––––––––
Lilly’s senses returned slowly. Her throat was dry and coarse, and she discovered that her hands and feet were bound. She was resting against a carriage window and they were moving quite quickly along cobbled streets. As her eyes opened she could see Olivia lying beside her. She was clearly unconscious, but Lilly was relieved to see the steady rise and fall of her breathing. She looked across the carriage and saw the very man she had hoped to never see again.
“Hello, daughter,” Mr. Hollow said coldly.
“Where are you taking us?” she asked hoarsely.
“France, of course. I seemed to have worn out my welcome here in England. Wouldn’t you say so?” He smiled with eerie glee.
Lilly lifted her chin. “I wouldn’t say that. I understand the hangman is dying to meet you.”
“Clever girl,” he sneered. “You never knew when to hold your tongue.”
“I don’t have the necklace, you should let us go,” she pleaded.
“Let you go? Why ever would I do that? I want to see you suffer for the grief you have caused me. Your friend here is a boon; I can either ransom her, sell her, or both!” He laughed excitedly.
“If you don’t let us go right now, Lord Redwick will find you and you will wish for the hangman’s noose,” Lilly warned.
“Oh yes, the infamous Lord Redwick. Terrible trouble that chap is. At the very least I will escape with my head intact. You nearly cost me my life with your thievery, and now you will pay for it. However, once we reach France I will no longer have need of you or your little friend. The price you both shall fetch will not go far to replace my losses, but what can one do?”
“Price?” Lilly paled.
“Oh yes, there is a decidedly lucrative market for pale-skinned women. The purer and more refined, the higher the price.”
“You bastard. I’ll die before I let you sell us off like cattle,” Lilly screamed, attacking him with her nails and feet.
A stinging slap knocked her into the window. “Keep it up and you will get your wish.”
Lilly wept silently as she cowered in the corner. They traveled for what felt like hours, but when they emerged from the carriage the position of the moon had not changed much. Lilly guessed it was close to midnight. Her surroundings were shrouded in darkness. She could hear the creaking of ships as her eyes began to adjust. They were navigating their way down a dirty and deserted wharf where any manner of beings could be lurking. Mr. Hollow tugged her along, followed by one of his men, who carried Olivia’s still unconscious form. She moaned but never woke.
Weaving their way through stacks of crates and coils of rope, they arrived at the shadow of a large ship. Low murmurs could be heard from aboard. Stopping before a gangplank, Mr. Hollow whistled a strange tune. There was an answering whistle and then they boarded the ship.
Lilly frantically took in her surroundings, looking for any means of escape, but it seemed in every shadow there were menacing eyes watching her. They were led down stairs into the hull of the ship and put into a small cabin. The room was completely bare except for a small porthole and a single cot. Olivia was dropped onto the cot and Lilly rushed to her side.
“Olivia!” she cried. “Are you awake?” She cradled Olivia’s head and found a large lump on the back. Olivia cried out when Lilly lightly touched it.
Mr. Hollow laughed. “Sweet dreams, ladies. I will come for you when we reach Calais. Do not venture from the room. The men aboard this ship are no better than rabid animals.” He slammed and locked the door behind him, leaving them no light except the meager glow from the porthole.
“Oh, Livie, I am so sorry. I should have never involved you in any of this. It’s all my fault.” Lilly sobbed. She felt helpless. She had been so close to happiness and now she feared the worst. If everything had gone as planned she would have married Dominic and lived the rest of her life in love, surrounded by her friends. It was everything she could have dreamed of, and now it was slipping away. Just like before, in a flash it would be gone, all her hopes shattered. However, this time she was not alone. Olivia would be dragged down with her.
The guilt was all-consuming.
Whatever she had to do, Lilly would protect Olivia—even at the cost of her own life. Lilly shivered in the cold, dank room. She had collapsed into a pile of despair beside the cot and rested her head next to Olivia’s while holding her dearest friend’s hand. She could hear the rustling of feet above her, subdued voices, and the slide of heavy ropes.
Lilly cried out when the ship began to move. “Oh, Livie, what can we do?” She stood and began to pace the small cabin anxiously. By now someone would have noticed their absence, but how would they know where to find them? It seemed so hopeless, even for a man like Dominic.
“Oh, Dominic.” She sighed wearily and stopped before the small porthole. “How will you find us?”
She heard a soft moan and knelt beside the cot. “Livie, are you awake?”
“Ugh, what happened to me?”
“You hit your head, dear. Can you sit up?”
“Maybe.” She groaned as Lilly pulled her into a sitting position and sat beside her. “Where are we?” She dazedly took in their surroundings.
“We are on a ship bound for France. I’m sorry I got you kidnapped, Olivia.” Lilly hugged her tightly.
“Really?” Olivia said in astonishment.
“Olivia, how are you so calm? My stepfather is going to sell us!”
“Bollocks, Lilly—someone is probably looking for us right now. I have every faith in—ow!” She winced and touched her head. “How did we end up here?”
“We were ambushed in my room. You don’t remember that?”
“I don’t recall.” Olivia shrugged.
“I still don’t understand how you can be so calm. You must be in shock.” Lilly put her hand to Olivia’s forehead, but it was difficult when her own hands were cold and clammy.
“We will get out of this, Lilly. I’ve seen the way Dominic looks at you; he will search the world until he finds you. I’m betting we won’t make it halfway to France before we are rescued.” She grasped Lilly’s hand. “We must never let go of hope, otherwise we are already lost, and I refuse to give up.”
Lilly watched her friend and drew strength from her presence. “You’re right, Livie. We can’t give up. Dominic will find us."