The Highwayman -- Chapter 6

Bess stretched her arms above her head as she headed up to her room. After a long busy day of catering to guests, she loved to flop down in her room. Although it did sometimes suck that it was on the fourth floor. That being said, she had a wonderful view of the grand driveway, the highway, and the moors. Bess reached her light blue painted door and entered, flipping the light switch on as she started pulling out the pins that held her hair and little lace cap. The soft yellow light illuminated her room from the night’s dark, revealing her own little paradise.

Bess’s room was white and red. Not a very common combination, she knew, but she loved it. Red had always been her color, for the obvious reason of her coloring, and that her parents had always loved the color as well. Bess had easily followed the tradition of living in red. It seemed… natural… a part of her. And as such, her tastes flowed toward it. Her room was wallpapered in broad white and red stripes; the carpet was a brilliant red. Her room boasted a large window, and a lovely window seat stretched before it. The curtains surrounding it were a luminous white, but the cloth covering the wide seat was the bright red she adored. Quickly moving to the seat, Bess knelt on the covering and opened the window, letting the balmy summer air move through the room. The air was scented with the smell of roses from the garden off to the side, and the night stars glittered brilliantly. Smiling, Bess moved to her vanity, a warm chestnut color that matched the décor, and sat upon the wood chair, watching herself in the large mirror.

Her long, black hair tumbled down from its coif, curling charmingly. Bess absentmindedly finger brushed her hair, working the kinks out. “It really is getting long, hmm.” She told her reflection, staring at the dark ends that traveled past her hips, hanging over the side of the chair. “I should at least trim it.” Bess mentally made a note to have her mother cut it tomorrow morning. It was almost eleven; her parents would both be asleep by now. They would all have to get up early to start preparations for the upcoming day.

Bess picked up her brush and stood, absently drawing the bristles through her hair. She was still in her cream day gown, although her apron was hanging in the kitchen downstairs. The gown had little puffed sleeves and a modest neckline, but all this did was accentuate Bess’s more than modest curves and trim waist. The skirt of the dress puffed out, creating a charming silhouette, that when coupled with the pure with apron that tied with a wide bow around her waist was cause for more than one man to be instantly attracted to her. Bess knew about all of this. At one point she had enjoyed the attention from them. But they had hurt her too often. Bess was now just glad that her looks brought some of the men back; any business for the Inn was good.

Bess passed her wall cover in pictures of her and her family, friends and guests, landscapes and buildings. One of her walls was covered in these pictures, testaments too many good times in her life. Bess reached her wardrobe, and changed out of her dress, hanging it on a hanger and placing it in the section that marked her dirty clothes. Under the dress she was wearing petticoats and a chemise, in keeping with the traditional garb. Although it did not seem like you would be able to tell these things, it was possible to notice if someone where doing without these. Bess stripped these, revealing red lace boy short underwear and a red and black lace bra. These Bess always wore, feeling uncomfortable without them.

Bess knew that she was… sensual. It was one of her traits. One of the things that drew men to her. She liked wearing sexy underwear, sleeping with Egyptian cotton sheets, loved luxurious things. She just tended not to go overboard with them. A woman could be sexy without having sex. Bess knew this, and she liked it like that. Bess changed out of her underwear, slipping on clean boy short underwear and a tank top on. She always slept like that. The Egyptian cotton felt good on her skin.

Bess quickly went to the bathroom, washed her face and brushed her teeth. Yawning, she turned off her light, and walked through the dark to her bed. Her wonderful queen sized bed. With her bright red Egyptian cotton sheets and brilliant white quilt. Sighing, Bess slipped between the cool sheets, settling herself in. But her head bumped something crinkly, then a light object fell onto the back of her head. In confusion, Bess pushed herself up, reaching over to her bedside lamp, and turning on the light. Surprise and fear spread through her.

Her cell phone. And a printed note. “So sorry to have stolen your cell phone. I thought you might want it back. Please accept my apologies for this lapse, and for having startled you during our nightly excursion. I hope you suffered no lasting harm from it.” The Highwayman, his signature typed on the bottom. Bess sat up in bed, not touching the note. Bewilderment held her in its grip for a minute. He had been here, at the Inn, inside her room. Bess shook her head. Then quickly ran to the light, threw it on. She quickly threw on a pair of sweat pants and a sweat shirt, then ran down the hall to her parent’s room.

And again, as she told the police a short twenty minutes later, she knew nothing. She had not been in her room since around six o’clock this morning, and as it was now close to eleven thirty, she would not describe who had gone in her room. She just knew that it had to have been the Highwayman because he was the only one who could have taken her cell phone.

“I am sorry miss, but we will have to take your fingerprints. In case you accidentally touched the cell phone or paper.” The officer in charge informed her.

Bess nodded. “Okay. I don’t think I touched them. I didn’t want to contaminate them in any way.” The elder officer nodded approvingly. A second officer spread out the necessary supplies on a table in the hall, while a third and fourth officer took pictures of her room and did other detective like stuff.

As Bess had her fingers stamped and rolled, the officer explained to her and her parents, “I am sorry, but your room will have to be treated like a crime scene. You will not be able to stay in here until we have completed our investigation.” Bess nodded unhappily. “We are trying to do everything to capture this man. He is causing a lot of trouble.” At her and her family’s murmured agreements, the officer turned his attention back to Bess. “Is there anything you need from your room that you cannot do without for a while?”

Bess thought then shook her head. “No, I think I will be fine.” Rooms they had aplenty, there were some of her clothes in the laundry room, and toiletries were also readily available. “I will be fine with what we have available.” The officer nodded.

“Well then, after a few more questions, we will let you be for the night. May we see ourselves out after we have finished taking our first evidence?” The officer politely asked Bess’s stocky father. After the necessary assurances and questions, Bess and her parents were allowed to sleep for the night.

“Well, chalk another up to the Highwayman,” Bess said in annoyance as she and her parents moved down the hall. “Guess I will sleep in the small Courtyard room for a while. No one is booked there for at least a week, right?” Bess turned and asked her quiet parents.

“Honey, are you sure you are alright?” Her gruff father rumbled. His handsome face was creased with wrinkles and worries, his sandy brown hair tousled with sleep. Bess smiled, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

“I am fine. Mostly annoyed that I no longer have my room or my cell phone, despite the Highwayman’s generosity. He never actually hurt me or took anything else.” Saying goodnight to her sleepy, worried parents, Bess descended two flights of stairs until she came to the second floor. She would be staying in one of their smaller rooms for a while. Most of the other rooms where booked, or had the chance of becoming booked soon. Bess didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, so this was the best bet.

Still, as Bess slipped into the dark room, she couldn’t help but turn on the lights and check around, looking in the small closet and bathroom. Bess stood in the middle of the room, then she quickly crossed to the bed and dropped down, looking under it. Feeling ridiculous, Bess scolded herself quietly, turned off the lights, and slipped into the bed, keeping on the sweatpants and shirt. She would feel more comfortable with them on tonight.

***

Jack quietly sipped his coffee and read the newspaper the next morning, listening as his mother made clucking noises at the news. “The Mayfair Inn was visited by the Highwayman again! Such excitement!” She turned to her son, rustling in her silk suit and pearls, her makeup and hair done perfectly, as perfect as a perfect senator’s wife should be. “Do you know that I have not been there in ages?” Madelyn clasped her hands together underneath her chin. “When I was in high school, we had our Prom in the garden. Aww… it was absolutely wonderful! Your father and I had such a grand time.” Madelyn’s blue eyes grew starry and distant, remembering far away memories.

“I was actually just there yesterday. I guess before all of this,” Jack waved his hand at the television and its ‘breaking news’, “Happened. I had an absolutely wonderful dinner.” One of Jack’s greatest worries was that his mother might find out about his activities. She was really a delicate person, and one he wanted to protect.

“Oh did you really?” Madelyn snapped back to the present and picked up her own coffee. “I think that I might have to make a trip over there soon. Having High Tea and meandering through their gardens and out onto the untamed moors.” Here she sighed again. “Aw, it would be just like prom. Your father and I walked along those moors that night for at least an hour. Me with my fancy dress and your father in his tux. Dancing in the moonlight. It really was the most magical of nights.” She took another sip. “And that really is the most magical of places. You can feel its history and wonder every time you are there. What did you think of it?”

“It was certainly something. I wouldn’t mind taking you there soon, if that is what you wish. Perhaps for this weekend or next?” Jack knew he would be safe going there, especially if he went with his mother and father. No one suspects the applauded senators celebrated son to do anything as outrageous as be the Highwayman. Besides, Jack sipped his coffee, his mind straying to the beautiful tenant of the Mayfair Inn; he wouldn’t mind seeing in person how she was holding up.

“Oh, perfect! Your father will be back this weekend, and he wanted to do something. I guess the Inn was just one of those places that is too far for everyday and too close for a vacation!” Madelyn stood and started to clear the table. “I am so excited!” She dropped a kiss on Jack’s head, and bustled off to the kitchen. Jack turned his gaze once more to the television, where they were showing the Inn again.

“I guess I will be back soon,” he silently lifted his glass in a toast.