Page 82 of The Runner
George indicated for him to speak, with a nod of the head.
‘Are there any witnesses to swear Ralph Knight was responsible for the fire? You were witnessed threatening to burn the house down, so to bring a case against the Knight fellow, I fear we would need more than your word alone, which would be questionable given the circumstances.’
‘There is someone, but she was injured and isn’t in a state to be questioned right now. Knight admitted he started the fire and threatened her before fleeing.’
The constable took Caroline’s name and said he would return to speak with her after he had made his initial enquiries.
‘I shall see what I can do, but in such a case, I have to say, it’s unlikely we will find him, unless he’s hiding in the village or hereabouts.’
‘I trust you will do all you can, and I cannot ask more of you,’ said George.
‘Good day, my lord. Once again, I apologise for speaking out of turn, and wish you and Mistress Caroline a speedy recovery.’
They shook hands and George rang the bell for the maid to see him out.
‘One more thing,’ George said.
‘Yes?’
‘May I count on you to forget the matter of the duel and not bring it to the attention of the court?’
The constable inclined his head. ‘What duel?’ A smile crossed his narrow lips. ‘As I said, your father was a fine man and I have no argument with the Cavendish family—you have done nothing but good for the village.’
After the constable left, George sank into the chair, exhausted. The wound on his face throbbed and his head pounded, and the lack of sleep was catching up with him.
George guessed Knight would be miles away by now. He wouldn’t risk being accused of instigating a duel, and attempting to burn Willow Manor to the ground with the entire household asleep inside. No, he would be long gone. George consoled himself that something good had come out of his reckless behaviour.
And Caroline is home.
Willow Manor,York - Georgiana (One month later)
Caroline and Oliviafinished morning lessons in the library. Caroline was no longer Olivia’s governess or lady’s companion in an official capacity, but they naturally resumed studying together because they enjoyed each other’s company.
‘I am thrilled at the prospect of having you as my real sister. I loved you from the beginning and I just knew there was something special about you—it was as though you belonged here all along,’ said Olivia.
‘Dear Livvy, I could not wish for a more sweet-natured and wonderful sister. I too am overjoyed.’ Caroline clasped the girl’s hand and thanked God for the happy turn of events.
She would never have believed things could work out so perfectly, and that soon she would be Lady Caroline Cavendish, and a countess.
Caroline and George were to be married in a modest ceremony in the pretty little church in Willow Wick, where Caroline had attended services with her parents when her mother was alive.
After the initial shock, even the countess had resigned herself to George’s intentions, on the one condition that he and Caroline took an extended trip to the continent after the wedding to allow the scandal of their marriage to die down.‘I can’t abide gossips. I shall have my dear sister come to keep me company while you are away and soon enough there’ll be something new for them to tittle-tattle about,’ said the countess.
The newly betrothed happily agreed to the terms and were busy preparing for the wedding and the trip.
Caroline snapped back to the present and noticed Olivia examining the tall shelves.
‘Are you searching for something in particular?’ she called from her position on the window seat.
‘Yes, now you are my sister; there’s something I want to show you, but I can’t quite recall exactly where it is.’
‘I’m intrigued,’ said Caroline, and then switched her gaze back to the window and watched the workers as they continued their restoration of the wing of the house that had been so nearly destroyed in the fire.
‘Here it is,’ called Olivia, running her hand over the frame of one section of the heavy oak bookshelves. ‘Come over here and I’ll show you what I mean.’
Caroline crossed the room to stand beside Olivia. As she stood there, a memory flashed into her mind. It was rare for Caroline to experience one of the vivid visions she experienced so often before the fire—they had faded into her consciousness, almost as though they never happened. The strange period when she was aware of living two lives simultaneously had passed as quickly as it had come, and she hadn’t mentioned it to George, even after they were betrothed. It had not seemed like the right thing to do, and so she had kept her own counsel.
Don’t go in there.
