Struggling to stand up, Gabriel could barely make out Crawford’s expression while his sister’s screams pierced the quiet countryside.
“He shot me,” Gabriel said in wonder. “Goddamnit, Crawford. I can’t seem to do anything right.” Allowing Lockley to fall boneless to the dirt, Gabriel stepped back and looked down at the top of his leg. His tan breeches, already stained with blood, swam before his eyes.
“Hang in there, Kings.” Crawford led him to the carriage and then shouted back toward Lockley’s driver. “Is that wheel close to being fixed?”
Gabriel sat in the opening of the carriage, wondering if this was how it would all end. He hadn’t had a chance to tell Olivia that he loved her. Crawford would provide better protection for her, wouldn’t he?
Mrs. Beasley would have conniptions. This time, the wedding would not merely be postponed but canceled altogether.
He’d intended to find a way to cancel it anyway.
What would Victoria have said? Would she have gone along with his plan?
“Tell Olivia.” He barely managed to utter the words, his chest feeling as though it was crushing his lungs.
“What?” Crawford pressed a cloth against the wound in Gabriel’s side. “What should I tell Olivia?”
“She’s the one.” He fell backward and lay on the floor. A distant part of him wondered if the last thing he’d ever see would be the interior roof of a coach.
“You’ll have to tell her yourself.” Crawford had moved him all the way into the carriage and placed a jacket or something under his head. And then Prissy was sitting beside him, crying but pressing something against his side.
And then they were moving. Turning around, it felt like, and then hitting every damn bump in the road between this Godforsaken place and Sky Manor.
“I’m so sorry, Gabriel,” Priscilla sobbed. “I never realized. I should have listened to you.”
It wasn’t Priscilla’s fault. She’d been fooled, likely the same as many other, older and more sophisticated ladies. That being said, she was his little sister, after all.
“I told you so,” he managed somehow.
And then the world turned blessedly black.
Chapter 30
ADire Situation
After sittingfor what felt like ages with Lady Kingsley and Miss Shipley, Louella and Olivia excused themselves to return to their chambers. Louella did not enter her own chamber, however, but instead followed Olivia into hers. As soon as the door closed behind them, she crossed her arms and demanded, “What was that all about?”
“What do you mean?” Olivia opened a drawer only to realize all her clothing had been packed. “I’ll need to find Mary and let her know of our change in plans.”
“Oh, no, you don’t. Why did Kingsley look at you like that? And why did it matter to him that you did not leave?”
Olivia bit her lip. She’d only ever lied to Louella when it had been absolutely necessary. And she hadn’t lied, really. She’d merely omitted facts.
But Louella was asking outright.
She spun around and grimaced. “I, um. We sort of formed a… friendship?” She answered almost as though it was a question. Would she refer to what she and Gabriel had had as an attachment? It certainly had seemed like more than a friendship.
On her part anyhow.
“What kind of a friendship?” Louella’s eyes widened in shock. “He’s betrothed, Olivia!”
Olivia scrubbed a hand down her face. “I know. I know. And it’s only a friendship! Nothing will ever come of it, of course! Don’t you think I know?” Olivia hated the thought of disappointing her younger sister. If Louella were to realize how Olivia had carried on with Gabriel last spring... Well, that would qualify as disappointing behavior, to be certain.
Louella had looked up to her for so long.
“I’m sorry. It’s just… he gave you…a look.”
Olivia was shaking her head. “You’ve nothing to worry about. He’s happily engaged to Miss Shipley. As I’ve already told you. We’re nothing more than friends.”
