Page 9 of Eight for Losing, One for Loving

“Where are they?” Vi cried, terrified they had lost the villains already.

“There, sir, towards Marble Arch,” Norton shouted, hanging around the side of the tilbury.

“Hold on, Norton,” Leo said, which turned out to be good advice.

Vi had always considered herself an excellent passenger. Being a reasonable whipster herself, she knew when she was in the hands of someone with skill and never so much as twitched when Leo was driving. Today, it was all she could do to keep a still tongue in her head as he weaved in and out of traffic and took corners with such speed, she could only close her eyes and pray. From Marble Arch they flew down Tottenham Court Road, and she did not know whether to thank God or curse for the fact the traffic was lighter than usual. For as much as it helped them to follow, it left the path clear for the villains to make their escape.

“All right, Vi?” Leo asked her in concern, noticing her white knuckle hold on the side of the tilbury.

“Quite all right,” Vi replied firmly, determined not to halt his pursuit. Nothing was going to happen. Leo was an excellent driver she told herself over and over. They would not crash. Her stomach churned all the same.

“They’re heading for the Great North Road,” Leo said furiously. “Damn them, where are they taking him?”

“I think perhaps their plans have changed as they’re being pursued. They probably expected to deliver a ransom note to you this evening,” she said, closing her eyes as he passed a heavily loaded cart with barely the width of her finger between them.

“They’re not getting away from me,” Leo said, in a tone that left Vi in no doubt that he would follow them to John o’Groats and back if he had to. “But Vi, love, I’m going to have to drop you off. I can’t be haring all over the countryside with you in tow. I know you’re scared to death, too.”

“No.”

In some dim part of her mind, Vi knew that her choice was one that would change things, change her life, perhaps even herself, forever. The voice of reason shrieked at her, telling her Leo was quite right and the sensible thing to do was to get down and leave him to his pursuit. She was scared, terrified in fact, but Leo would get Mau back without her. She did not doubt that, not for a moment. He would go off on his adventure and tell her all about it when he got back.

She didn’t want that, she realised. Much as she loved her peaceful life and felt sure she did not wish to live at the frantic pace Leo set, she was tired of hearing of his adventures, second, third or even fourth hand. She had read about them in the papers, seen print shop caricatures, and overheard people gossiping. Never had she been a part of them. Now, unexpectedly, was her chance. If she wanted to take it. If she were brave enough, just this once[A1].

He turned to stare at her. “Vi, I might be in Brighton, or halfway across the country in a few hours. Then you’ll be in the basket.”

“I’ll get a train back. One advantage of being an old maid is that my reputation isn’t quite so easily ruined. I’m sure no one will notice,” she said, waving this away.

“Not notice!” Leo said in astonishment. “Vi, love—”

“Oh, do stop Vi-loving me,” she said impatiently. “Oh, Leo, Leo, look out!”

Leo cursed as he saw the drunkard weaving from the pavement and into the traffic and his attention was entirely focused for the next few moments as he negotiated the near disaster. By the time the crisis had passed, the hackney had made the turn.

“Hurry, Leo, hurry, you’ll lose them,” Vi urged.

“Vi, for the love of—”

“Don’t you dare think of putting me down,” she shouted at him. “Oh, heavens, Leo, look!”

Leo did as she told him, momentarily diverted as he saw what she did, hackney carriages as far as the eye could see.

“Curse it,” he muttered.

Vi grabbed his arm. “Which one? Which one is it?”

Leo shook his head. “It had faded red paint on the doors. It might have said Reed, or Reeves, something of the kind.”

“We’ll find it,” Vi said resolutely. “Hurry now.”

Leo gave her a long, searching look, and made the turn onto the Great North Road.