Luisa: The Orphan Tale

Part XXI: M. Dubois and Elise Search the Inn on The Road to Paris

The next morning Luisa and Elise awoke together, happy and warm in each other. They got out of bed after an hour of cuddling and dressed themselves in fine enough clothes for a slow day.

Dubois had sent the servants home and no big breakfast, as was usual, would be served and he offered to cook himself. Often he had that responsibility in the armies.

Elise and Luisa walked hand in hand to go check on Chloe. They walked down the hall, it was beautifully lit by the morning sun, and the morning chill made them press together as much as they could as they walked.

They entered the room to find it empty. The bed was a mess and the desk had been cleared off in order to draw attention to a singular piece of paper that lie upon it.

Luisa anxiously raised the note and read what she and Elise had feared the second they entered.

Dear Luisa & Elise

I am sorry I must hurt you in such a way but it's necessary in order ro avoid my causing you further harm and misfortune.

I'm leaving, now as write in the hours of dawn, I will be gone as you read this. Please forgive me, but I do not want to burden you and be a curse to you and your new household and family. Dubois and Genevieve are kind people, thank them for their hospitality and give them my apologies on my shameful exit.

I love you Luisa. I love you Elise.
Please know that and know that this was done out of what I believe to be selfless love and not hate or spite or some other selfishness. I feel I must go for you two to be happy.

I am sorry.

-Chloe

Luisa's heart sank as she read, raising her head to look at Elise who was biting her nails in horrible anticipation, and she shook her head and said. "She's gone..." With a tone of incredible grief and sadness.

Elise just looked at her silently as she went pallid and pale, she sunk to her knees and tried to stifle tears.

"That fool!" She cried out as she stood back up. "Misguided ignorant! Doesn't she see we love her? We wanted her here. I didn't think she'd actually go!" She cried at Luisa who still stood steadfast even in such sadness of predicament.

"Come!" Luisa demanded. "She can't have gone far. It's Sunday and passenger ships don't leave until at least midday, and if she took the road she's catchable."

"Where would she even go!?" Elise asked.

"My guess is either back to Paris or to England to find Claire." Luisa said. "That tough girl is injured so she can't be traveling at a strenuous pace either. I'll gather Father and Genevieve, and tell Frederic to stay here in case she comes back. No offense to the lad but he can't move too fast for very long." She said as she pulled Elise out of the room and led her downstairs and to the dining room where she suspected she'd find the three other occupants of the house.

"We need help!" Luisa said as they entered. "Chloe left. She's convinced herself of deluded notion that she brings harm to everyone. That's not important right now. Right now we need to go search for her."

The three looked at her, all with overwhelmed and overloaded expressions.

"Well. Ok then!" Dubois said. "What do we do?"