She pulled away a little and beckoned for him. Leo followed her to the carriage. Violet gestured to the rear wheel and the twisted axle. “It would not have been noticed unless one were looking for it,” Violet said. “The wheel was loosened, and the ride damaged the carriage further.”
“This was intentional,” Leo said slowly.
“Yes.”
He glanced at Violet, who fidgeted with her gloves. “And you have no enemies,” he said softly.
“Of course not,” she said, lowering her voice. “And I know you didn’t do this.”
Leo slowly nodded. He glanced at the driver, who waited anxiously at the edge of the crowd. The man looked as though he expected Leo to execute him on the very spot. Instead, Leo forced a smile. “Good job,” he said. “If it were not for your skill, Her Grace might have been badly hurt.”
The driver nodded curtly and seemed to relax a little.
Turning to Violet, Leo added, “I will learn the truth about who did this. I promise.”
“I know.”
He dipped his head and placed a gentle kiss upon her lips, trying to convey all his love and the relief of her being found safe. She responded in kind. Then Leo wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close. “Let us return to the townhouse. I am sure you are shaken and would like to rest.”
***
Lady Priscilla arrived that evening. She swept into the parlor, where Violet and Leo sat together, like a whirlwind. Without preamble, Lady Priscilla sank into the chair beside Violet, brandishing a box. “Violet! I was so distraught to hear about the accident!” Lady Priscilla exclaimed. “Are you all right?”
Violet laughed quietly. “I was mostly uninjured.”
Mostly.It had taken hours for Violet to admit that her head hurt, and although the injury was quite minor, Leo kept thinking about how much worse the accident could have been. Even more sobering was the thought that the accident seemed to beintentional. Someone had purposefully made the carriage unsafe for Violet.
It was impossible not to perceive the situation as being a parallel to Lydia’s own unexpected death. Although people whispered about Lydia’s death being a murder, Leo had mostly considered her death to be an unfortunate accident. There was no evidence pointing tomurder. Everyone loved Lydia. Now, Violet’s experience left him questioning that assumption, though. Maybe someonehadkilled Lydia. Maybe that person had tried to harm or kill Violet.
Leo clenched his jaw, trying to think of who might have the reason to do something so awful, but although there were a few people who he occasionally disagreed with, he could think of no one who might wish tomurdertwo women.
“Still, it must have been horrifying,” Lady Priscilla said, opening her box. “Here, I brought you some chocolates to make you feel better.”
Violet smiled and selected one. “You are too kind to me.”
“Nonsense!” Lady Priscilla exclaimed, waving a dismissive hand. “You deserve something exquisite after enduring such a terrible scare, and these came all the way from New York. They are the best chocolates you will ever eat.”
Violet ate her chocolate, her eyes widening. “Itisgood!”
“Nothing but the best,” Lady Priscilla said, glancing at Leo. “Just remember that the chocolates are foryou, Violet. Leo will have to buy his own.”
“Noted,” Leo said dryly.
Lady Priscilla handed the box to Violet, who chose another chocolate. “These are so excellent that I would be reluctant to part with them,” Violet said.
Lady Priscilla beamed at her, clearly pleased with the praise. “If you like, I am also happy to offer you the services of my driver while you search for a new one.”
“The driver was not a problem,” Leo said.
“Oh!” Lady Priscilla said. “I am sorry. I simply assumed…”
“It appears that someone had damaged the carriage,” Violet said.
Lady Priscilla furrowed her brow. “I do not see how that could be. I do not doubt you, that is, but…”
“We are as confused as you are,” Leo replied. “I can think of no conceivable reason for someone to do such a terrible thing, especially considering that the accident could have been much worse than it was.”
“We must simply be grateful that it was not so bad,” Lady Priscilla said. “Violet, I drink a certain tea which does my nerves a lot of good. I will send some for you after I have returned to my townhouse. After such an ordeal, I imagine you will have difficulty sleeping, and that should help.”
