They left at daybreak.

And with the help of two stable grooms, the travelers had a trio of swift horses at their disposal. They would ride to the crossroads and meet the private carriage Charles had rented to take them Portsmouth on the coast, and then board the channel ship to sail to Cherbourg, France.From there, a week's journey would bring them to the Italian countryside where they would continue in ease and safety to the countess' villa at Lago di Foschia near Florence. ...