Playing Dangerous ? ||RDR2 // Arthur Morgan X Reader||

chapter 14; hope is a dangerous thing

You rather fell into the seat than sat in it, grumbling to yourself at the men's piggish ways. After packing your cases on the back of the carriage and ordering the driver, the two men clambered into the carriage with you, taking a seat next to one another on the seat opposite you. Well if that wasn't intimidating, having the pair of them staring you out like vultures.

Unsettled by their heavy gaze, you forced yourself to look out of the window at the city as the carriage trotted on, rumbling over the uneven cobble stones whilst the horses' hooves clip-clopped rhythmically.

In that 15 minute ride, your curious (eye colour) eyes watched your surroundings shift.  You had started your journey in a rather deprived area of the city, with beggars abound, drunks falling in the street and questionable activity all around the distained and murky looking buildings. But a short while you had witnessed the scenery changed, buildings shifted into smarter, more European inspired architecture, the people were wearing suits, ladies in their pretty dresses – as opposed to the scruffy, worn clothes of the very over-worked working class.

Tall trees lined the last long street you travelled, their wilted russet leaves decorating the chalky-grey cobbles like confetti. Activity around this area seemed generally quieter, no shouting or hollering – just the sounds of the wind outside the carriage and the horses' hooves.

The carriage took a turn to the left, into a very idyllic looking cul-de-sac that centred around a pretty little park with it's pond and it's maintained greenery.  Your eyes were wide like that of a child in a sweet shop as you gazed at the beautiful and ornate houses that surrounded the park, all grand and huge in stature. The carriage slowed to a halt just outside of a pretty blueish-grey building that was absolutely breath taking. You knew then you had arrived at your destination, the Mayor's house.

There was sometime you were told the wait in the carriage whilst Bronte's men went out to liaise with the Mayor, but no more than 10 minutes later were you called out at last.

The sharply dressed, intimidating Italian men had taken your cases up to the front porch of the house, as you wandered slowly through the wrought iron gates which a rather haughty looking butler was holding open for you.

Trundling up the neatly cobbles path to the porch, you set eyes on the Mayor himself, loitering in the doorway and looking around like a skittish rat awaiting an attack from a beastly cat.

"Mr Mayor, sir." You greeted in a small voice, as the man bore a rather short and sharp smile – that flickered on and off as soon as anything, like he had been electric shocked.

"Ah – Yes. Do hurry inside." He was just as bumbling as ever, ushering you inside and having one of his butler's grab your cases from Bronte's men.

Despite the pit of sickening nerves in your stomach, you couldn't help but take in the beauty of the house. It was palatial, unlike anything you had set foot in before.

"Mr Bronte informed me you would be here at quarter past 9.... It's nearly quarter to 10." The major gabbled as he led the way upstairs, "M-my wife is d-dangerously close to coming back soon." He sounded irritated, but of course who was too much of a mouse than a man to expel any sort of real rage. Like most influential men in the city, the Mayor was under Bronte's thumb – and very much terrified of the man.

You merely nodded in response, not wanting to offer your word on anything as you already felt more than deep enough in this horrible swampy-mess of a situation. Ascending the stairs, you were led off the landing to another corridor – narrow with dark oak panelled walls and a wood floor that was decorated with a single roll of red carpet which added a touch of elegance.

At the very end of the corridor sat a door, which the Mayor had made a b-line for in a very rushed manner. You could tell that this man was terrified of his wife making an appearance before he had settled you in to your room.