Page 74 of A Lady Most Wayward
Finally free to act as she wished, Olivia rushed to her daughter, pulling the young woman into her arms as the girl dissolved into racking sobs.
‘He can’t hurt you now, darling. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.’
Philippa still stood next to the Lord High Chancellor, who gargled something incomprehensible as his feet scrabbled on the floor. She lifted her skirt and kicked him hard in the ribs. The wheezing increased in intensity.
Queen Victoria looked from Philippa to the man at her feet. ‘Well, this has been a ball to remember. But it is late, and I am tired. I think I shall take this’ – she held the diary aloft, shaking it – ‘and retire for the evening.’ She turned to the head guardsman standing at her right. ‘Take him to Newgate until we can sort this out. I’m inclined to believe our Lord High Chancellor will be taking a very long journey to New South Wales in the immediate future. I have heard the treatment of men like Hardgrave can be very rough indeed in prison colonies. Mayhap he will learn some empathy for all those he has mistreated.’
Queen Victoria flipped a few pages in the notebook, her glasses slipping to the tip of her nose. ‘It would appear he kept meticulous records of all those who worked with him. How convenient.’ She removed her spectacles and looked at the group of Damsels and their men. ‘You have work ahead. Best get some rest while you can.’
Queen Victoria swept to Philippa, whispering something to the duchess that had her cheeks warming in a blush. She dipped her head in a flustered bow. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’
As the Queen passed Olivia and Hyacinth, she paused, placing a small hand on Hyacinth’s shoulder. ‘You have shown courage and strength tonight, child. I am always amazed at the resilient nature of humanity. You will heal from this, I promise.’
Hyacinth ducked her head, tears falling freely though her sobs had mellowed to shaky breaths. Olivia squeezed her arm tight around Hyacinth’s waist, grateful to finally have her daughter back, devastated she hadn’t been able to protect her from her brother’s reach.
Queen Victoria looked once more into Olivia’s eyes, but this time, there was a warmth and understanding there that shocked Olivia. ‘No mother should see her child suffer, though we all must endure it. Even the Queen. For that, I offer my greatest sympathy. But while a mother’s love can be the most terrible of things, it also has the power to heal the deepest wounds. I have found when facing adversity, it is my close confidantes who offer me the support and sanctuary I need to replenish and revive. Never be afraid to draw close to your friends.’ She looked meaningfully at Philippa, then back to Olivia. ‘Goodnight, Lady Olivia. I hope to see you again. Mayhap it will be the next time I visit with the duchess.’
Queen Victoria left with the royal guard fanning around her like a crimson shield.
‘In all my giddy daydreams, I never thought I’d ever meet the Queen. Me. A lowly maid who was raised in a prison.’ Penny shook her head, her face dazed.
‘There is nothing lowly about you, darling Penny. And you keep forgetting. You are a marchioness now.’ Liam pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’ Billy ducked out from behind Millie’s skirt. ‘She ain’t ’alf so ’oit’-toity as the duchess.’ He nodded to Philippa.
Philippa crossed the room and took Olivia’s hand in hers. ‘I think it’s time for us to go home.’
Olivia looked at their joined hands. She glanced at Hyacinth, but she was too lost in her own emotions to notice what her mother was doing. But she hadn’t missed when Olivia declared her love for Philippa in front of everyone. It was a conversation they would need to have. Later. When Hyacinth had been given the time, love, and support she needed to recover. Right now, Olivia was going to let Philippa lead them out of the palace, into her carriage, and home to Belgrave Square.
* * *
When they arrived home, young Callum announced quietly that he would be going Cornwall, seeing as Miss Hyacinth had been safely returned to her mother. Olivia tried to convince him to stay a bit longer and enjoy some of London’s amusements now Hyacinth was no longer in danger, but he was determined to get back to his mam.
Philippa handed him a heavy bag of coins and gave him free use of her carriage the next morning to take him to the train station. He turned crimson and tried to hand the purse back, to which Philippa merely raised her brow.
‘One does not refuse the gratitude of a duchess. Certainly not this duchess.’
He murmured his thanks, walked over to Hyacinth, and hesitated as though he might say something to the girl, who couldn’t manage to meet his gaze. In the end, he only nodded at her, gruffly telling her how glad he was she was safe, then strode out of the room. That had been several hours ago.
Now Philippa sat in bed, waiting for Olivia to return from tucking Hyacinth into her new room. Despite the fear and horror of the past few hours, a warmth filled Philippa’s chest. She frowned, unfamiliar with this new emotion. Unlike the fear she felt earlier in the evening, this was quite pleasant.
Is this contentment? Is that what I’m feeling? Dear God, is this what Hannah, Millie, Ivy, and Penny have been blustering on about for so long?
No wonder they defied Philippa’s orders to avoid love. This was absolutely bloody brilliant.
Olivia padded into the room. She wore a pale-rose quilted robe over a white nightgown. Philippa couldn’t wait to strip her bare and lie together, skin against skin, hand over her lover’s heart, breathing in rhythm with her other half. She patted the blanket next to her.
‘I’ve had a revelation,’ Philippa said as she pulled the covers back for Olivia to tuck next to her in the obscenely large bed.
‘Wait, before you tell me, I have to know something.’
‘All right. I suppose my earth-shattering epiphany can wait.’
Olivia grinned, then quirked her brow. ‘How did you get his diary?’
Philippa pulled her close, running her nose along Olivia’s cheek, nuzzling her neck until she squirmed. ‘When you were spying on me the other day at Twinings, did you happen to notice the young lad who bumped into your brother as he left?’
‘The one who spilt his tray all over Cedric’s waistcoat?’ Olivia gasped, and delightful things happened to her breasts, just visible through her nightgown. ‘Billy!’
