Panic in the Meadow

[Clara Honeyfield]

Clara was raised to believe that there was some things ladies never--and she meant never--did. Today she was doing them all! Clara ran down the hall of the country house, and yelled for 'Mr Slade!', and ladies did not. She reached his office door, assumingly before he could, and burst in without knocking. And ladies did not. However, with the situation at hand, knocking wasn't her priority.

Stopping when she reaching, Clara took a quick deep breath. "She's gone!" She explained, her tone holding a sharp panic, fear, and a need for someone to do something. "She asked to go pick a few flowers from the garden, as we were making a basket for a gift, and I did not go with her. When she was gone for too long, I went looking . . . I cannot find her!"

Lina had gone to the garden alone before, despite her age. There were men there watching her! It was just outside the door to the kitchens and Clara had thought nothing of it! Now she feared her neglect had caused something to happen to the young girl.

Reuben Slade

[Reuben Slade]

Tag: Clara Honeyfield

what doesn't

KILL ME BETTER RUN

"She's gone."

The words made Slade's entire world stop. He was in his office working, when a frantic Clara had burst through the door. Ordinarily, he would not have been pleased for someone to just barge in, particularly in his area of business within the estate. But, ordinarily . . . Clara would never do such a thing. Her words upon her immediate entrance made Slade swear his heart stopped beating for a moment. The implications of the words and the panic with which she said them was made Slade feel something he seldom ever did: fear. Genuine, all consuming, overwhelming fear. He immediately rose to his feet, his eyes sharply fixated on Clara as she further explained. Had Slade been able to recognize his emotions right now, he would have been able to identify some relief in that she was not dead. But the fact of the matter was that she disappeared . . . and that she could be.

❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖

What if she was hurt? What if one of his enemies had taken her? What if a wild animal had attacked her? Slade did not even need to say anything for one of his trusted guards who had been with him, was already on it, giving out instruction for the others to start the search. But Slade was not going to remain idle. He felt his heart -- still beating -- pounding rapidly in his chest, the emotion causing a slight tremble, further evidenced in his expression, physical manifestations in his veins and the tightness in which he gripped the intricately crafted bird head of his cane. "How long?" He questioned as he made his way around his desk and towards the door, exiting it and expecting Clara to follow so that she would give him any further detail. Slade was going to look for his daughter and would tear the country apart in attempt to find her.

[Clara Honeyfield]

The last thing that Clara thought of right now was being fired. Though she knew it was coming. Right now she could only feel the fear that Lina was out there alone!--or worse . . . not alone. That someone had taken her.

"Maybe fifteen minutes?!" Clara told him, following in step with him even though she knew that she should be walking behind him. Right now all the rules are gone! There was only the fear that she was missing. "The garden was right out the door, and when she was gone for more than a moment I went looking for her. The garden was empty." And the fear began. "I looked all around the garden but there was no one there. So I ran to find you. I asked the kitchen help to begin looking around the grounds but . . . " But there were not many places Lina would go. 

She knew better. She was a well behaved her. Lina would not just walk off somewhere on her own. It did not make any sense. Yet would someone really dare to take her? Clara did not think so either. Clearly one had happened. Which was why Clara had not wasted time looking longer. She'd ran to him to sound the alarm. Ran to him for help.

Reuben Slade