Page 48 of A Momentary Marriage

“Oh, very well,” Laura said in exasperation, taking his arm and propelling him toward the bed. He went easily enough, and it seemed to Laura that his walk was already a little steadier, his color better. No doubt winning an argument raised his spirits. “But what if something happens to you while I’m gone?”

“Dem is ample protection. Owen can sit in here if it eases your mind. You’ve left me in his hands a few times.”

He was right, she knew. A change of scenery would do her good. And, little as the prospect of dining with his relatives pleased her, she might be able to learn something useful. So once James was settled and had taken his medicine, she left him in the care of Owen and Demosthenes and made her way downstairs to the dining room. It was late enough that Tessa and the other ladies of the household were there, along with Walter and Tessa’s admirer, Mr. Netherly.

Laura greeted the women, ignoring the glare Patricia sent her. At least Archie Salstone was missing, for which Laura was grateful. She gave them all a polite smile, reminding herself that she must treat them as she would have a week ago, as if she hadn’t discovered that someone wanted to kill James. “Walter. How are you? Mr. Netherly. I hope you are doing well. I didn’t realize you were still here.” She did not add that a man of any sensitivity would have left days ago.

Netherly turned soulful brown eyes on her. “I could not leave Lady de Vere to bear this alone.”

“Of course.”

“How is dear James this morning?” Adelaide asked. “We are all so worried about him.”

“Much the same,” Laura answered vaguely. Anything she told Claude’s wife would no doubt go directly back to him.

“I’m so glad you decided to come down to breakfast,” Tessa told her, reaching out to pat her arm. “It must be dreadful, sitting at his bedside all day long.” Tears welled in her eyes, and Tessa dabbed delicately at them.

“I am a little tired,” Laura admitted. “I thought I might walk in the gardens.”

“Lovely. You’ll feel much better. The flowers are glorious now. The bluebells along the roadway are all in bloom.” Tessa gasped, then beamed. “I know exactly what you should do! You should go for a ride through the countryside.”

“Oh, no, I don’t think . . .” Laura began to demur.

“Yes, yes, it’s beautiful. I’ll tell the coachman to take the back road toward Lydcombe. It’s the long way round by the old castle—a bit farther, of course—but perfect for a ride. It’s so picturesque.”

“Bluebells line the road like blankets of stunning blue,” Mr. Netherly intoned, apparently contemplating a new poem.

“And the old bridge over the river just past the castle!” Adelaide joined in enthusiastically. “Such a romantic vista.”

“I could sit with Sir James while you are out,” Netherly went on. “I’ll read to him. Nothing lifts the soul like poetry.”

That, Laura thought, would be certain to send James to his grave, but she said only, “That’s very kind of you, but James is sleeping, and I don’t wish to disturb him.”

“It’s a capital idea,” Walter put in. “Going for a ride, I mean.” He flicked a disdainful glance at Mr. Netherly. “You can take the victoria and fold the top back. Nice fresh air . . . scenery. I’ll escort you if you like.”

“Oh, Walter,” Patricia said scornfully. “She won’t want company. That’s the whole idea—to have a few minutes by herself.”

“Well, yes, of course, I mean, no, needn’t go with you.”

“Thank you, it’s very kind of you to offer,” Laura told him. “But it would be nice to have a bit of solitude.” The idea of a drive by herself in the fresh air really was appealing. She hesitated at leaving James alone that long, but he was doing better now, and he would have Dem and Owen with him. The more she thought about it, the more she longed for a chance to get away.

“There! It’s done.” Tessa saw the acquiescence on Laura’s face. “I’ll tell them to have the carriage ready for you this afternoon.”

So it was that Laura found herself getting into Tessa’s elegant low-slung victoria a few hours later. As Littletree, the coachman, climbed up onto his seat, Laura glanced over and saw Claude walking out of the stable. She had a moment’s panic that James’s brother had decided to accompany her, but fortunately, when he turned and saw her, he merely tipped his hat and continued walking toward the house.

Laura let out a sigh of relief and settled back to enjoy the ride. The calash top was folded back, and though Laura had the parasol Tessa insisted she carry, she let it rest on the seat beside her, enjoying the caress of the sun on her shoulders. Though the team was spirited, Littletree kept them to a sedate pace, allowing Laura to fully enjoy the view.

Just as Tessa had described, thick swaths of vivid purplish-blue bluebells lined both sides of the country lane. The road wound around, coming back in a U to drop in a long dramatic slope to the old castle at the bottom of the hill. Beyond the castle lay the river and the quaint narrow wooden bridge Adelaide had mentioned. In the distance the lane curved out of sight around the hill. On her right Laura could see the roofs of Grace Hill above the trees, the gardens in between.

The descent was steep, and the coachman stopped the carriage at the top of the hill to jump down and attach the chained brake slipper to a rear wheel. They had just started down the hill when suddenly the right horse jumped and whinnied, shying to the side, startling its companion so that it, too, reared. They began to run.

The coachman pulled back on the reins, calling to the horses to stop, but just then a loud crack sounded beneath the carriage, and the brake slipper went tumbling down the road. The noise panicked the horses even further, and they leapt forward. Littletree braced his legs against the footrest and hauled back with all his might, but nothing could stop the headlong flight of the horses down the hill.

Laura grabbed the armrest beside her and held on tightly, her stomach seemingly left behind her at the top of the hill, along with her bonnet. As the carriage jounced and swayed toward the bottom, Laura’s mind raced.

If the road had been straight before them, Laura thought the team would slow down once they reached the bottom. However, the slope ended just before the bridge and on the other side of the river the lane bent sharply around the base of the hill. The driver would have no hope of slowing the runaways before they took the curve, and the light victoria would overturn, sending its occupants flying.

“The river!” Laura shouted. “We have to jump!”