Belle, on the other hand, could hardly believe her misfortune.
There were no coaches on the street. None at all, neither the public rides nor those belonging to nobles. The night street was eerily deserted, not a single soul in sight. And to make matters worse, the sky had darkened, heavy with the promise of rain.
She needed to find shelter before the downpour began. She couldn't be caught in it, not in her condition.
She didn't know how far she had come from the house. She hadn't once turned around to check. She just kept moving, pushing herself far beyond her limits.
The night was silent, with only the faint chirping of unseen crickets and the distant barking of a dog echoing through the emptiness.
It was only when she was on the verge of crumbling under the weight of dismay and exhaustion that she heard it, the distant gallop of horses and the creaking of a carriage wheels.
