Chapter 28

Chapter 28

With Amy in her arms, Ophelia wandered in the village market, trying to find everything she needed to cook dinner for her family tonight. She had come home after so long and wished to treat her family as best as she could. Not having cooked in so long, she had a desire to make food for everyone. Hence, she had decided to come to the village to get everything required for the meal.

"It will only take a few hours, Amy," she said to the little girl, "and then I will have you back home with your new friends."

Amy giggled as if Ophelia had said something very funny. Ophelia's heart melted at her beautiful innocence, making her realize how much she actually loved Amy. She could not imagine parting with her at all.

Although, something about the day just did not sit right with Ophelia. Since she arrived at the market, she could feel eyes on her as if someone had been looking. She knew they might just be her suspicions, and she should let them go, but it was an ever-present, ever-nagging feeling at the back of her head.

Who is it?

Ophelia looked around closely when her gaze suddenly fell on a bonnet, which was certainly out of place for the village market. The woman looked up, her gaze meeting with Ophelia when Ophelia finally realized who it was. The shock of seeing Lady Alice at the market immediately turned to anger because Alice could never have good intentions.

Without wasting another second, Ophelia marched towards her, ready to confront her.

"What are you doing here?"

"Miss Jennings," Alice acted as if she had not even seen Ophelia, which was a clear lie, making Ophelia even more suspicious about her presence in the village. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here." Ophelia looked at her accusingly, entirely distrustful of Alice, "What are you doing here?"

"I have come to see a friend."

"You have a friend in this poor village?" Ophelia scoffed, knowing someone like Alice could never make friends who were socially below her. She was too malicious and cruel ever to consider those below her as her equals.

"Of course I do."

"Please do not lie to me, Lady Alice," Ophelia said, "Why are you in my village?"

"I am not answerable to you in any way at all, Miss Jennings. I am here to meet with a friend, and you are wasting my time. Now, if you will excuse me, I will be on my way again."

Without another word, Alice walked away from Ophelia. She climbed inside a waiting carriage, and the carriage drove away only moments later, bringing comfort to Ophelia once again. Alice's presence around her and Amy was not something Ophelia wished to have, and it was best that she had left.

Now, Ophelia would be able to shop in peace.

Ophelia looked at the list in her hand, realizing she had bought everything she needed except vegetables. Just one last stop and she would finally be able to return home even though Amy was clearly enjoying herself at the market. She had easily made friends with all the shopkeepers and had been looking at the people and the colours of spices and fruits all around her.

Every time she pointed at something, Ophelia let her explore it. This was why it had already been two hours, yet Ophelia had still not bought everything. Although she was glad that Alice had not appeared again, her presence had been entirely unwelcome.

"Perhaps she had not been lying after all," Ophelia whispered to herself, walking towards the vegetable stall.

She placed Amy on the small holding at the side of the stall, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Stay here comfortably, my darling. It will only take me a few minutes."

Ophelia quickly began to pick up the vegetables, finding the freshest ones from the available batches. She wanted everything to be perfect for the dinner. After buying and paying for the vegetables, she turned back towards Amy and to her horror, Amy was no longer seated at the holding.

Her world came crashing down as panic filled her throat.

"Amy?" Ophelia began to call loudly, and everyone around her immediately became attentive.

"Amy?" she called again, looking here and there to see if she had wandered away to look at something, but Amy was nowhere to be found.

Ophelia already knew that Amy was not one to wander away unless someone was with her. She could barely even walk, and if she were crawling, Ophelia would have seen her. Hence, it was impossible for her to get away alone.

No, Amy couldn't have wandered off.

"What is the matter, Miss?" a young man asked as several people gathered around her.

"A little girl was with me. She has disappeared."

"Yes, she was just here a few moments ago," a woman said, "did anyone see her walk away?"

"Or did anyone see someone take her?" Ophelia asked, her fears coming true.

It could be no one but Alice. No one had anything to do with Amy except for Alice, and the simple fact that Alice was present in her village was enough to tell Ophelia that something was bound to go wrong.

"We will look throughout the market," another young man said as everyone divided, calling out to Amy.

Ophelia, too, continued to look, but she knew it was not going to be effective, since Alice had already taken the little girl. That was clearly the only explanation. Tears stung her eyes at the horror of the situation as she worried for Amy's well-being, but Ophelia knew she was not going to let anything happen to Amy, no matter what she had to do to make it happen.

She was going to find Amy, but for that, she needed to return home at once.

***

Edward had only taken a sip of his tea when a loud banging on the door shocked him and everyone else at the sound and urgency of it. Mrs Jennings stood up to open the door, but Edward stood before her, motioning for her to stay at the back so he could check who it was.

"I will see."

He walked towards the door, opening it, and to his surprise, Ophelia stood there, her blonde braid pulled apart as golden tendrils framed her flushed face. Edward could see she had probably run here, her entire face a complete mess. Her eyes widened upon seeing him, but she was already worried about something else. His heart grew worried seeing her in this condition.

"What's wrong?" he asked, suddenly realizing Amy was not with her.

His panic grew even more as he walked back inside, pulling Ophelia inside the house as well. Mrs Jennings, Sarah, and Amelia also crowded around her while Ophelia tried to catch her breath enough to speak. However, she simply turned towards Edward.

"Amy," she whispered, words not coming to her as tears began to fall down her face.

"What happened to Amy?" Edward's heart was beating fast, his fear escalating with every passing second.

He could not afford anything happening to Amy. He realized how much he had come to love her.

Oh God, please let her be alright.

"She … she," Ophelia could not stop crying. "Amy just–"

"Ophelia, calm down." He held her shoulders, making her look him in the eyes. "Tell me what happened."

"I was buying vegetables, and I placed her on the side. I turned back just a few minutes later, and she was gone. She was not in the market. Someone took her."

Edward felt blood rush to his ears, his fear only rising.

"Did you look around the market?" He needed to stay calm.

"Yes, but she wasn't there," Ophelia explained, no longer crying at last. "Alice took her."

"Lady Alice?" Edward was confused.

"Yes." Ophelia nodded. "I saw her in the market, and I asked her what she was doing here. She told me she had come to meet a friend, but it was obviously a lie. She might have come to find me and take some sorry revenge, and she took it by kidnapping Amy. I am certain it was her."

"You are right." If someone was capable of stopping so low, it was only Alice.

"But she couldn't have gone far. We must follow her so we can get Amy back. She was in a simple black carriage instead of the one she usually uses."

"Ophelia, please breathe," he said calmly, knowing he was going to get Amy back. "We will bring her back."

Ophelia nodded, but Edward had already moved away. He hurried out of the house, springing to action as he told his carriage driver what had happened. He had been travelling with no one but two footmen and his carriage driver, but Edward knew he could find Alice. If she had indeed kidnapped Amy, she would head back to London and nowhere else. He leapt inside his carriage, not letting panic take hold of him.

He was not going to let Alice get away.

"I will be back soon." Ophelia nodded, tears still streaming down her face, but all Edward could think about right now was Amy. He could not let go of this last connection with his sister. He loved Amy too much to lose her. Even if he had to turn the entire area upside down, he was going to find Amy, and if Alice truly had her as Ophelia suspected, he would make sure she suffered immensely for trying to kidnap his beloved niece.

Right now, he simply needed to find her.

They had only been driving for about thirty minutes, finally reaching the outskirts of town, when Edward's carriage driver informed him that he could see a black carriage just a little up ahead, stationed at the side of the road.

"Stop the carriage."

Edward got out, walking to the front to sit beside the carriage driver as they approached. Surely enough, a black carriage was standing still on the road, the driver trying to do something with the wheel. Edward hopped down, striding up to the driver, who immediately left the wheel and came to Edward, continuing to glance at the carriage in fear. Edward immediately knew something was wrong. He could sense it.

"Who is inside the carriage?" he asked the driver, keeping his voice low.

"Sir, can I trust you? You look like an important man?" the driver asked, sweat dripping down his forehead.

"I am the Earl of Sommers; you can trust me. Now tell me at once who is inside the carriage."

"It is a young woman, My Lord," the driver immediately divulged. "I believe she has kidnapped a child from someone and is now running away. I pretended that the carriage had broken down and stopped here so someone might have been able to find us, and I could not let a small child get hurt. Are you aware of who she is?"

"She is exactly who I am looking for," Edward replied, his anger only increasing. "Thank you for reacting intelligently, and I will make sure you are rewarded for it."

He nodded at the man, making his way towards the carriage. As Edward opened the door, he found Alice seated inside, Amy clasped tightly in her arms. Amy was loudly crying, her sobs already beginning to pain Edward's heart as he stared at Alice, who had gone speechless.

"Lord Cavendish," she whispered, her eyes wide in horror.

"Get out."

He took Amy from her arms, and the child immediately calmed down the moment her gaze fell on Edward. She smiled through her tear-streaked face, melting Edward's heart as he realized she recognized him. He was filled with relief at finding her, finally feeling a little at peace. Ophelia had been right; it had been Alice.

"My Lord, I can explain."

"Do not even try." Edward raised his hand the moment Alice started to speak, "You are going to be dealt with by the authorities."

"Edward, please, I was only doing it all for you."

She began sobbing, but Edward knew even her tears were fake.

"You kidnapped my niece for me? Please do not try to justify your wrongdoings with lies, Lady Alice. You have already done enough."

"I just wanted to show you how irresponsible that Ophelia is so you could love me instead."

"Your plan failed miserably just as it was bound to. I never want to see your face again. Please stay away from me and my family."

Without another word, Edward motioned towards his men to deal with the matter and turned back towards his carriage to leave. He needed to return to Ophelia because he knew she was just as worried as he had been. Or perhaps even more.

No one loved Amy as Ophelia did, and Edward could not wait to reunite them.