A pang struck her bosom. Leo was her last link to her best friend. In the final moments of her life, Audrey had begged Natalie to take the boy to his only remaining family in England. Natalie had agreed, even though everything in her had balked at the notion of making the long voyage to the country that she scorned. In the months since the death of his parents, Leo had become like a son to her. She dreaded to contemplate the inevitable moment when they would have to part forever. Since her own father was gone, Leo was all she had left in the world.

Yet she was bound by duty to give him up.

Swallowing hard, she arose and checked her watch again to see they had a mere half an hour to spare. She took Leo’s small hand in hers. “Come, we must hurry, for there isn’t much time until our departure.”

As they started at a quick pace back toward the village, Mr. Clayton fell into step alongside them. She stole a glance at his finely chiseled features and felt ashamed to have initially refused his assistance. But though she owed him thanks, the words of gratitude stuck in her throat. He was gazing straight ahead as if he’d forgotten their presence. There was nothing in his cool, closed demeanor that encouraged conversation.

She talked to Leo instead. “What were you were thinking? It’s a very long walk all the way to Southampton.”

“I wanted to go back to the ship,” he said rather dejectedly. “I liked it lots better there.”

“But you haven’t any money to pay for passage.”

“Oh, I could be a cabin boy for the cap’n. I’d fetch his tea and polish his boots.”

“I see,” she said, smothering a smile. “That’s very enterprising of you.”

“What’s enter … enterprising?”

“It means that you are strong and spirited and that you will grow up to become a very hardworking man someday.”

Leo pretended to sail his toy ship in the air. “I’m going to be a sea captain and own the fastest ship in the whole world! Ships are much nicer than being squashed into coaches.”

“Well, there won’t be much more traveling, anyway. If all goes well, we should reach our destination today.”

But all did not go well.

As they neared the outskirts of the village, the rumble of wheels and the pounding of hooves sounded behind them. Natalie drew Leo off to the side of the road, back onto the grassy verge, with Mr. Clayton joining them. Her gaze sharpened on the approaching vehicle.

Drawn by a team of four horses, the coach sped through the puddles in the road, sending out a spray of cold droplets as it barreled past them. But she scarcely noticed the mud that spattered her skirt. Her rounded eyes took in the distinctive maroon wheels and door, the curved body of the coach, and the guard in crimson greatcoat standing on duty at the rear.