There was silence in the carriage, the atmosphere filled with anxiety. Lynn's eyes were focused on Theo, her fingers clenched on the fabric of his suit jacket, as if holding on to her last hope. The man was outside, looking for her.
Theo showed no emotion on his face while Lynn felt her heart pounding hard in her chest. Her eyes pleaded, but no words came out. She didn't want to look any weaker than she already felt.
Theo let out a deep sigh. He turned his gaze to the window and said with absolute calm, "Evans, get out and send him away."
Evans needed no further explanation. He stepped out of the carriage and, with his characteristic politeness and sternness, approached the man.
"What's all the fuss about? What's the matter?"
The man looked at him as if observing him intently and then smiled.
"Nothing at all! I'm just looking for my daughter. She keeps running away from home," he said making a slight bow, "Perhaps I could look inside the carriage?"
Evans panicked. Inside the wagon was Lynn and there was no hiding if the man went inside, he would surely find her.
"Unfortunately, I can't let you enter. In the carriage inside is a powerful noble man," he said, keeping his composure.
The man, however, would not listen and walked past him and approached the door. He was about to open it when Evans tried to stop him, grabbing his hand. Then the man got angry and pushed him so hard that he fell to the ground in the mud.
Without hesitation, the man opened the carriage door and found Theo sitting alone with his arms and legs crossed, staring at him expressionlessly.
"Are you looking for something, sir?" he asked him in a serious tone.
The man looked at Theo, then looked around and, muttering something that sounded like curses, turned and walked away. Then Evans, who had managed to get up from the mud and who had been waiting for the man to have found Lynn, got into the wagon.
"What happened? Where is Miss Lynn?" he asked Theo.
"What happened to you, Evans?" replied the latter, trying in vain to hide his laughter.
Evans looked at him gravely, with the words, "I'm done!" written on his face. Theo realized that his secretary couldn't take another joke, but before he could answer him, inside the carriage, the seats opened and out popped Lynn.
"Is he gone?" she said, looking around.
Her hair was a mess. The dust and small pieces of cloth that had stuck to her made her look like someone who had escaped from a circus.
Evans, still covered in mud, looked at her in confusion.
"Where... How... What the hell are you doing under the seat?"
Lynn flicked her hair back and sat comfortably in the seat as if nothing had happened.
"I told her to get in there," Theo said, "It was the only way she could hide."
Evans rubbed his forehead trying to process the situation, leaving a muddy line. Theo looked at him and tried to stifle his laughter.
"I can't go on like this..." he muttered.
He went to get into the carriage but Theo stopped him.
"You don't want to get in like that, do you?" He said to him.
Evans sighed, closed the wagon door and went and sat down next to the driver.
It was already dark, and the wagon started on its way home. Lynn and Theo were left alone and no one was talking. The atmosphere was very awkward with what had happened earlier and neither of them knew what to say or talk about.
"Thankfully it all ended well! Although I wouldn't want you to see me like this. You know, it's just as awkward for me," Lynn finally said.
"Really, Miss Lynn? Why does this whole situation seem more like a routine to you than an incident?" said Theo, looking at her incredulously.
"Life isn't easy for anyone I guess."
Theo was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on her. Lynn tried to straighten her messy hair, but to no avail. There was dust everywhere and her dress was torn on the side. She looked at him and smiled.
"You know, you're nicer than you look."
Theo turned his head and looked at her seriously with eyes full of wonder.
"I mean... you could have easily thrown me out of the carriage or handed me over to that man. But you didn't.
That shows you have a good heart, deep down," she continued.
Theo was silent for a moment, his gaze frozen on her.
"I didn't do it for you. You are now part of my plan."
"Oh, okay then. Professional relationship pure and simple." Lynn said, trying to hide her disappointment.
"Exactly. And just to be clear: we're not friends. You're nothing more than a tool to achieve my goal," Theo said turning his gaze back to the window.
This time Lynn didn't smile. She looked at her hands for a moment and then out the window.
"I see. I'll try not to disappoint you, then," her voice was low, without her usual enthusiasm.
Theo turned momentarily to look at her, noting her melancholy expression. But he quickly turned his head back to the window, saying nothing.
They finally arrived at the mansion, and Theo ordered Evans to lead Lynn to the rooms used by the maids.
"You will stay in the servants' quarters for now. Tomorrow morning, at breakfast, I will speak with my parents and bring you to meet them," he told her and left.
Lynn followed Evans anxiously. Tomorrow was going to be a very difficult day for the three of them.
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