BETRAYAL OF DIGNITY
Part 37 ~ 1
For My Love
Richard offered her a carriage without a moment's hesitation. "I pray that all will be well," he said.
The King concealing his true identity to enter a country with which Swanton had strained diplomatic relations, and his wife who had been presumed dead-the cryptic past of their governess suddenly made sense.
However, Richard's decision to assist Chloe was not solely motivated by his discovery of the image of the neighboring country's king in the newspaper. While he had been shocked upon learning of Chloes true identity, it was eclipsed by his relief at Sofies safe return.
"Be careful, Claire..." Stella cautioned, holding Sofie against her skirt.
"I am sorry I was unable to tell you the truth." Stella nodded, her expression one of understanding.
"Please take care."
"Goodbye, miss," Sofie said.
After saying her final goodbyes to Richard, Stella, and Sofie, Chloe gripped the carriage wall and climbed in. Richard's coachman took her to Fromm, the closest train station to Genevoire. Clutching the ticket Laurent Taylor had given her, Chloe just managed to catch the first-class carriage bound for Travani, the capital of the Duchy of Carter.
"Travani! The train to Travani will be leaving shortly!" announced the conductor.
Laurent Taylor panted heavily as he boarded at the last minute, having just sent a letter at the stations post office.
"You must have been very shaken," he stammered.
Inside the carriage, Chloe had been lost in thought, her lips tightly sealed and her hand clutching the bloodstained glove.
Her forbidding air had made it difficult for him to initiate a conversation. Still, his awkward comment prompted Chloe to look up.
"Can you tell me everything you know about what happened?" she asked.
"Of course," he agreed.
Feeling her warm brown eyes bore into him, he instinctively straightened his back and began to recount everything he knew. He explained how Johannes had sought refuge with the help of the King of the Duchy of Carter, and how Damien, despite being aware of this fact, had braved the journey without the protection of soldiers. He also told her of the second escape route Damien had planned in case of an emergency.
Chloe's calm gaze seemed to encourage his candor, for his account took them back to his first encounter with Damien.
"At the time, His Majesty was about to ascend to the throne after quelling the rebellion in the capital, yet he chose to travel in a third-class carriage to Thisse, all the while concealing his identity. As I watched him read the same letter over and over again, I realized that the gentleman was undoubtedly rushing back to a lover awaiting his return! Although his hat hid his face, the smile gracing his splendid features was impossible not to notice. But to discover that the gentleman was His Majesty... You wouldn't believe my shock when I received the check."
Chloe bit her lip. It was not difficult to guess which day Laurent was referring to.
"People often warned me that my fanciful lifestyle would lead to my ruin. But thanks to the trust and encouragement of His Majesty, who is always several steps ahead of all others...
"Mr. Taylor," Chloe interrupted him.
"Yes?" Laurent said, concerned that his praise might have seemed overly effusive. He clenched his plump hand into a fist and placed it on his knee.
