Don't Look Back

Chapter 43

Sidney wasted no time in his journey to London. His mind heavy as his heart was heavy. It was not a broken heart, it was a strained one. Which dared to hope for a glimmer of escape.

He looked up to the grand house that once belonged to Eliza's first husband but now belonged to him by right of their marriage vows and nothing more. He knew she was there, but he was not about to go inside. He had never resided with her there, but it was a pleasantly appointed home. One Flora said she loved to run in but her mama would shout at her to stop.

The glowing white of the grand home front was inviting but it housed a viper.

He would carry on to his own more modest apartments he kept for himself at the lesser fashionable end of London. He was as always an outlier after all.

But for now, he would attempt a call upon the names Lady Worcester provided. He would not sleep until he had some answers as to how expensive or complicated his choices would be.

Knocking the ceiling he directed his driver to continue to their next destination.

Pulling up to the chilling stone building he strode in without glancing to who could see. He did not wish to tarry and hear if gossip had reached the Capitol before he had spoken to a Barrister.

Having a recommendation from one such as Lady Worcester was a worthy thing he had resolved to not let slip through his fingers. He would explore the options he found.

Opening the door he found a collection of men arguing over something that he could not catch the meaning of for the volume of their shouting.

But the door had a bell attached and at least got the attention of one and the other pulled on the dark robes of the other.

"Oh forgive us. This is a most heated case." One man, portly and in a powdered wig looked ashamed.

"What can we do for you Mr....?" another asked.

"Parker," he said seriously. "Mr. Sidney Parker."

All of them suddenly looked at him pityingly and he wanted to storm from the room then and there and end his marriage manually.

"Well sir, I think many of us can guess why you have come." the portly man scoffed now with ridicule.

Sidney now changed targets. He wanted to end that man.

"I am here with the recommendation of Lady Worcester to meet with Barrister John Peeves," he said with a cold glare. Not willing to turn yet in the defeat of their opinion of him.

The man who had spoken first cleared his throat and looked slightly ashamed. "Lady Worcester sent you?" he asked.

Sidney pulled out his letter from her to the man. "Yes, I come bearing her words."

"Ah, yes..." the man said reaching for the paper. "I see..." his voice dropped in reading her neat and recognizable script. "I see." he mumbled and folded the paper "Very well..." he looked back at his colleagues and nodded.

Sidney could not help but notice the men's curiosity and now their shared whispers as he followed the portly man to a small room.

"We can meet and discuss here, or we can do it over a more pleasant atmosphere, but I assume you will not be socializing much at this time." Barrister Peeves said as he motioned to a chair.

Shaking his head he went to take his seat at the same time as the man.

"So I am assuming you are here to arrainge legal separation from your wife." He said pulling out papers.