I searched for anything upon which I could step to hoist myself up, but nothing availed itself for my use. My only option appeared to be shuffling in by sitting on the edge of the wagon and swinging my legs up in a most unladylike manner. The floor of the wagon was littered with straw; I would be filthy before I was even able to stand.
There was no way to enter without help.
“May I?” The baron hadn’t moved, but his lips were curved into an amused smile.
I would rather walk for miles than accept his assistance. “On second thought, this wagon is much dirtier than I anticipated, and I find I am rather looking forward to the walk.” I turned my back on the men.
“Margaret, here.” Daniel appeared next to me and hefted me into the wagon so unceremoniously I fell to my knees.
The driver quickly extended a hand and helped me to my feet. “Might be best if you remain standin’.”
I tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.
The wagon rocked as Daniel climbed in. I peeked at the baron through my lashes and found him frowning at me, disapproval expressed in every feature of his plain face. It rankled that he should have so unjustly ruined my future. But as a person of title, he probably never thought about those of us below him in status. I, at least, had shown how little regard I held for him.
A blossom of smugness replaced my humiliation and I smiled brightly. “Good day, my lord.”
He met my gaze with the same icy stare as before, which only made my grin bigger. Perhaps one day he would learn to take more care with those around him.
The footman positioned himself behind the baron, and even though my head was now quite above his, he still managed to look down his nose at me. I had never met such a pair of supercilious people.
The wagon’s sudden movement forward threw me off balance. I grasped the railing.
“You made quite an impression,” Daniel said, stepping next to me and grinning.
“If I did, I owe it all to you,” I muttered.
“Do you think he’ll offer his aid to John?”
I shook my head. “He won’t stop for a servant.”
“Let’s wager on it.”
“A wager?” I searched my mind for something worth the wager.
“Yes,” Daniel said. “I’ll wager for one lace handkerchief.”
A lace handkerchief wasn’t enough. “No. You must take Louisa out on the lake. Just the two of you.”
Daniel scoffed. “She’ll never agree.”
“Then you have nothing to lose.”
“Fine. And you’ll have to go with Mr. Lundall.”
“Daniel!”
“Those are the terms.”
Was it worth the risk of losing and having to take a boat ride with a man who refused to accept our incompatibility? I glanced back down the road. The baron’s carriage wasn’t slowing. It was worth it if it got Louisa and Daniel alone together; maybe he’d finally propose. “Agreed.”
The baron’s carriage passed our own broken carriage. Smirking, I elbowed Daniel. “You lost.”
“No, look.” The carriage had stopped. The long-nosed footman got down and spoke to John, then moved to the side of the road. John walked to the carriage and took the footman’s place.
The baron had offered a ride to John after all. It made no sense.
“Enjoy your solitary time with Mr. Lundall,” Daniel said.
Five
The next morning I wound my way across the lawn and down the steps leading to the garden and, a little farther, the path to the lake. We’d arrived home too late for much more than goodnights. I hadn’t even been able to give Alice her present on account of her having already gone to bed with a cold.
A breeze blew through the trees. Birds called and insects buzzed among the reeds. The calm water, lapping at the shore as though offering a caress, reflected white billowing clouds. A few rocks jettied into the lake, tempting me with the promise that by walking on them I could walk away from all the trouble men like Edward and Lord Williams created. Unwilling to resist their beckoning, I stepped along the dead-end path until water threatened to wet my boots. The air tasted wet and clean. This is exactly what I had missed by being away. This is exactly what I needed today.
“Margaret!”
Startled, I flung my arms out to keep from falling into the water and turned to see a chagrined Louisa, her hand covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed, her quiet voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to surprise you.”