“I am not leaving you!” he exclaimed at the sheer lunacy of her suggestion.
“You may make it and I…it is not me they are after,” she said, her voice quivering.
“What do you mean?” Somewhere behind them, a horse neighed, followed by rapid hoof steps. “Never mind, we have no time.”
He scooped her up into his arms and ran as fast as he could into the thicket of the forest.
“Ahead to the left, there is no path just beyond there. He will not be able to easily ride there with the horse.”
Oliver turned to the left as directed, the feeling of familiarity he’d had earlier, when the first arrow zoomed past him, dissipating. He had never been to this area of the forest before, he was certain.
He rushed, getting out of breath much faster than he was comfortable with. His breathing quickly grew ragged as he struggled to bring them both to safety.
“Set me down,” she said. “You cannot carry me further. Let me hide here and you continue to run.”
He shook his head. “I am not leaving you to fend for yourself. What kind of man would do such a thing?”
“Oliver…” she sounded desperately scared and it broke his heart. He had to protect her. Suddenly her right arm shot out and she pointed to something up ahead.
“There! The linden tree up ahead. We must go there.”
He squinted in the direction she’d indicate but saw nothing that would have made that particular linden tree more of a sanctuary than any other tree in the forest, until—
“A tree house?” About midway up the tree, he spotted the little tree house, hidden behind branches. It was not visible from the ground unless you looked up at the right moment and were expecting something out of the ordinary. He rushed toward the tree and set her down gently.
“There is a rope ladder…” she said hastily, hopping around the tree on one leg. “There is it!” She pulled on something and a precarious looking, frayed rope ladder tumbled down from the tree.
“Seraphina, I do not believe this is safe. How long has this ladder been out of use?”
She shrugged, “I have not used it since I was two-and-ten, although I am certain Mary has since then. However, I cannot tell for certain.” Without waiting, she pulled on the ladder, checking its sturdiness and then attempted to place her injured foot on it.
She winced with pain but tightened her grip around the rope to minimize the pressure, and then placed her healthy foot on the next step. She made her way up the ladder in that fashion. The grimace on her face grew ever more painful to watch. He could not imagine the pain she was in.
He shuddered at the thought and focused on the ladder, praying that it would hold her weight and would not snap, sending her to fall. He readied himself to catch her, but to his relief, it was not necessary. She made it up to the tree house and crawled in. A moment later, her pretty face peeked down at him and she motioned for him to follow.
With bated breath, Oliver stepped onto the ladder and made his way up. It swayed under his considerably heavier weight. The creaking of the steps alarmed him almost as much as the arrows which had zoomed past them not long ago.
When he made it up, she was there to help pull him into the relative safety of the tree house.
It was a very well-built tree house, although it looked as though it had not been used in some years. Dirt had gathered on the floor, leaves and even some small branches.
A small wooden table, large enough for two people, had toppled over and was resting against the right-side wall of the house. One chair, a leg broken off, lay on its back against the back wall. What remained of old, satin sheets which had been used as makeshift curtains wavered in the breeze.
As he glanced around, she quickly pulled the ladder up and then crawled away from the opening. With her back leaning against the wall of the tree house, she examined her ankle.
“Let me see, Sera.” He sat beside her and crossed his legs, placing her foot on his knee. The ankle was swollen and sprained for certain, although since she could move it, not broken. He gently massaged it, which seemed to help somewhat. Still, he dreaded the thought of climbing back down from the tree house on it.
How would she explain this to her parents? Certainly, they would be outraged she escaped. What if they sent her away?
He shook his head and focused on their current situation. They were trapped in the tree house for now. And, almost as alarming as the archer who was shooting his arrows at them, was the thunder which was quickly approaching. The blue sky was quickly becoming covered with clouds.
“This house was built for my Sisters and I by my Father. We used to come here to have respite from our Mother.” He nodded toward the chest. “It used to hold toys and a tea set. The governess would come with us and we’d have tea parties here.”
She noticed the way he looked at the entrance and shook her head.
“He cannot see us from the ground. Even if he could, there is no way he can make it up here. And if we stay away from the opening, his arrows will not reach us.” She frowned. “I cannot believe he continued to fire at us when he saw I was with you.”
Oliver looked up from her ankle and blinked.
“Why would he know who you are? Do you know who is after us?”
She nodded, a grave expression upon her fair face. She grabbed both of his wrists with her hands, squeezing gently.
“Oliver, I believe my Father sent him or them, for there may be more than one. Or perhaps my Mother. I believe they are attempting to scare you away. I am certain whoever is after us was sent by my parents.”
Oliver scratched his chin and shook his head. “Seraphina, are you quite certain your Father would do such a thing?”
Her visage darkened, eyes narrowed. He could see her nostrils flare with anger.
“He may not have. But I am certain my Mother would. I would not put it past her to instruct the archer to scare me as well.” She looked up, fury in her eyes. “Yes, the more I think of it, the more certain I am it was Mother. For, who else would it be?”
Oliver shook his head. “I do not know. Unless I recover my memories and find out who I am, we will never know. But you are right, certainly nobody would attempt to harass or even kill someone like me…I—” He had been about to say that he was nobody. But that wasn’t true.
“Seraphina, we have no idea who I am or what I did. We still do not know how I came to lose my memory. And the wound on my side…” he touched his right side where he had been injured, “it was a flesh wound. Perhaps the person who is assailing us now is the same who injured me then?”
He found his breathing quicken as the thoughts tumbled in his head. What kind of life had he led that might potentially lead assassins to come after him?
Who am I? What if I am a terrible person?
He looked at Seraphina beside him. “I may have been a bad person. These people could be after me for things I have done in the past. And by being around me, it endangers you.” He sighed. “Perhaps it would be best for me to leave. That way, I will lead them away from you. And if they are sent by your Mother, she will find solace in the fact that I am no longer here.”
She shook her head and turned, wincing as she pulled her foot away from him.
“Oliver, I know you. Even though I don’t know who are you, my soul knows you, as yours does mine. You are not a bad person.” She placed a hand on his cheek, making him shiver. “This person,” she turned her head toward the ground, “is a goon of my parents. I am sure of it. And I will put an end to this assault on you, believe me.”
No sooner had she finished, when the sound of a horse’s hooves thundered toward them. As if on instinct, Oliver leaped forward, in front of her to shield her. He placed a finger on his lip and slowly edged forward until he could peer down from the tree house to the ground below.
Beside him, Seraphina edged forward as well. Down below, they spotted a lone rider, on a large black stallion. He had a bow in one hand and arrows on his back. Dressed in dark clothes to o
bscure himself, he peered around into each direction. Thankfully for them, he did not look up.
From high above, thunder rolled across the land and shook the silence violently. A split second later, the sky opened, and rain began to fall. The drumming on the thin roof of the tree house had seeped through the cracks in the roof and walls.
Below, the rider cursed audibly and spurred the horse into a gallop, departing in the direction he’d come from.
A bolt of lightning crashed above them, too close for Oliver’s comfort. He felt himself shudder at the sight, images flashing through his mind. His sister Henrietta on her horse, riding and laughing. Then, a sudden turn in the weather. He’d seen the clouds change in his mind. He’d seen it, but had thought it would pass. She’d had such fun, and he hadn’t wanted to spoil it and then–
“Oliver!” Seraphina exclaimed; the sound almost drowned out by the noise of the rain.
She was by his side in a moment and he found himself with his head in her lap, being cradled as though he was a child.
It was only then that he’d begun to cry; cry so hard that he was sobbing.
As the thunderstorm raged on above them, trapping them in their tree house, he shivered and sobbed as Seraphina held him, muttering over and over to himself “Henrietta, I am so sorry. I failed you. I am so sorry.”
Chapter 25
He sobbed in her lap as the rain began to seep through the roof, soaking them both. She managed to encourage him to move to a dry portion of the tree house, but the sobbing did not subside. In fact, it appeared to get louder.
She craned her neck and looked outside, fearful that someone might hear him. However, she needn’t have worried. The lone rider, the archer who’d chased them, was gone. In addition, the crackling flashes of lightning and boom of thunder would have drowned Oliver’s cries out before they could have reached the assailant.
“Oliver,” she said as she gently stroked his hair. “Please, you must calm yourself. You are frightening me.”
These words seemed to have an effect on him at last and he slowly began to breathe more evenly. It was true. She was indeed terrified. The whole situation was the most frightening thing she’d ever experienced. Not only was she being chased, she was now injured and stuck in a tree house that swayed in the howling wind. And her only companion, and only comfort, had been struck by a sudden crying spell.
He had another memory. That is good. But it must have been a terrible one to send him into such a state. I only wish I knew what to do to soothe him further.
She remained seated, her injured ankle stretched out and away from her. She ran her fingers through his hair, separating the small knots as he began to compose himself.
At last, he sat up.
“Seraphina, you are a wonder. A true wonder. I apologize for this sudden change in me. I—” he shook his head and wiped his eyes with the back of his hand as another bolt of lightning flashed above them.
She flinched and glanced up. Seraphina had always been terrified of lightning. At the mere sight of a dark cloud, she usually rushed into the nearest building which could provide shelter. If she was caught outside and lightning appeared, she always found herself being able to sprint much faster than normal.
Today, however, she’d found herself ignoring the lightning as Oliver had needed her. Now that he was recovering, her old fear was beginning to dig its claws into her.
When another flash lit the darkened sky, followed by a crash of thunder, she closed her eyes and shook.
“Now it is I who is worried about you. My Dear?”
“I am not fond of the lightning.”
He sat for a moment, considering her face and then gave a nod. He rose and stretched his hands out toward her. She took them hesitantly, not sure what he intended to do.
“Come,” he led her into the furthest corner of the tree house, a corner dry and better protected from the rain which pounded down on them. He helped her seat herself in the corner and then moved the old wooden table toward them. Placing it on its side, it provided a shield.
“May I have the tailcoat?” he asked. She hadn’t realized she was still wearing it and gladly handed it to him. He placed it over the table, creating a sort of makeshift cave. Then he pushed the entire contraption closer to her.
“Crawl under, it will be like your own personal sanctuary.” She hesitated for a moment but when another crack of lightning flashed, she did as she was told. The top of the table shielded her from the outside view, and the dark material of the tail cot blocked out much of the outside world. Something she was utterly grateful for.
“I feel foolish,” she said as he sat cross legged outside of her shelter.
“There is no shame in being scared. Only in not admitting it and suffering senselessly.”
She looked at him and smiled. “Perhaps you ought to tell me what it is that made you so utterly miserable a moment ago. For you appeared frightened, although not of the weather.”
Thunder boomed but she felt comforted. He, meanwhile, did not appear to share that feeling. However, he nodded.
“I was not frightened. Alas, I was shaken.”
“Another memory.”
He nodded and licked his lips, looking at the floor.
“I remembered what happened to Henrietta.”
“It was the lightning and thunder that brought back the memory. Sera, it is so clear. Clearer than any I have had before.”
She bit her lip, tiling her head as she looked at him.
“Would you share it with me?”
He nodded and sighed. “Henrietta loved her horse. She would beg me to take her out to ride almost every day, and I always complied. I loved my sister.”
“Do you remember who you are?”
He shook his head. “No, it is as though I am in a dark forest and I only glimpse a tree here and there. And then, suddenly I am in a clearing and I see everything in that clearing. Yet, around me everything remains dark.”
He grew quiet. Seraphina could only imagine how odd it had to be for him to have a memory so clear, while still not knowing who he was.
“I remember that day in the clearing. I know Henrietta was my sister, and I know we were close despite the difference in age. But I do not know who our parents are, or if there are other brothers and sisters. But I do know…I know clearly…that I am at fault for her death.”
He pressed his lips together and shook his head. She could tell by the look on his face that he was trying to suppress the tears that wanted to force their way out.
“Oliver….” She took his hand which he grabbed and squeezed as if it gave him life force.
“She wanted to ride, and I knew it was a bad idea, for I could see the darkening clouds. But she was so excited about riding. She begged me and, in the end, I gave in. I thought a quick ride in the woods would appease her for the day. And that we could make it home before the weather got too bad.”
Above them, the thunder still boomed, and the rain poured, although not as hard as before.
“What happened? If it is too difficult to tell me, you do not need to. But know I am here to listen.”
He shrugged. “It is strange. I look at it all as though through a story book. As if I am watching a play at the theater without being in the play myself. And yet it feels real. I feel everything I felt then. It is ever so peculiar.”
They sat in silence for a moment, their hands clasped together before he began again.
“The bad weather caught up to us. Just like it caught up to us here. We returned to our home, galloping. I should not have allowed her to go so fast. She was a good rider, but not in such bad weather. I should have had her ride on my horse with me so I could shelter her from the rain. I should have led her horse behind us.” He swallowed. “I did none of these things. Instead I let her gallop ahead of me. We were so close to the house; I could see it ahead of me. Yet we never arrived. She never arrived. Not alive.”
Seraphina slid across the floor, a little closer to him while still
covered by the tailcoat. She placed her head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around him. He gently placed a hand on her forearm, rubbing it. The intimacy of his touch made the hairs on her arm stand up.
“A bolt of lightning struck very close to us. It hit one of the cottages on the outskirts of the property. The sound frightened her horse and she bucked. Henrietta screamed. I still hear her even now. She looked at me with her eyes wide as though she expected me to rescue her. She reached out her hand. I remember the dress she wore. It was blue. Bright blue, made of velvet. It was cold. Winter.”
He suddenly spoke quickly, pushing the words out as if he feared the memory might elude him once more if he didn’t.
The Trouble with Saving a Duke: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 18