//CLARA//
I woke to the sound of paper sliding under my door.
I was on my feet before I was fully awake, crossing the room in three strides. A folded note lay on the carpet with a wax seal I recognized instantly.
Meet me at the workshop. The address is below. There's something I want to show you. — O
I stared at it for a long moment, a smile tugging at my lips despite everything. Oliver wasn't giving up. Neither was I.
I tucked the note into my sleeve and started planning my escape.
Getting out of the manor unnoticed required strategy. Aunt Cornelia had eyes everywhere, and after yesterday, she was watching me like a hawk watches a particularly troublesome mouse.
I waited until the old spider was safely occupied with her afternoon calls. Something about whose daughter eloped with a footman and whether the family would ever recover. Some spoiler, they would not. The moment her voice hit that particular shrill pitch that meant she'd be at least forty-five minutes, I moved.
