☆ ᴡᴀᴛᴛʏꜱ 2024 SHORTLISTER!! ☆
A tragic misunderstanding. A murder. A secret. An unlikely partnership. A spirited countess and an enterprising racketeer.
~~~
Manchester, England. May 1925.
The Roarin' 20s. An era of glamor, decadent parties, jazz mus...
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It was late afternoon by the time Rose succeeded in finding William's place of work. She had never been to the offices of Mercer Industries, and therefore didn't know the location beyond it being a notable fixture on Deansgate. But that mattered little, as apparently every other person in town was readily knowledgeable of the address. A question or two to a couple of passers-by, and Rose found the building with no trouble.
However, when at last she walked through the doors of William's office, she discovered he was not there.
A tall, dark-haired secretary with flinty eyes gave her a look of bored disdain. “He's gone,” she told Rose. “He and his brother had a couple o' meetings to attend. He won't be back this evening.”
“Oh, I see,” Rose said. She shifted her garment bag from one arm to the other and frowned. “Pity I missed him.”
The secretary eyed the garment bag in suspicion. “That for him? Didn't realize he was gettin' his suits delivered now.”
“Oh, er, no,” Rose said, hugging the garment bag to her chest. “No, this is mine, um...? Forgive me, I didn't catch your name.”
“Kitty.”
“Kitty. Yes. Alright. Pleasure to meet you, Kitty,” Rose said in an attempt to win the cold woman over. “My apologies for the trouble. I was just hoping to speak with Mr. Mercer.”
“So you said,” Kitty sniffed. “Do you have an appointment? If so, it wasn't made by me.”
Rose bit her lip. She didn't understand this woman's open hostility. “Not an appointment, per se, but he will want to see me.”
“Many-a-girl in Manchester says that, pet,” the secretary remarked with a flippant wave of her hand. She took her time lighting a cigarette and exhaling the smoke in Rose's direction. “As I already said, he's gone for the day. You could try again tomorrow, if you're so inclined.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Rose left the office, bemused. Why would William's secretary take such an instant aversion to her?
It made little matter. If William wasn't planning to return to the office today, then he'd likely be at home. She'd see him there.
【♖】
After returning to Warwick Hall that evening, Rose found William in his study. He was seated at his desk, habitual cigarette dangling from his lips, and a disgruntled scowl marring his face as he read the neat rows of words typed across a sheet of business stationery.
“William?” Rose called softly. When he neglected to answer, she advanced further into the room and draped her garment bag over the back of a chair.
Her employer glanced up, his scowl alleviating a bit when he saw her. “You're back,” he observed, exhaling smoke. “Half expected ya to run off. Good day?”
