Chapter 23

Agnes couldn't put up with her right now.

Her mind couldn't detach from all that had happened. She couldn't just sit and watch without doing anything, not even an effort, something.

Anything that would help her find out what happened to Adela.

Suddenly occurred to her that she might catch up with them. She knew she couldn't bring them back by force, but she had to uncover what had happened.

Suddenly Agnes turned her back on Sophie and started running towards the orchard where the worker had told her that Stefan and Francesca had left.

"Where are you going? Come back here," Sophie chuckled behind her, hitting her foot on the ground.

Agnes ignored her and kept running. She reached the orchard and began looking for where the fugitives might have gone.

Her eyes searched until she saw the opening in the broken fence. She ran there and came out of the fence.

The freshly stamped on grass guided her, and she went to the right, following the path created by the foot-pressed grass.

At first, she walked fast, but she started running in despair to overtake them after not seeing anyone in front.

She ran until she began to feel her legs tremble from overexertion, and her every breath burned her chest. The path that followed had come to an end, and from there, a dirt road continued.

She carried on with her march, and, at the same time, she was searching at the surrounding area. But she didn't see them anywhere.

The townhouses were not far away until her gaze caught two people turning on the street carrying something with them.

Agnes' hopes were raised, and she began to run with all her strength left. She was walking without knowing where she was going.

"Hey, you! Wait! Stefan, wait! "She shouted with all her strength coming from her lungs, but they didn't stop.

"I want to make you only a question, Stefan! Wait! Please!"

But they ignored her pleas. Agnes didn't see them anywhere and realized in disappointment that all this chasing wouldn't get anywhere.

If they wanted, they would stop when she called them if they were them.

She had no more endurance to run. She had no more courage left.

Her legs were shaking from the effort. Her heart was pounding, and she was out of breath. She decided to return home.

She had to sit somewhere; otherwise, she would fall to the ground. On the first cobbled path she found, she sat down to catch her breath.

Her frustration was incredible. She buried her head in her palms and started crying.

All her hopes were lost in finding a way to help Adela.

When her breathing returned to normal, she felt strong enough to return home.

Following the same path, she entered the orchard with the broken fence from the spot.

She inspected her clothes and cleaned them, patting with her hands where needed from the dust and dirt they had collected. Her ankle boots would also need an intense cleaning from all this dirt.

She dusted her clothes and, at the same time, walked to the yard to go home. When she finished and raised her head, she saw Sophie waiting for her, sitting on a stone, who as soon as she saw Agnes, she got up and took a few steps towards her.

"Where did you go?" Sophie asked her sharply. "You thought you would get away with it, right?" she asked her again, but somewhat ironically this time.

Sophie's provocative tone made Agnes's nostrils flare. "Either tell me what you want or get out of my way," she shouted.

"Okay, okay I'll tell you. I didn't want to say anything before because I respected the situation that prevailed." She paused and took a deep breath before continuing.

"The clothes that Adela wore are mine. I recognized them. If you dare deny it." The volume of her voice began to rise. Her face had taken on a rose hue.

Agnes looked at her in surprise. "No, I don't deny it. But are you also thinking about clothes after all this? Adela is in this situation and the only you care about is the clothes? You have no feelings at all? "She shouted at her angrily.

Sophie raised her chin. "You have nothing to do all day and you found a toy with my clothes? I don't care what happened to the richly spoiled snooty. She would be fine. Now everyone will on her by side watching her and pampering her day and night. She deserved what she suffered. By what right did you take my clothes? Why?" she spoke intensely, with her face becoming redder at every passing moment.

"That's why!" Agnes answered, slapping her hard. It was so loud that Sophie's head turned to the side.

"Aaaaaaa!" Sophie screamed and rushed at her with rage. Yet, Agnes didn't remain inactive; She grabbed Sophie's hair and pulled them hard.

"Ouch!" Sophie chuckled.

"I would return your clothes," Agnes told her, sighing heavily.

"Yes, right, you think I will believe you? You petty thief!" She shouted, throwing Agnes on the ground and towered on her. Agnes resisted vigorously, and the two girls began to roll on the ground.

Mrs. Nina, who was in the kitchen, heard their voices and immediately ran outside to see what was happening. As if she saw them fighting, she ran to them.

"Stop," she commanded them, upset but nothing. The girls continued their quarrel fearlessly.

"STOP" she yelled at them, but nothing again. The quarrel continued with undiminished intensity, and a cloud of dust had risen.

Mrs. Nina started coughing. She had also started to get angry with the two girl's exploits. Her anger had given her the strength to get closer to them. She leaned over their heads and rummaging found their ears and gripped them.

"Aaaaa" was heard from the girls in pain, giving up from their fight. Their attention was now focused on the solid ear pain.

"Ouch!" the two girls cried.

"Are you calm now?" Mrs. Nina said and looked at them with a wild look.

"Y..yes."

"Tell me what is happening. What happened to you?"

"Give us our ears back and we'll tell you," Sophie ensured her.

"I am not going to let go at any ear. Well, I'm listening. Sophie, you speak first."

"She stole my clothes and gave them to Adela to wear."

Mrs. Nina laughed. "Yeah, right. A noblewoman doesn't need your clothes. "You are a liar," Mrs. Nina accused her.

"No, Mistress Nina. She is telling the with her hands e truth. But I didn't steal them. I took them secretly and without asking her. But I swear I would give it back to her today," she defended herself.

"Yes, right." Sophie said, ironically infuriating Agnew. "Yes, right the same to you!" she shouted at her and spread her hand to reach her. Sophie tried to get her with her foot to kick her, yet Mrs. Nina kept them even further away and always held them by ear. "Quiet!" she snapped and tightened the grip on their ears even more. The girls groaned and calmed down.

"Oh, how it hurts," Sophie protested.

"This way you will think twice the next time before you start fight again like two street urchins. She said she would return the clothes and she will. Right, Agnes? "

"But of course."

"I want them today. Now!"

"Oh, why such a rash? When they take them off of Adela she will give them to you. After all, you are not naked. You do have clothes to wear."

"Okay, okay," Sophie said, defeated.

"I will wash them too," Agnes told her.

"No, no! You don't have to do that. I will wash them myself. I don't trust you!"

"We are not all grouch like you," Mrs. Nina said, twisting her ear so hard that made her squeak loudly and then let it go.

"You can leave first." Mrs. Nina told her.

"Get lost, old witch!" Sophie shouted at Mrs. Nina and ran into the house.

"Oh! Little slut!" said the cook under her breath, watching her leave.

"You can leave now too Agnes, and I am not going to ask you why Adela wore Sophie's clothes because it is not of my business." she told Agnes, letting go of her ear.

"Ah, thank you," she said, rubbing her aching ear. "I'm going to see how Adela is doing."

"Please let me know. I am worried for her." Mistress Nina requested.

"Okay, I will, don't worry.", Agnes replied and left.