Chapter 10
The following morning Sophia was woken at dawn by Amy knocking quietly on the door of her bedchamber.
The maid was holding a tray with a cup of tea on it which she had made for her.
Amy was always the first one to get up in the morning.
One of her duties was to get everything ready for the family before they left their beds.
Including lighting the fires in winter, and boiling water for them to wash.
So not long afterwards she returned with a jug of hot water.
Although she hadn't intended to at first, Sophia had told her about her plan to leave that morning after swearing the maid to secrecy on the small silver locket she always wore under her dress.
Sophia knew this had been a gift from her mother before she left home to go into service.
Also that she treasured it dearly, since it had been in their family for many years.
So both of them appreciated the gravity of the promise she made not to reveal Sophia's secret, and that she would not only be letting herself down but also her mother and family if she did.
When Amy said that she wasn't in the least surprised by her decision to go, she had hoped that Sophia would reveal her intended destination, but all she would say was that she had found a safe place.
The two young women hugged each other realising just how much they would miss each other's companionship.
"Promise me that if things get any worse here, Amy, you will find another position," Sophia said, anxiously.
Afraid that she would be the next one to fall foul of Lucas' bad temper.
"I promise, but it won't be the same here without you, Miss Sophia.
I shall do my best to also be gone before too long, but I need to have another position to move to before I can leave.
So that I can carry on sending the little I earn back to my mama.
My family would suffer if I didn't, so I will carry on here for the time being," Amy said, with tears in her eyes.
Sophia hugged her again, and told her to keep herself safe.
She hoped they would meet again one day.
Amy gave Sophia her mother's address then, if she ever needed another place to go.
She told her that it wasn't much, but she knew her brothers would soon send Lucas on his way if he turned up there.
However unlikely it might be that he would think of looking for his sister inside the warren of streets behind Whitechapel Road in London's East End!
Amy had smiled then, and wished Sophia well.
Not having very much of her own from which she could choose a gift, she asked Amy if she would like to keep the dress with the pink flowers embroidered on it, since they were a similar size.
After some discussion as to why she didn't think she should take it, the dress was duly handed over to her by an insistent Sophia.
On the understanding that she would hide it for now, and take it to her mother's house the following afternoon when she had her one free afternoon in the month.
Amy was thrilled with the present. She had always loved, and admired the dress whenever she laid it on the bed for Sophia to put on for a social engagement.
Never dreaming that she would own anything like it herself.
Even though she had heard that in some of the more well-to-do households ladies did pass on their unwanted clothes to the servants.
However, she knew how little Sophia had for herself so was still reluctant to take it.
Until Sophia became creative with the truth, and told her that she would have plenty of new clothes where she was going.
Without actually knowing this, but hoping it might be true.
Amy stroked the embroidery gently, before saying again how beautiful the dress was.
Then several times how grateful she was to receive such an expensive gift, and thanked Sophia profusely for giving it to her before rolling the dress carefully into a bundle, and wrapping it in a towel Sophia had decided to leave behind.
Leaving Amy to wonder later where exactly she was going, as she concocted all sorts of amazing adventures for her in her own imagination.
However once everything was ready and Sophia was definitely leaving, the stark reality of the situation left both of them with serious faces.
Amy had also brought Sophia some bread and butter, with a slice of meat, she had taken from the pantry.
Not caring what Cook would say when she noticed it was gone.
Giving the food to Sophia to eat on her journey, as she would be leaving without any breakfast. Sophia had smiled sadly, and put the small package in the small bag where she had packed her mother's necklaces.
There were only two other bags containing her belongings.
As soon as she was ready to leave Amy took these down the back stairs, and through the kitchen to the rear door of the house, closely followed by Sophia.
The young women hurried when they heard Cook moving about inside her room.
Neither of them wished to receive any curious stares or questions about where Miss Sophia was going.
Fortunately they reached the door without meeting anyone else.
Amy took the large key from the hook on the wall, and unlocked it before passing the bags to Sophia.
With one last hug which was over almost as soon as it began, she disappeared into the London fog.
Amy watched for a moment, but since she couldn't see her any more she closed the door quickly in case anyone else came into the passageway behind her, and asked what she was doing.
Sophia hurried across the backyard to the gate in the wall, and pulled the bolt across to open it.
Wishing that it hadn't made such a loud noise, she decided not to waste any time looking behind her.
Even though it was almost light the fog had hidden everything in the distance.
Fortunately she could at least see far enough ahead to walk a few steps at a time.
She could also hear people out and about on the street ahead.
Making her afraid that there might be vagrants or scoundrels hiding in wait for her.
By the time she was hurrying along the street Sophia's heart was beating very loudly.
She became afraid then that Lucas might return home unexpectedly, and catch her.
However in what was actually only a few minutes, she reached Hannah's carriage without mishap.
Giving her bags to the coachman who had been waiting for her, she quickly climbed inside, and he closed the door behind her.
Never so glad to see anyone in her life before, as she did Hannah.
During the carriage ride to the Duke of Carlfield's house, she made Sophia promise to write to her as soon as she had settled into her new home.
Making Sophia cry again. In that moment, the reality of the situation had become even clearer to her.
For the first time in her life, she was going to be separated from her best friend, and all she had ever known.
The two young women became frightened then of the unknown, and spent the rest of the journey holding onto each other for comfort.
Neither of them knew what they would do without the other.
Remembering how they had plotted and planned to outwit Lucas in the past; get the books Sophia wanted to read, without him knowing anything about it; their endless conversations about falling in love, and the trips out in Hannah's carriage when they had so much fun.
All of that would no longer happen, and they realised for the first time how large a gap this would create in their lives.
On the way to Belgravia the carriage came to a halt at the entrance of Hyde Park and Sophia looked out of the window, trying desperately to see Owen through the fog.
She couldn't see him because he had been waiting further away and had dismounted as soon as he noticed their arrival.
A highly emotional Sophia flung her arms around him when he opened the carriage door telling him that she would miss him terribly.
She hadn't been parted from him except when she attended the finishing school, but had always known when she would be coming back, and she thanked him again from the bottom of her heart for helping her.
"I wish that I could have done more, Sophia. You deserve so much more than having to work as a lady’s companion.
I will hope every single day that you remain safe and well, that good fortune follows you, and you soon find the gentleman you have always dreamed of who will love and care for you as it should be done," Owen said, kissing her forehead, gently.
Sophia was overcome with emotion when he added that she reminded him so much of their mother who would have been very proud of the woman she had become.
"You must go now, sister. It wouldn't do to keep the Duke, and Duchess waiting.
Since you won't be able to write to me directly in case Lucas finds the letters, Hannah will keep me updated on your progress when you write to her. "
When Sophia took Owen's hand and squeezed it, she saw him exchange a look with Hannah, which revealed again how much sadness they felt at her departure.
He squeezed her hand gently, before releasing it to close the door.
While Hannah and she watched him get back onto his horse, they waved from the carriage window and Sophia hoped that he had seen them through the fog.
A short while later, the carriage came to a halt outside the Duke of Carlfield’s house. In another tearful goodbye Sophia hugged Hannah tightly until the coachman coughed discreetly, since one of Edward's footmen was waiting to help her alight from the carriage.
It was all Sophia could do to summon enough willpower not to burst into tears as she stood on the path next to her bags, and watched Hannah’s carriage leaving her behind.