She finally thawed and showed the biggest smile he’d ever seen. “Thank you. Thank you.”
“I didn’t do anything, Miss Winkworth,” Sir James said, “merely checked your test— Miss Winkworth!” He stiffened when Edith hugged him.
“Apologies, sir. This test meant so much to me.”
“I gather that.” Sir James straightened his glasses. “You must bring the test with my assessment and signature to the school assoon as possible, or you won’t get another chance until next year. Chop-chop.”
“I’ll fly.” She almost snatched the test from the doctor’s hands.
“I guess you’re more excited than when you posed for Mr. Carter.” He raised his eyebrows.
Edith’s smile disappeared. “I didn’t pose for any paintings, sir. I’m sorry.”
He exhaled. “Off you go.”
Edith’s happiness was contagious, and Perry couldn’t stop smiling as they drove in the carriage.
“I’ll need a proper leather bag for my notepads and a new set of pencils. Goodness, Father will be so happy.” She shifted on the seat, swaying her hips. “I could start next week if the school answers immediately. I’m looking forward to starting.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed.”
“Oh, Perry, thank you so much.” She threw herself at him from across the seat.
He laughed, welcoming her into his arms. “A celebration is in order.”
“Two celebrations. We’re engaged, right? And I’ve never been happier to lose a bet—” She didn’t have the chance to finish the sentence as the carriage gave a mighty jolt.
A loud screech followed. Then the seat dropped from underneath Perry as if the ground itself had vanished. The rest was a blur of thuds, rolls, and painful bumps. The ceiling and the floor swapped places. Edith screamed. The world turned upside down, and he couldn’t stop the rising fear in his chest.
Before the seizure took hold of him, he thought Oliver was right.
Perry wokeup in a hospital bed in yet another bright white room smelling of disinfectant, which threw him back to the day after the incident.
For a moment, he wondered if everything that had happened in the past years had been an illusion, and he’d woken up just now from thePrincess Alicedisaster. At least his head didn’t throb, and his limbs were all in the right places. His hands were covered in cuts and bruises though. Surely, his face looked the same, judging by how sore it was.
“Perry.” Oliver walked over to him from a chair in a corner. “How are you?”
“Sore.” He was glad he could talk. “Edith?” His pulse spiked, and a buzzing noise rang in his ears. “What happened?”
“Calm down. She’s all right. Your footman, coachman, and horses are all right as well. A few bruises but nothing serious. Like you. You were lucky. You could have broken your necks. Miss Winkworth lost consciousness as well, but aside from that, no injuries. A wheel broke, and the carriage rolled down a slope, tearing the shaft and the breeching dee. The horses were dragged down, but once the carriage snapped free, they scrambled back up to their feet. The bushes stopped the carriage before it reached the bottom of the scarp. You were also lucky there was another carriage passing by. Its coachman sent for help immediately.”
He exhaled. “May I see her?”
“She’s with her family. Give them a moment.” Oliver glanced at the door. “See, between the incident and the loss of consciousness, two days have passed.”
All the blood flowed down from Perry’s head, making him dizzy. “She missed her opportunity to enrol.” He pushed aside the covers, ignoring the room tilting.
“Wait. There’s something else we need to discuss.” Oliver closed the door.
He had a hunch. “It was no accident, wasn’t it?”
Oliver nodded. “Someone tampered with the wheels and the shaft.”
“I saw one of Sir James’s stable hands working on the carriage.” He rubbed his eyes. “Hell, I had the feeling something was wrong.”
“Someone tried to kill you.”
“There’s only one person who would benefit from my untimely death. But how did he know about our trip to Sir James’s? I didn’t tell anyone.”
