Page 18 of The Unseen Hour

“I’ll check out here by the carriage. No need to get out,” I called. I made my way around the carriage and loosened the horses’ hitch.

“Hyah!” I waved my arms at the horses.

The two of them whinnied and began running toward the open town gates. I grabbed up my skirts and ran several steps away, far enough not to look suspect.

“I found it, and … oh my!” I shrieked, bringing Charlotte and Marie’s heads popping out of the carriage.“What was all tha— oh no!” Marie’s mouth gaped open, eyes wide as she watched the horses run through the gate.

Harold was already hurrying back, no doubt having heard my shrieks.

“I’ll round them up, Misses, don’t worry! I’ll get someone from the watch to help me.”

I only hoped the horses were the flighty type.

“We may be waiting for some time. Perhaps we should go somewhere warmer, and well-lit?” I suggested, glancing at Marie. “It’s getting awfully dark to be out here alone, and the sun will be fully set soon. Surely there’s somewhere we could get dinner? Aren’t you growing hungry, Charlotte?”

“Oh yes, very.” I knew my best friend would agree with me if it meant a fresh meal and getting out of the cold.

The plan was working perfectly. Harold had rushed off after the horses. Charlotte’s chaperone had been somewhat reluctant about staying out in the dark with two young ladies she was responsible for, and it was only too simple to persuade her that obtaining some food at a local inn, regardless of what types of “ruffians,” as Marie put it, we might see there, would be much more respectable than freezing in the quickly darkening streets.

My plan was further helped when Thomas finally made an appearance at the inn where we had taken refuge, having heard of our troubles when one of the horses proved tricky to catch. Harold had found him and led him to us.

“We managed to get the horses rounded up, but it’s too late to go home at this hour. I’ll secure you ladies some rooms at another inn in town. There’s one that caters specifically to women, and it’s quiet and clean. We’ll keep the horses in the watch stables and return home tomorrow. Hopefully your family won’t be too worried, Celia.”

My stomach clenched. Everyone would be worried, and Thomas and Charlotte were kinder than I deserved.

“Thank you, Thomas,” I managed.

“I’ll walk down the road to secure your rooms, then come accompany you when they’re ready.”

The lamps outside were being lit, and it was well and truly dark. Perfect timing.

“That sounds wonderful. I don’t think I could have made the ride back home. I’m beginning to feel rather ill. My head is splitting.” I threw the back of my hand against my forehead and slid back in my seat. The posture no doubt was undignified, but it would absolutely make me look even more unwell.

I’d been wheeling my feet under the table as well, trying to work my cheeks into a flush. Judging by the concerned look on Charlotte and Thomas’s faces, it had worked.

“It’s been a long day. A good rest should help. I’ll check on the rooms and return quickly.” Thomas grabbed his overcoat and threw it over his shoulders, rushing out the front door of the establishment. I bit the inside of my cheek.

It’s necessary. If I told Thomas and Charlotte, they’d only worry for me.

They might be my friends, but they were naturally curious. If I’d told them the headache was fake, I’d have had to explain why I was trying to conjure a way to get into the physician’s office at night.

For all the sneaking about I did, I wasn’t a natural liar. I considered the two things separate. It was one thing to try to gain more freedoms, another to deceive my friends.

But my hands were tied.

I waited maybe five minutes after Thomas had left, and then flung my upper half down on the table with a moan.

“Oh, I don’t know that I’ll make it through the night without assistance. This must be what my mother talks of with her own headaches. Oh, it’s awful, Charlotte, truly it is.”

Charlotte’s maid stood hovering over me and worrying her hands.

“Could it have been the food? Perhaps we shouldn’t have stopped here,” Marie fretted.

“No, her mother gets this same affliction,” Charlotte said, putting a reassuring hand on my back and patting me.

“And only the physician works for Mother. Oh, I wish we’d brought some of her medicine with us and … Ah!” I clutched my head. By this point, several patrons were looking over at us.

Marie’s eyes went wide, seeing the amount of attention we were now drawing.