The driver reached in and took Amy’s hand. “Careful, milady. Just go slowly.”
She slid gently forward on the seat and took the man’s hand, then stopped and held her breath when the carriage moved again. When it settled, she took another step, and the driver mumbled an apology, grasped her around the waist, and lifted her from the carriage.
Once she was on her feet, she was able to see the damage from the broken wheel. It was a blessing they hadn’t been killed. In the meantime, William had exited the vehicle and stood alongside her. “It could have been worse.”
“I agree.” She wrapped her arms around her middle and shivered. William took off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. She immediately felt the warmth and inhaled the spicy scent from his soap.
“John, fetch us a hackney so I can get Lady Amy home, and then we will arrange to have the carriage brought to the mews. I’m not sure if it is salvageable, but I will have someone look at it.”
He turned to Amy. “I suggest you have your cook fix you a tisane, or maybe have a bit of brandy to help you sleep. You will most likely be sore in the morning, too.”
“And you as well,” she added.
“Yes.” He rolled his shoulders. “I already feel the effects.”
“Milord, I was able to secure a hackney.” William’s driver walked up to them.
“Thank you so much for your drivi
ng skills,” Amy said as the driver stopped in front of her. “This could have been much worse had you not taken things under control.”
The man smiled, and despite the lack of light, she could have sworn he blushed.
William took her arm and walked her to the hackney, gave the driver her direction, and paid him. He helped her into the vehicle, then leaned his arm on the door. “I will call on you tomorrow afternoon to see if you are doing well.”
“Thank you. Good night.” The door closed, and she was on her way. As the carriage turned onto George Street, she remembered she still wore William’s jacket.
* * *
Three days after the carriage accident, Amy made her way downstairs from her bedchamber to the drawing room. She was still a bit sore, but the black-and-blue marks on her body had begun to fade to an interesting yellow and green. She’d also been suffering from a headache since the accident and wondered if she had struck her head and didn’t remember doing it. That could be why she had passed out.
Despite Amy’s protestations, Aunt Margaret had insisted on calling a physician, who had checked her over and found her just bruised. He’d left her some laudanum to take twice a day, but Amy had decided to stop that as of today. Her body still pained her in places, especially when she walked, but there would be no more pain medication for her. Since laudanum was a form of opium, the last thing she wanted was to become addicted.
As promised, William had stopped by to ask after her health Sunday afternoon but had not requested to see her, since she was in bed at the time. He later sent a note once again asking after her health and requesting to call on her when she felt able to accept company. The visit had been set for today, and since she was weary of staying indoors, she was delighted to see the lovely spring weather. Their visit would take place in the garden.
Eloise had also visited with her Sunday, keeping her laughing with stories about the activities she and her cousin had been enjoying. She’d also told her she would be traveling to London with her cousin for a short visit. Ordinarily Amy would accompany her, as she’d done many times before, but with the murder investigation, she couldn’t leave Bath and didn’t want to, anyway.
She carefully eased herself into the most comfortable chair in the room and thought once more on the accident. It was quite lucky that she and William hadn’t been killed.
She had barely settled into the chair when Lacey entered the room, her face registering the perpetual look of sympathy she’d adopted since Amy arrived home from the accident. “Milady, Lord Wethington has arrived.”
“Thank you. Please ask Cook to prepare tea and a few sandwiches. I am hungry and slept through breakfast once again.” As Lacey turned to do as she was bid, Amy added, “Oh, and please serve the tea in the garden. Lord Wethington and I will be strolling there.”
“My dear Lady Amy, how are you feeling?” William limped into the room with the help of a cane, a bright smile on his somewhat battered face. He had apparently smacked his head during the accident, because she noted a bruise on his right cheekbone.
“I find each day I feel a little bit better.”
’Twas so good to see William. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until he hobbled into the room. Maybe experiencing a life-threatening situation together had something to do with it. She now felt an attachment to him she’d hadn’t before.
“What happened?” She gestured to the cane.
He smiled and waved the stick around. “Oh, this? I hadn’t realized it that night, but I twisted my ankle during the accident and find it much easier to walk with the help of my friend here.”
“Lacey is arranging for tea. Also some sandwiches, if you are hungry. I thought we could take a walk in the garden and have our tea out there.”
“Ah, I can always use a bit of food. And a stroll in the garden sounds like a splendid idea.” He withdrew a paper from inside his jacket. “Although I am glad to see you, to make sure you are still in one piece, there is a particular reason I needed to speak with you.”
Amy opened her mouth to respond as Lacey returned once more to the room. “Milady, the two detectives are here and want to speak with you.”