It was a miserable day—made ever more miserable by the rain that fell in misty sheets and the damp, bone-chilling wind that seeped in through the space around the doors and windows.
Olivia was not prone to tears. In her experience they’d never been productive or offered any true comfort. But at the moment she was worn. She hadn’t slept. She hadn’t eaten. The tangle of feelings churning in her was more than mere frustration. It was disappointment over the end of an opportunity. Anger at herself for not being more careful and guarded. More than anything, though, it was overwhelming sadness.
She’d seen the sincerity in Lucas’s expression. She believed he was sorry to see her go. How, in such a short time, had Lucas Avery gone from a man she despised to a man who touched her heart? Her soul? She’d been at Cloverton Hall only a week, yet never had she connected with someone so perfectly—felt so understood and seen by another.
But it was likely over now. How could anything come to pass? He would return to his life in London, and his thoughts of her would subside. He’d go back to his existence, and she’d return to hers.
The rain pounded against the window, and a fresh gust of wind pushed against them from the west, swaying the carriage to and fro on the rutted road. She looked over to Tabitha, who was clutching a dark blue shawl about her shoulders and looking out the window, watching the scenery flash by.
Olivia was grateful to Mrs.Milton, for despite her distress, she’d insisted it would be improper for Olivia to travel without at least a maid.
“I am so sorry you were taken away from your routine to stay with me,” Olivia said, drawing the young woman’s attention.
“No need for an apology, MissBrannon.” Tabitha’s smile was oddly bright. “I’ve only been out o’ t’ village a couple o’ times. I’m excited about it, actually.”
In that instance, the similarities between herself and the maid struck Olivia. Their backgrounds might be very different, and yet neither of them had ever been away from home.
“But you will have to travel home alone,” persisted Olivia. “Does that not concern you?”
“Not at all! I’ve known t’ driver an’ these footmen for quite some time. They know better ’an to bother me. Besides, you’re a lady. It would not be seemly for you t’ travel alone. I had t’ come.”
“Oh, Tabitha.” Olivia shook her head. “I’m not a lady. Not in the sense that you’re referring to.”
“Do ye think we’ll e’er know what ’appened t’ that vase?”
Tabitha’s abrupt change of topic unsettled her, and the painful sight of the broken relic flashed in Olivia’s mind.
“I ’eard the footmen talkin’ ’bout it a’fore we left,” Tabitha chattered on. “They said no one ’eard a thing. Isn’t that odd? You’dthink that when somethin’ like that broke, it’d be so loud it would wake t’ whole of Cloverton Hall.”
Olivia leaned her head back on the tufted seat behind her and closed her eyes, as if to shut the memory out. The Cavesee Vase was an important piece, but it was only part of what made this entire situation so difficult. “I hate to think of the state we left poor Mrs.Milton in. The expression of horror on her face will haunt me, certainly.”
Tabitha removed the bonnet from her head and shook out her coppery tresses. “Teague’s there for ’er. But Mrs.Milton was already so angry a’fore this even ’appened. I can only imagine it’ll be worse now. The sooner she can be away from Cloverton Hall, the ’appier she’ll be.”
Olivia returned her attention to the dreary, rain-soaked scenery. They would have at least one more full day of travel ahead of them, and how Olivia wished she could accelerate time and forget that this trip ever happened.
But that would mean forgetting about Lucas Avery.
And she was not sure she wanted to do that.
Chapter34
Lucas knelt to get a better look at the broken shards of cobalt-blue and milky-white porcelain.
The late-afternoon sunlight glinted off the reflective pieces, highlighting their perfect smoothness and beauty. Several large pieces remained intact, but many of the slivers had been reduced to almost a powder. The polished wood floor beneath the largest piece appeared dented, suggesting that the vase had hit the surface with some force.
How on earth would the vase have fallen?
He turned his attention to the shelf on which the piece had been sitting. It was deep. Solid. There was no conceivable way the Cavesee Vase could have just fallen off. Someone had to have tampered with it.
But who? And why?
Holding one of the pieces, he moved closer to the window to take advantage of the light. Over the years he’d thought he’d seen most everything when it came to situations like this. People purposely destroying valuable pieces to prevent someone frompossessing them, people hiding items, even stealing or selling them. But this defied logic.
Lucas reviewed the facts once again in his mind. All the house party guests were at the ball, and all the guests’ servants were accounted for in their chambers. And if a house servant was involved, why now when they had full access to the piece at any other time?
In that moment, as in so many since Olivia’s departure, Lucas wished she were with him. He hadn’t witnessed Wainbridge rage at her, but he was told of it, and he’d never be comfortable with how she’d been treated.
Currently, Wainbridge was in his study. Lucas loathed the prospect, but he needed to inform Wainbridge about the counterfeit pieces. Given what had just happened, he could not delay. In the time since Olivia’s departure, he had completed his report. He was not entirely done with the assessment but had what he needed for the time being. With the large piece of porcelain in his hand, he made his way from the gallery, down the great staircase, and across the corridor to the study.
