Oscar wakes up just before dawn the next day. She vaguely recalls the doctor visiting her and giving her something foul tasting to drink. She gets up and pours herself a glass of water from the pitcher on her dresser. She sits in the chair beside the window when Granny quietly lets herself into her room.

"Oh! I'm sorry to intrude. I came in to check on you." Granny smiles.

"That's all right, Nanna." Oscar smiles back. "I'm feeling much better."

"Thank goodness." Sighs Granny. "The doctor said you would be fine, but I was worried."

Oscar chuckles. "Thank you for looking after me."

"Of course." Says Granny. "Can I get you anything? Tea perhaps?"

"Yes, some tea would be fine."

Granny nods and turns to leave.

"Could you ask Emilie to bring it to me?" Oscar asks, rolling the glass of water in her hands thoughtfully.

"Certainly." Granny leaves the room and shuts the door.

Oscar watches the sky brighten while she waits for Emilie. She makes up her mind that she's going to be blunt with her and not fall for the sad eyes she gives her whenever she brings up the night of the attack. If she really is Madame d'Harcourt, she will forgive her once her assailant is apprehended and she's reunited with her family.

There's a knock on the door.

"Come in." Oscar straightens up in her chair.

Granny comes through the door holding a folded piece of paper. She looks as if she might cry.

Oscar stands up. "What's wrong?"

"Emilie isn't in her room. I found this on her bed." Granny hands her the piece of paper. It says 'Oscar' on it in small, neat handwriting.

Oscar unfolds the paper and reads,

Thank you for your kindness.
Please don't look for me.

I'm sorry.

~ Emilie

Oscar drops the note and immediately starts to get dressed.

"What is it? What does it say?" Granny asks frantically, bending down and fumbling with the note. She looks at it and gasps.

"Tell Andre to ready the horses." Oscar orders Granny.

"Y-Yes, right away." Granny stammers and hurries from the room.

A short time later, Oscar arrives in the courtyard where Andre is holding the horses. "Oscar! Is it true? Emilie ran away?"

Oscar marches up to Andre and grabs the front of his jacket with both hands. "What did you say to her?"

"I… I mentioned the rumor..." Says Andre, not meeting Oscar's fierce eyes. "And that word has gotten out that we have a guest at the manor."

Oscar releases him. "What?"

"That's what the ladies were asking me about when they surrounded me yesterday." Andre adjusts his collar back into place. "They found out about your plan to bring Emilie to the opera."

Oscar sighs. "No wonder she ran. It's clear she doesn't want anyone to know she's here."

"I'm sorry." Andre says quietly.

Oscar mounts her horse. "Are any of the horses missing?"

"No."

"Good, that means she's on foot." Oscar's horse paces under her as she tries to decide which direction to go. "She couldn't have gotten far."

"Should we split up?" Andre offers, climbing into his horse.

Oscar considers this for a moment, but then shakes her head. "I don't think she would go to Versailles."

"Paris, then?"

"Paris."

Oscar rides a little ahead of Andre. She's still upset with him. If only he had waited and let her speak to Emilie. Maybe then she'd still be safe back at the manor. As they near the bend in the road where they rescued Emilie, Oscar slows her horse. She comes to a halt and realizes her hands are shaking. She grips the reins tighter to steady them. Emilie had taken nothing but the clothes she wore during sword practice. When Oscar had gone to inspect Emilie's room before leaving, she found the purse of wages Granny had arranged for her to receive and the knife she herself had gifted to her. Where was she going with no money or protection? She didn't even think to take a horse. Though Oscar didn't know if she knew how to ride one.

Andre stops next to her and looks around. "Oscar."

Oscar starts, shaken from her thoughts, and looks at Andre.

"There." He says softly, pointing to the ground at the edge of the road. There is a pair of fresh foot prints in the soft earth leading into the trees.

Oscar dismounts and hands her reins to Andre. "Wait here." She says to him and follows the trail into the woods. She soon sees Emilie sitting against the base of a tree close to where she had been attacked. Her face is buried in her arms and she is humming her favorite tune very quietly.

Oscar almost laughs, she is so relieved. "There you are, my little bird." She says gently.

Emilie lifts her head from her arms, her tearful eyes wide. "Oscar…"

"Thank goodness you're safe." Oscar smiles, offering her hand to Emilie. "Let's go home."

Emilie looks away, her eyes lingering on the place where she had been left to die. "You should have just left me…"

Oscar furrows her brow. "What are you talking about?"

Fresh tears start to slide down Emilie's cheeks. "If he finds out I'm still alive…"

"If who finds out?" Oscar kneels down and places her hands on Emilie's shoulders. "Emilie, please."

Emilie buries her face in her arms again.

Oscar squeezes Emilie's shoulders. "If you can't tell me your attacker's name, could you at least tell me yours?"

Emilie is silent for a long moment before she finally turns her head to one side. "My name," she whispers so quietly that Oscar has to lean in close to hear her, "is Linette Emilie Marguerite d'Harcourt."

Oscar stands up looking a bit astonished. "So you are the murdered noblewoman…"

"Yes." Emilie sighs.

"The ladies at court said that a Count was tormenting your family." Oscar continues carefully.

"Yes."

"They said you tried to flee the country in separate carriages from your husband and…" Oscar pauses. She still can't believe that Emilie is a mother. It's not unusual for a girl her age, but it still surprised her. "And your baby."

"Yes, that's true."

"Why didn't you get the authorities involved? Surely they could have protected you and your family. Why did you take such a drastic measure?" Oscar starts to talk faster, unable to hold back her questions any longer.

"You don't understand, Oscar."

Oscar frowns and reaches down to grab one of Emilie's wrists.

"What are you doing?" Cries Emilie in surprise as Oscar pulls her to her feet. She tries to free her arm, but Oscar won't let her go.

Oscar raises her other hand. Emilie flinches and shuts her eyes, half expecting Oscar to strike her. Instead, she feels a cool, dry hand gingerly touch her cheek. Emilie opens her eyes.

"Help me understand… Tell me what happened." Oscar says softly.

Emilie's resolve to keep quiet starts to crumble under Oscar's pleading gaze. "He… He was in our manor."

Oscar moves both of her hands to Emilie's and holds them reassuringly. She doesn't dare speak in fear that Emilie will regain her composure and go silent again.

"He killed our butler and our dogs while we slept so they couldn't warn us. He would have slain us all that very night if the baby hadn't started crying. My husband only just managed to fight him off, getting wounded in the attempt." Emilie can no longer contain herself and the words continue to tumble from her mouth. "There wasn't time to get the authorities involved. We didn't know where he went or when he would be back. For the sake of the life of our son we fled. It wasn't a decision we made lightly.

"We were hiding in Paris when he found us again. I don't know how… It was as if the devil had bound him to me. He swore that as long as I lived, he would hunt me… And that everyone I love would die." Emilie trembles. "That's when I came up with the plan to escape the country. I didn't tell my husband that I intended to lure the Count away. If he had known he would have never agreed to take separate carriages. Maybe I was being rash, but at the time I thought that if I let the Count have me, my family would be safe." She sways as she chokes back a sob. "Oh, God…" She covers her mouth with one hand and starts to sink towards the ground.

"Emilie…" Oscar pulls Emilie up into her arms, holding her tightly so she won't fall. "Why would anyone want to harm you? What could you have possibly done to this man to inspire such violence?"

Emilie shudders against Oscar's chest.

"Don't be afraid." Oscar tucks her hand under Emilie's chin and lifts her face so she can look into her eyes. "We'll find your family and no one will ever hurt you again. I promise."

Emilie shakes her head slightly. "I'm not afraid of being hurt. I'm afraid… I'm afraid that you…"

Oscar looks at her, waiting for her to continue.

Emilie lowers her eyes and presses her lips together.

Oscar has more questions than ever, but she knows the look on Emilie's face all too well. The conversation is over. She sighs. "Andre is waiting for us." She takes Emilie's hand and starts to lead her back to the road.

Emilie hesitates and pulls her hand away.

Oscar turns around, trying not to look impatient. "Nothing you say will keep me from taking you back to the manor with me." She says with authority.

Emilie looks a bit taken aback. She swallows and then slowly takes Oscar's hand again.

Oscar smiles at her and they walk back to the road where Andre is waiting with the horses.

"Emilie!" Andre brightens as the two girls approach him. "I'm so sorry. I never meant to upset you."

"It's not your fault, Andre." Emilie says quietly.

Andre looks confused, "What-" He sees Oscar give him a sharp look and shake her head at him from behind Emilie's back. "Oh ah, well… I'm glad you're all right. We were all so worried about you."

Oscar helps Emilie up onto her horse and seats herself behind her. "Have you ridden before?"

Emilie nods.

"All right, hold on then." Says Oscar. She kicks her horse into a gallop and Andre follows close behind.

When they arrive back at the manor, Emilie runs up to her room and shuts the door. Oscar is about to go after her when Granny stops her on the stairs.

"You found her, thank God." Granny lets out a sigh of relief. "Is she well?"

"Well enough, I suppose." Says Oscar.

The front door opens. Oscar and Granny both turn to see Andre standing in the doorway looking a little bewildered.

"What is it?" Asks Oscar.

"A man just arrived in a carriage at the gate. Lord de la Roche." Andre announces breathlessly. "He claims to be Emilie's uncle."


I'm finally satisfied with this chapter. Phew! I hope you like it! See you next time.