The Reluctant Heiress

The Escape

I fled through the halls like I had the hounds of hell nipping at my shadow, growling and desperate to sink their ghostly fangs into my flesh. With no idea of where I needed to go, I turned up the first staircase that I came across, taking them two at a time. Until my heel caught the edge of the runner.

Hot pain lanced through my chin and knees, a white starburst of agony that danced on the back of my lids and left me limp as a ragdoll. ‘Pathetic,’ I could imagine Eloise sneering at me whilst Ari laughed. Panting into the curve of a stair, I shuddered around a single dry sob. Waiting for the inevitable footsteps to come up behind me.

“Why?” I asked in a sore whisper. As if the carpet somehow had the answer hidden away amongst its fibres. Why me?

The dull throb in my chin reminded me that now wasn’t the time for self-pity. My father might send someone to check on me at any moment. If I didn’t go now, I might never get another chance.

Toeing off the one heel that had survived the fall, I forced myself up the stairwell. Limping and barefoot all the while.

I finally found my room after opening several doors in the landing. Relief whooshed out of me to see it empty and dark. But somebody had been here. My clothes from earlier where nowhere to be seen. Probably to be set fire to if Eloise had her way. Or maybe to be washed if I was lucky- no, not lucky. I wouldn’t be here to get them back.

I’d need to mourn for my leather jacket later.

Tearing through my rucksack, I pulled out the second set of jeans I’d brought and tugged them on under my dress. I could only hope that layers would keep me warm throughout the night. I flung an old flannel over top too. Without my jacket, I’d need all the help I could get.

Without a thought for what I was doing, I raided the closet. Hell, I tore it apart. I picked out the thickest jacket – a grey peacoat with matching gloves - and shrugged it on. It was only when I couldn’t find a decent pair of shoes that I dared to hesitate.

What on Earth was I doing. Running away, was that it? I had no money, no idea where I was. I didn’t even know where the nearest town was for Christ’s sake. Was there even a town nearby?

I could be out there for days…

I suddenly wished I’d paid more attention to the drive over.

The money was easily solved though. Chewing my lip, I looked over the jewellery and watches. I could take a few, no one would miss them. They might not even notice they were gone. Plus, they were light and small enough to fit in a pocket. And I could pawn them off somewhere to buy a train ticket or for a place to stay for a few nights.

It wouldn’t hurt anyone, right? What was the loss of a few plainer pieces amongst a sea of glittering jewels?

‘What about thief instead?’

I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t prove them right. The clothes I needed for basic survival but the rest…I couldn’t justify that to myself. I wouldn’t be able to live with it.

The coat alone was nice enough that I could sell it later. All I needed was a bus ticket and a big enough town where I could find a job and disappear.

I snuck out onto the balcony and peeked over the railing. It was no good though. I was only one storey up but it was too high of a jump and with all that gravel… I’d break my ankle trying, if not my neck.

Biting my lip, I tried not to stall. I rocked back and forth on my heels. Now what? I glanced between my bed and the thick pillars of the balcony. Would it hold, if it worked at all? Or was that something people only did in the movies?

Did I have a choice?

A flash of green caught my attention as I turned to head inside and tear apart my bedsheets. It was dark but my heart fluttered in my chest, ten times lighter. Was that Ivy growing up the side of the balcony two rooms down, the same as the entrance, or was it a trellis?

I could only hope it was the latter. At least I already knew the door was unlocked.

Creeping into the hall like a rat, I edged my way towards the room. My eyes and ears strained, knowing that the staff could literally be in the walls.

The room’s layout was identical to mine, just with darker colours. I tried the French doors leading outside but they only rattled. Scraping my hand through my hair, I took to rifling through every drawer in the room. Even if it hadn’t been pitch black it would still have been a waste of time, the key was nowhere to be found.

“Have you seen the new girl?” A whisper. Just outside of the door.

I froze, elbow deep in my rucksack as I searched for a hairpin and Johnathon’s old credit card. The one I’d promised to cut up when it expired.

“No, not yet. What’s she like?” Another voice – female this time – asked. The knob rattled and the door creaked. Someone was leaning against it. “I heard from Rainier that she’s a commoner.”

As if that was the worst thing a person could be. Slowing my breath, I shuffled over to the bed. There was enough space below that I could slide under it if need be. Did the staff clean under there…?

“Wait? You’ve been talking to Rainier?” The man grumbled, clearly exasperated. “I thought we talked about this?”

Just what I needed, a lover’s tiff. Right outside the damned door.

The knob jangled again, feet shuffling on the carpet. “Really, Scott? This again? I don’t know how many times I have to say it but he’s just a friend.” Her voice lowered to rough silk in the dark, her tone suggestive. “Don’t ruin this. You know how rarely we get to be alone…”

Wait- Did that mean they were coming in here to…? s**t. Shitting s**t.

“Friends don’t look at each other the way…”

Despite their increasing volume, the voices disappeared back down the hall on the beat of hurried, angry footsteps.

Only when it was totally silent once more did I dare to breathe. Sagging against the bedframe, I exhaled a lungful of fear that left my limbs jittery and wired. I was lucky that I didn’t need the pin since my hands were so shaky and sweaty. The card was enough to force the lock aside.

Cool air greeted me, sweet with the welcoming scent of the night as I crawled onto the balcony. I almost cried at the sight of the trellis, thick with tangling Ivy. It was bolted to the side of the building and more than secure enough to hold my weight.

It was just like climbing the drainpipe outside my bedroom at home.

There was no way to avoid the gravel at the bottom, unfortunately. It crackled underfoot, shifting as I made a dive for the grass.

Around the back of the house, it was a straight shot across the wide-open lawn to the forest. I was so close…It was my best hope for escape but I’d be lying if I said that the sight of the tall, close pines didn’t stir something within me; the primal part of my brain that was rightfully still scared of the dark. Anything could be lurking between those trunks, swathed in shadow and waiting for the right moment.

A man’s voice cut through the night. “There’s nothin’ but forest for miles that way.”