you,” Lady Seraphina said, “but the time has come for me to take advantage.”
Angelica wasn’t sure what she was talking about and realized she didn’t much care. She was simply glad to be rid of the woman who was now running forward, bustling her way past Miss St. James and Miss Stevens and practically elbowing her way to the front.
Lucy glanced back at Angelica as if to say, ‘what’s going on?’ Angelica merely shrugged and kept on walking. She’d almost reached the others when a sudden gust of wind swept past her, whipping her gown around her ankles. She stumbled against the force of it.
“Be careful,” Randolph warned. “No! Wait!”
A scream sliced the air. Angelica blinked and looked toward the rest of the group. And then she gripped her skirts and ran forward. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure,” Lucy told her.
Together, they moved past the women blocking their view. A strange ball of emptiness grew in the pit of Angelica’s stomach. She stepped forward, her gaze following the path that descended to the vast blanket of heather below. Randolph was making his way down as quickly as he could manage, his long legs carrying him toward the spot where Lady Seraphina lay in a crumpled heap.
“Goodness,” Angelica muttered. She’d imagined this very scenario just a few minutes before, but surely… No. It was just a coincidence. The wind had come and Lady Seraphina had been hastening forward. She simply must have lost her balance.
“Her parents will have my head,” Lady Seraphina’s chaperone complained. “Oh heavens, they’ll sack me right on the spot.”
“Now, now,” Rose told her in that soothing voice she’d used on Angelica so often when she’d been a child. “The wind caught her unawares, that’s all.”
Angelica frowned. The air was completely still.
She glanced back at Colchester Hall and froze.
There, framed by the curtains in her bedchamber window, was a woman. Mrs. Essex perhaps? It was too far to tell. She blinked, and when she opened her eyes again, the woman had gone.
“I have to get her back to the house,” Randolph said, startling Angelica as he passed her with Lady Seraphina in his arms.
“O—of course,” Angelica said even though she was fairly certain he hadn’t been addressing her alone. She swallowed and did her best to stem the unnatural foreboding that twined itself around her.
“You look unnerved,” Lucy remarked. “She’ll be all right, you know. I believe it’s just a sprained ankle.”
“Yes,” Angelica muttered, forcing a smile. “There’s nothing to be concerned about.” Repeatedly, her gaze drifted back to her bedchamber window as they walked toward the house. It remained empty, devoid of movement and life.
Randolph was in a significantly better mood the following day when he escorted the young ladies into the village. According to the physician he’d sent for, Lady Seraphina had only sprained her ankle and simply needed to rest. Her health was not in any danger, but he would at least be saved from having to suffer her company. Instead, he’d allow himself the satisfaction of pursuing Angelica.
With this in mind, Randolph deliberately snuck between her and Miss Harlow and offered each an arm. Miss Harlow grinned and her eyes sparkled with mischief, suggesting she knew precisely what he was about. With luck, she’d prove a valuable ally in his attempt at courtship.
Angelica on the other hand was surprisingly demure today. Unlike herself. Only the ghost of a smile graced her lips as she glanced up to acknowledge his presence, and uncomfortable looking creases marred her forehead.
“I must commend you,” he said, deciding to start with a compliment. “It was good of you to defend Miss Stevens yesterday.”
Her lips parted. Surprise widened her eyes. “You heard?”
“We all did,” Lucy chimed in. She quickly bit her lip. “Sorry. I should have mentioned it.”
A lovely blush flooded Angelica’s cheeks. She directed her gaze forward. “I couldn’t keep silent. To do so would have gone against my moral compass.”
“I know,” Randolph said. He dipped his head a bit closer to hers and added, “Yet another reason why you have gained my regard.” Her blush deepened and he mentally marked the moment as a small victory. “While I did suggest visiting the teashop and haberdashery, I would like to stop by the bookshop for a quick look.”
“Oh.” The singular word – more of an exclamation, really – popped out of Angelica’s mouth with startling rapidity.
Randolph smiled. He hadn’t known she was fond of reading. It wasn’t something they’d discussed. But it pleased him to know they shared a common