"I promise, but it won't be the same here without you, Miss Sophia. I shall do my best to also be gone before too long, but I need to have another position to move to before I can leave. So that I can carry on sending the little I earn back to my mama. My family would suffer if I didn't, so I will carry on here for the time being," Amy said, with tears in her eyes.
Sophia hugged her again, and told her to keep herself safe. She hoped they would meet again one day. Amy gave Sophia her mother's address then, if she ever needed another place to go. She told her that it wasn't much, but she knew her brothers would soon send Lucas on his way if he turned up there. However unlikely it might be that he would think of looking for his sister inside thewarren of streets behind Whitechapel Road in London's East End! Amy had smiled then, and wished Sophia well.
Not having very much of her own from which she could choose a gift, she asked Amy if she would like to keep the dress with the pink flowers embroidered on it, since they were a similar size. After some discussion as to why she didn't think she should take it, the dress was duly handed over to her by an insistent Sophia. On the understanding that she would hide it for now, and take it to her mother's house the following afternoon when she had her one free afternoon in the month.
Amy was thrilled with the present. She had always loved, and admired the dress whenever she laid it on the bed for Sophia to put on for a social engagement. Never dreaming that she would own anything like it herself. Even though she had heard that in some of the more well-to-do households ladies did pass on their unwanted clothes to the servants. However, she knew how little Sophia had for herself so was still reluctant to take it. Until Sophia became creative with the truth, and told her that she would have plenty of new clothes where she was going. Without actually knowing this, but hoping it might be true.
Amy stroked the embroidery gently, before saying again how beautiful the dress was. Then several times how grateful she was to receive such an expensive gift, and thanked Sophia profusely for giving it to her before rolling the dress carefully into a bundle, and wrapping it in a towel Sophia had decided to leave behind. Leaving Amy to wonder later where exactly she was going, as she concocted all sorts of amazing adventures for her in her own imagination.
However once everything was ready and Sophia was definitely leaving, the stark reality of the situation left both of them with serious faces. Amy had also brought Sophia some bread and butter, with a slice of meat, she had taken from the pantry. Not caring what Cook would say when she noticed it was gone. Giving the food to Sophia to eat on her journey, as she would be leaving without any breakfast. Sophia had smiled sadly, and put the small package in the small bag where she had packed her mother's necklaces. There were only two other bags containing her belongings. As soon as she was ready to leave Amy took these down the back stairs, and through the kitchen to the rear door of the house, closely followed by Sophia. The young women hurriedwhen they heard Cook moving about inside her room. Neither of them wished to receive any curious stares or questions about where Miss Sophia was going.
Fortunately they reached the door without meeting anyone else. Amy took the large key from the hook on the wall, and unlocked it before passing the bags to Sophia. With one last hug which was over almost as soon as it began, she disappeared into the London fog. Amy watched for a moment, but since she couldn't see her any more she closed the door quickly in case anyone else came into the passageway behind her, and asked what she was doing.
Sophia hurried across the backyard to the gate in the wall, and pulled the bolt across to open it. Wishing that it hadn't made such a loud noise, she decided not to waste any time looking behind her. Even though it was almost light the fog had hidden everything in the distance. Fortunately she could at least see far enough ahead to walk a few steps at a time. She could also hear people out and about on the street ahead. Making her afraid that there might be vagrants or scoundrels hiding in wait for her. By the time she was hurrying along the street Sophia's heart was beating very loudly. She became afraid then that Lucas might return home unexpectedly, and catch her. However in what was actually only a few minutes, she reached Hannah's carriage without mishap. Giving her bags to the coachman who had been waiting for her, she quickly climbed inside, and he closed the door behind her. Never so glad to see anyone in her life before, as she did Hannah.
During the carriage ride to the Duke of Carlfield's house, she made Sophia promise to write to her as soon as she had settled into her new home. Making Sophia cry again. In that moment, the reality of the situation had become even clearer to her. For the first time in her life, she was going to be separated from her best friend, and all she had ever known. The two young women became frightened then of the unknown, and spent the rest of the journey holding onto each other for comfort. Neither of them knew what they would do without the other. Remembering how they had plotted and planned to outwit Lucas in the past; get the books Sophia wanted to read, without him knowing anything about it; their endless conversations about falling in love, and the trips out in Hannah's carriage when they had so much fun. All of that wouldno longer happen, and they realised for the first time how large a gap this would create in their lives.
On the way to Belgravia the carriage came to a halt at the entrance of Hyde Park and Sophia looked out of the window, trying desperately to see Owen through the fog. She couldn't see him because he had been waiting further away and had dismounted as soon as he noticed their arrival. A highly emotional Sophia flung her arms around him when he opened the carriage door telling him that she would miss him terribly. She hadn't been parted from him except when she attended the finishing school, but had always known when she would be coming back, and she thanked him again from the bottom of her heart for helping her.
"I wish that I could have done more, Sophia. You deserve so much more than having to work as a lady’s companion. I will hope every single day that you remain safe and well, that good fortune follows you, and you soon find the gentleman you have always dreamed of who will love and care for you as it should be done," Owen said, kissing her forehead, gently.
Sophia was overcome with emotion when he added that she reminded him so much of their mother who would have been very proud of the woman she had become. "You must go now, sister. It wouldn't do to keep the Duke, and Duchess waiting. Since you won't be able to write to me directly in case Lucas finds the letters, Hannah will keep me updated on your progress when you write to her."
When Sophia took Owen's hand and squeezed it, she saw him exchange a look with Hannah, which revealed again how much sadness they felt at her departure. He squeezed her hand gently, before releasing it to close the door. While Hannah and she watched him get back onto his horse, they waved from the carriage window and Sophia hoped that he had seen them through the fog.
A short while later, the carriage came to a halt outside the Duke of Carlfield’s house. In another tearful goodbye Sophia hugged Hannah tightly until the coachman coughed discreetly, since one of Edward's footmen was waiting to help her alight from the carriage.
It was all Sophia could do to summon enough willpower not to burst into tears as she stood on the path next to her bags, and watched Hannah’s carriage leaving her behind.
Chapter 11
As soon as Edward had finished his breakfast, he went to speak to Jenkins to check that the carriage was ready to leave since he was eager to start the journey. It would take them three days to reach Carlfield House, his country seat, and he was expecting to find it as tedious as usual. With innumerable stops to change the horses, and at other times, overnight or for lunch at a coaching inn. Nevertheless his carriage was more comfortable than most, with the family coat of arms on the doors. Although this did make it a possible target for highwaymen, and the reason why the servants' carriages also travelled with them.
The coachman was also a man who reputedly had the strength of an ox which the Duke didn't doubt, and one of the grooms whom he knew wasn't averse to using his knuckles in a fight, sat on the seat at the back watching their progress from behind. However Edward still felt uncomfortable about the safety of the Duchess and his servants when travelling with them, and he wished to get the whole thing over and done with as quickly as possible. Also because he would need to ride to the coast shortly afterwards, to board a ship which would take him across the Channel to France, then travel on horseback again through the regions to Paris.
He groaned inwardly. Not always being the most patient of men, but which he always tried to hide especially from the Duchess. They would be able to leave London as soon as she had completed her travel preparations, and Miss Barlow had arrived, which hopefully wouldn't be too long. So his heart missed a beat when he noticed that she was already standing quietly by herself in the hallway. Alerted to her arrival by the footman, Jenkins had invited her into the house where he said she would be able to wait more comfortably, and said that her bags would be taken to the carriage.
Sophia immediately dipped a curtsy in greeting the Duke who couldn’t help feeling captivated all over again by her presence. Although he noted with concern that she seemed tohave been crying, and certainly wasn't quite as composed as she ought to have been. Then he reminded himself for the umpteenth time that Miss Sophia Barlow was his employee, and that it was very wrong for him to have any feelings of attraction for her. As a result he felt greatly relieved when the Duchess began walking down the stairs towards them.
Cynthia was smiling profusely when she said good morning to Edward. She was also clearly delighted to see Sophia, and greeted her warmly. The two women exchanged a few pleasantries until they heard Jenkins informing the Duke that the carriage was ready, if his Lordship and the ladies wished to step outside. Edward turned to his mother to seek her permission, and with a satisfied nod at him, she indicated to Sophia that she should take her arm along with the small bag she was holding which she duly did.
As they were leaving the house, Edward overheard Cynthia informing Sophia that she would be riding with them. This came as a complete surprise to him, since for some reason he had been under the impression she would be travelling with the rest of the servants. However, it wasn't long before he recalled that Ruth often used to travel with them, and he didn't know why he had thought it would be different for Sophia. Especially since Mama might well need her help during the journey, and was likely to want to talk to her to pass the time. Whilst Edward would have much preferred it if she had travelled with the other servants. Her presence was simply too disturbing, and for his own comfort he wished to keep as much distance from her as possible. However, good manners wouldn't allow him to object to his mother's wishes which weren't unreasonable.
Without thinking about what he was doing the Duke helped his mother get into the carriage, before he realised that politeness would demand that he also extend his hand to Sophia in the same way. An intense awareness of her proximity coursed through his body as she moved closer to him, to place her hand trustingly inside his own. He knew that he ought not feel the desire for her so deeply within himself, but couldn’t help it. Even more so when she had withdrawn her hand from his, to take the seat alongside his mama, and he felt the loss of her. Their eyes had met only briefly ina single intoxicating moment, before that was over too. The Duke's heart sank when he knew it wasn't to be repeated.
He quickly took the seat opposite the Duchess, feeling highly disgruntled and ill at ease. Until she asked him politely, in his opinion with a far from innocent look in her eyes, if he wouldn't mind moving to sit opposite Sophia. As she needed more room to stretch her legs on the journey, to avoid the horror of suffering from cramp which she was certain Ned wouldn't willingly wish to inflict on her. He was of course obliged to do so, and if that wasn't bad enough, the Duchess insisted then that he should desist from calling her companion Miss Barlow. At least when there was no one else present. Sophia was a delightful name, and she wished to hear him use it. Placing Edward once again in a difficult position.
However the Duke of Carlfield was obliged to do as his mother had asked, since it was a simple enough request. Despite Sophia blushing profusely at the familiarity of it, and both of them feeling more than a little overwhelmed by Cynthia's interference. At least she didn't give Sophia permission to call him Edward he thought, and which she had actually deemed to be a step too far, but did go on to ask Sophia to refer to her as Lady Cynthia in the future. Since she would feel much more comfortable with this.
Quite satisfied with how much progress had already been made, Lady Cynthia went on to chatter non-stop about inconsequential things, feeling perfectly at ease. Ignoring the obvious discomfort of her son and companion, whom she was certain would become accustomed to each other in time and her meddling.
As Cynthia's voice continued in the background and the carriage jolted uncomfortably over the ruts in the road on their way out of London, followed by the servants' carriages, neither of them knew what to do with their legs to avoid getting too close to the other. Especially when they were almost thrown from their seats by the poor condition of the road. Nevertheless, determined to maintain a sense of social propriety Edward and Sophia tried their best not to look directly at each other, despite being fullyaware of their proximity. Trying at first to busy themselves in their own pursuits, and ignore it.
Sophia listened politely to Lady Cynthia, and replied to her questions about the places they were passing. Whilst Edward soon felt tired of his newspaper, and of how difficult he found it trying to pretend he wasn't in such an awkward predicament. Wishing with all of his heart to take the most beautiful woman he had ever seen into his arms, and kiss her. Something which he obviously couldn't do since this behaviour would be too shocking for words. At the same time the incessant rocking of the carriage made it almost impossible for his leg not to collide with hers, from time to time.
On one occasion he felt his eyes soften, without him intending it to happen, and she also apparently hadn't been able to stop herself from mirroring his look. As if she knew and understood his thoughts, which she shared. However she had still wrenched her eyes away from him again, before very long.
The Duchess was also by now telling her in great detail about the Carlisle family, and their ancestors, which again made the Duke uncomfortable. Eventually including some of her own reminiscences of his childhood, much to his great displeasure. Feeling that like the tea party atmosphere she had tried to create yesterday at Sophia’s interview, all of this was a step too soon, and most likely too far. When he tried to object to her recounting certain events which she had found charming, she attributed his embarrassment to false modesty, and chuckled. She did however stop for a time to gaze out of the window, and talk about what she recalled of the places in London she had visited across the years. Meanwhile Sophia had been intrigued by all of it.
