She paused again in front of the window and peered out, fully expecting to see naught but darkness. But this time, the glow coming from the window was brighter, and shadows darted wildly behind the thin curtain.
She hurried to the door and flung it open. Cold gusts and bits of rain met her, and she squinted to see in the distance.
Indecipherable shouts carried on the wind. A woman’s scream.
Then, as quickly as the clamor had started, a door opened and a figure ran out, with hair streaming and a woman’s cloak billowing behind her.
Tabitha.
The maid ran out of the cottage at an angle, toward the open moor on the other side of the stable. Alarm flared. No one was following her.
Olivia did not think. She only acted.
She burst at a full-speed run toward Tabitha.
Tabitha, no doubt distracted by the commotion Olivia had created, looked over her shoulder. As she did, she tripped and, with a cry, tumbled to the ground.
Olivia lunged at her and, with her own body, pinned the girl to the ground.
Tabitha flailed. Fought. “Get off me!”
Never in her life had Olivia physically tried to hold someone, but she employed every bit of energy to prevent the young woman from rising to her feet.
Tabitha pulled at Olivia’s hair. Grabbed Olivia’s arm and tried to push it back.
But Olivia held firm. She might not have been allowed to help the men, but this was her contribution, and she’d not fail.
Voices and harried shouts approached from behind them, and strong arms pulled her away just as two men yanked Tabitha from the ground.
The entire episode seemed to be over before it started, and Olivia gasped for air. She turned to who had pulled her up, and Lucas was just behind her. Dirt smeared across his cheek. His hair hung in damp, haphazard clumps.
But he was the most wonderful sight she’d ever seen.
Chest heaving, she lifted her gaze over Lucas’s shoulder, and in the faintest bit of moonlight she could make out Russell and another man being bound, and the constables’ wagons being pulled from the stable to transport them.
“We did it,” she gasped, pausing a moment to allow air to reenter her lungs and her breathing to properly resume. She returned her attention to Lucas. Upon closer inspection she saw that a scratch marred his cheek. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” He lowered his voice. “But I’m a little worried about you. Did I really just witness you accost that woman?”
Olivia gave a little laugh, breaking the night’s heavy tension. “I suppose it was not a very ladylike thing to do.”
“Well, it worked.” He draped his arm around Olivia’s shoulder.
Tabitha’s shouts of protest carried on the night wind, and the constable’s harsh instructions should have given Olivia more delectation than they did. It would be easy to think they’d accomplished their goal. But now the three culprits would have to answer for their criminal actions. She would undoubtedly speak to Mrs.Milton again. And she would likely come face-to-face with the memories of her past and her father.
As they walked back toward the stables, she tucked her hand in Lucas’s.
At least she would not have to face it alone.
Chapter44
Not even half an hour after Russell, Tabitha, and Mr.Wakes were apprehended, Olivia found herself back in Cloverton’s Blue Room. She’d experienced a wide range of emotions while standing in this room on previous occasions, but none matched the vexed urgency that plagued her in this moment.
She needed to hurry.
Because a heavy fog had descended on the moors, Cunningham had brought the prisoners back to Cloverton Hall instead of to the village for questioning. Mr.Wainbridge, Isabella, and Mrs.Milton were still away at the Whitmore House dinner as planned, but they were expected to arrive at any moment.
Isabella’s maid had loaned Olivia one of her mistress’s gowns, and with the woman’s help she quickly changed from her mud-caked, rain-soaked gown to a warm wool one, washed her face and arms, and brushed her hair. As soon as she was ready, she descended the great staircase and headed to Mr.Wainbridge’s study, where the men had gathered.
