Page 9 of The Good Fortune of Miss Robbins

But they had someone I did not have, and that was their brother, Lord Brookhaven. I could tell by a few remarks from the children that they adored him, and he also must care for them. But the earl had a lot of other things on his mind than fulfilling a needed role in the children’s lives.

After we finished our half-day of lessons, I dismissed them to their nurse’s care, then I quickly wrote a letter to Hattie and set off to town to post it. It was a one-mile walk to the village, and I was grateful the day was warm and only slightly overcast.

But as I walked, some darker clouds began moving in. I quickened my step. I was no longer a schoolgirl, nor was I a carefree teacher at a school and village where everyone knew and accepted my ways, so I hurried to post my letter and return to Lowndesbury House before I was drenched.

I was enjoying the different scenery around me, the rolling hills grander than what I was used to in Milford, and the variety of wildflowers, some of which I’d never seen before. Even the trees were a bit different here.

Judging that the rain was still at least a half hour away, I stepped off the road to pick a few of the pink and purple wildflowers, my new favorites. I hoped I could find someone at Lowndesbury House who might tell me their names, although I wasn’t sure that was likely, since no one over the age of seven was at all inclined to speak to me.

No matter. Perhaps I would ask Lord Brookhaven.

I laughed out loud at the thought. I looked around, but the road was deserted except for me. As I picked out the flowers with the brightest colors, the sound of horses’ hooves beating fast approached from behind.

I stepped a bit farther off the road. Soon the noise grew quite loud, and a carriage pulled by two runaway horses came careening around the bend and off the road in my direction. The driver was missing.

My heart started pounding. The horses seemed to see me and corrected themselves, causing the carriage to swerve back onto the road. When it did, one of the wheels broke, sending the carriage teetering toward the shallow ditch.

I held my breath as the carriage seemed to take forever to decide if it would right itself or fall. But the momentum was too much, and it fell onto its side, bringing the horses to a rather abrupt halt ten feet from where I stood.

Someone inside the carriage was screaming.

I dropped my flowers and ran toward them.

The door swung up and open, as the doorway was now facing the sky. A man climbed out, heaving himself onto the side of the carriage, while the screaming continued from inside.

The man was hatless, with gray hair out of place and a wound at his hairline that was bleeding down the side of his face. He grimaced darkly.

The sound of more hooves drew nearer, then I saw it was a single rider galloping toward us.

Lord Brookhaven.

Four

Lord Brookhaven pulled on the reins, stopping the horse just short of the overturned carriage. “Is anyone hurt?” he said as he dismounted.

The gray-haired man was holding a handkerchief to his temple, slowing the flow of blood. “I don’t think my daughter is injured, just hysterical.”

The woman had stopped screaming, but she must have heard her father, because she cried out, “I am injured! I’m bleeding, and I can’t get out!” Then she started half-sobbing, half-wailing.

As I made my way to the carriage, the man addressed Lord Brookhaven. “Did you see our driver?”

“I saw him jump into the ditch. He appeared to be well enough.”

“That’s what I get for hiring an inexperienced . . .” His words trailed off.

I stepped forward and hoisted my skirt while I lifted my foot, then climbed onto the carriage. I leaned my head over the open doorway.

The young woman looked to be around my own age. Her hair was falling down from its pins, and tears made streaks through the dust on her cheeks.

“Can you climb up?” I asked her. She was tall enough to reach the opening.

“Climb? No. How can I climb?” Her voice was high and hysterical.

“It’s all right. Don’t worry.” I made my voice as soft and soothing as I could. “Do you have any broken bones?”

“I ... I don’t know.” She let out another sob.

She was standing, and I quickly determined that she was mostly uninjured.