Chapter 18
Royce drummed his fingers on his desk; he could not focus. Every time he heard a knock at the door, his heart raced in anticipation, hoping it was news about the state of Della’s health.
He, his mother, and Tilly had caught up to the carriage Maggie and Della were in and could only watch in sheer terror as the driver did everything within his abilities to get the frightened horses under control. Fortunately, the driver’s skillful maneuvering had prevented Maggie from sustaining any serious injury, but Della had not been so lucky.
Royce forcefully slammed the ledger in front of him shut as he ran his hands down his face and leaned back. According to the doctor, Della had suffered a blow to her head hard enough to render even a large man unconscious. But his prognosis was cautious, yet hopeful, given her young age and overall health.
He had wanted to visit Della every day, but the thought of standing at the foot of another bed, silently begging for her to wake up and assure him she would be okay, was too much for him to handle.
So, his mother had kept him informed, and while the swelling had gone down as of last night, her fever persisted, and she had yet to wake.
A loud knock on the door startled Royce, nearly causing him to fall from his chair.
“Enter!” Royce said, regaining his composure.
“Y-Your G-Grace?” Mr. Milby timidly entered the room. “I have looked over the damage and what it would cost for repairs and think it would be best to have a new carriage built instead of fixing this one.”
“I expected that would be the case,” Royce said.
A look of relief washed over Mr. Milby’s face. Royce had the carriage brought back, knowing it had been badly damaged. Despite its condition, he held onto the hope of salvaging it, knowing his father had commissioned it.
“I-I thought you might also like to know that upon further inspection, I believe someone may have tampered with your carriage.”
Royce’s head jerked up. “What do you mean, tampered with?” he asked darkly.
“I-I can show you,” Mr. Milby stuttered, his hands trembling as he motioned for Royce to follow.
Royce did not hesitate. With determined steps, he followed Mr. Milby to the side of the stable where the carriage had been stored.
“If you look at it from here, one would t-think that the carriage simply threw a wheel, possibly from hitting a nasty bump in the road.” Mr. Milby circled around to the side and got closer. “But. if you look here, you will s-see a small cut in the axle. I am not exactly sure how an individual could do this unnoticed, but…” he paused for dramatic effect. “I believe t-that someone sawed through the axle just enough t-that the weight of the occupants would cause it to s-snap, allowing the wheel to separate from the carriage. The top of the cut here is smooth, not jagged, as one would expect with a sudden break.”
Royce stared dumbfounded at the carriage and took a deep breath before speaking. “Why did it break with only two people in the carriage when four of them rode earlier?”
“T-That I am afraid I-I do not know, Your Grace,” Mr. Milby said. “Perhaps with four of them, it weakened the cut enough so that less weight was required later for it to snap.”
“Thank you for going over everything so thoroughly. I shall inquire with my men if they saw anything out of the ordinary. Please let me know when you have the figures on a new carriage.”
“Glad to be of service, Your Grace.” Mr. Milby left as the head groom came barreling out of the stable, saddle in hand, nearly knocking Royce over.
“Oy, Yer’ Grace, I did not see ya standin’ there.” The man set the saddle down and stood next to Royce. “Righ’ nice carriage this was.” The man clucked his tongue. “Guess the only thing it be good fer now is firewood, ay’?”
“Mr. Birks, have you or any of the stable lads seen a person lurking around here that did not belong?”
“Nah, cannot say I ‘ave.” Mr. Birks paused a moment, then snapped his fingers. “Hold a moment…now ye mention it, there was a fella ‘ere a few days ago. Said he were lookin’ fer work. But somefin’ about him did not seem quite righ’.”
“How so?” Royce asked.
“He looked like a worker but spoke like a toff.” Mr. Birks shrugged. “I told ’em if he wanted a job, he needed to inquire at the ‘ouse. I lef’ after that and when I came back, he were gone. I figured he decided that workin’ here was maybe no’ what he were lookin’ fer.”
“Thank you, Mr. Birks. Please have this broken down and burned.”
“Of course, Yer’ Grace. But before ya go, may I inquire as to the healf’ of Miss Rowntree? I ‘eard she were in a bad way from the accident.”
“The Duchess has been keeping me informed. Until then, I am afraid all we can do is wait and hope she wakes up soon.”
“S’naught right,” Mr. Birks said, rubbing his scruffy beard. “Things like tha’ should no’ happen to people as kind as ‘er. If there is anythin’ I can do fer ya…”
“I appreciate the offer, Mr. Birks.”
Royce bent to look at the sawed-through axle as Mr. Birks left. When would someone have done this without being noticed?
He could not help but wonder if all the unfortunate incidents—apart from that evening in the garden—that Della had gone through were somehow related. Though the only common thread he could think of was Della herself.
There was Lord Haddock, but he had not been driving the hackney that had nearly run them over, nor had he been with Della when she fell down the stairs. Still, some things were not adding up.
“Royce!” He heard his mother call out. “A letter just arrived from Tilly, and I figured you would want to know right away. Della’s fever has broken, and she is awake!”
As Royce read the letter, all his thoughts regarding the incidents were forgotten. Wasting no time, he dashed into the house and asked for Titan to be prepared at once.
“How long has it been since the accident?” Della asked Tilly.
“Nearly a week,” Tilly said. “I was so worried about you! Your father has been a mess, and His Grace demanded that we keep him informed about how you are faring. I already sent him a letter this morning, stating you had finally woken up.”
“Has he responded?”
Daisy appeared in the doorway. “His Grace has arrived, along with the Duchess and Lady Derrington as well.”
“Thank you. Please show His Grace upstairs.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Daisy curtsied slightly and left.
“Well, I guess you have your answer.” Tilly rushed around the room, grabbing this and that, attempting to make the room presentable.
“Would it be okay if I just moved to sit in front of the fireplace? My body can tell it has been idle for far too long, and I need to move.” Della looked at Tilly imploringly.
“The doctor said you should stay abed for a few more days, at least.”
“But the doctor does not always know what is best,” Della said grumpily.
“I do not disagree with you, dear,” Tilly said, patting Della’s leg. “But I believe the doctor’s orders should be followed.”
“If I must.”
“Do not worry, dear. You will be up and about in no time.” Tilly said, fluffing a pillow behind Della. “The only reason I am allowing this visit to your bedroom is because you are engaged to be married. Otherwise, he would have to wait just like everyone else.
A short while later Royce appeared in the doorway, and Della smiled, her heart skipping wildly at the sight of him.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Tilly said, propping one more pillow behind Della’s back. “Is your mother here?”
“She is.” Royce smiled at Tilly.
“Then I shall go downstairs and speak with her to see what wedding details still need to be taken care of.”
Tilly exited the room, putting on a grand display of closing the door, but a moment later, they heard the door pop back open.
Della noticed Royce trying to conceal his smile at Tilly’s poor attempt at being subtle, all in the name of maintaining propriety and creating the illusion of privacy. But when Tilly’s footsteps faded away, Royce pushed the door closed.
“You are going to get us into trouble.”
“Well, then I guess you will have to marry me.” Royce chuckled, sitting in the chair next to the bed.
“You are awake!!” Maggie exclaimed, her voice filling the room as she burst in with her usual dramatic flair.
“Do you ever knock?” Royce asked his sister.
“Of course, I do! At least when it is warranted.”
“And your best friend talking to her future husband is not one of those times?” Royce looked at Maggie questioningly.
“No, it is you we are speaking of, after all,” Maggie replied sarcastically.
“Could you let us speak for a little while in private?” They both stopped bickering and turned to look at Della.
“You heard her! Out you go!” Maggie tried to shoo Royce out of his seat.
“Actually, Maggie, I was talking to you.”
“Me? B-But I…” Maggie huffed.
“I know. But I need to speak with your brother first.”
“Fine, but do not take too long. I will go downstairs with Tilly and my mother and wait for you to finish your conversation with my dear brother.” Maggie glared at Royce as she left the room.
“One day, she will choose not to knock on the wrong door,” Royce laughed.
“I can only hope it will not involve us.” Realizing what she implied, she quickly changed the subject. “The doctor told me I need to remain in bed for a few more days, and Tilly agrees with him, but I simply cannot. Could you find it in your heart to turn a blind eye if I were to get out and sit by the fire?”
“If you wish.” Royce smiled, offering his arm to her.
Della swung her legs over the side of the bed and gently walked to the chaise, using Royce for support.
“Comfortable?” Royce looked worriedly at her as he sat on the chaise next to her.
“Yes. I am a bit sore, but it feels good to finally move. Thank you.”
They sat in companionable silence for a while, watching the flames flicker in the fireplace.
“Royce…” “Della…” they said simultaneously and laughed.
“Please, you go first.” Della smiled at Royce.
“Right.” Royce cleared his throat. “I do not feel like it would be a good beginning for our marriage if we continue to withhold information from each other as we did before.”
“I agree,” Della said.
They talked for a while before Royce mentioned some things that did not quite make sense. First, he talked to her about the rope at the lookout. How it had seemed to be placed there so someone could escape without being seen. Second, the out-of-control hackney that had nearly run them over.
“Thrice.” Royce laughed, and Della smacked him playfully on the arm. “The carriage ride that nearly cost you and Maggie your lives.” His expression quickly grew serious as he told her about the cut Mr. Milby had found on the axle.
“Della…my mother, Tilly, and I witnessed the entire thing. We could only watch in horror as you two were tossed about. But when I saw you fall out of that carriage…” Royce gently took Della’s hands and turned them over, placing a kiss on each wrist.
“Everything will be fine. I am a little worse for wear, but I am on the mend,” Della assured him.
Royce kept Della’s hands in his as he continued. “There were still many things we had yet to discuss prior to the accident. I was unsure…”
“Royce?” Della asked softly, encouraging him to continue.
“I was going out of my mind with worry and tried to keep myself busy while waiting for news that you had finally woken up. The biggest thing we had yet to discuss was where we would live once we wed. I looked at several properties, but none seemed quite right, until I came across a house with a stunning garden that made me think of you. I spoke with my solicitor and purchased it, hoping to surprise you by having it fixed up.”
“Oh, Royce!”
“I have had it fully furnished—which you are welcome to change if you wish. I have hired new staff, whom you will meet when we arrive on our wedding day. Some of my current staff will be there as well until things have settled. I hope you do not think it presumptuous of me for making such an important decision without you.” Royce looked at Della with uncertainty in his eyes.
“Of course not. Everything was in such disarray before the accident, and I had not thought of where we might live.”
“If you do not care for the house, we can look somewhere else—”
“Shhh, Royce.” Della smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “I am sure it will be wonderful.”