No trace: Part Two of The Accidental Trilogy

Chapter Fourteen

Despite what the Comtesse thinks of me, I do need to be familiar with her children and after the meeting with Louis, I ask him if the children are upstairs.

'They are. As I said, the Comtesse has been preparing the daughter, but her son, has been kept more or less in the dark on this little venture.'

'How old is he?'

'Nine years of age. You will need to be gentle with them both.'

'I should be introduced; do you not agree?' I ask. I am not losing my patience, but I am a little frustrated. These two did drag me back to help.

'I suppose you should. Let me speak to the Comtesse first. You may wait here.'

He goes upstairs and I consider for a moment leaving, but quickly disregard the notion. After a time, Louis returns, the Comtesse walking ahead of him but quickly walks into another room.

'The Comtesse has agreed to you introducing yourself to the children. If you would follow me.'

I do and follow him into the children's nursery. The girl, tall for her age, is sitting daintily on a chair reading, while her brother is playing with his toy soldiers.

'Children, I have a visitor for you both.'

'Grand-pere,' the children rise and curtsey, or bow in the boy's case before once more standing.

'Children, this is a cousin of the Comtesse, your mother. Mademoiselle La Roche.'

'Mademoiselle,' the children, once more, perform a curtsey and a bow. The daughter looks so much like her mother it is startling, although her son has some features from his father.

'Marie, Henri-Luke, this lady is here to help you both. Henri-Luke, I ask that you go to the Comtesse.'

Once the little boy is out of sight and out of earshot, the three of us sit before Louis continues. 'Marie, I understand that the Comtesse has told you as to what will happen.'

'She has Grand-pere.' She looks very serious and adult and I silently applaud her for her bravery.

'This lady, Aimee La Roche, will be the one to escort you and your brother to safety.'

'What of Phillipe?' Phillipe is still the stable hand, I recognised him outside, though he did not know me, or seem to at least.

'He will guide the cart to the edge of the estate. You understand, that it will be safer for the two of you, Mademoiselle La Roche is not known to the people and has experience in these matters. You will both be safe with her. I promise.'

'Is that true, Mademoiselle, is my brother and I safe in your presence?' A miniature Comtesse is staring at me seriously and with the same tone. But I respond promptly.

'On my life, you are safe in my presence. I will not let anyone harm you or your brother.'

'That is a fine speech,' Louis tells me later. 'But the real test is whether you keep your word.'

'The children will need different clothes for travelling, nothing too fine,' I tell him curtly. 'Ask the housekeeper for help in this matter.'

'Of course, it is already in hand.'

'I will need to be the final arbiter, as you said, I have experience in these matters.'

'If you would follow me.'

Louis lays out a selection of clothes and shoes and I pick out the most suitable ones. Some are packed, the rest laid out for the children to wear tomorrow.

I lie out my own clothes and other accoutrements for forest travelling and also inspect the cart. I change the heavy, refined roof for one of my own inventions, it's homely but also, importantly lighter.

Finally, I check on Andrea, ensure that he is comfortable and well-fed.

The next morning begins very early when it is still dark. The boy is startled to be awake at this early hour and cries a little when his mother hugs him, and then his sister, who stands stoically in her borrowed clothes.

I inspect them both, and again out of their mother's presence.

I muss their hair, it looked too neat, before helping them both into the cart. Andrea waits patiently and once Phillipe is ready, we start.

Phillipe waves once at the estate boundary line and I wave back.

Driving a cart is an interesting experience, I didn't mention that I hadn't done it before and once we have made some distance, it appears that I am a natural.

The children both are lulled to sleep and I am thankful, I am not sure I could have dealt with more tears from children who resemble the Comtesse so.

By midday they are awake and as expected, both want to relieve themselves. I stop the cart by a tree, constantly scanning and once I am sure it is safe, help both of them down from the cart.

'Just behind,' I pause, 'that tree. Marie, are you able to help your brother?'

'Yes, Mademoiselle La Roche.' She takes Henri-Luke's hand and the two of them stumble off.

When they come back, I ask, 'Are you hungry at all?'

'Did you pack provisions?' Marie asks me.

'I did. Would you like some?'

They do and I pull some of the little rolls I had packed. Once they've eaten and tidied themselves, we are on the move once more.

I am anxious to move quickly, but keep a steady pace while the children are still awake.

Thankfully they both fall asleep again soon and I breathe a little easier once more.

As ever, I am aware that we cannot avoid confrontation. I have already taken the precaution of installing a curtain in front of the cart, so as to shield the children from as much as possible.

Each time the children wake, I repeat the process of before. I skirt the fringes of towns, blisteringly aware that I am pushing my luck. I keep my powder dry and my swords sharp, tending to them when both the children and Andrea are resting.

The first confrontation happens when this occurs, and I shoot both who come forward, weapons raised.

I bury them both, weapons and all. I do remove their powder first, no sense in leaving it for the worms. I scan for a moment, the children, mercifully sleep on and Andrea barely notices.

Other would-be raiders are dealt with in a similar fashion. It is frustratingly slow going, Andrea cannot be pushed, with a heavy load to carry each day and in any case, I am loath to do so. He has served me so faithfully.

Passing through a sleepy town, a few days ride out of Paris, I bring out my flute and busk while driving the cart. Some coins are thrown in and I use them to rent a room for the night.

The children delight in this, the boy more than the girl, especially when it comes to bath time. I supervise them carefully, make sure neither of them says anything that would give away their identity, but they are both just children after all and act accordingly.

We leave the following morning and a few nights later, the children are awake in the afternoon, so I decided a little campfire and cooked food is just the thing.

I choose a spot by a stream and set everything up. Marie watches me silently, there is suspicion in her eyes still, not that I care, but it is worrying for an eleven-year-old.