“No, that’s not what I meant.” The girl shook her head. A tendril of her mousy brown hair slipped from its knot at the back of her head.
“What did you mean then?” She truly didn’t wish to talk.
“You’re in love with the earl, so is leaving him now a good decision? He’ll worry so once he returns and finds you gone.”
“How silly.” Sarah shook her head. “Why would you think such a thing?” She certainly didn’t feel in love with him. And wouldn’t she know beyond a doubt if she were?
“When you speak of him, you have a look in your eye I saw once in a dog who really adored the stable master where I used to work.” There was no guile in her expression, just honesty. “If you look at him like that, why would you want to leave? I’d think you’d wish to wait until he returns and have a nice reunion.”
When she would have protested the validity of the statement, she sighed instead. “I’m afraid it’s too complicated to explain.” It didn’t matter how she felt, for there could be no future with him if he were reluctant to change.
Tilly shrugged. “I believe you, my lady, but does it need to be? You either love him or you don’t.” Her eyes took on a faraway, dreamy quality. “I think I might have waited for him to return, and if my heart didn’t leap when I saw him, then I would leave.”
Sarah frowned. “What difference would that make?”
“Well, if a heart leaps, that’s a sure sign, isn’t it? And it’s something to hang onto.” She shrugged. “At least that’s what my Gram says.”
“She sounds like a wise woman.” When Sarah turned her face to the window glass, she stifled a sigh. Was she doing him a grave disservice by abandoning him? She sucked in a quick breath. Running from him when she’d spoken out against him for doing the same? Perhaps she should accept him as he was and learn to work around his flaws, for every person had them. Yet… when she recalled their wedding night and the temper he’d been in at that time, she shivered. No, she refused to let him treat her like an afterthought or a doormat. He’d either tame his temper or he’d lose her, but he couldn’t have both.
I deserve to feel safe and loved, and to have my husband show me such.
*
Sarah came awakefrom a light doze by the feeling that something wasn’t quite right. She checked the timepiece pinned to her cloak. Two hours had passed. Since they’d left well after teatime, twilight had now fallen, plunging the interior of the coach into purpling shadows. Otherwise, nothing had changed. A quick glance about the coach confirmed the assumption. Tilly dozed on the opposite bench. Rain thrummed against the roof and windows.
Then what had woken her?
Frantic shouting from the drivers reached her ears, and immediately cold fingers of fear played her spine. Before she could raise her voice in an inquiry, a large crack resounded through the coach. She gasped and scrambled for purchase on her bench, but then the vehicle lurched violently to the left, throwing both Sarah and her maid across the interior. They crashed against the wall. The drivers shouted. Words that sounded suspiciously like “bridge out” echoed in her head. Wild whinnies from the horses blended with the human shouts.
Tilly came awake with a cry. “What’s going on, my lady?”
There was no time to answer. Seconds later, the equipage dropped. When it came to a rough stop, presumably against the ground, both she and Tilly cried out. Water seeped into the tilted coach, confirming the assumption.
“Dear God, we’ve gone off a bridge.” Had it washed away in the deluge? All the rain over the last few days would have made the creeks and streams rise. Sarah struggled to stand. Her feet slipped in the murky water as she half-crouched on what was the window glass. Cool water saturated the lower portion of her gown and cloak, chilling her lower limbs. “Tilly, are you all right?” They needed to exit the coach, for if the water came up too high, they’d surely drown. It was seeping inside way too fast.
“I think so, my lady. Hit my head, though.” The maid clung to the door handle above her head. A deep gash at her temple glittered wet with blood.
“At least you’re alive, and so am I.” Which meant they could still survive.
A pounding of fists on the door above caught her attention. “How do you fare, my lady?” It was one of the drivers.
“Well. My maid is injured.” The water had risen to her waist.
“I’ll have you out in a jiffy.”
“Where’s the other driver?”
“Unconscious. Knocked his head when we went off the bridge. Didn’t see it was out in the gloom, but I got him to the bank.” A string of swearing followed. Then the door wrenched open and the man extended an arm. “Come, my lady, give me your hand.”
“No. Take Tilly first.” She grasped the confused girl about the waist and gave her a slight boost. “Grab onto him and he’ll pull you out.” The poor maid shivered against her.
“I’ll try.” She extended both hands. Sure enough, once the driver took hold, he grunted and then he slowly hauled her up and through the gaping door.
“As soon as I get her to safety, I’ll come back for you, my lady,” the driver assured her.
“I understand.” Yet her heartbeat raced as fear chilled the blood in her veins.
How long would that be? At the rate water filled the coach’s interior, they’d have perhaps minutes before the current swept it downstream. Not wanting to wait, Sarah grabbed onto the bench above and stood on the edge of hers. She felt for the edge of the doorway, and when she was sure she’d found good enough purchase with her gloved fingers, she jumped upward, braced herself on her arms while her legs dangled in the opening. Then she hooked a leg on the doorframe and hauled her body up and out of the coach’s interior.