sparkled with delight. Avery’s cheek twitched as she addressed him and he hesitated, considering again what he was about to ask of her.
    “ I would like you to stop calling me Miss or Alice.”
            Her face lit up in a smile. She seemed relieved that this outlandish request was all that seemed to be vexing her young mistress. However, noticing how solemn Avery’s face became she stifled a laugh and instead enquired. “What am I to call you then?”
            He waited nervously and the girl looked confused, her eyebrows knitted together expectantly.
    “ I should like you to call me, Avery.” He stated simply. “Or perhaps you would like to call me, Sir,” he added. He kept his eyes fixed unblinkingly on her own as he waited for her reaction. His stomach knotted as something like recognition dawned over her face. There was no doubt that she was puzzled and she stepped backwards slightly to look at him.
            To anyone who cared to consider it, Avery was a tall and handsome woman who seemed to go to extraordinary lengths to refuse to wear anything which could make him more beautiful. He always chose plain and drab dresses and refused to have either his hair or his face made up, which made him seem much older than his twenty years. Kate had always professed this to be strange and she openly coveted the fine fabrics her mistress refused to take pleasure in. Many supposed that Avery was in want of a mother figure to guide him in the fashionable changes to which a young girl ought to be devoted. Avery watched, almost shyly, as Kate continued to look puzzled by what she was being asked.
    “ What is the errand in St Giles?” she asked.
    “ I told you already,” he answered cautiously. “Avery needs some new clothes.”
            Avery’s words hung in the air between them as Kate looked at him curiously. As they stood facing each other on the path, a trio of young girls passed them, their arms interlocked, giggling and pointing at a young man asleep down by the pond. A family of ducks was investigating his straw hat and was about to make off with it. The spell of their stare was broken as Avery stepped aside to allow the girls room on the path and he watched until they disappeared beyond earshot. When he looked back at Kate, she was walking away from him towards the gate. With an anxious start, Avery hurried to catch up with her and placed a restraining hand upon her arm.
    “Kate?”
            She stopped and, looking up at her mistress, smiled nervously.
    “ If we hurry we can catch the next bus to St Giles, Miss, ” she caught herself from finishing and looked up