The next week passed sluggishly, both of them straining to be cordial and understanding to one another. The pain of the lashes still ached greatly as they were still healing but Daniea had finally deemed it the right time to disappear. Mostly because she was sure Jamie was well out of the woods and no longer needed her healing expertise.
By cover of nightfall she had bribed Fergus to attain her belongings from Madam Elise's and had them packed away, waiting for Jamie to leave her alone in the house. Finally that day came, he was called away by Jared, who needed help at the port. She feigned ill, assuring him that she was going to nap till dinner.
Waiting long enough to know he wasn't going to turn around for any reason,she quickly changed, grabbed her bag of pure essentials and flew down the stairs to the stable. Careful to avoid any of the servants. Daniea had been down there multiple times with Fergus in the past week, partly as she had informed him, that horses soothed her. Another to pick which mount she could steal without to much trouble. Feverishly she saddled a sorrel carriage horse that barely stepped foot outside of the pasture, due in part by its unruly nature.
Pulling on a long cloak and tricorn hat, she spurred the beast away from the manor and towards the outskirts of Paris and as far away from Jamie as she could get. Unbeknownst to her Fergus, still keeping his word that he would never let anything happen to his lady again, had come back from the port with fresh flowers for her room. As he was walking towards the open gate, he jumped back in surprise as a horse burst forth, running like the devil was nipping at its heels carrying an unknown rider. He ran through the house expecting everything to be amiss but it was still and quiet.
"My lady," he squeaked, racing up the stairs to her room. The door was ajar, and as he peeked inside he found her missing yet all of her clothes, jewelry and perfumes that she had asked him to fetch were still in their place. Fergus ran as fast as his feet would carry him through the winding streets down to the waterside where Jamie alongside Jared, was shaking the hands of the new wine merchants.
"My lord." He called in a wheeze, completely out of breath.
Jamie politely excused himself, taking the boy over to sit on a crate.
"Aye, what's wrong lad?" He questioned, looking at him completely puzzled.
"I...I," he coughed, trying to catch his breath.
"Slow down, deep breaths." Jamie encouraged, kneeling in front of him.
"I went back to the house to check on how my lady was feeling and to give her these," he began explaining, shaking the bundle of limp wild flowers in his fist.
"When I got there…" he huffed, " she was gone."
"Gone?" Jamie grunted,
"Oui, my lord. All her things were still in the room but she was gone. I searched the whole house."
Jamie shook his head in understanding.
"You did well by letting me know lad, don't worry yer head."
"But my lord what if the rider hurt her?"
Jamie stopped in his tracks, "What rider?"
"I saw someone galloping from the manor gates."
Jamie shook his head, and quietly spoke to Jared who excused him from his assistance. Once he got to the manor, Fergus showed him up to her room, and followed him through the stable.
"Lad, which way was the rider heading?" Jamie asked, annoyance rittling his voice.
Fergus pointed in the direction the rider took.
"Now lad, stay here and don't worry."
"But my lady?"
"Aye, your lady will be fine." he assured him, "at least until I get my hands on her," he sneered in Gaelic as he gathered his mount and sped off after her.