Free Desperately Seeking Suzanna by Elizabeth Michels

before her as she paused beside it, preparing to jump for the boot on the rear of the conveyance and her only hope at life.
    “There she is, Doc!”
    “Seize her!”
    She lifted her arms toward the carriage in preparation to pull herself to the perch on the back as she’d seen young grooms do in her youth.
    “No, Henrietta! You can’t leave.”
    She reached for the rear of the vehicle, slipping on the mud in the street but straining to hold on to the freedom so close to her grasp. Her age-worn fingers wrapped around the spring iron as she braced her upper body on the boot. A grin covered her face as she lifted her feet and clung to the carriage. She was free.
    “You’re sick! You endanger yourself with this!”
    Henrietta glanced back at the doctor and guard, now standing in the middle of the street and shrinking smaller and smaller into the distance. She’d done it. After all these years, she was leaving. She didn’t know where this coach was traveling, but wherever it was it had to be closer to her son than she’d been while residing within the walls of the asylum.
    The memory of her son’s face was imprinted on her heart. He was her first thought every morning and her last thought every night. And now she could be with him forever, just the two of them…as things were meant to be. Holden would be so pleased.

Five
    Sue’s mother climbed into the coach opposite Sue and Evangeline and sat down with a huff that shook the whole conveyance. Her eyes were fixed on Evangeline as she spoke. “Can you imagine? Packing your peach silk gown in with Sue’s things? The nerve of that maid!” She thumped the ornamental cane in her hand on the floor one time for emphasis. “You would have been a wrinkled mess if I hadn’t stopped her. Mark my words, she’ll think twice before laying a finger on your finery again, Evangeline. You can rest assured of that fact.”
    Poor Mary. The Fairlyns had done their best in offering the Greens the use of one of their upstairs maids for their stay. However, that wasn’t enough for Mother. She’d insulted the poor woman throughout their entire visit. Mary was most likely breathing a large sigh of relief now that they were rolling down the drive toward London. Still, Sue felt she should at least try to put things right for the maid. She didn’t want anyone losing their employment because of her mother’s ridiculous demands.
    “Mother, my trunk was mostly empty. I was the one who offered the space to Mary. She was upset that all of Evangeline’s gowns wouldn’t fit in the trunks for us to travel. I hope you weren’t too hard on her. She was only trying to help.”
    “I don’t want Evangeline’s gowns packed with yours.” Her mother recoiled, the feathers on her hat twitching with her outrage. “Your things are always covered in paint and dirt from some field. This is your sister’s come-out season. All must be perfect. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
    “Of course it does. I want Evangeline to find happiness in life.”
    “Thank you, Sue,” Evangeline offered while studying her gloved hands folded in her lap.
    “Neatly pressed, clean gowns will bring Evangeline happiness. Isn’t that right, darling?”
    “Yes, Mother.” But the sentiment didn’t quite ring true in Evangeline’s eyes. Sadness rimmed the pools of crystal blue. Evangeline had avoided Sue ever since her betrayal last week. Sue took hope for her sister’s future that somewhere deep inside, Evangeline seemed to feel some nagging sense of regret over telling their mother about Suzanna and sealing Sue’s doom for the remainder of her life.
    Mother didn’t seem to notice the change in Evangeline, though. She was too focused on ball gowns and planning what lord she could lure into the family. “Once we arrive in town, our schedules will be quite full. Sue, there will be no time for your silliness with those drawings of yours. I can’t have you seen about town with smudges of this and that on your