King's P.O.V
It was well past sunrise when my servant came to see if I was up. I intended to apologize to Cassidy for surprising her with that change to her arrangement and pray she would accept my apologies. I finished dressing for the day and made my way to breakfast. I found Cassidy's maid, Giselle setting a basket of linens to be laundered down and I asked "Have you seen Cassidy this morning?" "I passed by her room not ten minutes ago your majesty. Her door was locked so I thought she might be still at rest after last night's divine ball and I did not want to disturb her" Giselle replied, picking her basket up again.
"Understandable Giselle; I am sure she is exhausted after all the excitement" I replied, dismissing her. That look in Cassidy's eyes when I had made the announcement still haunted me especially when I saw her run out of the ballroom. Right now; I could never let her know of the blackmail that Robespierre had me backed me into and I vowed that I would try to help her see into Chauvelin's softer side, if he had one that is. I had actually invited him to come and stay in the palace until after he and Cassidy were wed and I hoped this would maybe help them get to know each other.
Chauvelin arrived at half past eleven and the servants led him to a guest rooms. I could see he was relieved to be out from under Robespierre. Once he was settled; I sent Giselle to awaken Cassidy but she came back and replied that Cassidy's door was still locked. Now I was really concerned so I took out the skeleton key I had in my pocket and made my way up to Cassidy's room.
Carefully; I unlocked the door and opened it slightly. The curtains were still drawn on the bed. When I moved the curtains; I discovered the bed was empty. I made my way out of the room and found my captain of the guards and instructed "Search the palace! Cassidy has gone missing!" Chauvelin joined in the search and all the guards came in and we covered the entire palace and grounds.
We soon discovered she was nowhere in the palace or the grounds and the stable keeper had not seen her. "Is it possible that she might have gone to find Armand" Chauvelin asked. "A good possibility" I replied as we got two horses and rode off the Blakeney estate. Percy and Margruite were outside overseeing some garden work. They were surprised by my presence and I asked "Blakeney; I am here on business. Is Armand St. Just here?" "I am afraid not your majesty. Armand disappeared and we thought he might have gone to town as nothing was missing except a bundle of coins" Margruite replied. I realized then there was one option; the two had run away.
"We need to raise an alarm and find the two" I said, looking at the others as I instructed my sentry to prepare the guards at once to search all of England and to search overseas. On the way back to the castle; the dock master called "Your majesty!" "What is it citizen" I asked, stopping the horse.
"I saw your daughter with a gentleman bribing the captain of a boat bound for Italy before sunrise" the dock master replied. "Thank you greatly. Prepare my troop's boat at once" I instructed. Chauvelin and I returned to the palace and I prepared a troop of soldiers to travel to Italy. I gave them a description of Armand and they prepared to leave at once.
Cassidy's P.O.V
It was well after sunrise when the boat docked in Italy. Armand and I got off right away and took off to find a place to stay. "Armand; I fear by now that papa maybe sending soldiers to bring us back to England. I fear the punishment we will receive if they capture us" I told him, as we walked along the streets. Worry not Cassidy; we will get to the consulate, get a name change, and then be wed" Armand replied.
"First; a place to stay and work so we may be able to pay for it" I replied as we kept going. We soon came upon an inn. We made a deal with the owner to work in exchange for food and shelter until we could find a place of our own. We could only pray now that we would be able to start this new life or would law interfere that would cause us to be arrested and forcibly returned?