dangerously yours (masquerade)

Chapter thirteen

"Where are you off too on this fine day Madam?"

I thought for a moment. Where could I go that would be far away. Somewhere I would never be found?

"Can I get to... Italy?"

"Italy?! My! I must say you are travelling lightly." The man paused and gave me a suspicious stare. I ignored it. I did not have time to plead innocent to this man.

"Yes. I am..." I hesitated for a moment. I could not really be doing this? "I am looking for passage to the new world. I have already sent my belongings. I have family there already."

"Madam... you do realise that could take up to three months? It is not a light journey."

"Of course I know that!" I paused and controlled my temper for a moment. "Sorry sir... A loved one is sick over there and I am... Desperately trying to get there before they pass."

"I see... I am sorry..." He thought for a moment and looked at me again and sighed. "I will find the next train to... Perhaps not quite Italy but I could get you to the otherside of the Empire? You could then get a connecting train from there to...Hmmm...I will go and check." The man disappeared into a back room.

I was left alone at the desk. I could not wash away the pain I was feeling. But I had to leave. This would be the only way to protect Rudolph from me. I could not lead him on any longer. He would never forgive me if he found out my true motives and what a woman I really was. A tear slid down my cheek, however I quickly swiped it away.

I waited for a few more minutes before my heart stopped. Rudolph had entered the station.

I had told him I was going to go and use the ladies room and insisted he wait outside. There was a clear look of concern on his face. It had been much longer than the five minutes I had promised him I would be. He started looking around the bustling station. He would not leave without me... What was I doing? If I left, Mr Kolenkov would just simply send another person to gain information of Rudolph and they may not be as passive as I and just murder him once all information was found. I was not protecting Rudolph by running away. I was protecting myself.

I left the desk before the man could return.

"Rudolph!" I yelled out.

"Catherine? Catherine! There you are!"

I ran over to him.

"Are you alright? What happened?" He asked.

"Yes yes. I am ok! Things just took" I paused. "longer than I expected. You know like ummm... Lady business."

Was that really the best excuse I could come up with? Now things would just be uncomfortable.

"Oh? Oh I see! That's alright."

I paused slightly at his response. I had expected him to be disgusted or confused by this excuse. Every other man appeared to be. We took hands with one another and began wandering to the exit of the station.

"Wow." I smiled.

"Wow what?" He asked.

"Never expected a response like that..."

"Why not?"

"Did you study women's health?"

"Well yes. Just before I left." He paused and then scratched his head. "I have to admit though. I didn't know much about it before then. Nobody told me."

I chuckled. "You probably know more than me."

"Well I would not imagine so." He laughed. "It hurts. I know that. Learning about it explained why my sister would go to bed with a Termofor a couple days a month."