Coupled Betrayal

Chapter 14

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August 26, 1879

She's safe, too.

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I woke up before the sun even came out. Doubts and fears clouded my mind at the thought of not finding Emily. What if she wasn't at the showing? A more gruesome thought chilled my bones; what if they killed Emily? It hadn't crossed my mind, simply because it seemed too wicked. Impossible. If someone managed to recognize her, it'd be detrimental, and my father couldn't afford a slip of information.

I tried to keep my hopes up while also preparing for the worst. I was a walking juxtaposition.

We both prepared to leave the room to go back home. Jacqueline made it incredibly clear she'd miss Claude, but I couldn't care or feel any bit of jealousy, being that I was too preoccupied to give her a second thought.

We decided to hire a carriage for the day with our horses, so we could head directly home afterwards.

Hours passed, and the sun was nowhere to be seen, but businesses and houses provided enough light to see. I peeked through the draped windows as an officer followed Baron Lancaster and an inconspicuous squadron trailed behind in no particular order, clad in common worker's clothes. To any stranger, it looked like an officer taking a walk or doing a routine check and men heading to work.

Claude and I had both insisted on going to the showing, but the police were pretty adamant about us staying wherever they told us to. Off the road seemed the best place. I suppose staying hidden was our best bet; if we were to be recognized by Lady Irvington or anyone else, it could compromise their mission and finding Emily.

The rhythmic and nervous tapping of my fingers was enough for Claude to tell me that everything would be fine, that we'd find Emily.

"What if she's not there?"I asked with an exasperated groan.

"Everything points to Miss Emily being in that building. She'll be there, love."

The term of endearment had come as a surprise two days ago when he woke up, drowsy and half-asleep. It certainly helped calm me down. So, instead of thinking about Emily, I thought of my mother. The poor woman.

I imagined she'd be worried sick. I hoped my note had been enough to keep her at ease, but I doubted it. It surprised me that the police in Chester still were not aware of my 'disappearance'. I half-expected the whole of England to know of my missing status in accordance with my melodramatic mother.

Never before had the minutes passed so slowly, not even at church where the hour seemed to never come to an end. Thankfully, Claude was there to pass the time, but even he seemed anxious.

An hour passed, and I stroked the patterned blanket we'd bought for when we took Emily home. It was dark, namely cold, and I wanted the ride to be as comfortable for Emily as possible. What was happening to Emily was an abominable nightmare, and I would do anything to put her at ease.

Then, we heard screams and a volume of indiscernible noises.

"They're in," I whispered.

He didn't respond, but grabbed the velvet fabric to see outside. I stood from the seat beside Claude to see what was going on, but the place was too hidden to see any action. In the blink of an eye, women in scandalous red dresses ran out along with a policeman with a red beard who yelled instructions. The temptation to reach Emily seemed too great, so I darted out the carriage with Claude close behind.

The gold hair that I'd longed to see for days trailed with the rest of the women, pure fear in her swollen eyes.

"Emily!" I ran to her and hugged her frail body with the ferocity of a leopard protecting its offspring. "Are you hurt? I'm so sorry for not coming sooner or helping you when you helped me."