Olivia rose, suddenly unable to spend another moment in her parents’ home. She uttered an awkward excuse and not caring that a bath was being drawn, or that her mother had wanted to comfort her in her own small-minded way, Olivia turned and practically ran down the stairs and out the front door.
Waves of wind and water pelted at her sideways, the storm having intensified while she’d been inside. Olivia could not remain beneath her father’s roof. She’d been naïve to believe that her mother wanted to offer her any comfort. She’d been a fool to believe that she could pour her heart out and expect affection from one of her parents.
Swiping the wet strands of hair away from her face, she ducked her head and marched determinedly along the familiar path. She’d run most of the way here. Lightning struck and immediately after, thunder boomed, causing her to jump. She’d go home and wait for another break in the storm before traversing the additional distance to the Smiths’ little cottage. She’d not donned a coat for her headlong dash up to the manor and water from before had seeped into her half-boots.
She was exhausted from lack of sleep, wet and cold, and scared to death of what the end of this day might bring.
She’d go home, change into dry clothing, and wait for the rain to let up.
Chapter 16
The Unthinkable
Gabriel threwdown his shovel and, for the first time in God knew how many hours, dropped onto a nearby boulder for a moment of rest. Almost as though in a trance, he stared down at one of the ubiquitous puddles of mud but saw none of it.
Faces of men who’d not been accounted for—fathers, husbands, sons—all lurked in the forefront of his mind. His hands and feet were as numb as his emotions, but he wasn’t tired, and he felt no pain from the blisters and cuts he’d accumulated moving sharp rocks and broken pieces of metal.
He glanced at one of the mounds laid out nearby that had been covered with a sheet long since soaked through. Bloodstains streaked the white material, leaving no mistake what lay beneath.
The Duke of Crawford’s body had been the first casualty recovered and brought out.
And as much as Gabriel wanted to place all blame on the greedy blighter for this tragedy, the majority of that honor belonged squarely upon his own shoulders.
He’d done the computations, guessed as to the danger. And yet he’d not put a halt to any of it. He’d been a sniveling coward where Crawford was concerned.
He should have halted operations weeks ago instead of mucking up Olivia’s life.
Early this morning, before Gabriel arrived, a new leak had sprung up, one not so easily mitigated, and although all three engineers advised operations remain on hold for a few more days, workers had been sent below ground this morning anyway.
Gabriel hadn’t been present to contradict Crawford’s orders.
Before Gabriel had found Olivia, distraught, he’d been on his way to speak with Luke Smith. Smith was something of a leader among workers, and Gabriel had thought it only fair to share such pertinent information with those men willing to risk their lives in order to feed their families. The mine had become increasingly more dangerous, and Gabriel had suspected Crawford would override the engineers’ advice.
But Gabriel had not gone to Smith’s house.
No, he’d taken himself to the Dog and Pudding Pot instead and drank into the early morning hours. At sunup, he’d ridden to the mine only to find that the boards blocking entrance had been taken down. Sounds of hammering and dirt removal rang out worryingly.
He’d stepped inside and come face to face with Crawford himself. Although nearing his eighth decade, the duke still appeared something of a virile man. Apparently insufferable greed and ambition agreed with him. He’d aged well.
“I was of the impression the engineers opposed operations today.” Gabriel had offered the words up calmly, despite the frustration brought on by this man.
The duke had sent him a withering stare. “We’ve dallied long enough.”
“But you’ve read the report, surely.”
Crawford had shrugged. “There will always be dangers in an undertaking such as this. You’re a man of the world, Kingsley, surely you appreciate that risks must be taken when a great deal stands to be gained.”
“But the treasure isn’t going anywhere, and men’s lives are at stake,” he’d pressed.
The duke shrugged. “I expect we’ll incur losses, as the project moves forward. But any delay costs money.”
Gabriel had felt sick. If not for Stanton… “Have you examined the leak, yourself?”
The sun shone brightly, and the sounds of water dripping seemed to have slowed. Perhaps the engineers had exaggerated the danger.
“I have, but I’m going down again. I cannot believe the size of that vein.”
Gabriel had considered his hands tied.
