Monday, 3 November 1800. 7:15 p.m.
Carleigh rolled over lazily and glanced at the small clock by her bed. Then awoke with a start. She had intended to be up right after sunset. She'd wanted to get out of the house and off to Geneva before anyone else was up.
This whole arrangement was not working out at all the way she had planned. It had been only two nights, and already she felt as if she had to get away before she either went crazy or was driven to suicide. She hurriedly changed into fresh clothes (she had fallen asleep in the things she wore last night yesterday), splashed some cold water on her face from the basin in the corner, then hurried to gather her money and notebook. As she made to leave, she realized Courtney was not in her bed. And a good thing too, for she would certainly have woken the Lasombra with all her clamoring around. But it meant the others were up. Maybe she could sneak by them.
She slipped out of her room as quietly as she could and tiptoed down the hall, which, thank the powers that be, was deserted. If only her luck would continue. She hoped she didn't run into any of the others. The only person who knew about her leaving was Courtney, and the Lasombra didn't seem the type to gossip with people below her supposed status.
As loath as Carleigh was to drive her own carriage, she didn't dare ask one of the males to come with her. She didn't trust Ben to be able to control horses, Sobek would laugh in her face, and she didn't want to think about what the repercussions might be if she asked Seldes for a favor again.
Then something occurred to her. It didn't necessarily have to be one of the males. She remembered the scene between Courtney and the Gangrel the previous night. yes, Michaela might be willing to do her a favor...if she asked nicely. She would deal with the problem of taking a very hairy Gangrel into the heart of the capital of a country later.
Carleigh cautiously stepped into the front hall. No one there. She didn't allow herself a sigh of relief yet. If there was anyone in the kitchen...The door was closed, but it could open at any time.
She tiptoed through the hall, winced as the oaken door creaked when opened, and slipped out onto the porch, turning her back on the yard to close the door behind her as gently as possible. It closed with barely a sound. She decided against looking for the Gangrel. She had gloves on; she could drive her own carriage. Never let it be said that the Ventrue were unable to be self-sufficient. She slowly turned, afraid of the porch creaking too.
"Boo."
Carleigh screamed bloody murder. Carid, who was standing not six inches in front of her, laughed hysterically. Carleigh clutched her breast as if trying to ward off a heart attack, nevermind that her heart beat its last almost two centuries ago.
Once the Ventrue had calmed herself sufficiently to look past the cackling fiend, she saw why the hall and foyer had been deserted. Everyone was waiting out here.
The carriage-which had been another of the gifts delivered yesterday- was already occupied by Amy, Ben, Courtney, Seldes, Mei, and Maria. Sobek was seated in the driver's seat, holding the reigns to the horses. Alectz clung to the back of the carriage, grinning inanely for no apparent reason. Sugar, Sharma, and Cathy were all on the backs of their respective horses, and Carid's horse was still tethered to the railing, but saddled and ready for travel. And Michaela just stood between Sharma and Sugar's horses, wearing, to Carleigh's great surprise, a long sleeved shirt that covered most of the fur on her upper body. Carleigh hadn't thought she owned any clothes beyond those ratty pants.
The Ventrue's eyes fell on Courtney. "What is all this?!" She demanded.
"What, you were planning to go to Geneva without us?" Courtney asked innocently.
"You told everyone?!"
"No. I told Carid."
"And I told Cathy." Carid added.
"And I told Seldes and Maria and Mei." Cathy contributed.
"And I told Alectz!" Mei threw in her two cents.
"And I told the faeries!" Alectz grinned even wider.
"I suppose that's where this train derails....." Carleigh rubbed her temples. "Well, alright, if we're going to go, let's go." Where was she supposed to sit, she wondered, looking at the arrangement of seating in the carriage. She didn't have a horse of her own.
"There's a seat next to Sobek." Ben said, as if reading her mind.
The Setite scooted over a little, and Carleigh climbed up, disregarding how undignified it was to be riding with the driver. She deemed it best to let dignity take care of itself for a little while.
Sobek got the four black horses in charge of the carriage started, Carid swung up onto her own horse, and everyone fell into step behind or beside the carriage. Except for Michaela. She walked next to Sugar's horse.
"Are you sure you can keep up?" the Ravnos called down to her.
"Yeah." Michaela answered simply.
"Okay..." her roommate shrugged.