Love bites, love bleeds

This is the following evening. Sorry it’s shorter than most but I promise it gets going after this. Read and enjoy!

Chapter 8: Away
The plan was set: At midnight, Katrina and Michael would get into his carriage and ride away-ride back to Sleepy Hollow. As much as Katrina was hating the idea, she would have rather dealt with their problem away from the big city.
Night had fallen, Katrina had laced Ichabod’s soup with belladonna before retiring for the night. No sooner had Ichabod fallen fast asleep did Katrina slip away, going as softly as a mouse.
Michael himself had spent the day packing his own belongings, taking his most precious magic tricks. All day he had replayed the early morning’s events, over and over, like a man that reads the same love letter until it’s worn and falling apart.
He sighed. It was nearly eleven-Katrina would arrive soon. He had hired a man to drive his carriage, the man knew the way to Sleepy Hollow and back even in the worst weather. He was also skilled with horses and Michael needed that extra reassurance-especially now that Katrina… He sighed and shook his head.
At quarter to midnight, Katrina arrived, carrying a small bag with her most treasured items. Michael walked quickly towards her and took the bag from her. “Were you seen?”
She shook her head. “I was careful as could be.” Michael nodded and opened the carriage door, helping her into it as gently as he could. She eased herself into it, sitting in the middle. Michael turned to the driver.
“Sleepy hollow, straight a way.”
“Aye. Be there with two days.”
Michael nodded and slipped inside the carriage, sitting next to Katrina. The man cracked the reins and the carriage rumbled off into the late night. Katrina leaned against Michael, needing his touch more than warmth. He pulled her close, gently touching her hair. “I’m sorry, Michael.”
Michael gave her a curious look. “For what love?”
“Everything. If I wasn’t with child, you wouldn’t be leaving New York and you would still be able to do your acts and everything wouldn’t be a mess.”
Michael quietly shushed her. “None of that. Everything happens for a reason. And I’m not sorry for anything that has happened.”
As the carriage was going down the cobbled road, quiet as it could, a lone figure raced back to the house where Ichabod, Katrina and Masbath lived. He raced up-stairs, shaking the nearly unconscious Ichabod awake. “Ichabod! Ichabod! Wake up sir! Katrina has stolen away with a man!”
Ichabod bolted upright, nearly smacking his head on the low ceiling. “Masbath, whatever are you talking about?”
“Sir, in May, I followed Katrina. She would go to this house just outside the city. Sir, she was…intimate with this man.”
Ichabod couldn’t believe it. “When you say intimate…”
“About as intimate as two people can get. Sir, they’ve gone to Sleepy Hollow.”
Ichabod was stunned. “Masbath, how do you know?”
“I heard the man say it: Sleepy hollow, straight a way.”
“How long ago was this?”
The sun was just starting to touch the sky. “About midnight, sir.”
Ichabod quickly got out of bed. “Pack quickly, I want to leave promptly at six.”
Masbath seemed horrified. “But sir, surely you can’t mean…”
“Yes, I am afraid we must return to Sleepy Hollow.”
“Sir, I beg of you!”
Ichabod turned around, his face hard and filled with hate. “If you want to stay here, fine by me. I am going back for Katrina!”
“But sir…”
Ichabod raced outside, he needed a carriage-fast.