Page 83 of The Runner
Caroline started as she heard the familiar voice in her head.
‘What is it?’ asked Caroline, as she watched Olivia’s face grow pink with excitement and fumble about trying to locate what she was looking for.
‘There’s a priest hole hidden behind the shelves,’ burst out Olivia.
‘Gracious,’ said Caroline, her heart racing as the memories of the wormhole flooded back and spun around her mind.
That’s why I’m being warned.
Caroline took a step backwards. She instinctively knew she shouldn’t risk getting too near the wormhole.
‘Our ancestors saved a Jesuit priest from persecution during the reformation. I entered the hole alone when I was a little girl, and my father was so angry, you wouldn’t believe! I remember crying for days because he wouldn’t let me go back in there and he ordered it be sealed over permanently,’ she whispered. ‘It is best Mother doesn’t hear us talk of it. I had a weird experience in there, you see, although I remember little of it.’
‘How fascinating. What do you remember?’
‘Only that for days after it happened, I kept talking of someone called Kate, and I believed I was her in a future life!’
‘Goodness, that must have been disturbing for you and your parents,’ said Caroline. She had seen George’s sister, Kate, in her dreams. How bizarre that Olivia should have experienced something similar.
Did Olivia experience the same kind of visions of the future as she did?
‘I think they thought I had gone mad and were worried they would put me in the asylum if anyone heard my claims, so they acted in haste. No one has entered the priest hole since,’ said Olivia, raising her finger to her lips. ‘Let it be our little secret now we are true sisters—even George must not know of it.’
Caroline patted Olivia’s shoulder. ‘Do not fear. Your secret is safe with me.’
‘Let us talk of happier things… Have our gowns arrived for the wedding yet? I am quite beside myself with excitement—I can barely believe the day will be upon us soon…’
‘No, our gowns haven’t arrived back from the seamstress yet, but I expect them any day. Did George mention we are to visit the church and meet with the new vicar this week?’ asked Caroline.
‘I was sad to see Father Cuthbert leave, but they say his replacement is a young, forward-thinking man,’ remarked Olivia.
‘That is good news indeed, given our circumstances,’ said Caroline. ‘There are quite enough people who disapprove of our union.’
‘Well, that is only because they do not know you. Anyone who met you would see immediately that you are exactly where you belong,’ said Olivia. ‘You belong in this family. It feels like you’ve always been with us…’
‘Whatever have I done to deserve a dear sister like you, Livvy?’ said Caroline. ‘Come along, enough reading for one day. Let us go and find George. Perhaps we may take a ride to Willow Wick this afternoon and enjoy some fresh air.’
And just like that, the wormhole was forgotten.
CHAPTER34
Willow Wick Church, York - Georgiana
Caroline enteredthe church on her father’s arm, who was dressed in his Sunday best. George had offered to send his tailor to measure him up, but Master Radcliff politely declined, saying he couldn’t abide the fuss and would dress well enough for the occasion. He promised Caroline that he would not let her down, and as they walked down the aisle to the sharpnotes of the organ music, it was clear he was a father who glowed with pride. He was still a good-looking man and cut a fine figure in his colourful knee-length coat, breeches, and dark leather shoes.
Caroline’s gown was made of cream coloured silk, and as she walked, she wondered whether she was having another strange dream and this fairy tale wedding was just a figment of her imagination. Perhaps she was dreaming about Cara and George’s wedding in the future?
But no, Caroline knew it was real when she turned her head slightly to the side and caught sight of Olivia, carrying the delicate train of her gownwith great care. She wore the pale blue bridesmaid gown, which was sewn especially for the wedding and complemented her blonde hair and luminous fair skin.
As Caroline neared the altar, she shook inwardly, but then George’s dark eyes locked onto hers and immediately reassured her. His presence was enough to calm and remind her they were doing the right thing, even if the wedding felt like a fairy tale.
Her father stepped aside and symbolically gave her away, and as Caroline joined George in front of the vicar, her heart palpitated so violently, she feared it must resound throughout the church like the organ music, all the way up to the high vaulted ceiling.
Because of theirunorthodox circumstances, they had agreed there would be but a few family members and close friends at the ceremony, which Caroline was infinitely grateful for because her new social status overwhelmed her. When they married, she would hold the official title of Countess, for George was the 4thEarl of Gloucester, and she couldn’t quite believe it.
She still reeled from the shock that George’s mother had accepted their marriage and given her formal approval. Caroline knew the match couldn’t have been what the countess had imagined for her beloved son, but the lady of the manor continued to be as kind and gracious to Caroline as she had since she first assumed her governess role. George’s revelations of their love and their desire to marry had taken the countess by surprise, but she had taken it in her elegant stride. Caroline thought her mother-in-law was the epitome of nobility and deserved her title. She hoped that she, too, would learn to be worthy of her fortunate position over time.
Theorgan music stopped abruptly, but Caroline’s heart continued to thump, and her bouquet of lilies shook in her hands as she passed the vibrant flowers to Olivia and tried to compose herself. The church fell silent as the new vicar appraised the couple before him, and he readied himself to perform his first wedding ceremony in Willow Wick.
