Thomas refused to believe it. There could be no possible chance that Charlotte would do such a thing. He rushed to the bedroom and looked around it. The cradle was beside the bed, on the side where Charlotte slept. Blake's basket was directly at the foot of it, both were empty. Lighter sleep attire for a woman and an infant were strewn onto Charlotte's side of the bed beside it. Little seemed to be missing from the room belonging to Charlotte and he was uncertain as to what was belonging to the child. He ran into the art room and looked around. Little seemed changed there also. Thomas looked at the trunk before rushing to get the key which he knew was in the spine of a book and unlocked it. The letters from Edward were still there, as were all her other tidbits, but one thing he noticed was some crudely placed papers. He pulled them out and swallowed. They were letters that were regarding financial deeds, and the sum of money they had chosen to keep their to pay Mrs Phillips and the new maid was almost gone, bar enough to pay the week's wages for the pair.

He had knelt to check the contents of the chest, but as the realisation truly hit him, Thomas fell backwards and felt his breath fall to enter his lungs.

Charlotte had left, with Blake and the baby. She had felt that he was avoiding their room. It was partly true, he had been worried about her being angered by the situation with the child's leg, but also, he felt that were he to be in the room, he could wake her or the child when both required rest to recover. He had thought that he was doing the correct thing, Charlotte clearly felt otherwise and he had lost her for it.

Charlotte looked at her son. She thought Thomas a good name for him, he was so like his father, but she felt so angered by Thomas at the present time, she thought it unfair to name her son after him if all that she felt was anger at hearing his name.

She felt the movements of the carriage begin to rock her to sleep, her son already asleep in her arms. Fear kept her awake. She feared falling asleep and him being at risk of being dropped, that was enough to keep her alert. She looked at Blake, who seemed to be watching her from the carriage floor, a look of knowing in his chocolate coloured face and eyes. He could clearly tell something was out of sorts and she felt guilty for taking him from his home, but she felt she had no choice. Charlotte felt betrayed; she had thought Thomas cared for her and cared for their child, his absence was the declaration of her error in judgement.

She knew she could only go one place really, back to Pembrokeshire, but she did not want to. If she had her way, she would hide somewhere small, quaint and beautiful. The first image that came to her was Edward's wonderful home. Charlotte could not help but bite her lips together, she knew her brother would give her a look of, if not vocalise his thoughts of "I told you so", but she knew that she had to tell him of her departure from Allerdale Hall, lest he think that something happened her and the baby and accuse Thomas of continuing the bloodshed his sister had once reigned over. She moved over to the small talking pipe that connected her to Mr Parsons during their travel. "Mr Parsons, if you would be so kind, could you possibly go to Dr Thompson's residence please." She called out.

"Of course, Ma'am." Came the response.

The carriage came to a halt outside the doctor's residence not long after. Charlotte looked at it and inhaled deeply. Mr Parsons opened the door of the carriage and she exited, her son in her arms. Blake gave a curious sniff before leaping out of the carriage to investigate the area.

When she got to the door, Charlotte felt guilty about bothering Edward but she knew she needed to have the decency to tell him what was occurring. She knocked as best she could whilst holding her son and waited. For a moment, she worried he did not hear her, but just as she was about to attempt to try again, the door opened. "Lady Sharpe?"

That was enough for her to know that he was not alone and made her regret her decision. "Yes."

"What…What are you doing here?"

"I need to speak with you for a moment. Please."

Edward looked as though he was about to tell her to leave before a small whimper made him realise that she was not alone. Looking at her arms, the small moving blanket caught his eye. "What...Come in, go into my surgery room." He ordered.

Charlotte did not hesitate and did as she was told. She barely registered Joanne Carson who was somewhat flustered in the living room. In her full senses, she would have realised that she interrupted her brother and his partner at a most inopportune moment, but she had only one focus and did not pay much heed to anything.

When she went in, she stood and paced. A moment later, Edward entered. "What's wrong with him?" He asked, walking over to her.

"I...how do you know he…"

"Mrs Phillips rushed here after she returned to town the other day to tell Mrs Davies after he was born." He stated. "What is wrong with him?"

"I...nothing. His leg is a little odd, but he is healthy, I think."

Edward took the baby and placed him on his table. The baby, who was between the realms of awake and asleep frowned as he woke. "He looks like him." That was not news to Charlotte, she could only see Thomas in their son. "The leg is a turned in, but with the exercises that Mrs Robinson gave you, he will be right before he walks." He turned to look at her. "If he is healthy, why did you rush him here at this hour. I am due to Allerdale Hall later in the week?" He half demanded, seeing that there was no logical reason as to interrupt his evening.

"I won't be there." Edward gave her a look of confusion. "I am leaving Cumbria, tonight." She stated.

"What?"

"I am leaving, Edward."

"What has happened? Has he hurt you?" He looked her in the eye as he asked to get an honest answer.

"He has not even come within a ten-foot distance of me in days," Charlotte explained. "He has not set eyes on the baby. I...he does not even have a name." The hurt in her voice was apparent.

Edward looked at the baby. "He...he has no name?"

Charlotte shook her head. "I waited and waited, but he is ignoring us completely. I cannot bear it any longer, I have to leave."

"So physically, there is nothing wrong with either you or the baby?" Edward asked, wanting confirmation, Charlotte shook her head. "Charlotte, you need to go and rest, you need to recover, if you do not do so correctly, you can get a fever and perish."

"I will rest after I leave Cumbria."

"And go where? Foxgrove is days of travel from here, you will not be able to tend to yourself and your child for that long alone."

"I am not an invalid, Edward." She snapped but he gave her a glance that made her feel as though there was truth to the statement. She walked over and took her son up. "Why do I even bother, I just wasted time, I thought I was doing right to inform you, but apparently not."

"Charlotte, I….I cannot come with you, I have Joanne."

"I am not asking you to, I know you have her." Charlotte's eyes filled with tears.

"Why...I do not know what to say." Edward confessed.

"Then do as men seem only too capable of doing and say nothing." She retorted angrily and left the room. When she did so, she finally realised that Joanne was actually there as she blocked Blake, who was frantic to get to the other room.

"Damn." As soon as Charlotte was not in his way, Edward rushed over to the dog.

"What…?" Charlotte questioned.

"Lily is in season and she is in the other room," Edward explained as he carried Blake to the door. "The only issue is animals cannot understand the concept of procreation with a sibling is not exactly recommended."

"Right," Charlotte said nothing more as she looked at her brother, knowing full well what he was referencing. "I am sorry to have interrupted your evening."

She walked outside without a backward glance and got into the carriage, Mr Parsons holding the door open for her.

Edward went to place Blake into the carriage. "Charlotte, please...just...be careful on your journey to Pembrokeshire."

"I am not going there." She stated coldly before grabbing the door and shutting it herself.

"Then where are you going?" Edward demanded, but Charlotte did not respond. "Ch ..Lady Sharpe, where is it you are bringing that child?" He tried to open the door but Charlotte had it locked from the inside. "Lady Sharpe, please, you need to think of your child if you refuse to think of yourself." He called as he banged on the door, but there is no answer. "Where are you bringing her?" He asked Mr Parsons.

"I am not sure, I was only told to go south." The man answered, getting onto the carriage and moving it on.

"Lady Sharpe. Charlotte." Edward dropped all pretence, but Charlotte did not answer. "Charlotte!" He called after her.