The Gift of Dreams

chapter X

"I s-swear to you I h-had no idea th-they were there!" Frederick pleaded with the second guard, Maxwell.

"This is looking awfully bad for you Frederick. Are you aware of the strict smuggling laws?" Taylor asked, still observing the two strangers standing in the middle of fabrics.

Not long after Eloise had jumped up from her hiding position Rowan had followed, completely unaware of her plan.

"Y-yes I am! I p-promise to you, I h-have never seen th-this couple in m-my life!" Tears were streaming down Frederick's cheeks but Eloise couldn't help but focus on one specific word.

"Couple?" Eloise squealed. "I assure you sir we are anything but."

"Eloise." Rowan warned under his breath. "Go with it."

"You young lady, you do realise that you are committing a great crime? And you as well, lad." Taylor nodded in both their directions, right hand moving slowly towards the baton at his side.

"We are terribly sorry. Got cold out in this weather and wanted some nice place to nap. Didn't think the carriage would be moving for quite a while, must have fallen deep asleep." Eloise responded, putting on an accent to hide her identity. Although how it would help, she had no clue.

"You look quite familiar." Maxwell squinted his eyes as if testing his vision, and Eloise fought the urge to shrink under his gaze.

"Must be thinking about someone else, we've never been around these parts before." Eloise responded.

"No. No, you look an awful lot like the princess. 'Course I've never seen her in person, but I've sure seen paintings." Maxwell was sure in his observation, and kept waving a finger at her, as if testifying his assurance in a court.

Taylor looked closer at her, moving towards her ever so slowly. "Hey, that's the first intelligible thing you've said all evening Maxwell. She does look quite familiar. Miss, would you mind if we talk to you for one moment?" He asked, although it sounded anything but a request to Eloise.

"Um- I-" Eloise stammered.

"Run." Rowan whispered into her ear. "Follow me."

Eloise doesn't question what he's planning, nor does she question why he bolted out of the carriage. Or why she followed him. The guards' brief confusion wore off quickly and they were soon giving chase.

"Hey, stop right there!" Yelled Maxwell from afar. Taylor had almost caught up to Eloise and yet the other guard was struggling to run. Rowan was far ahead, keeping an eye on how close the guards were.

Eloise landed on the ground with a large thump and tug when Taylor pulled her by the skirts of her dress, her headache momentarily returning. She kicked out at Taylor, hitting him in the nose with her foot and making a steady stream of blood flow onto his tunic.

"Stay still you little wretch." Taylor prodded at his injured and bleeding nose.

Eloise glanced up towards nearing footsteps in enough time to see Rowan tackle Taylor off of her and break his hold on the folds of her dress.

"Get off of her you brute!" Rowan yelled.

"Remove your hands off me right now or I will have to enforce the law on you." Taylor struggled against Rowan's grip holding him down by the shoulders and legs, pinning him against the ground.

"I'd like to see you try." Rowan said as he punched Taylor in the face, knocking him out cold with a sickening crack.

His hands guided Eloise up from the dirt and brushed over her arms briefly. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Asked Rowan as he peered over her body to check for injuries.