would he have done so again, Jacob wondered? Then again, how could he have done? He wouldn't have known where Jacob was going, so would have been unable to assist him a second time.
Jacob paused in his eating to look at his hands. They were shaking, like the last time. He searched for tell-tale signs, but there were none. He was clean, absolutely clean. He sighed in relief. It couldn't have occurred again. He was sure of it.
Breakfast finally over and his mind clear of dark thoughts and the fear that had temporarily gripped him earlier Jacob washed, shaved and made his way out of the flat, remembering to lock the door with the spare key entrusted to him by Michael. Jacob wasn't sure he trusted Michael, but at least for now he had a roof over his head, and Michael's 'business' though not strictly or in fact in any way legal, at least provided Jacob with the means to go about his own task during the days.
He felt sure that the answers he sought were to be found here on the South Coast. He just wished to hell he knew how to go about finding them.
Chapter 13
The House on Abbotsford Road
Abbotsford Road stands atop a hill that runs almost parallel with Brighton's coastline. Situated about a mile inland, its height affords those who reside in the homes that line one side of the road commanding views of the town, the Royal Pavilion and the English Channel. Those who live on the opposite side of the road are not of course so lucky, though some of their upper storey rooms do afford a lesser view of the sea and perhaps a small fraction of the town, as seen through the gaps between the houses on the town side.
The houses on Abbotsford Road were at one time the height of elegance and refinement, being built during the height of the Regency period and affordable only to the rich and wealthy who took advantage of the town's royal connections to ensconce themselves in the vicinity of the wealth and opulence that those connections brought to the town.
In keeping with the original owners' desires to secure uninterrupted views, no trees were allowed to be planted along the road, unusually for the time, and today the treeless tradition continues, and though not enshrined in any local by-laws or council minutes, it would be unthinkable for anyone to consider planting a tree anywhere along the length of the road.
Most of the houses along the road retain their original names, having been grandly given such appellations as "Sussex House" or "De Savory Manor" and even a rather cheekily named "Regent's Folly". Some have had their names changed over the years of course, but the house that perhaps possesses the most fame, or perhaps infamy is the only one on the street that bears no name at all, just a number. It was here, at number 14, that 'Bertie' the Prince Of Wales, and later King Edward the Seventh, would enjoy a number of dalliances with one of his lesser known mistresses in the years prior to his assuming the throne of England. This was the home of Mrs Amelia Lassiter, widow of Colonel Henry Lassiter of the Royal Horse Artillery, who'd succumbed to fever during a posting to the Indian sub-continent. Introduced to the prince by one of his military friends, Amelia soon became close to Bertie, and his visits to her home continued for a period of over three years until he became bored with her increasing years and moved on to other, younger women who took his fancy.
Much of the elegance of those days has now departed from the houses on Abbotsford Road, and number 14 is no exception. Still possessing its impressive wrought iron gates, solid oak front doors and high ceilings with wood-panelled walls, it does however exude an air of rather faded elegance, and the current batch of residents on the road are a far cry from the opulence and wealth of the original residents of Abbotsford Road. That's not to say that the houses here are cheap of course. They are in fact among the highest priced in the town, though perhaps the views that the homes
Jacob paused in his eating to look at his hands. They were shaking, like the last time. He searched for tell-tale signs, but there were none. He was clean, absolutely clean. He sighed in relief. It couldn't have occurred again. He was sure of it.
Breakfast finally over and his mind clear of dark thoughts and the fear that had temporarily gripped him earlier Jacob washed, shaved and made his way out of the flat, remembering to lock the door with the spare key entrusted to him by Michael. Jacob wasn't sure he trusted Michael, but at least for now he had a roof over his head, and Michael's 'business' though not strictly or in fact in any way legal, at least provided Jacob with the means to go about his own task during the days.
He felt sure that the answers he sought were to be found here on the South Coast. He just wished to hell he knew how to go about finding them.
Chapter 13
The House on Abbotsford Road
Abbotsford Road stands atop a hill that runs almost parallel with Brighton's coastline. Situated about a mile inland, its height affords those who reside in the homes that line one side of the road commanding views of the town, the Royal Pavilion and the English Channel. Those who live on the opposite side of the road are not of course so lucky, though some of their upper storey rooms do afford a lesser view of the sea and perhaps a small fraction of the town, as seen through the gaps between the houses on the town side.
The houses on Abbotsford Road were at one time the height of elegance and refinement, being built during the height of the Regency period and affordable only to the rich and wealthy who took advantage of the town's royal connections to ensconce themselves in the vicinity of the wealth and opulence that those connections brought to the town.
In keeping with the original owners' desires to secure uninterrupted views, no trees were allowed to be planted along the road, unusually for the time, and today the treeless tradition continues, and though not enshrined in any local by-laws or council minutes, it would be unthinkable for anyone to consider planting a tree anywhere along the length of the road.
Most of the houses along the road retain their original names, having been grandly given such appellations as "Sussex House" or "De Savory Manor" and even a rather cheekily named "Regent's Folly". Some have had their names changed over the years of course, but the house that perhaps possesses the most fame, or perhaps infamy is the only one on the street that bears no name at all, just a number. It was here, at number 14, that 'Bertie' the Prince Of Wales, and later King Edward the Seventh, would enjoy a number of dalliances with one of his lesser known mistresses in the years prior to his assuming the throne of England. This was the home of Mrs Amelia Lassiter, widow of Colonel Henry Lassiter of the Royal Horse Artillery, who'd succumbed to fever during a posting to the Indian sub-continent. Introduced to the prince by one of his military friends, Amelia soon became close to Bertie, and his visits to her home continued for a period of over three years until he became bored with her increasing years and moved on to other, younger women who took his fancy.
Much of the elegance of those days has now departed from the houses on Abbotsford Road, and number 14 is no exception. Still possessing its impressive wrought iron gates, solid oak front doors and high ceilings with wood-panelled walls, it does however exude an air of rather faded elegance, and the current batch of residents on the road are a far cry from the opulence and wealth of the original residents of Abbotsford Road. That's not to say that the houses here are cheap of course. They are in fact among the highest priced in the town, though perhaps the views that the homes
Similar Books
