“It is. Like your mother, I feared you would die as Lady Adele, and sometimes we fear something so deeply that our judgement is impaired.” Dobkins sniffled. “But this is a conversation we’ll have another time.”
In a flurry of activity, she opened the armoire and took out a few clothes.
“What are you doing?” Vivienne sat on the stuffed stool in front of the vanity, her head light.
“We’re leaving. Now. I’ll pack only a few things.”
“But we agreed I should sleep here tonight.”
“Because we thought Dr. Tucker was unaware of the fact you knew the truth. It’s obvious he isn’t.”
“He said something weird…you tamedmylion.”
“Why is it weird?” Dobkins rummaged through the chest of drawings.
“Because he didn’t sayalion orthelion, butmylion.”
“Who knows what he meant by that?”
“What about my father? I can’t leave him.”
“He left for his gentlemen’s club.” Dobkins stuffed a shirt and a skirt into a carpet bag. “Write a letter to him. Tell him…what you want. The wedding is tomorrow. Your parents will find a way to contain the gossip for a night, but I won’t take the risk of that evil doctor kidnapping you in your sleep.”
She swallowed hard, opening the drawer of her escritoire. If Dr. Tucker knew she discovered his treachery, it was plausible to think he might want to get rid of her, not merely lock her away.
She addressed the letter to Father, telling him the truth, that Mother had authorised Dr. Tucker to send her to a clinic, and she had no intention of going anywhere. So she’d decided to go to a nearby lodge for accommodation.
“I’ve finished it.” She folded the letter.
“I’ll put it on his bed.” Dobkins left the room with the letter.
From her pocket, Vivienne fished out the vial Captain Jackson had given him and took a sip. In the past few years, she’d been patient—too patient—with her weakness. Now she wanted to get better immediately.
Dobkins entered the room and closed the carpet bag. “Let’s go.” She carried the bag and helped Vivienne stand up.
“I can walk on my own.” She could, but not quickly.
They went down the stairs slowly. The staircase darkened as she gazed down.
“We’ll hail a cab and be at Samuel’s in a moment.” Dobkins searched around, her chest rising and falling.
Her gaze shifted towards the dining room. Was Dr. Tucker there with Mother?
She expected him to come out of the dining room and seize her to drag her to an asylum. Her pulse hammered in her veins.
“Nearly there, my lady.” Dobkins helped her speed up across the hallway.
The cold air cleared her head, but sweat damped the back of her neck. The shadows could hide anyone, and fear tightened her chest.
“Stay strong.” Dobkins hailed a cab and helped her in. “We’re leaving.”
She exhaled when she sat in the cab. Her heart was racing, and shivers went through her. Her vision blurred as well.
Not for the first time, she feared she was about to die.
