“Thinking that way made me feel better,” Margaret countered.
Camelia wanted to laugh, but her eyes filled with tears. “Why now? And why was no word sent to Papa?”
“There were no whispers anywhere else either. It’s too perfect. Too perfectly cruel.” Margaret said as she picked at a flower.
Pamela rode behind her, seemingly oblivious to the reality they were facing.
Or maybe riding helps her forget.
Iris pulled Camelia close. “The Duke thinks he’s saving her.”
“But he’s not,” Camelia whispered. “If he dies today, Pamela will lose the only father she has ever known. And if he lives, he’ll carry another death on his conscience. Either way, we lose.”
Margaret looked towards the empty drive. “How long do we wait?”
“Until a rider comes,” Camelia said, her voice hollow. “With news. Or…”
She could not finish.
The clip-clop of hooves on gravel made them all turn. Pamela came trotting up the path on Susy, her cheeks flushed from the cold, her eyes shining with triumph or unshed tears. She pulled the mare to a halt in front of the fence and beamed down at them.
“Did you see me, Camelia?”
“Yes, Pamela. Your training is really paying off!”
“Did you see the water jump?”
“You did it perfectly.”
Camelia’s heart lurched at the sight of her. Last night, Pamela had not looked as alive as she did now. Camelia hoped that the girl was not forcing a smile for her sake.
“You were magnificent, Pamela. Like a centaur.” Camelia hadn’t noticed that Margaret approached Susy. She petted the mare gently.
“I have never seen a cleaner line over water. You made it look easy.” Iris smiled at Pamela warmly.
Pamela’s cheeks flushed scarlet. She ducked her head, suddenly shy. “Thank you, Lady Iris.” She turned to Margaret. “Lady Margaret, do you have any tips? Camelia did tell me that you always beat everyone at the hunt.”
Margaret’s grin was wolfish. “Tips? Sweetheart, I was about to ask you for lessons. That turn you made after the brush fence? I couldn’t have done it half so smooth.”
Pamela glowed, practically squirming in the saddle. “Really?”
“Really,” Margaret swore, hand on her heart. “We should ride together next time. And you can lead us.”
The sun dipped lower, bleeding orange across the frost, and Camelia felt the cold seep deeper than the air. Their long shadows stretched across the empty drive, causing her smile to falter.
The day was almost over, and Raph still had not returned.
She braced her heart for the worst news. Her mind drifted to her last moments with him and how they fought. She should have kissed him more and spoken her mind from the start. But God knew that if he returned, she would confess all of her heart’s secrets to him. But if he didn’t…
“Come along, Pamela. The light’s going out, so let’s get you and Susy rubbed down, then we’ll start planning the grandest sixteenth birthday this county has ever seen.”
Pamela’s eyes went round. “Truly, Lady Margaret?”
“Why not?” Margaret helped her off Susy and linked their arms.
They skipped away from Iris and Camelia, Margaret only turning back to wink at them. Camelia mouthed a ‘thank you’ to her before surrendering to her sorrow.
“Margaret will make her forget,” Iris assured, already reaching for her. When the girls were out of sight, she whispered, “He’ll be back, Camelia. Be patient.”
