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She could not blame her cousin for thinking this way. Alicia always lacked that adventurous spirit which Leah and her mother seemed to possess. Alicia was more like Leah's father. They were afraid of adventures. They always thought that something could go wrong, that adventures always led to trouble. Now with her mother gone, Leah knew that her father was afraid of losing her as well. That was why he had become so strict, so unwilling to compromise on anything. He was afraid, and he allowed that fear to govern his life. Leah promised herself that she would never allow that to happen to her.
"I do not want to live in the present where I am married to a man who might or might not be a kidnapper, who might or might not be involved in his parents' death. That is... too much," Leah shook her head, looking down at her lap, where she was cracking her fingers apprehensively.
"What do you plan on doing?" Alicia wondered, her voice down to a conspiratorial whisper.
Leah sniffled, then looked up. If there was anyone in the whole world whom she trusted completely, then it was Alicia. She was there for her when her mother died. Leah had spent many a night crying on Alicia's shoulder. Her presence and friendship had been of undeniable help during her most difficult times. Besides, she might need some help, so she had to reveal her plan to Alicia.
"I cannot stay here," Leah admitted, inhaling deeply.
She glanced at the window. The soft summer breeze spilled in, bringing with it fragrances from the garden, which her mother had tended to with such care and love while she was alive. The thought brought tears to Leah's eyes.
"I will escape to Scotland," Leah finally revealed. "Mother's sister lives there, Aunt Bedelia. I have her address somewhere among Mother's things. I just need to find it and arrange the whole trip."
"You will go alone?" Alicia gasped.
"Well, that is the point of escape," Leah could not help but chuckle.
"Aren't you afraid of traveling alone?" Alicia asked, sounding shocked that Leah was even considering such a feat.
"I am more afraid of spending my life with someone who is not who he claims to be," Leah confessed.
"But have you even spoken to the duke?" Alicia was adamant. It was more than just a selfish desire not to lose her best friend, Leah knew that much.
"You cannot speak normally to that man," Leah rolled eyes. "I tried to, but he immediately accused me of not taking this whole thing seriously enough. He basically said that I trapped him into this marriage."
"Youtrappedhim?" Alicia repeated in disbelief.
"Imagine that," Leah chuckled again. Even though the burden of this situation still lay heavily upon her, Leah welcomed the fact that Alicia was by her side now, and at least, she was having fun. She would be crossing more serious bridges when she got to them. "You know, I do believe he thinks I did this on purpose. That is climbed into his chamber, through the window or something, and that I planned on forcing him to marry me."
"Why, that is preposterous!" Alicia exclaimed, unable to hide her own amusement at this theory.
"I know, right?" Leah laughed loudly. "Do you see now? I know that I didn't go there on my own. So, he must have taken me there somehow, without my consent."
"Are you certain it was him?"
"I mean, who else could it be?" Leah shrugged. "Who else would go through the trouble of taking a lady to a gentleman's chamber? And more importantly, why?"
"I do not know," Alicia shook her head incredulously. "This is all far to convoluted for my taste."
"For mine as well, and I do like a good adventure," Leah chuckled. Then, she suddenly turned grave. "But in all seriousness, I cannot stay here. Father won't listen to me. The duke is adamant on this wedding taking place as soon as possible. I have to plan my escape within the next couple of days."
"That soon?" Alicia gasped.
"I know," Leah said compassionately, getting up and walking over to her friend. She took a seat by her side and enveloped Alicia into a loving embrace, which her friend reciprocated. The two girls remained like that, hugging, for a very long time, with neither of them unwilling to let go. Leah almost felt as if this would be the last time they would embrace, and she wanted to make it last as long as possible.
At that moment, the door burst open, and her father appeared. The girls tore each other away from their embrace. Leah could immediately tell that her father did not come in here to inquire about Alicia and her family.
"I thought you were a reasonable young lady, Leah," her father said, his entire face shadowed by an invisible cloud that seemed to hang right above his head as he spoke. "But I see now that I was wrong."
"What are you talking about, Father?" Leah asked, looking at Alicia then back at her father.
"You will go nowhere," he finally said. "Your plan of escaping to Scotland shall never take place. I shall make sure of it. From now on, you are not to leave this Manor unattended. In fact, even the garden is off limits, unless someone is with you. Understood!?"
Leah could not understand what just happened. Only Alicia knew of her plans, and she had only learned of them in the last couple of minutes. There was no way she could have told Leah's father about any of that, unless her father was standing by the door, listening in, which was completely unlike him. He had become overly protective, but he knew there was a line of privacy not to be crossed.
Then, Leah realized something. The window was open. Was it possible that some of the servants were tending to the garden, and they overheard her talking to Alicia, then felt obliged to go to her father? It was possible.
"Am I understood, Leah!?" her father thundered once again, his voice on the verge of breaking. She could hear fear in there, intertwined with concern and love. He did not want to lose her, like he lost her mother. But he was going about it the wrong way.
