"It is ironic that the only thing separating friend from a fiend is a single letter."
-Christina Engela
⚜️
"A traitor?" Rosalind gasped, "are you certain?"
"It is the only reason how they have been able to abduct Lydia under our noses." Dathan replied. "And Sam was not the only one. Someone else helped her escape."
The women grew quite. Em shook her head, "Sam's a friend. Not just mine but yours as well. Why would she do this?"
"And who could be her accomplice?" Ros drew her brows, "mayhap she had help in drugging Miss Pritchard as well. Evangeline was no simpleton to drink occasionally."
"It would seem so. It had only been a moment when I left them alone. So she could not have possibly done too many things at once. I must go, she cannot have gone far."
"Dathan, Ros, that is enough!" Em raised her voice, "this is ridiculous."
"Em, love. I need you to set aside the friendship for now. We do not know why Sam did what she did and we will lose precious time banging our heads to figure it out." He squeezed her hand, "We must focus on finding her and her accomplice. They are the key to finding the duchess."
"He has a point, sister. Save your questions for later, we can ask her after all this."
A single tear fell from her eyes, "Just...don't hurt her."
"You have my word." And he kissed her forehead. "Stay here. The Prince will protect you. Remember, you are carrying our child."
Em nodded and allowed him to go.
***
Peter watched as the men dissolved into the rain and let the darkness cover his presence. They were searching the surrounding buildings for signs that the duchess had been there. But he was not in the mood to play along. He entered a nondescript stall, passed by the horses seeking shelter and went behind the stacks of hay.
Sam laid unconscious. He had covered her in a stolen blanket and went back out, just in time to see Em and her entourage arrive.
He cursed. This was not part of the plan. They were suppose to be on the other side of the sea. And that dratted Prince came among as well.
Peter blended in with the rest and it seemed no one noticed his disappearance. Before the prince's men found Dathan's quarters, he slipped through the hidden doors and located Sam. He pulled her out of the room just as Dathan had realized he had been drugged. But the effects began to seep in rather slowly, so he knocked him from behind and grabbed Sam immediately.
Now that their people are scattered, he can make his escape. He knelt down, placed a wet rag by her noise and gently patted Sam's cheeks.
"Wake up. Sam, wake up."
She groaned. Eyes flickered against the dark. "Peter?"
"Yes. It's me."
"Why is it dark here? Where am I?"
He helped her sit up, "Keep your voice down. I hid you in the stables."
"The stables?" Her voice sounded confused, "Surely you must have a good reason."
"Yes. And it is bad."
"How bad?"
"Alexi and Emelia are here."
"Oh, no." She breathed. "Did anyone see you? I...what are we going to do?"
Peter exhaled, "We stick to the plan. Right now, no one knows where you are. But I bet Dathan will start looking for you and piece it together."
"I didn't have enough time to drug him. Was he out cold when you came in?"
"He was. But knowing how hard his head is, literally, there is no guarantee he will stay unconscious." He stood up and offered his hand. "Come, it is time."
Sam brushed the blanket away and pulled herself up. "Once we get the money, you are buying me a new dress."
Peter smiled against the dark, "I'll buy you a whole new wardrobe."
"I look forward to that." She followed his lead as they walked toward an empty stall. Her bag of meager things and his tools were hidden away there. "Did you throw the bottle away?"
Peter bent down and retrieved their things, "I tossed it on the fire."
"Good, I shall dispose of that," she grabbed her bag and went about scattering her things. Her hairbrush went into a bucket, a pair of slippers went flying onto the other side of the stables and her other possessions simply laid about their feet. She stared at them for a moment. A few tokens were her mother's.
"They are simple materials we can replace, Sam. We are starting anew and need none of those."
"I know. They'll only remind me of Hinley anyways"
Peter reached for her hand and led her away. With a lamp on hand, they turned their backs.
***
Meanwhile
Hinley Manor
It was nearly midnight. Damian was headed toward his quarters when a loud banging echoed from the main entrance. Oscar hurriedly attended to the door, revealing a rain soaked man.
"Jenkins, whatever is the matter with you? Why are you out in the rain?" Oscar asked.
"I rode as fast as I could...to...to," he gritted his teeth.
"Let him in and have a fire made," Damian said. Both men turned to him.
"Your grace!"
"You must be freezing. Come, the drawing room will have some spare blankets for you."
Jenkins, a skinny lad, tended to the horses. He often helped Anton and Peter whenever they needed a horse or carriage. Sometimes he would tail Julianna when the young lady would escape the manor.
"T-thank you, your grace. But I must give you this first—"
"After you some hot tea in your system." Damian snapped. "I will not have you freeze to death."
Oscar immediately barked orders and followed them toward the drawing room. True enough, a fire was lit and pink colored blankets Julianna left behind were on the nearby couch. Damian grabbed it and went toward Jenkins.
"Your grace, I cannot accept that! It belongs to Lady Jules."
But he heeded him no mind and simply wrapped him with it, "My sister has way too many blankets to spare. She will not care if you use one of these."
Jenkins stared at Oscar and then back to the duke. This was the first time he'd interacted with him and it was not what he imagined it would be. "T-thank you, your grace. It is very warm."
"Good. Now, sit by the fire and tell me what has gone through your head to ride through this storm."
A maid arrived and poured them tea. Even she was confused why Damian seemed to have attended on the poor stable boy. She tried to lift the china herself but the duke waved her away.
"Go, tell Andrea to make some soup."
"Yes, your grace." She curtsied and left.
Jenkins accepted the tea in one hand and used the other to reveal a letter. "I was tasked to deliver this to you."
"Who sent this?"
"The crown Prince of Habsburg."
"Alexi?" He took the paper and saw the royal seal. "What on earth is he up to now..."
"I cannot read, your grace. And they did not tell me anything else. Only to ride non-stop until I reach Hinley." He sipped some tea and added, "I have been riding since afternoon."
Oscar gasped, "You poor lad. It is nearly midnight!"
"I am certain there is no cause for trouble. That man should know better than order my own servants around." His hands broke the seal and unfolded the letter. "Now what could be so urgent as to—" his breath stopped. The writing was hastened and short, Alexi made certain he would understand it right away. And the message did penetrate his thoughts. He crumpled the letter and stormed off.
"Your grace!" Oscar called out and went after him. "Is something amiss?"
"Summon the men and prepare my best horses," he barked at Oscar. The poor old man could barely keep up with his long strides. "And have my valet meet me at the study."
"Y-yes, at once your grace."
Damian climbed the stairs two at a time. His mind ran with various plans. He immediately opened the study, went to the hidden false wall and produced a key. His father had trusted it to him when he turned ten and six. All this time he wished he would never have to come to this point. But circumstances dictated otherwise.
He turned the latch and pushed the wall open. It led to a secret room that contained Vincent's guns. There arrays of selections, all polished and ready for use. Locating the pack of matches, he lit the candles until he had enough illumination to move about. He began rummaging and debated how of these many he ought to bring.
Footsteps sounded behind him. An out of breath Peterson have arrived. "Your grace, I came as fast as I could...what are you doing here at this time of night?"
"Bring me bag, Peterson. I need all of these to come with me."
"Huh? What?" His servant entered the room, eyes widened. "There are way too many, I'm afraid."
He turned, face dark with intent, "A bag, now!"
"O-of course. I will fetch it right away."
Once he was gone, Damian gathered all the gun powder he could find. Then he went to the drawer that contained the knives. He could easily strap a few on both legs and arms—small ones, the ones that could hide beneath the sleeves.
Another set of footsteps came. This time, he turned around with a softened expression.
"Ivo, am I glad to see your face."
His secretary looked astounded by the collection, "Oscar said you've summoned for us. What is going on, your grace?"
"Are your men prepared and able to ride tonight?"
"Yes. I can have them ready in a few minutes."
"Good. I need all of you to come with me."
"We are willing to serve you,your grace." Ivo replied. "May I ask why we need this many weapons? I have of course my own and my men carry pistols and knives."
Damian's face darkened, "He's done it, Ivo."
"Done what? And who?"
"Alistair," his face darkened, "that bastard has taken my wife."
***
Back at the inn
Alexi settled in Lydia's room, as there was nowhere else he could stay. While everyone else busied themselves outside, he did his own investigation. The room had little evidence of a struggle yet he could see it. The subtle misplacement of things did not escape his vision. He approached the nearby chair by the mirror and noticed the way it faced away from the table. The legs faced an odd angle. If someone had sat on it and carefully risen, it should have remained closer to the table itself. Yet this one appeared to have been pushed back hastily, as if someone was taken by surprise.
Perhaps she was sitting here when her attacker came. He could picture it. Lydia must have heard someone came up behind her, and when she turned he grabbed her. She had no chance of fighting him off, as she would have been cornered easily. And her delicate frame would have been easy for any man larger than her built.
He then checked the other corners of the room. The bed had been made, not a wrinkle in sight. Had Sam done so to make it look like Lydia left no tracks? Their trunks were left unopened, the bedside table was empty except for a few pins that were easily identifiable as Lydia's.
Leaving them on the table, he began to light more candles. Surely there must be some clues left behind. He came toward the fire place and located the matches but accidentally dropped box. As he bent down to retrieve the it, he noticed what seemed like a kerchief. Quickly, he grabbed the nearby candle and hovered above the material.
The door opened and his servant brought food, "Your majesty, have something to eat."
"Leave that Barkley and come over here."
The man sighed and placed the tray on the table. He carefully approached his master, "What seems to have caught your attention now?"
"That," he pointed to the kerchief, "do you know what that is?"
"It appears to be some cloth, perhaps? Or a rag?"
"Pick it up," Alexi said and stepped back.
Barkley did and raised it near the light. It had a pale blue tint to it, as if it had washed and worn for years. "It does not appear to be rag after all. But a kerchief of some sort," Barkley said. "Used but often washed. Way too often if you asked me and it gives off some type of scent—"
"Stop!" Alexi raised his voice and stopped Barkley from pressing his nose against it. "It may be harmful to smell."
His servant's eyes widened, "Your majesty! Could it be..."
"They may have used it to subdue Lydia. In their haste, they left it behind."
"But if she had been unconscious, wouldn't anyone notice them? The inn keeper is one hawk of a madame, she is. Her eyes could see anyone coming in and out. If anyone were to carry her it would be a sight hard to miss."
Alexi knew his servant could read people accurately. So if what he observed was true, then whoever took Lydia must have gone through another exit.
"She had been attacked and taken within a locked room. Where the only way in and out was the door right there," he studied the area where the kerchief was found. "If someone where holding that they may have been standing right there. Barkley, pretend you are pocketing the kerchief and drop it, exactly where you found it."
His servant followed suit and clumsily shove the material in his pocket, only to pull it back out and dropped it on the floor. By doing so he had to slightly twist his body and bump against the wall. They watched as the kerchief fell and heard the hallow sound from behind.
Their eyes locked, "A false wall." Alexi said.
Barkley immediately begin tapping against the wall. While his master lit more candles and made the room brighter. Now, every corner of this wall could be seen.
"Your majesty, here. I can feel a latch." He pointed to an area near the fire place.
Alexi had to go closer to see where he was pointing to. Because the said latch had been well hidden that it blended in with the walls. He reached out, felt the metal and pulled.
They both heard some machinery echoed from behind and watched as the wall slid to the right. It gaped into an opening resembling a door.
Barkley brought a candle nearby and they could see a stairway leading downstairs.
"Call Dathan, tell them what we found here."
"Yes, your majesty. Please wait here..." and off he ran.
But Alexi was not to stand by. Every minute counts. So he took the nearby candle and went down himself. The stairway was dark, dusty and cramped. He was careful with each step as the wood groaned beneath his feet, way too demure to be quiet.
Eventually he reached the bottom. It seemed to be a dead end, a tiny space for storage, except that it was empty. He looked around and noticed how the floor's dust was not even in some areas. There was a disturbed section. To him, it looked like someone had been there recently. Thinking how the false door was made back in the room he thought it may be the same here. So he carefully patted the walls, finally finding a hollow one.
Feeling the surface a latch was also melded away from prying eyes. Unless you know what you were looking for, it was easy to miss it. But he found it. Reaching out he managed to open the door. The creaks and groans followed, as the hinges appeared to be old.
Following the door as it opened outward, Alexi was unsure where he was now. He lifted the candle up and realized it was dying. Its light flickered against the dark as it fought to stay up. Beneath his feet straws and empty buckets greeted him but he had no chance to see more as the candle blew out. He cursed silently.
He waited for his eyes to adjust to the dark and assumed a defensive stance. In a dark room such as this, one must be prepared for anything. His hand reached out to the hidden knife he kept by his leg. But before he could grab it, he heard voices. It seemed to be coming toward him and luckily, an approaching light started illuminating the surroundings.
Alexi managed to dive behind a haystack as the voices neared him.
"...they should have reached the town by now."
"I could only hope so," replied a woman's voice. A familiar one. "And we ought to be away from here as soon as possible."
"Here, put this on. They know who to look for. You need to stay hidden."
"Fine. Turn around, I shall strip off quick."
He scoffed, "I have seen all of you. You can change right now."
"I am not trying to be seductive. Either turn around or put that light out."
The man chose the latter and the surroundings darkened once more. Alexi could hear a rustle of clothes. They were going to put on a disguise, he could tell. Carefully, he peeked from behind the haystack. His eyes have adjusted now and he could make out their silhouette, one man and one woman. As for their faces he could not see them clearly, there wasn't enough light coming in.
"Here, let me belt you up. Unless you want these pants to fall off." The man said and turned his back to Alexi.
While they were occupied, he quietly moved to nearby empty stall. From there, he could see them at a better angle.
"Do you have a hood I can hide my hair in?" the woman asked.
"Yes. Here you go, put it on once we get to the horse. Leave everything else."
There was a short moment of silence before they finally left. Alexi also made his move.
***
Fairclough Manor
Agatha and Josien kept to themselves in their quarters. It was late at night but none of them could fall asleep.
"What are we to do?" she asked her husband, "This wasn't the plan."
"I am at a loss, Agatha. Perhaps we ought to pretend to not have a hand in all this."
"Lucille does not know. No one else does," she sighed. "But the timing of our arrival and Lydia's abduction is rather apparent. They could point fingers at us, unless we play it well."
Josien nodded, "I shall have men start looking for them. If we keep ourselves occupied, they are less to suspect us."
"And I shall write to the duke."
"Damian? Why?"
"If we are to play helpless and innocent, we ought to be the first to ask for his cooperation."
"Wait, Agatha," he grabbed her elbow, "perhaps save it until tomorrow. Delay a bit."
"Why ever for? If we do, he could be who knows where with our daughter!"
"If the duke arrives at the scene earlier than anticipated, we could cause more harm than good. Right now, we must play at his hands. Make him believe that we are following his instructions and are oblivious to the change of plans." He exhaled, "If he learns that we know, that Lydia is gone, they could lay more traps ahead."
"But Josien—"
"Just a few more hours. Until daybreak. Hold on until then. He will not harm Lydia. But if we chase after them...I do not even want to think of the worse."
Finally, Agatha broke down. She melted on the floor and cried.
"This is all my fault..."
Josien could do nothing but comfort her. He hugged her sobbing body and waited for the day to come.
***
Peter helped Sam up on the horse. Clad in his own clothes, her slender figure was hidden beneath the baggy layers. She tightened the belt around her waist, securing the pants. He then climbed up behind her and reached for the reins.
"This is quite romantic," she says. As his arms enveloped around her. "My knight in shining armor, came to sweep me off my feet and carry me off his majestic horse."
"Never penned you for a romantic type," he replied and urged the horse forward.
"I suppose there are things that you are yet to discover about me."
"Well, we shall have plenty of time to talk about all that. After all, it is a days travel to the cabin."
Sam pursed her lips. She was not made to ride that long on a horseback but she said nothing. They both knew the risks of their actions and they simply need to endure more, to get that reward. The worse was over.
They galloped slowly at first and once they made it out of the barn, Peter kicked the horse and urged it to run. The cold rain met their hooded faces and they both embraced for the winds to come next.
However, just as the horse had started to gain momentum for a sprint, Alexi came running right in front of them. Both arms raised to flag them down.
Peter pulled back the reins and the horse, caught off guard, rose to its legs. Sam held on for dear life, throwing her hood off of her face. Her red hair quite bright under the lamps, gave off their disguise.
Their eyes met and instantly, the prince recognized her.
"You!" Alexi screamed. "Get down this instant. I command you—"
Peter, having calmed down the horse, whipped its hinds. Alexi was forced to step aside and escape the hooves before it ran him over. He dove to the side, ignoring the mud and dirt.
"Your majesty!" Barkley yelled. "Men, go, chase them." Then made a run for the prince.
Alexi watched as his own guards scattered to gather their horses. Sam and her rider never looked back. He cursed.
"Get my horse."
Barkley helped him up, "You left! After I told you to wait for me. You still left without me. Why do you never listen, your majesty?"
"Not now, Barkley. We must ride after them." He made his way toward the stables.
"Wait, your majesty. You are badly not in shape to do so."
"I have seen better days. Now, let us not waste more time by bickering here." He wiped his face hastily and realized what a mess he must have looked like. But he ignored it and continued to look for his own horse.
He stepped inside the stables and was met at the door. "Your majesty," said a breathless voice, "here you are."
"Dathan, great timing." He stripped his soiled coat and tossed it to the side.
"Barkley showed me the false door you found. But you were gone by the time we arrived."
"If I had waited any longer, we would have missed them altogether." He urged Dathan to follow him to the stables, retracing his own steps. "They were here, plotting it all. I heard them talking about escaping but no mention where they were headed."
Dathan's fist clenched, "Who?"
"It was that woman whom Alistair attacked at the manor. And the man, he was one of those who came with you."
"Samantha...how could she..."
"Now is not the time to be asking such questions. We ought to make haste and ride after them. My men are already chasing them, it will be sometime before we can catch up. You better grab a horse now."
"Wait, Alexi—I mean, your majesty. You stay here. I will lead the rest."
"I cannot possibly sit around while these things are happening." He snapped.
"This is exactly why I need to stay behind. What happened at Habsburg, it was chaotic. You are overwhelmed. There is no need for you to get caught in this."
Alexi pursed his lips, then sighed, "I get restless if I do nothing."
"It was not your fault. Escaping with Rosalind and our family was the best decision. Trust that the regent can handle things for now. But do not place yourself at risk for us." Dathan patted his back, "Besides, you are only person I would trust to look after Em."
"Fine. I will stay behind and guard the sisters. You do your best and not die out there."
Dathan gave him a smile, "I promise. Now, get back in there before Barkley assaults you with a hot bath."
Alexi looked back, his servant stood by the door looking devastated as he clutched the soiled clothes. "He is way too good for me, one of these days, I will have to fire the man and force him to get his own life."
Dathan shook his head with disbelief. He watched as the prince grabbed his servant and walked out of the door.
"That man will be king one day, huh?"
Dathan turned around and was not surprised his late secretary could hide her presence pretty well, "Here you are, Marie." Acknowledging her arrival, "You know that the prince is the sole heir and if it all goes well he might return home with the crown."
Marie scoffed, "He's still too naive. But he will have to do for now."
"Keep him in your prayers. Now, let us ride. Is Gideon all set?"
"Yes. He went ahead and chased Sam and the man with her."
Dathan hopper unto Alexi's horse and settled himself, "Let's go catch us some runaways."