No trace: Part Two of The Accidental Trilogy

Chapter Fifteen

By the time we reach Calais, I have earned enough from busking to secure a passage for the three of us. I book the tickets, using Dutch names and to make sure the children don't slip with their new disguises, keep the new names as close as possible to their real names.

Henri-Luke became Hendrik, Marie became Marien and I was now their 'aunt' Anneliese.

The crossing is rough and, in our cabin, I am distressed by their distress. Andrea is the only calm one.

On arrival in England, I quickly hire a carriage - the cart was abandoned in France and Andrea is led behind.

At the port I had scanned for Louis or the Comtesse and quickly located them, the poshest inn possible in Dover.

It is a short carriage ride, and on arrival, I pay the driver, help the children down and untie Andrea.

'That's a fine horse you have there, Miss Miller.'

'Thank you, sir.'

'If you were interested in selling him - '

'I am sorry, but he is not for sale. Thank you, sir.'

He leaves and the children look up at me, both a little travel-worn and tired.

'Are we staying at this establishment?' Marie asks me.

'We are.' I summon the inn's stable hand and he takes Andrea for me. 'Let us go in.'

At the counter, I book a room for the three of us. I know where the Comtesse currently is but appearances must be kept up after all.

We are in the room a short while before there is a knock at the door.

'Enter,' I say carefully.

Louis comes in. 'Children. You are safe.' He smiles as the children do as well. Mademoiselle La Roche, I thank you.'

'The Comtesse, how was her journey?'
'Tolerable. She was anxious about her children.'

'It is near evening, so we have supper together?'

'She is downstairs, waiting.'

The three of us follow Louis to the inn's dining hall. The Comtesse stands when we approach and smiles broadly when she sees her children.

I stay for dinner but leave in the hubbub of the children embracing their mother afterwards. The children's things I deposit in Louis's room, they really must install stronger locks in this inn.

I pack my own things and fetch Andrea.

I ride for a few more miles to Folkestone and take a room at the inn there.

In my own private, room, I sleep, finally.

X

I decide to stay in England, despite the presence of the Comtesse. It is a uniquely proud moment, to live in the country that I once ran away from as a child and I revel in it. The country has changed so much, in my absence, and after a few years, they declare war on France.

Keeping Andrea close by is no longer as easy as it once was. England is older, more crowded in the cities. I keep to the towns, farming villages where he can be housed more easily.

When there is a lack of amateurs to deal with, I return to busking.

Generally, in disguise, female buskers are to be pitied, at best, at worst, driven out of the town or attacked.

I reach the town of Northampton. The orphanage is still there, with the current residents crowding the rooms. While staying there, I am contacted by Louis.

'Amy. Left without our thanks.'

'Our?' The Comtesse barely acknowledged me.

'She is thankful. The Comte, unfortunately, did not survive. The Comtesse received his monogrammed handkerchief, splattered with blood.'

'That is unfortunate.'

'Quite. On arrival to England, a couple that knew someone that knows me contacted me. Their surname is Miller.'

'That is a surprise.'

'Amy. They are your parents.'

'The same surname means nothing. My parents are dead.'

'They are alive and well and are currently back in their original city. Northampton.'

'How pleasant.'

'They would like to meet you.'

'Tell me the truth, Louis. Who tracked whom down.'

'They did. After speaking to me they became increasingly concerned.'

'Tattletale.'

'You are not exactly an innocent.'

'None of us are Louis.'

'Enough of this debate. Your parents are going to be staying at the same inn you are currently in. You will stay there and meet with them.'

'Why are you so determined to make this family reunion happen?'

'My clan will know of their crime if I do not.'

'What crime?'

He leaves the conversation, leaving me shouting 'What crime?' in my own head.

X

I meet my alleged parents in the inn specified. They have booked a room there. I scan first and then go inside to where they are.

I knock and I hear a man say 'enter.' I do so and inside the basic room are two people. One of who bears a striking resemblance to myself and I instantly pity him.

'You are our daughter, Amy,' the woman comes towards me, looking a little too emotional to be related.

'Patricia,' the man warns in a curt tone. 'Amy, we are your parents.'

'I gathered that. You told Louis that this was a matter of some urgency?'

'Yes indeed. Our closeness puts all three of us in danger of being discovered. Two Khalinynes bearing children is forbidden.'

'That is a sad state of affairs.' I sit down on one of the chairs facing the door and them and gracefully fold my hands in my lap.

'When the very first Khalinynes' gathered, they wanted to know how they came about. They tried to see if Khalinynes were merely born to humans, or not. But after some time, they discovered Khalinyne parents are unable of having Khalinyne children at all. They therefore, banned the practice.'

'The two of you, were, what exactly?'

'Children,' Patricia speaks up for the second time. 'Elders for two days, if that and thought we could rule the world with our ideas. We let the headiness blind us to the mistake we did not even know we were making.'

'We did not wait to see if we had had a human or Khalinyne child. We left you at the orphanage and moved to Edinburgh, until such time as we knew we were safe.'

'And now, you would like me to move away.'

'Seems only fair,' the man says. So much for familial love or affection, not that I expected either.