Running Carriage: The Moment that Slipped Through the Hands

New Beginnings

Penelope held a recently received letter in her hands, unsure of what to do next. She had promised to deliver it to the recipient but had no idea where to find this person or where to start looking.

With a heavy sigh, Penelope put the letter away in a drawer, thinking that she had more pressing matters to attend to. She took up her quill and began to write.

Penelope set the quill down and looked at what she had written. She felt tears welling up in her eyes, but just then, Agatha burst into the room, holding a pendant.

"Mom, look at this beautiful pendant I got!" Agatha said joyfully, running up to Penelope and showing her the jewelry.

"Uncle Pirate gave it to me!" Agatha responded, beaming with happiness.

Penelope felt her heart tighten with emotions. She understood that her children were the most precious thing in her life and that she must do everything possible to protect Agatha.

"Did you see Uncle Colin today?" Penelope asked, trying to stay calm.

"Yes, Mom. He and his friend brought me home after playing with Eloise. We had so much fun," Agatha replied, her eyes shining with joy. "We played hide and seek, and Auntie is so good at hiding! Sometimes I can't even find her!"

It would be wonderful if neither you nor Colin found her—Penelope thought.

Penelope smiled. "It's great that you had such a good time! Where are they now?"

Penelope nodded. "Thank you for telling me, dear. You had a wonderful time with them. Darling, would you like to play with Uncle Colin again?" she asked, gently stroking her daughter's hair.

Agatha's face lit up with excitement. "Yes, yes, yes! I would love to!" she exclaimed, jumping up and down. "We had so much fun running around the house like on a ship!"

"Excellent," Penelope replied, smiling. "We'll ask Uncle Colin if he wants to meet and play with you again."

Agatha nodded happily, and Penelope decided that Colin and her daughter's meeting was beneficial not only for them but for the entire family.

Marie, torn by conflicting emotions, couldn't just sit idly by. She felt she had to find her younger sister, but at the same time, she feared that her search would attract the attention of her stepmother or, worse, him. She couldn't bear facing him again. Marie decided to act cautiously, using her connections and trusted people.

She decided to turn to Eloise, known for her curiosity and ability to find information. She confided in her but didn't reveal all the details to protect herself.

"Eloise, I need your help," Marie said, trying not to reveal her anxiety. "My younger sister has gone missing, and I'm very worried about her. You know everyone in London. Do you have any connections or information?"

Eloise thought for a moment and nodded. "I'll try to help you. Give me some time; I'll do my best."

Eloise decided to use an old, proven tactic: she began spreading rumors about the search through her connections, without revealing the whole truth.

Rumors about Lady Marie searching for her sister reached Penelope. She and Eloise were sitting in a room, with Eloise helping her prepare for an important event.

Penelope decided to ask Eloise about Marie without raising suspicion. She needed to know if there was something between her and Colin.

"Eloise, I recently heard about Lady Marie. Where did she come from?" Penelope asked, touching the soft fabric of the chair.

Eloise, smiling, understood that Penelope's question was related to Colin. "Oh, that? Nothing special, just friendly ties," she replied, trying to keep a straight face. "Don't worry about it, Penelope. Colin and Lady Marie are just friends."

Eloise decided to take the opportunity to find out if Penelope knew anything about Lady Penwood. She was careful not to arouse Penelope's suspicions and asked softly and unobtrusively.

"Penelope, have you ever heard of Lady Penwood?" Eloise asked, trying not to reveal her true motives.

Penelope thought for a moment before replying, "Yes, I've heard of this lady, but the details escape me. Why do you ask?"

Eloise shrugged, trying to maintain a casual atmosphere. "Well, you know, Marie and Lady Penwood are old acquaintances. It's quite possible that she would like to meet her while she's in town." Her smile was pleasant and unobtrusive, as if she were merely sharing random information.

Penelope nodded, but a puzzle began to form in her mind. She smiled, but inside, her heart sank. She realized that the situation was becoming increasingly complicated and that she needed to act quickly to avoid being drawn into a conflict that could cause irreparable harm to her and her family.

Marie received an invitation from Penelope in the form of a carriage sent directly to her house. Seeing such a gesture of attention, she was genuinely surprised, but her curiosity got the better of her, and she decided to accept the invitation.

Arriving at Penelope's house, Marie was struck by her hospitality and the cozy atmosphere. The meeting in the cozy parlor created an atmosphere of trust and the possibility of an open conversation.

Penelope and Lady S met in the cozy parlor at Penelope's house. Lady S, arriving at the meeting, was clearly surprised by the invitation.

At first, the atmosphere was awkward, as if both women were cautiously studying each other, trying to decipher intentions and feelings. But gradually, the communication became more open.

Penelope, deciding not to delay, took the letter she had kept and quietly handed it to Marie. "This is for you," she said, holding back her emotions. "I think you'll be interested in reading it."

Marie took the letter, feeling mixed emotions. She looked at Penelope with gratitude and curiosity. "Thank you," she said softly but sincerely.

Both women paused for a moment, their gazes meeting, and Penelope felt she needed to say something more.

"Thank you, Lady Marie," Penelope said, smiling. "For taking care of Colin all this time. Thanks to you, he wasn't alone."

Marie smiled in response to Penelope's words, and an unseen warmth flickered in her eyes. "I did what I could," she replied, her voice a bit firmer this time. "Colin... he is special. And I'm glad to be his friend."

Penelope nodded in understanding, feeling that something more than just gratitude had arisen between them. "I hope that in the future we'll have more time to spend together," she said, hoping that their bond would continue to grow.

Marie stood by the window, holding the letter, when Eloise entered the room.

"Marie, are you alright?" Eloise asked, noticing her friend's tense grip on the letter.

Marie slowly raised the letter to the candle, holding it over the flame. She watched silently as it began to burn, the paper turning into dark ashes. With tears in her eyes, she turned to Eloise, saying, "It's okay, Eloise. Now I know my sister is safe. Thank you for all your help."

Eloise nodded, understanding the depth of Marie's emotions. "Always happy to help, Marie. If you need anything else, you know you can count on me."

They hugged, confirming that this moment would be the start of a new friendship. In this newfound unity and understanding, Marie felt the strength to overcome any future difficulties.