“Olivia? Is she still here, or has she returned to Daisy House?” Daniel’s heart was in his throat, bringing on that feeling of suffocation once more. A suffocation he could not cough free.
Amelia arched a bemused eyebrow. “She has returned. Why, she left not five minutes ago.”
Daniel was already off the stool and making his way to the door before she had finished her sentence, eager to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible.
The cook raised the tea tray up slightly. “You don’t want your tea, after all, My Lord?”
“No, I no longer have any need for it. Apologies.”
He took off out the door without another word, sprinting through the kitchen garden and down the path that would lead him to Daisy House. Although, he hoped he would catch up to Olivia long before he reached the old dower house.
He needed the truth, and, clearly, Olivia knew what was really going on. Of course, a letter might well have arrived, but he had heard no rider on the driveway from his spot on the cedar bough. He had only heard the rattle of departing carriages, and the respective sounds could not have been more different.
Indeed, he suspected there was another reason for the Wilson sisters’ swift departure—him, and the wretched mess he had made of things last night.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVEN
“Olivia!”
Daniel spotted her on the forest trail that joined Westyork Manor and Daisy House, not far from the wooden shelter that marked the halfway point between the residences.
Olivia turned around in alarm, her hand flying to her heart. “Who is there?”
It was still gloomy, the sunrise not yet fully above the trees, the woodland shrouding the path in gray darkness. Despite his urgency to find out the truth, he felt a pinch of guilt for frightening two women in such a short span of time. Three if he counted the previous evening, running to Phoebe’s rescue in the center of the maze.
“It is me. Daniel!” he shouted back, slowing his pace.
Even in the gloaming, he watched Olivia’s face pale, and noted the slight twist of her body, as though she was trying to decide whether to hurry on and try to outpace him, or whether to stand her ground. Either way, it did not give him hope for the conversation he was about to initiate.
“Did I leave something at the house?” She feigned innocence, hugging herself against the morning chill.
Daniel approached, breathless. “Why did Phoebe and her sisters leave?”
“Pardon?”
“I just spoke with my mother. She mentioned that a letter had arrived from their father, summoning them urgently back home, but I am dubious,” Daniel replied, his throat tickling again. “I heard no rider. I saw no rider. Indeed, I do not believe there was any letter at all.”
Olivia swallowed loudly. “It is not your concern.”
“I believe that it is,” he replied firmly, clearing his throat.
Olivia leveled a sharp gaze at him. “Well, I do not.”
“Why have they gone, Olivia? Come now—we are family, you and I. What harm can come out of telling me the truth?” He tried a softer approach, hearing the edge in her voice. “If you will not tell me, I shall simply ask Evan.”
Olivia stepped forward, jabbing a finger into his chest. “You have done enough, Daniel! Leave it be!” She shook her head, visibly exasperated. “You will not ask Evan, for he will not tell you. I have instructed him not to. Indeed, I should not have meddled, in the first place, and I am regretting it bitterly.”
“Meddled? Whatever do you mean?” He held up his hands in a gesture of surrender, confused by her reply. “Why are you so angry with me?”
“Because you have broken her heart, Daniel!” Olivia’s eyes welled up with tears. “I encouraged it, though I should not have. I saw the affection between you, perhaps before either of you did, and I had Evan speak to you on my behalf as if my thoughts were his. I know I saw something blossoming, yet… you tell her that you still choose her sister? No, I shall not inform you of where she has gone or why. You do not deserve to know.”
Daniel’s heart sank like a rock, remembering the conversations he had shared with Evan. How insistent Evan had been about Daniel looking toward Phoebe instead of Joanna. Daniel had thought it was just their brotherly bond, making it impossible for him to hide the truth of his fledgling feelings from Evan. Perhaps it was that, but it seemed he could add Olivia to the lengthening list of people who wanted him and Phoebe to be together.
A list where my own name keeps trying to write itself…
“And did Evan tell you why I have to choose Joanna?” he replied, his voice tight. “Did he explain that my finding a lady who would only care about my title and wealth and have no expectation of love is a near-impossible task?Thatis why Joanna was the only choice.”
He realized too late his use of the past tense, but Olivia did not seem to notice anyway as she raged at him.
