Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

T he following morning, Olivia was in a hurry to leave Frontershire Manor, so she woke with the dawn, summoned her lady's maid, and was ready to clamber into the carriage just as the first strains of early morning sunlight were coating the dew-covered grass on the front lawn.

As she accepted a footman's hand and moved daintily onto the step, she turned quickly and cast one more look at the manor house behind her. Her eyes drifted toward the set of windows that she knew belonged to John, and for a moment, she imagined him standing there, waving to her, beckoning her to wait for him. But when she shook her head, the mirage disappeared, and all she saw was the way the curtains fell heavily across the windowpanes, blocking all sunlight and outside activities from reaching his notice.

He may not even know that I am gone. He may think I will break my fast first or he might…

But Olivia stopped herself short. She did not wish to think of John anymore at present. She had spent all night praying that he would open the door to her bedchamber, step inside the room, and apologize for his ill-manners, but her hopes were futile. John was set in his ways, and just as he had taken pains to remind her of yesterday, she was but another guest in his house. She was Lady Frontershire in name, and someday, God willing, she would be the mother of his children. But she was not now, nor would she ever be, his lady love…and that was all there was left to say on the subject.

She hurried into the carriage then, and once she was alone, she stared around the empty coach. Again, she was reminded how she had once yearned for peace and quietude but now found the silence oppressive.

Leaning forward, Olivia flicked aside the curtain that would give her access to the driver and said, "Hello there! Is my lady's maid with you? Is Miss Bearington riding in the front seat?"

"No, my lady," the driver returned. "As you requested previously, she is following along behind with your belongings in a second coach."

"Right," Olivia grumbled. "I forgot."

Typically, staying a fortnight with a friend or relative was not cause to pack so extravagantly, but in her fit of annoyance last night, Olivia had collected nearly all her possessions and stuffed them into trunks of varying sizes. When the footmen had come to collect her travel essentials, she was told it would be impossible to tuck so many cases and trunks into one simple carriage, so she had told the men to find a way to make it work…and apparently, they had.

Will John be agitated because I have taken two of his carriages? Will he insist that I send one home promptly, so he may use it at his leisure?

Olivia laughed snidely as she settled back into her seat.

Let him express his displeasure with me as loudly as he likes. No one will be left at the manor to hear him.

Even as the thought occurred to her, she knew she was wrong. The servants, most of them, would remain. And Frederick was likely to stay on as well, unless a more exciting venture tempted him to stray elsewhere.

Thinking of John sitting all alone at home, cursing her for being so extravagant, did not bring Olivia even the modicum of satisfaction she hoped it might. Despite everything, she wanted her husband to be by her side, riding along in the carriage, perhaps laying his hand on her knee and naughtily tickling her inner thigh.

As the carriage began rocking and swaying and a cloud of dust rose when the wheels started to roll, Olivia twitched aside the curtain on her left and cast one more dismal look at Frontershire Manor.

Be well in my absence, John.

It was the warmest wish she could send his way without dissolving into tears.

The carriage trundled along for hours, and eventually, perhaps because she had not slept much the night before, Olivia finally tipped her head to the side and fell asleep. She did not dream, thankfully, but when she woke up, it was with a start because her head was banging continuously off the side of the carriage walls.

"Driver," she barked while rubbing her temple. Feeling surly and sullen, she righted the hat atop her head and then leaned forward to see why he was driving so terribly.

But as soon as she moved aside the partition, she got her answers. A spray of rain droplets pelted her in the face, and Olivia backed away from the elements at once.

What is happening out there?

She had not heard it when the rain started falling, nor did she notice the darkening of the summer sky. But now that she was paying attention, it made sense that the carriage was rocking to and fro, bobbing along as they made their way over what was surely a muddy pathway.

"Driver!" Olivia shouted once more, this time preparing herself for the rain that was to come before leaning forward and moving the curtain.

"Yes, my lady?" He bellowed.

"Should we perhaps pull over? Is there not an inn along the way that can provide us some shelter?"

"Best to keep going," he returned.

The rain flew at her incessantly, stinging her face and making her wonder how the driver was able to focus on the road or even see what lay ahead.

"Why?" she demanded.

"Lord Frontershire always says that perseverance is the key. Once we get through the worst of this storm, the sunlight will greet us again, and we will be much better for it."

Olivia took a moment to absorb his words. He said they were uttered by John, but she could not imagine him saying something so…so chipper and bright. She giggled when she realized it was the sort of thing that he or Viscount Newley might say in jest…laced with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

Happy to think of him in such a manner, Olivia made to settle back into her seat, but the carriage jerked so violently that she nearly toppled to the floor.

"Driver!" she yelped as she lunged forward and grabbed at the curtains. "What is going on out there now?"

Evidently, he was unable to make out her question because his response did not relay the information she required. "If you insist I pull the carriage to the side of the road, my lady, I'll do it, but if I am not mistaken, we are but a half mile from Dewsbury Manor." There was a lengthy pause before the man added, "Should I proceed, my lady?"

"I do not know," Olivia whispered more to herself than anyone else.

All her young life, her father had dictated where they would go and how long they would stay in the carriage. After his passing, she and her mama rarely left their home. If friends wanted to visit, they were welcome to come to Tottingham Manor. Save the one time Olivia had gone to see Rose and Benedict previously, that first occasion when she initially met and argued with Lord Frontershire, she had been confined to her simple, country lifestyle, and so she knew not what to do at present.

"Oh, I do wish John was here," she murmured.

"As do I, my lady."

Olivia was surprised. She did not realize she had spoken her thoughts so loudly or clearly, but the fact that the driver had been able to make out her sentiments through all this pounding rain meant she must have screamed her words in a frustrated manner.

Taking several deep calming breaths, Olivia wiped the rain droplets from her cheeks then leaned forward once more and directed the driver intentionally.

"Drive on," she commanded. "We will be well tended once we reach Dewsbury Manor, and I am sure…"

But she never got the chance to finish her claim. For just as the words left her mouth, the carriage lurched hard to the left.

"Good God!" Olivia cried.

"Branch!" the driver shouted simultaneously.

She was able to discern his meaning perfectly, but it did her little good knowing the hazards that impeded their path. For as the driver yelled out, alerting her, the horses, and perhaps even himself to the branch that was sticking up in the middle of the road, the carriage wheels rolled right over it.

The sturdy craftsmanship of the wheels was no match for the branch that was enormous, and when it lodged in the spokes and whirled round, it took very little for the wheel to break and send the carriage hurtling toward the ground.

Olivia held tightly to the curtain that separated her from the driver, bracing for the inevitable, awful impact, but as a scream tore from her mouth, signifying her terror, the carriage fell on its side, and she toppled with it.

The last thing Olivia remembered was squeezing her eyes shut and praying they would not collide with the tree that had delivered the branch into their pathway. But then, her head knocked against the wall, and she lost consciousness.