Violet closed the box of chocolates and smiled. “I really am fine. You are the kindest friend, truly, but I shall not perish from the ordeal. You both act as if I am made of glass.”
“We are merely concerned,” Leo said.
He looked at Lady Priscilla and wondered if her thoughts had found the same path that his had; someone seemed to be targeting his brides specifically. Since Violet had survived the carriage accident, it was possible that the villain might try to harm her again. Leo felt sick from the thought.
“I know,” Violet said. “And I am…very grateful for the both of you.”
Leo forced a smile. He did not have the faintest idea how to even discern who the villain responsible for the accident was. It must be someone with access to the carriage, though, someone whose presence would not be questioned about his townhouse. Could it be a member of the staff? If he assumed that Lydia’s death was caused by the same villain who had tried to hurt Violet, that meant that the culprit must be someone who had been around both Groveswood and his London townhouse.
That applied to only a few people. Mrs. Gunderson and Nathanial Jones had been around that long and, in both places, but Mrs. Gunderson would never hurt anyone. Leo could not imagine that Nathanial would harm anyone, either. If he wished to harm Leo, he would have surely done that rather than attacking Lydia and Violet. Was there anyone else?
“I should leave you to rest,” Lady Priscilla said, sounding reluctant. “I will admit that I left a somewhat pressing engagement this evening. I just needed to assure myself that Violet was well.”
“I am sorry to have caused you trouble.”
“Never,” Lady Priscilla replied, smiling. “Just rest. I will visit you in the morning, too. I know of Leo’s habit of going to business early in the day.”
“Perhaps it is time that I abandon that habit,” Leo said.
“Please,” Violet said, “do not do that on my account. I promise that I am well and will continue to be well. I am sure that this was an accident somehow.”
That was a possibility, but Leo doubted it.
Chapter 27
Maybe the carriage accident had shaken Violet more than she thought. She had spent the evening feeling nauseous and vomiting everything she had eaten that day. Afterwards, Violet had slept long and hard, and she woke the next morning feeling in slightly better spirits. Even better, Lady Priscilla had already arrived for her morning visit.
While Violet valued her independence, she could not deny that part of her was charmed to receive such attention from everyone. It made her feel cared for in this strange, bustling city. After dressing, Violet entered the parlor. Lady Priscilla rose at once, her face the picture of surprise. “Violet!” she exclaimed with such force that Violet laughed.
“Were you expecting someone else?” Violet teased.
“N—no! I am only surprised to see that you are awake and looking so—so well-rested!”
Violet tilted her head, confused. “You seem almost disappointed.”
“Not at all!” Lady Priscilla exclaimed, putting a hand to her chest. “I simply am surprised. I know that my nerves would be in terrible disarray if I had been in an accident like yours. I am merely in awe of your fortitude.”
“You are too kind, as always,” Violet replied. “I was actually thinking about going for a walk through Hyde Park. Would you like to join me?”
“I cannot,” Lady Priscilla replied. “Unfortunately, I have a prior engagement. I only wanted to come and see how you were feeling this morning. I was so dreadfully worried, but I am terribly glad to see that my concerns were for naught. Just be careful, Violet, and be sure that you do not exhaust yourself.”
“I will,” Violet replied, her face softening. “I promise that you do not need to worry about me.”
“I shall try not to,” Lady Priscilla said, “but no promises.”
Violet understood that feeling well enough; that was how she thought of her mother sometimes. Even knowing that Leo had a physician visiting her mother every morning, Violet still worried. It was part of being a good human being, to worry when one really had no need to.
***
When Violet walked through the park, she thought of Essex. Like London, the long expanses of countryside would be covered in snow. As a girl, she and Liza had liked to play in the snow. They had chased one another beneath the large, downy snowflakes and had marveled at the ponds, which froze every year.
Soon, she would be back in that same countryside, but at the moment, this was enough. She paused at the bustling street, which she needed to cross to continue her walk. Violet swallowed hard as she watched the carriages.
Despite the winter chill, Violet suddenly felt dangerously warm. She breathed out, watching her breath frost the air. If she was careful, all would be well. She knew that. Something struck her hard from behind, and Violet pitched forward.
A strangled yell tore from her throat. Her eyes fixed on a carriage, the horses hurtling towards her. Violet’s hands struck the road, and stinging pain burst through the palms of her hands. The horses turned abruptly, hurrying past her. They halted a few feet away, and Violet gasped for air. Her eyes snapped towards where she had stood moments earlier. Someone had—
Someone hadpushedher! There was no one there anymore, though.
