Free His Black Wings by Astrid Yrigollen

take the chance and take me to St. Marhen where I may be recognized?” He made a fist and pounded his leg.
     
    “Of all the bloody stupid things I have done in my life that was one of them. I needed to take you there because I was meeting with your solicitor. I wanted to see if there was a way for you to gain access to your property for your things. If he said yes, I was going to tell you then, and take you to your home. But he said that there was no way. I thought you would be safe in those shops. What are the chances that a person like the mayor’s son is going to go shopping in ladies shops at that time of the evening?” He held out his hand to me which I took. His expression was sad.
     
    “Can you forgive me for putting you in danger?”
     
    “Yes of course. You did not know and you only wished to help me.” He squeezed my hand then let it go.
     
    “Thank you for that my dear. You are very kind just as your aunt always said.”
     
    The time had passed by quickly and the train had covered several hundred miles. The October sky was brushed with water colors of pink and yellow. We were heading in to the country away from city lights and soon darkness would be upon us. Mr. Lowood continued.
     
    “I thought it best that we leave for my estate, my main home. I did not want to take the chance that this Kurten fellow find you again.”
     
    “Yes, I…I didn’t know what to think when Mary told me about the girl that was murdered and the note.” A wave of nausea engulfed me when I remembered it was my name on the body.
     
    “That is a concern of mine also Claren, however it might have been a coincidence. I do not think this fellow would find you, no matter how much of a scoundrel he appears to be, then risk everything he has to scare you in this manner. You must put it out of your mind at once. You will be safe now if you wish it, you can have a place with me.”
     
    I tilted my head to one side again not knowing what he was offering. He smiled and removed his pipe from its case that he always carried with him. Before he lit it he pushed a button on a side console that opened a vent that sucked out his smoke so that anyone else sitting in this private car would not even be able to smell that he was smoking.
     
    “Smart girl, you are already wondering at what price I offer this safety. It’s true Claren. I am offering you something, but wish for something in exchange. Will you hear me out?”
     
    What choice did I have?
     
    “Yes.”
     
    “I have a son as you know. He is close to your age, well maybe a little older, twenty two. He is quite intelligent and curious in fashion. He lives with me, but you might not ever see him. He is quite shy I am afraid and does not do well with strangers.”
     
    “Then why Sir, are you bringing me in to your home if my presence will make him uncomfortable?”
     
    “Because he needs someone, someone to talk to that is not me. He has been isolated for so long. You see, he does not leave the house, ever.”
     
    “Why is that?” I asked, suddenly very curious about his son. He took a puff from his pipe and looked at me for a long moment, holding my gaze. I was beginning to wonder if he was going to tell me. I could sense his hesitation as he exhaled.
     
    “Because he is severely disfigured. He is unlike other young men and his disfigurement is such that he cannot hide it with cosmetics or with a coat.”
     
    I flinched inwardly. The kind of disfigurement he seemed to be describing seemed unimaginable. I supposed he had no option other than to hide, especially now that “beauty surgery” had been banned almost one hundred years ago by the Grand Council. My mother had told me that “cosmetic surgery” had been the rage for thousands of years. People would spend hundreds of thousands of Dumas on one procedure. Scientists revealed that it was not only altering our perception of human beauty, but also having severe negative effects on the psyche. It was causing