The carriage careened to a halt further down the street, the driver shouting apologies. Penelope spun around, heart hammering wildly.
“What…”
But no one was there. She craned her neck, searching the crowd, her breath still ragged and her hand pressed to her racing heart.
It was as though whoever had saved her had appeared out of nowhere. And had disappeared in a flash, just as easily.
Oh.Her eyes widened. Suddenly, she knew exactly who had pulled her from harm’s way.
“Penelope!”
Isadora’s voice rang out, panicked, as she burst from the shop.
“Good Lord! I saw it from the window, are you hurt? I knew I should not have left you alone here.”
Penelope could only shake her head, still wide-eyed.
“No… no, it didn’t touch me. I was saved.”
Isadora grasped her shoulders, scanning her from head to toe. “Thank heavens. But how did you get out of the way? I thought I saw someone and then… ”
Penelope’s lips parted, “I don’t know. Someone… someone pulled me back.”
“Who? Where are they?” Isadora whirled, peering down the road. “I saw a man, I swear I did.”
“There’s no one,” Penelope said softly, her gaze sweeping once more over the crowd, but already knowing she would find nothing.
Isadora turned back, frowning deeply.
“Penelope, what’s going on? Who saved you?”
“I think I know what is going on here,” Penelope finally got up to her feet, dusting off the dirt from her dress.
“You are beginning to seriously worry me,” Isadora’s brow creased in confusion. “You keep saying things I cannot understand.”
Penelope looked down the street again, where the carriage driver was being scolded by a constable. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. The peculiar sensation that had haunted her for days was no trick of the mind.
“You’re trembling,” Isadora murmured, pulling her closer. “Come inside, dearest. Sit down. You’ve had a shock.”
Penelope allowed herself to be led into the shop, her steps slow, her mind spinning.
“We should get her a glass of water,” a concerned Evan noted from afar.
“No, I think it is better we return home now,” Penelope mused with more energy than she had been able to muster in days.
“Yes, that would be a good idea,” Isadora began to nod. “I think you should rest for a long while. And maybe we should skip the public appearances for now. Whatever bad luck is trailing you has not gone away yet.”
Penelope was shaking her head again. This time, there was a look of determination on her face.
“What are you thinking?” Isadora frowned.
“I do not need to rest,” Penelope got up from her place on the bench. “In fact, I would much prefer if we can head back to the estate right away. There are certain things I need to tend to.”
Isadora and Evan exchanged a glance. Penelope could not blame them, for this must look quite bizarre to an observer . But Penelope felt as though she had just figured out a missing piece of the puzzle she had been looking for, for the past few days.
And it was enough for her to take a bold step.
“Penelope,” Isadora said again, “are you sure you did not hit your head when the carriage came?”
