Small Ambitions

Departure - 3

"21,40... 21,45... 21,48..." She finished. "We made 21 klubecks and 48 cents today Mr. Darcy." "Good! Very good. A good day." Mr. Darcy said, looking over from where he was standing. "Thank you Elisabeth, that'll be all for today." "Allright." She closed the register, walking over towards Mr. Darcy. "Just to remind you, I will be gone for the week, in connection with the inheritance of my uncle." Mr. Darcy nodded. "Yes, I know. I'm terribly sorry, I offer my deepest condolences. Travel safely, and I'll see you next week." She bobbed her head. "Thank you Mr. Darcy, I'll see you then." With that, she waved goodbye and left the general store. She walked along the wooden boardwalk, stopping in front of her house. She sighed. Today, the man from last week would come and collect her to bring her to the office of the executor, all the way in the capital.

She opened the door, walking into the hallway. Shoved into the right corner was her grandmothers trunk, now filled with Elisabeth's clothing and amenities. It was shut with one of her grandfather's belts, as it was quite old and the mechanism didn't lock the trunk properly anymore. She walked into the living room. "I'm home." She announced, walking over towards the dining table. There, sat her grandparents. She could tell her grandmother had been crying again. "How was work?" She asked, smiling meekly. "It was fine." Elisabeth said, sitting down. "Eat up, it's going to be a long journey." Her grandfather said, avoiding looking at her. She nodded. They all ate in silence, waiting for the dreaded knocking on their door. However, during the entirety of dinner it did not come. They finished eating, cleared off the table, and yet there was no sign of anyone coming to collect Elisabeth. After a while they decided to sit on the couch, waiting in silence. They sat there for hours, but there was still no knocking on their door...

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. They were awoken suddenly. Elisabeth rubbed her eyes. Bang. Bang. Bang. "That must be him." Her grandmother said, sitting upright. Elisabeth walked over towards the front door. Bang. Bang. Bang. She opened the door, and there he stood. He tipped his bowler hat towards her. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Miss. Ferlette. We were delayed by mitigating circumstances. Have you packed your belongings?" She nodded silently. "Very well. Gilbert!" He suddenly called out. A much shabbier looking man came into sight, tipping his flat cap. He was wearing a simple black overcoat, paired with a gray tweed flat cap. He had black sideburns, and truth be told he seemed much healthier than Mr. Simmons. "Get the ladies' suitcase." Mr. Simmons said, putting his hands behind his back. The man obeyed, walking inside and grabbing the trunk, before walking out of sight. 

"Are you ready to depart, Miss. Ferlette?" Mr. Simmons asked, looking back at her. Her grandparents stood in the doorway of the living room, looking at the two of them. Elisabeth ran over towards them, embracing them. Elisabeth had never been outside her home town before, and was never much further from her grandparents than a few buildings down. The town had a small school. but it too was only a few buildings down. This was her first time traveling elsewhere, and it would be to the other side of the country. Her grandfather rubbed her on her back. "We'll be here waiting for you. We'll see you next week." They all smiled. She kissed them both on the cheek, before returning to Mr. Simmons. Mr. Simmons looked entirely unimpressed and unmoved, and motioned for her to exit the house. "I'll see you next week!" She said, waving them goodbye. She grabbed her large black hat, and left the house she'd been living in her entire life. 

Her grandparents stood in the doorway, still waving. She waved back. Mr. Simmons guided her to an enclosed black carriage. It was unlike anything she'd seen before. It was pitch black and polished, she could faintly see her reflection staring back at her. The carriage didn't seem to have any windows. It was drawn by two brown horses, and on the drivers seat sat the man that had carried her trunk  earlier. Her trunk was secured on the back of the carriage. It was the middle of the night, and so the carriage was lit by two lanterns on either side of the front of the carriage. Mr. Simmons opened the door for her, and helped her get in. The inside of the carriage was a bit warmer, with what seemed to be a decorative wallpaper used for the walls. The seats themselves were made of black leather. The carriage DID appear to have windows, but they seemed to only be visible from inside the carriage. It was unlike anything Elisabeth had ever seen before. She took a seat on the left side of the carriage, and Mr. Simmons took a seat on the right. He knocked on the roof of the carriage, and it departed. 

They sat in silence as the carriage rolled through the endless sea of black. The inside was illuminated by the light of a small lantern, hanging above them. Elisabeth took off her hat, placing it to the side of her. "So... where are we going?" She asked him. He pursed his lips. "We're going towards the office of your uncles executor, located in the same city that your uncle lived, for obvious reasons." She hadn't really realised that she was going to the capital. Only now did it start to fester that she would be in the largest city of the entire country, when she had never previously left her hometown before. They continued riding in silence. Neither of them moved, neither of them spoke, neither of them did anything. They just sat, as the carriage shook and swayed in the darkness. "It will be a long journey Miss. Ferlette." Mr. Simmons remarked eventually. "You should get some rest. She was extremely tired, but she wasn't quite certain whether she trusted Mr. Simmons. He raised an eyebrow upon seeing her uncertain face. "Suit yourself." He said, taking of his tie. "But I shall rest." He opened his collar, and took off his suit. With that, he closed his eyes. After a few minutes, he started snoring lightly. Convinced, she took closed her eyes, and tried to fall asleep in the shaking carriage.