Page 102 of The Enigmatic Governess of Buford Manor
Their voices faded out of her head and it took Rose a moment to understand that she was not dreaming, that the Arlington children were just outside the room where she was being held. It took every measure of energy for Rose to raise her body.
“Wait!” she cried. “Betsey! Harry!”
Her voice was barely louder than a strangled whisper as she crawled toward the door but she could no longer hear them speaking. Without considering the danger, she began to pound on the heavy door, separating her from the children.
“Harry! Betsey!” she gasped. “Help me!”
She dropped her head against the door, her heart sick as she realized that she had missed the opportunity for rescue but it did not stop her from continuing to bang upon the wood.
Rose wanted to cry but she could not muster tears in her dehydration, her head throbbing as she slapped her open palms over the door in frustration. Yet only silence met her desperate pleas and once more, Rose was consumed by devastation.
Oh! They were so close, so close! If I had only waited one more moment before closing my eyes. If I had –
“Miss Rose?”
The unmistakable chirp of Harry’s voice piped through the barrier between them.
“Harry! Harry, oh good heavens! Please, will you free me from here?”
“Is that truly you?” Harry squealed. “Betsey! Betsey! She is not gone! I told you!”
“Miss Rose are you injured?” Betsey called, concern laced in her tone. “The door is locked but I will find a key from Trudy.”
“I am unhurt,” Rose fibbed, ignoring the taste of cotton in her mouth as she struggled to remain conscious. “You must tell no one that you have found me, children. No one at all!”
“Harry, stay here,” Betsey instructed her brother. “I shall return with the key.”
Rose listened at the sound of retreating footsteps, exhaling in deep relief but she could not feel any true sense of ease, not yet. If Betsey was caught or if Balfour returned…
“Harry, you should not sit out there,” Rose realized. “If he comes back…”
“I do not care!” Harry declared and Rose could see he was sincere. “I am unafraid of Captain Balfour.”
“Harry, he is a highly dangerous man. You must steer clear of him.”
“We cannot run from him,” Harry whispered, the sorrow in his voice evident. “He must be stopped. I thought…we thought he had hurt you.”
“I am well,” Rose assured him, hoping that conviction edged her words. “We shall all be well soon, I swear it, Harry.”
“Tis Nicholas’ surprise birthday gala tonight,” Harry explained after a long silence. “Balfour has taken Nicholas hunting for the day as the duchess prepares for the guests.”
Rose felt her head grow light.
“Hunting?” she gasped. “They are going hunting?”
“They have already gone,” Harry replied.
“No!” she howled, banging a fist across the door in horror. “No, it cannot be!”
“Why? Miss Rose, what is the matter?”
Rose caught herself from openly screaming her concerns, gnashing down on her lower lip to stop herself.
“Where is Betsey?” she moaned.
“She is here,” Harry said, surprised and Rose ambled to her feet, her filthy nightgown clinging to her emaciated body as the key met the lock. A quick click sounded, and she stepped back as the door swung inward. Her breath caught in her throat and she gaped at the faces on the other side.
“Miss Rose!” Betsey choked when she saw the bedraggled body of the governess, but Rose only had eyes for the man who stood between the siblings.
