"You've no choice, Belle!" He roared through the House.

I ignored him. Locking myself in my room and putting my back to the door. Sliding down it and dropping my head in my hands. Sobbing uninhibitedly. Using the hem of my nightdress to wipe my face.

I cried throughout the night. Guarding the door and watching the window to ensure neither Vix nor Bodin would be disturbing my night.

Every hour I got angrier. The more I considered all the ways Bodin had betrayed me, the more determined I became to not succumb to him.

He'd lied to me about what he was.

Where he came from, about his family, about what'd happened to mine.

About everything!

I was nearly panting with rage as daylight crept in around the outline of my shutters. I heard movement on the other side of the door and realized someone had been sitting and was now standing.

Bodin.

Like the night before my father's death, he'd remained on the otherside of the door. Quietly lending his support as much as I'd allow.

Back-to-back with me all night.

Separated only by the wood planking of the door.

"I'm going to make preparations, Belle. I'll send you a seamstress to make any dress you'd dream of to be wed in. Long as she can make it by end of the sevennight."

So soon!

Seven days.

I had no time to plan.

"I'll be back this evening and I'd very much like to share a meal with you and plan the ceremony. Make it something exciting rather than something you'd dread."

"You'll never change that, Bodin. I don't want you!" I yelled through the door.

There was only silence and for a moment I'd thought he'd gone, but then I heard the creaking of boards outside the door which told me he only now left.

I wondered if I'd hurt him. Does he even have a heart to hurt?

All he's ever done is manipulate me!

***

I watched from my window, through the crack of my shutters until I saw him head out on his big bay gelding. Giving it heel at a breakneck pace. His brown cloak waving behind them as he rode low against the horse to allow the fierce speed.

"I hope he falls of." I said. Turning from the window.

That's not true. A tiny bit of conscience whispered.

It was right. But I was currently clinging to my bitterness. Willing to use it to drive me from this place.

And all this fantastical idiocy.

I furtively crept around. Dodging the servants with nothing but my valise. All I could carry quickly.

I crept from the front door and went to the stable. I had the stableboy ready me a sweet gray gelding.

The boy brought him out to me, and I tied on my valise, before climbing atop the mount. Seating sideways as was appropriate and giving him heel. He moved into a heavy trot.

Headed for Oxendale.

The nearest town.

It was only a few hours before I arrived in the town and quickly contracted the mail coach to take me on to Luthill, two villages over. I had an aunt there that could help me escape Bodin.

I'd have to wait two hours for it to arrive.

I calculated how far ahead of Bodin I was. He could be closing the gap even now.

I prayed he wasn't.

He'd gone North toward Wakewood so I should have the hours it'd take him to get there plus the time it'd take him to head south.

Toward me.

But the stress still had me pacing the wood walkway before the coach station. Impatiently waiting for it to arrive.

I'll help unload the thing if it gets us on quicker.

A young couple and an elderly man were waiting on the bench nearby. Watching me like I was an unpredictable, caged animal.

"Sit, Girl." The old man patted the bench. "Calm yourself."

I can't. I was wringing my gloved hands. Pulling my wide hat lower over my face. Hoping the extravagant purple feathers would draw more attention than my features.

***

I was beyond grateful when the coach arrived, without any sign of Bodin. I waited, nearly shaking as the footmen unloaded it and dropped them in the Coach Station.

Another young woman had arrived.

Unchaperoned, like me. I walked to wait next to her without saying a word. Hoping people would assume she was my chaperone.

She cast me a look beneath lowered lids but said nothing.

Obviously hoping the same.

She looked about my age. Perhaps somewhat older with long black. Thin as a rail but with keen, dark eyes. She wore a simple lavender gown with a neat white hat balanced jauntily atop her head with a half-veil along the front. Nearly concealing one eye.

I chewed my cheek. Looking one way then the other. As the footmen began loading the old man, the couple, then us.

Finally, it was our turn to load on the coach.

I'd never felt so relieved as the moment I tucked my huge hat-clad head into the safety of the coach.

The other young woman stepped in behind me and the footmen closed the door.

I could breathe again. I whooshed a long breath. Deflating. So exhausted from the stress and not sleeping last night, that I immediately tucked into a corner. Set on sleeping until we reached my destination.

Luthill.

***

I slept hard and didn't wake until I heard the driver shouting.

"Luthill. On to Luthill!" Indicating we were leaving the second village and on to the last stretch before I reached my Aunt.

I lifted my head to look around and noticed the woman next to me watching me a bit intensely.

"Can I help you?" I asked a bit more sharply than I intended.

She said nothing but didn't look away. Too tired to address her rudeness, just now I dropped my head back into the corner and fell asleep again.

"Luthill! Luthill!" The driver called. Banging on the roof.

I awoke blinking roughly.

The footmen opened the door but no one else moved, so I rose and walked the short aisle and took the steps down. Surprised when I caught movement behind me and saw the other woman climbing down as well.

I cut off toward the booths. Intent on seeing if my aunt was at market before trying to recall where her cottage was.

I'm not entirely sure.

I did feel much revived form my nap. Though my hat was now smashed. My hair was flat on that side and I was certain I had frighteningly dark hollows behind my eyes.

I still had heightened anxiety. Feeling in my bones, that Bodin wasn't far behind.

Like he's already nipping at my heels.

I turned and looked behind me. Seeing the young woman purchasing a baguette.

She'd only wanted a snack. Shame on me for being so paranoid. I chided. Walking the rest of the aisles.

Suddenly the woman materialized next to me.

"I wondered..." She said, drawing my attention.

She hadn't spoken to me this whole time.

Until now.

***

"If you could escort me to the Coach Station ahead. I'm finding myself nervous amidst so many strangers." She requested. The baguette gripped lightly in her hand. "I'd be more than willing to share if you'd partake."

I was hungry. I glanced at her.

She was taller than me and exuded some assuredness that made me doubt her at first.

I dismissed the feeling and rolled my eyes. "Of course."

She broke the bit of bread and handed me part. We each took a big bite of the soft morsel. She caught my arm, linking with mine as though we were the best of friends. Giving me a kindly smile as we aimed for the Coach Station.

As we rounded the aisle of booths to the quieter alley, the girl suddenly stepped to the side of me, dropping the baguette to the dirt. Immediately discarded as she flattened sideways from me. Near the wall. Lowering her head and stilling as if waiting.

What is she doing?

But I understood when I looked up and saw the man at the other end of the alley. Walking from the darkness in a black shirt and black pants with sleek brown hair.

Bodin.