“Make her stop!” Henrietta hissed, turning angry eyes to the maid who nodded to the instruction and began trying to ease Ellie's cries; a useless effort. “If this is your idea of trying to escape, you have failed, Lady Williams. Ethan shall return from court to find your letter, leading him to not only despise you, but to begin his search for his daughter. I shall offer to help and shall, after a few weeks, claim to have found you and Ellie through my contacts, hiding somewhere in the city with two tickets to America.” Lady Hall smiled at her own idea. “Of course you'll just be locked up in one of my manors but Ethan's not going to know that. To him, I'll be the hero who brought his child back. And you,” She leaned forward. “You, Gretchen, will be the lying, conniving, kidnapping, American. It shall be your word against mine.” She sighed, “while I doubt Ethan would be willing to press charges for kidnapping, the important thing is, I shall be rid of you and Ethan shall be so heartbroken, he'll need my love and care and in only a few months, we shall be married!”

Gretchen felt sick to her stomach at Henrietta's announcement and while she hated to admit it, it was a plan that most likely was going to work. Only, Henrietta didn't know Ethan was already on his way back to the manor. Surely, he knew something was wrong. Gretchen desperately hoped that he did. She hoped that he'd know she would never leave him and that she'd never try to hurt him. She loved him desperately!

As Gretchen sat in the carriage, she suddenly wished she had made known to Ethan just how much she loved him. She wished she had told him she'd never leave him.

“Mama!” Ellie yelled, fighting the hands of the maid who held her captive. “No!” The child shook her head.

Gretchen forced a smile. “Hello Ellie,” she leaned forward and touched Ellie's chin. “Mama's here.” She said, trying to ease the child's fears. For Ellie's sake, she herself wasn't allowed to be afraid. “Did you have a good nap?” Ellie shook her head, stretching out her arms to Gretchen. “No sweetheart, not now.” Gretchen's announcement brought fresh tears to the child's eyes once more. “Henrietta, please.” She said, turning pleading eyes to Henrietta who shook her head.

“You might as well get used to being apart from the child because you two will be separated forever.”

Horrified, she leaned back against her seat, fighting the urge to give in to her tears as she listened to Ellie cry across from her.

A loud sound tore through the air, jolting her upright as she let out a cry in shock.

Confused, her eyes traveled the faces of the people in the carriage, all of whom appeared to be as terrified as she was, especially Ellie who had managed to throw herself over the arms of the maid in a desperate attempt to reach Gretchen.