Chapter 5

Central Market

Following their journey down the mountain, Anle and the Duke reached the bustling town below. 

The streets were filled with activity, reminiscent of the lively atmosphere in Kowloon. The sun beat down, intensifying the heat with each passing moment. Anle was grateful for her decision to switch to her hanfu, a more suitable attire for the warm weather. As they arrived at the heart of the marketplace, she observed the numerous people engaged in shopping and trade. Something about this place seemed oddly familiar to her, triggering a sense of déjà vu. The carriage slowed to a stop at the intersection of the bustling street. Lost in thought, the Duke stepped out of the carriage before Anle could even take notice, her gaze fixed on the lively scenes passing by outside her window. The cobblestone streets bustled with activity as tourists leisurely strolled along, enjoying the sights and sounds. Families wandered together, taking in the charming surroundings, while solo travellers wandered at their own pace. The laughter of children echoed through the streets, their jovial spirits filling the air with energy and joy as they ran around playing games and indulging in delicious treats from the local bakeries. 

"Ms. Green, are you coming?" There stood the Duke at the door of the carriage, extending his hand to help her out. She was so focused on what was happening outside that she hadn't noticed that His Grace was waiting for her to get off. 

"Oh, sorry," She replied, placing her hands gently on his. A small shiver filled her as they made contact. She felt butterflies in her stomach, as she climbed down, releasing his hand. Taking a deep breath, she follows the man as he makes his way around the crowd of people. 

 Anle had eagerly anticipated her visit to town with Brother Ye Hua, but unfortunately, he had urgent matters to attend to. Despite the passing of time, she still couldn't shake off the disbelief that he was alive. That feeling lingered within her, pointing towards his well-being, yet it had been more than a year without any communication from him. Anle had inquired about Ye Hua's unexpected employment under the Duke, learning that it was not part of his original plan.

Following the ambush, Ye Hua and the other survivors ventured south, seeking to reunite with Master Haoyu and their companions. Regrettably, a miscommunication led them to believe they had perished, prompting them to continue their journey without them. Ye Hua's recount of the events differed significantly from what Second Master had initially relayed to them. Master Haoyu's version painted a picture of Ye Hua and his senior brothers being taken hostage and forced to abandon their fellow students. However, Ye Hua's account revealed a fierce battle against an ambush, resulting in the loss of several students. The absence of any communication from the Second Master led Anle to suspect that something might have been amiss. The possibility of a setup crossed her mind, leaving her to wonder about the motive behind Second Master's alleged deception. The unanswered questions continued to swirl in her thoughts as she tried to make sense of the conflicting narratives.

They had been walking for a while and had conversed about various topics. One topic that kept them engaged was Anle's reason for being hired.

"Lately, I've been investigating recent incidents in Hong Kong," The Duke began. "There have been groups or possibly one group organizing crime and stealing Chinese merchandise to prevent exportation.

"Many of these cases have resulted in shopkeepers losing their lives because of these thugs' resistance towards the British's rule of the island."

"Where does that bring me to?" She inquired.

"Well, my hope is for you to investigate, as you speak their native language. I was also hoping if you had any information that could be useful to this case."

 Anle took a moment to consider the Duke's motives towards her. In Kowloon, she had heard talk of the Senior Brothers engaging in risky activities and their aversion to the island's colonization. According to her acquaintances, the natives on the island faced economic hardships and were subjected to mistreatment by Westerners. With fourteen years living among them, Anle comprehended the reasons behind the escalating tensions. She observed instances of bias by Westerners against the people of Hong Kong. While she couldn't fully grasp their emotions, she recognized the injustice of the situation. 

 Brother Ye Hua had warned her to exercise caution when interacting with the Duke, emphasizing the importance of being wary of his intentions. Despite her fondness for him, Ye Hua had expressed concerns about the Duke's possible ulterior motives. Being away in Macau for the past four months had allowed Ye Hua to observe the increasing levels of violence in the region, prompting him to delve deeper into the root cause of such unrest. He discovered that valuable products were being exported for exorbitant prices but sold at significantly lower rates to the local population, resulting in unjust treatment towards Chinese merchants who were taxed heavily on imports compared to exports. This economic disparity contributed to the escalating violence and discontent among the citizens of the Qing Empire. 

 Before Anle could respond, she was startled by the sound of horses neighing in the distance. As she turned around, she noticed a carriage being pulled by two horses charging towards her. She barely had time to react before His Grace swiftly pulled her towards him, his strong arm wrapping around her waist, bringing them close as the horses screeched to a halt, hooves kicking up dust and loud neighs filling the air. The onlookers gasped in shock at the sudden turn of events. 

 The Duke embraced Anle tightly, feeling her warmth against his chest as she listened to the reassuring rhythm of his heart beating steadily. The proximity of their bodies at that moment sparked a sense of intimacy and emotional connection between them. Anle was already feeling anxious, but the adrenaline rush heightened her awareness of the Duke's presence. However, she was still recovering from the shock of narrowly avoiding being hit by the horses.

Gently pulling her away and holding her shoulders, the Duke asked with concern, "Are you okay, Ms. Green?" His eyes, a mesmerizing shade of emerald, searched her face for any signs of injury, his worry evident in his expression. Anle, despite having experienced life-threatening situations before, was nonetheless shaken by the close call. 

She cleared her throat before responding, "I'm perfectly fine, Your Grace. There are no injuries to worry about." Gently guiding His Grace's hands away from her, she made sure she was out of harm's way. Just as she was about to move away, she felt a firm grip on her forearm. His Grace was holding on, his hands trembling slightly, as he let out a sigh of relief. Locking eyes with her, he spoke with concern, "You must be more cautious, Anle. Your safety is my responsibility, and if your mother were to find out about this incident…" He trailed off briefly before adding, "Just stick by my side." 

Assuring him with a nod, she was taken aback by the fact that he had addressed her by her name rather than her formal title, Ms. Green. However, her attention quickly shifted to the carriage that had suddenly come to a stop. Upon closer inspection, it appeared that the carriage had lost its rear left wheel, which now lay several meters behind them. 

 The driver and his assistant dismounted from the carriage, their presence drawing the attention of those nearby. The footman promptly swung open the carriage door, unveiling the occupants within. Among them was a lady adorned with intricate brown curls and gentle light-brown eyes, who proceeded to alight from the carriage with an expression of astonishment etched on her features. It was evident that she, like the others, had been deeply affected by what had transpired.

 The woman slowly made her way towards Anle and The Duke, her gaze fixed on the carriage the entire time. She clutched her chest, visibly shaking with fear and taking in slow, steady breaths to calm herself. Emergency responders had started to trickle in, grateful that no one appeared to be injured, though the passenger was clearly in a state of shock. The responders guided her away from the chaotic scene and engaged in conversations with the coachman to gather more information. 

Anle and The Duke remained rooted to their spots, quietly watching the unfolding events like the rest of the onlookers, until a coachman gestured towards them. It seemed likely that the authorities wished to speak with individuals who had narrowly escaped harm in the accident. Soon enough, the responders approached them, leading the distressed passenger over. The woman had pulled a handkerchief over her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. 

Finally reaching them, the officer says, "Good evening, Sir. Ma'am. The owner of the carriage would like to apologize for had conspired earlier."

The woman whose face was still buried in the handkerchief had approached them from behind the officer. Her gaze first met Anle's and her eye widened. She stood frozen as if she saw a ghost. 

"Is something wrong, Madame?" Anle inquired.

The woman hardly managed to form a sentence as she stammered her words. His Grace looked as bewildered as Anle did as she turned to face him. The officer quickly interrupted the conversation to excuse himself and lend a hand in fixing the carriage. With a sense of urgency, the carriage was carefully relocated to the side of the road, right next to a quaint café. Spectators gathered around to assist in the repair process, unbridling the horses to ensure their safety. 

"Josephine?" The woman had finally uttered her first word to them. Tuning to face the woman again, Anle was not expecting that to be her first words to her. "I can't help but notice the striking resemblance you bear to my husband's sister."

Anle gave her a small chuckle before giving the Duke an awkward stare. Positioning himself in a confident manner in front of her, His Grace takes the initiative to formally introduce himself to the woman.

"You must be of the Montague residence. Could Nolan Montague be your husband?" The Duke pondered.

With pure surprise, the woman responded with a smile fixated on His Grace and replied, "Yes, I am. Are you acquainted with my husband?"

"Far from it. I'm a close friend of the family," He chuckled. "Pleased to meet you, Ms. Montague. The name is Hugh Kingsley, Duke of Kennington."

"Pleasure is mine, Your Grace. Isabella Montague." The woman replied with a curtsy. "May I inquire as to the identity of the young lady accompanying you?"

"Ah, this is Anle Green, my dedicated secretary, whom I was pleasantly surprised to notice bears a striking resemblance to Josephine. It's quite uncanny, isn't it?"

Stepping aside, he motioned Anle to introduced herself. Bowing before the lady, Anle gave her a gentle smile. She still wasn't quite sure who this Josephine they spoke of. They were saying how she resembled this woman. Then again, it's not the first time someone had made comments of her appearance. Perhaps it's a bit of prejudice to think that she may have looked more like a Westerner than hoped. Although, something in the back of her mind was telling her that this Josephine is way more important than she let it be. Letting it not bother her, she continued listening to their conversation.

 The majority of their discussion revolved around the accident that had occurred and the deep shock that Ms. Montague had experienced. Fortunately, the servants were able to quickly put the wheel back on the carriage, and it only took about ten men to lift the carriage onto a block for support. While Anle observed the men working, she noticed Ms. Montague staring at her with a strong intensity. Anle couldn't help but feel the weight of the woman's gaze, suspecting that she may have wanted to express her apologies for the incident.

One of the His Graces servant man motioned for his attention, ushering him to the side. Excusing himself, he left Anle in the company of Ms. Montague. From that point forward, the air between them was filled with silence. It seemed like Ms. Montague really wanted to say something, as she was occupying herself with twiddling her thumbs. Anle had a better look at the woman now that they were alone. Her appearance definitely was different from the other Westerners she's come across to but perhaps a hit of something else. 

Finally, breaking the silence and out of curiosity, Anle asked, "Are you from England, Ms. Montague?"

Lifting her head up, her eyes gleamed as if hoping Anle would speak to her. She answered will a bit of joy in her tone, "No, I'm from the Americas. And if you must wonder, I am mixed race. It seemed as if you would ask."

Nodding, Anle continued, "You must've read through my mind. It's not everyday you meet someone of mixed race. Especially, in this society." 

"Very true. Although, thankfully, I married into the right family. They have been more than just accepting of me," Ms. Montague chuckled. She seemed very content of that matter compared to others in the region. 

 They carried on chatting casually about various subjects until Ms. Montague noticed the pendant dangling from Anle's neck. With a curious expression on her face, she complimented, "I must say, that pendant is absolutely stunning. Could you please share where you acquired it from?" 

 Looking at her chest, Anle responded, "I'm uncertain. My mother mentioned that when she adopted me, the pendant was hanging around my neck. It probably originated from my biological family." Flipping the pendant around to show her initials and middle name, Ambrosia, she added, "It has my first and last initials engraved on it along with a middle name that corresponds to the flower on the opposite side." 

"It looks oddly familiar to something I've encountered before. Have you considered looking into the whereabouts of your biological relatives?"

 With a smile on her face, Anle turned her gaze towards Ms. Montague, who seemed deeply engrossed in examining the pendant. She acknowledged the older woman with a nod, expressing a sense of hope for their paths to cross once more in the future. 

 After a short while, Ms. Montague received word from her household staff that the carriage had been fully repaired and was once again in good working condition. She entrusted them with the task of overseeing the carriage while she and her companion, Anle, decided to take a leisurely walk through the bustling market. With the Duke still absent, Anle opted to explore the market alongside her newly acquainted friend.

 During their journey, a new companion named Lady Farah had joined Anle and Ms. Montague. Lady Farah was considerably older than both Anle and Ms. Montague, being about twelve years Anle's senior. Despite the age difference, Lady Farah had a wealth of life experience and wisdom that Anle found fascinating. Both Ms. Montague and Lady Farah were engaging conversationalists, and Anle found herself enjoying their company immensely.

These two women became Anle's first real friends outside of Kowloon, which brought her a great deal of joy and companionship. Anle hadn't realized until then that Li Li was her only female friend, and she had not had the opportunity to interact with Western women before. This new friendship with Ms. Montague and Lady Farah opened up a whole new world of possibilities for Anle, sparking her curiosity and interest in different cultures and experiences. The journey to the island was just the beginning of what Anle hoped would be many more enriching experiences with her newfound friends.