CarlysleCoupToTheClinic"Peterson!" called Giulian as he passed from the main part of Anderon House into the south wing that he had made his own. "I'm going to need to change back into that jacket of Danton's that I borrowed. Can you-- Oh, there you are. Is there something wrong?" he queried, noting his manservant's faintly creased brow. "I'm not certain, my lord, but I think you should be aware that Miss Chatham is currently in the sitting room," Peterson informed him. "Ah. All right... I'd better have a word with her, then," said Giulian. "Bring the jacket in there, would you, please?" "I'll do that, my lord." Giulian made his way to the sitting room and looked in at the door. "Elissa?" Having not gotten very far after storming away from the room, when she was only trying to offer some help, Elissa made it to the sitting room of Giulian's wing. She was curled up in the far corner of the sofa, staring at the fire. She did not know how to sit still during a situation as large as this one and not do something. Even if she wasn't stealing something, she still moved around to gather information that could be considered useful to others. She knew how to get in and out of tight places and take care of herself. For the most part, she did it without a lick of trouble. Though she may have changed her ways, she still knew how to do all of that. Still, she did not want to disappoint or anger the one man who had become so important to her life and heart. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. As she heard her beloved's voice, she wiped it away and turned her head. "Giulian... Over here..." He came further into the room. "We're about to set off to rescue Harry and Renata," he told her. "I hope you'll come; I told them to saddle a horse for you." She rose to her feet and moved to stand in front of the fireplace, staring at the flames for a moment. She turned to look at him. "You wish me to come? We all go charging into a situation that we know nothing about, perhaps a situation that may already be handling itself," she said. "It may," Giulian agreed, "but we can't know until we go and find out. Given what we do know about the situation, I'd lay odds against it 'handling itself' in any desirable way. Besides..." He came closer and his voice lowered as he went on. "...it's important that Decuma do this, that he wants to do this. You saw him and Harry at the Reception. They're brothers, and yet they're practically strangers to each other. That isn't right." She nodded. "Even that may never work out, Giulian. As much as you love them both, they may not get that close. With all that is at stake and those who are pulling at them." "I know," he said quietly, "but I have to try -- to do what I can. For both of them." She shrugged and headed towards the extra room where she placed a few things. "Let me get my things and a pair of riding boots instead of these flimsy shoes," she said, disappearing into the room. "Meet me at the south entrance," Giulian called after her as she mounted the stairs. "All right. I'll be right there," she called back. She stopped and looked at him. The love in her was in her eyes and the long look she gave him. Dropping her lashes for a moment, she turned and went back up the stairs. Giulian returned her look with one of equal warmth, before turning to meet Peterson who had arrived with the groom's livery jacket for him to put on. It did not take him long to shrug into it. That done, he ducked into his study to dash off several quick notes. One he left in Peterson's care, to be given to Gallfrey if Giulian failed to show up for breakfast. The rest he sealed with his personal signet and tucked into an inner pocket of his coat. Then he headed for the outer door of his wing, the south entrance to Anderon House. Decuma was already out there seated on Percheus who was pawing impatient to be off. The two light carriages were also drawn up to the entrance one behind the other. Grooms held the heads of the horses, keeping the animals calm. Martin was in the driver's seat of the cabriolet. Giulian signaled a greeting to Decuma while making his way over to his curricle. In the few minutes before the ladies arrived, he took the opportunity to whisper to his horses, stroking their noses in apology for haling them out of their stable again so soon. Decuma glanced at the doorway waiting for the others of the party to emerge. The door to the south entrance opened a crack, and Maple slipped outside. She gave a nod to each of the young lords before taking her seat in the cabriolet. She was quiet, her thoughts occupied by the brief conversation she had with Korine. Settling the dark cloak around her body and the long staff opened and threaded through the loops on the side of her pack slipped on her back, Elissa stepped through the door, seconds after Maple. She'd exchanged her flimsy shoes for boots made for both riding and climbing if it became necessary and added a dark vest to cover the light linen shirt. With the cloak and pack that held all of her items, Elissa was ready for anything the night threw at her and the others. Seeing Elissa emerge from the house, Giulian slid his crutches onto the floor of the curricle, pulled himself into the driver's seat, and took up his long carriage whip. The Anderon groom, at his signal, led a spirited dapple-grey mare up to Elissa. "That's Atalanta," Giulian informed her. "She's one of the fastest mounts we have." Elissa smiled as she looked over the lines of the beautiful mare. She gently stroked the mare's soft nose and ran her fingers through the soft mane. "Hmm... Beautiful name for a beautiful lady. At the end of this night, my dear one, I will search and find for you that golden-yellow apple that belongs to one with your name," she told the mare. She leaned closer and pressed her forehead to the mare's. "Help me protect him... protect them all from this night, my lady. Please..." she whispered to the mare and looked into the warm, soft eyes. "Need a leg up, Miss?" the groom inquired. The mare whickered softly at Elissa and nosed her hand for another soft stroke, which she complied. Elissa nodded and moved to the left and bent her leg for the groom. As the groom threw Elissa up into the saddle with practiced ease, Giulian queried, "Are we ready, then? Elissa, you weren't there when we discussed signals. If you need to pass on a message, send someone to look for 'Professor Devereau'. "My plan is to take the curricle and wait with it round the corner of Beaudry Street, near the clinic but not in line of sight. I'm the getaway vehicle," he noted with a brief grin, "or one of them. What are everyone else's plans?" Maple looked up from her private thoughts. "I enter the clinic, determine the situation, get word to you, and locate Lord Harold and Lady Renata. Miss Chatham, there is a main entrance and at least one in the back, for deliveries. We should coordinate our actions." Her generally severe face smiled at the young lady. Elissa nodded. "Whatever you wish. I'll do what is needed," she said in a low voice, looking at Maple and then back at her hands. "That's all we can do...what needs to be done," Decuma's voice held a touch of irony yet mixed with resignation. "I will wait until word is sent. There is an alleyway between the buildings directly across from the clinic. It runs parallel to Beaudry from Hill Street to right in front of the clinic. It is narrow, but a person on horseback can manage it easily." He gave a faint smile to Elissa as if to say she was welcome to travel that way with him. "I will wait there for your message, Maple, for 'Professor Devereau'... on how fares our patients." He smiled now more warmly at his godmother. Maple gave her godson a nod in return. She was arranging all the players on the map in her head. Elissa saw the smile she got from Decuma and looked back down. She picked up her head and looked at Giuilian. Giulian reached into his jacket pocket and brought out a handful of sealed notes. "Elissa, if you're going into the clinic, you're probably the right person to carry these. There's one each for Harry, Renata, and Isabel -- do you know Isabel Gallfrey by sight?" Reaching down, she carefully took the letters from Giulian and nodded. "I know what she looks like. I'll make sure they get them," she said, slipping the letters into the bag at her side. "It isn't anything arcane," he noted, "just letting them know what we're up to and that it's all right and they should cooperate. Letters of authorization, more or less." "Excellent," commented Maple. She turned toward Elissa. "Should there be problems at the hospital, expect me to create a commotion so you can continue with our task." Decuma looked from one face to the next and offered a silent prayer for success, and murmured, "God be with us," and signed Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Now he was ready for whatever befell him. "Amen," Giulian responded soberly. For Elissa, it wasn't a matter of praying to God, but to Ladies Fate and Destiny and what they had woven into the fabric of life for all of them. So far, they let her weave in and out with her lifestyle and still keeping her life. Maple's head had been bowed respectfully, but now she looked toward Martin, eager to be off. With a nudge of his heels, Decuma urged his horse forward, the shoes ringing loudly on the stones and sending up sparks into the darkness. He heard the carriages start off behind him, but he did not look back. Giulian signaled his horses and they were off; Martin stolidly reined the cabriolet into place behind the sleek curricle. The cavalcade swept through the south gate and off into the city. The road became narrower as they entered the city proper and Decuma chose a route that was one less traveled, but would take them swiftly through the city to the Women's Clinic. He stopped at the corner of Beaudry and Hill Streets and nodded to Giulian who had said he was continuing on. Decuma turned up Hill and the paused again to see if Elissa would follow him to the alley. Out of the darkness, a little behind Decuma and the others to watch their backs before the split up, Elissa appeared on the gray mare. She reined in to a stop and let the mare dance for a few steps. "All is clear for the moment. Actually, strangely things seem to be disappearing. Either people got word they should be at home and not on the streets, or something else is going on," she said in a low tone as she stopped the mare next to Decuma's horse. "Hopefully, this may all be for naught and they are safe here, just seeing to those unfortunate ones. Including Lady Tremontaine." Slipping out of the saddle and landing quietly on her feet, she pulled the long staff from her pack. She slid the reins over the mare's head and handed them up to Decuma. She looked up at him. Decuma sketched a bow and flashed one of his most charming smiles. His eyes twinkled. "I will hold your horse, m'lady, until you return." Elissa nodded and smiled back. "I'll go in and deliver the letters. Anything else you wish me to accomplish inside?" "The letters are a means, not an end," Giulian reminded her. "What's important is getting Harry and Renata to safety. Isabel may be able to help you with that." Elissa looked at Giulian and nodded. "Or news that they are safe and staying put." As they had agreed, Giulian continued on to the corner of Beaudry Street, made the turn, then reined his pair to a stop far enough down the street to be out of sight of the clinic. He scanned his surroundings carefully. Meanwhile, Martin asked Maple, "Where do you want to be left off, Madam Gallfrey?" Letting out a soft exhale, Maple looked up at Martin. "Once Miss Chatham is in place, we drive up to the front, carefully. Let's see what we can learn before going in." She gathered her skirts in preparation and fixed her eyes toward their objective. "Right you are, ma'am," agreed Martin. He turned his attention to Elissa, waiting to see what she would do. Decuma continued up Hill Street, leading Elissa's mare and then turned down a narrow alley, that few would have remarked on. He knew it would take him parallel to the course Giulian took, but would end almost directly across from the Women's Clinic. Decuma dismounted before he reached the end of the alleyway and tied the horses' reins loosely. He cautiously moved to the end of the alley where he could see the entrance to the clinic but could not be seen by a casual observer. On the other side of Hill Street was the entrance to the underground sewer system -- a back up get-away if one was needed. He prayed he would not have to use it. His quick observation revealed some men in uniform standing outside the entrance. They stood stiffly, and did not appear to be Aquila's City Guard. "Carlysle," he murmured, and loosened his sword silently. All he could do was wait now. As much as it irritated him, he knew it was up to the ladies. With a twist of her hand, Elissa collapsed the staff behind her back and slipped it into a special pocket in her cloak for a quick reach and release should she need it. Pushing back her hood and tossing her hair around her face, she reached in another pocket and found a bit of soot. She swiped that over her face and hands to appear she was in a fire. Another pocket revealed a white cloth with a deep red stain that she tied around her forearm. Another cloth went around her lower leg. Quickly setting up a limp and shuffle walk, she made her way out of the alley and headed towards the entrance. She slowed down as any commoner would upon seeing guards at the entrance to the clinic. She looked around as if hesitant to enter, but then shuffled slowly towards the stiff guards. "I need to go inside and see one of the doctors," she said in a low pain-filled voice as she shuffled closer. A hand went to the cloth on her arm. "One of the nurses will check you out," said the porter. "Just go along to the end of that corridor, and take the door on the right." Watching Elissa's ruse, Maple seemed impressed. She climbed out of the carriage and stood near Martin. It seemed she was giving directions from her gestures and glances, but that business was over quickly. "If anyone hassles you about staying here," she said, pointing further down the street, "move along to wherever you find is safe. So long as Lord Giulian is able to get Lord Harold and Lady Renata to safety, Miss Chatham and I can find our way to safety." "I'll be somewhere about, Madam Gallfrey," Martin assured her. Maple indicated a left turn with her hand. "Yes, she is a credit to her family... It looks like they will let her pass. I will follow in a moment." A twist of her head took in the reaction of the guards. The guards seemed to be talking together uneasily. They did not seem like a happy group of men. One breath... two breaths... once Elissa passed through the clinic doors, Maple allowed a brief gap before moving herself. She murmured to Martin, "I will see you soon," as she walked around the carriage toward the front of the clinic. With only a nod to the porter, the small woman in the dark dress approached the front doors. She offered no excuses or ailments but walked as if it was normal for her to be there. Although Maple couldn't be sure the porter recognized her as Doctor Gallfrey's mother, she did know that the right attitude could carry her past. Decuma watched from the shadows, ready to leap to Maple's aid if needed, but he prayed that the ruse would succeed. He hated sending women into such a dangerous situation, but it would have been foolhardy to rush in himself, not when he didn't know what was happening inside those walls, and who held power within. The Carlysle guards who were stationed outside were an indication, he grimaced. He surmised that they would probably have been given his description if not a holograph, given they were most likely offworlders. They would have been told to take him prisoner, at the very least. The old adage kept repeating in his head: 'Better to be safe than sorry'. So he waited, watched, and prayed. Around the corner on Beaudry Street, Giulian had not even the consolation of being able to watch the women's entry into the clinic. All he could do now was wait, and hold on to his trust in the people involved. They were all in this together ... and that, in itself, was a kind of consolation. The porter recognised Maple and gave a brief, affirmative nod of his head as she passed him. No-one would impede Dr Gallfrey's mother -- not if they wanted to avoid the young doctor's sharp tongue. |
