A Truelove of Turtle Doves

Chpt 15 - Dilemma

"Wait, you're going out again?" asked Josie.

Turning around, I saw her regarding me with furrowed eyebrows and a thoroughly confused look. Lauren was perfectly mirroring her expression. Edward looked mildly indifferent, but I never was very good at reading his expression unless it was blatantly obvious. Like a grin or crying or something.

"Yeah. Why?"

"I don't think you've ever been so eager to leave the house," Lauren mused incredulously. "I mean, you've barely been inside these past 2 weeks. Usually we can't get you leave the grounds."

Josie nodded.

"Well I-"

"Let me guess, want to see Francis again?" teased Josephine.

"No," I huffed.

"Yes," chorused all three of the people in the drawing room.

I opened my mouth to object when Edward cut across. "Your blush is making it very clear that yes, that is why you want to go out."

My mouth glued itself shut.

"Alright, Ed, go see if you can help (Y/N) get out for a few hours," instructed Lauren, waving her hand in a manner that clearly told him to get moving.

His face twisted up slightly. "Ah. I've been meaning to talk about that."

Worry began to bubble away inside of me.

For the past couple of weeks, Edward and Michael had switched places. When I wanted to go out, Ed was my chauffeur, and when Josie and Lauren wanted to go out, Michael was their chauffeur. Not that Ed stayed with me the whole time, of course - when we reached the town, we'd go our separate ways, and I'd either walk home, ride home on (H/N) or catch him in the carriage as he was leaving. As maids who had to clean all around the house (and so were always looking out of windows), Penny and Ava were our backup in case we arrived home at different times.

If there's a problem, and Ed can't go with me to town, then there is no way I can lose Michael a second time and get away with it.

My hands had clenched into fists.

"What is it?" I was pretty surprised at the tone of my voice as I ground my teeth together.

Everyone else seemed a bit surprised too.

For a few moments, Edward looked uncomfortable. He shuffled a bit, gaze focused on anywhere that wasn't the three of us. Eventually he sighed, and raised his eyes up to meet mine.

"Michael is getting suspicious," admitted Ed, "He's cornered me several times to try and find out what's going on. We have to be very careful from this point forward or he might catch us out."

Josie snorted. "Could be worse. After all, there's only one of him and four of us. Six if you count Ava and Penny."

Ed was silent. It was an uneasy silence.

Dread was quickly beginning to replace my worry.

"There's something else, isn't there?" I asked quietly.

He took a deep breath. "I think there are people helping him."

"Who?"

"I'm not sure. Michael said something about 'watching your back' and 'there's more eyes on you from now on'. I don't know who he's getting help from, but whoever they are, they must be someone in the house."

"Then we have to find them!"

The exclamation came from Lauren.

Josie sighed and rubbed her temples. "It's not that easy sis-"