Page 16 of His Unruly Duchess
“By the time I am done, my family will arrive,” she whispered. A habit she had possessed for as long as she could remember, placing the fate of this or that in the hands of something altogether unrelated.
That morning, she had said to herself, “If it rains at ten o’clock exactly, Dickie will do as I asked.” It had already been raining by the time the clock struck ten, and she had taken that as a good sign. What she had neglected to ask fate was to ensure that no other grooms stepped up in his place.
Focusing on the daisy until the tight panic in her chest began to loosen, she looked up as she plucked the very last petal.
Her heart soared with relief as a horse and rider charged through the gates of Harewood Court, tearing down the driveway at breakneck speed, kicking up mud and gravel as they went.
“Evan!” Caroline cheered, rising to meet the blissfully familiar rider.
But Evan’s face did not reflect Caroline’s relief. “I am sorry, Caro.”
“Sorry? For what?” Caroline gripped the plucked daisy in her fist, digging her fingernails into her palm.
Evan jumped down, rushing to pull her into a brotherly embrace. “They are not coming, my dear girl,” he murmured. “There was an accident not ten minutes after the carriage left the church.”
“An accident?” Caroline yelped, her heart dropping like a stone.
“Everyone is well, but the carriage was all but ruined. Daniel has returned to Westyork to fetch a replacement, and the ladies have gone back to the church to wait,” Evan explained. “Percival volunteered to ride to you to inform you of the unfortunate news, but I knew you would prefer to hear it from me.”
Caroline clung onto the man who had been like a brother to her, all her life. “But you will stay, will you not?”
She felt, rather than heard, Evan’s remorseful sigh.
“I cannot, sweet Caro. We did not want to mention it, but… Olivia is with child again. She was shaken by the accident but told me to ride to you. However, I cannot leave her in her condition. I will be scolded for leaving you, and I am so very sorry to do it, but… I will not be good company if I cannot be where she is, ensuring she is well.”
Caroline pulled back, peering up at Evan’s pale face. Worry danced in his eyes. Worry and abiding love for the woman who was waiting for him, carrying the baby that, with all the luck in the world, would be their third child together. There was a glint of sorrow in those eyes for Caroline, too. The regret andhesitation of a true brother, even if he was technically just her cousin.
“Of course, you must go,” Caroline said, forcing as much courage into her voice as possible. “Olivia needs you, and I will not stand in the way of that. Truly, I shall be quite content exploring all of these… extensive grounds, and I have a household to discover and staff to meet. Do not worry at all about me!”
Evan’s brow furrowed. “Are you certain?”
“Goodness, I do not know why you are still standing here talking to me when that darling woman is waiting for you,” Caroline insisted, giving him a friendly shove in the chest. “Go on. Go to her. And give her my fondest wishes for her and the baby.”
The creases that ridged Evan’s brow softened. “I really am sorry to have to leave, and to be the bearer of such bad news.”
“Badnews?” Caroline barked out a laugh. “I am delighted! Not by the accident, of course, but to hear that you will be a father again and Olivia is to be a mother again and my darling nephew and niece will have a sister or brother to look forward to. I cannotwaitto be an auntie again. Indeed, tell Olivia that I shall write soon and send her a gift of congratulations when I have won favor with the housekeeper or the butler, or whoever manages such things.”
Evan hugged her once more, giving her a tight squeeze for good measure. He could not have known just how much Caroline needed it in that moment, as every jittering nerve in her bodyscreamed at her to ask Evan to stay. For as soon as he left, she knew she would be well and truly alone.
“Away with you,” she whispered, with her last shred of bravery.
Evan pulled away and, with an apologetic smile, returned to his horse. He climbed up into the saddle and paused there for a short while, clearly contemplating whether or not he was doing the right thing.
“I promise, I shall be perfectly fine,” Caroline urged. “Indeed, I shall be very cross if you do not ride back to your wife this instant. I insist.”
With a nod, Evan turned his horse around. But before he rode off, he glanced back over his shoulder, leaving her with a few parting words. “Take care of yourself, dear Caro. I know this is not the day you were expecting but see if you cannot find happiness in what you have been dealt.” He hesitated. “Even those of us who are now utterly in love did not always think we would be happy. Remember that, in difficult moments.”
“I will,” she said, raising her hand to wave him off.
And, with that, he urged his horse into a lope and charged away.
If he looks back before he reaches the gates, things will not be as bad as they seem.
Caroline did not move, willing him to look back at her as he thundered on down the driveway, kicking up pebbles of white gravel. She urged him and urged him, her heart in her throat, but he passed through the gates and turned onto the road, fading out of her sight.
He did not look back, not once.
CHAPTER SEVEN
