John’s Downfall
Lelia M. Silver
Chapter 1
John Wharton reined in his stallion atop the highest point in Pemberley. The knoll provided him with a scenic overlook of the vast fields and woodlands belonging to the property and the road that linked it to the neighboring estates.
There would be no one traveling that road at this time of the day, with visiting hours long past and darkness approaching. The early hours of twilight had always been a favorite of John’s.
The play of light against dark and the way peace settled over the land along with the gray hues of dusk settled his spirit and surrounded him with a calm he had rarely felt since his mother’s death so many years ago. The years had been kind to him, there was no doubt about that. They had brought with them a loving home and surrogate parents in the form of Uncle Thomas and Aunt Mary. He had a fine outlook for the future, too. His aunt and uncle had five daughters and no son. It was understood that he would inherit their estate, Kaverstow, when the time came. And yet, something was missing.
His soul itched with a need he could not define. He had a loving family, good friends, and the Darcys had welcomed him with open arms to their home. He lacked nothing. Except, he did.
Looking at the road below, he sighed and admitted the futility of his wandering thoughts. He had been feeling this way ever since his sister had run off to Gretna Green and gotten herself married, leaving her friend Olympia Bodham to be the one to inform the family of her supposed disappearance.
Of course, Olympia had no way of knowing that Emilia’s disappearance was actually an elopement when she had summoned them to London with an express. His mouth tightened at the memory. It had been unkind of Emilia to treat her friend so callously, especially since she knew how difficult Mrs. Bodham could be. It had taken a lot of courage for Olympia to defy her mother and send an express to Kaverstow.
Those days spent in close company with Olympia as they awaited news of Emilia had changed him. He had been acquainted with her for years as his sister’s friend, but she was quiet and unassuming, and he had never really noticed her before then. He had always been busy around the estate, his mind consumed with matters that had seemed far more important at the time than a shy young miss who could barely speak two words in his company. And then she had gone to London with her family for her debut at eighteen and he had not seen any more of her, although his sister had corresponded with her regularly and even visited her from time to time, when Mrs. Bodham was feeling generous.
He was surprised, when he had seen her again in London, that she was not yet married. The young woman was an heiress, and should have been a hot commodity on the marriage mart if for nothing else than the size of her dowry. Add to that her silky brown curls and rosebud lips, and she should have flown off the shelf, not still be clinging to it at twenty. Not that he would have wished such a farce of a marriage on a sweet, genteel lady like her. No, she deserved far more than that.
He could not help but wonder where she was now. He had heard some talk through the grapevine from Emilia that she and her family were planning to return to their country estate after the Season to escape the heat and smells of London during the summer. She was probably in Hertfordshire by now, enjoying a book by the stream. A smile quirked up the far corners of his mouth. Or besting her father at chess.
He was startled out of his reverie by the appearance of a carriage on the road far beneath him.
Time had slipped away from him, he realized at the gathering darkness. Soon the sun would have completely slipped from view. He frowned at the carriage below as it rambled along at a fast clip. Whoever it is was, the driver was traveling far too fast for the condition of the roads and the fading light. There was a curve in the road coming up that had already claimed far too many victims. He hoped the driver had the sense to slow his speed before he got that far. Just in case, he nudged his mount into motion and headed down the slope to the road below.
*****
Olympia Bodham tried to discreetly stretch her legs inside the confines of the travel coach without disturbing her sleeping maid. The poor dear had terrible traveling sickness, and slumber was the only reprieve she had from the affliction. Even in her sleep, she still looked a little green about the gills. Lord knows, with the hours they had put in on the road from London these last few days, the woman deserved as much rest as she could get.
She frowned as the coach swayed as they went around a corner and grasped the seat to keep from sliding into Sally. A quick glance out the window netted her a view of branches whipping by and scenery flashing faster than her eyes could process it. She bit down on her bottom lip and wished futilely that the driver would slow down.
She knew after days on the road that the man was eager to reach his destination and the hot meal and comfortable bed that awaited him there. She could not say she did not want the same things. After the long days on the road, a warm bath and a comfortable bed sounded heavenly. She simply had the patience to wish they would make it there safely, if not quickly.
Dusk was setting in around them, and she worried that they would not beat the last lingering rays of sun home. It had been a risk, setting off as late as they had from their last overnight stop and pressing on for home. She only hoped it would not cost them more dearly than the time they gained.
She let out a breath of relief as she felt the coach slowing for a turn. Finally. It was nice to know the driver was not so irresponsible a chap as to take their safety for granted.
CRACK!
Olympia straightened in her seat in alarm at the loud noise that reverberated through the cabin an instant before the world started leaning dangerously to her right. The horses’ cries of alarm ringing in her ears, she had only one brief instant of horror to realize they were going over the embankment on the side of the road before the world went mercifully black.
© 2014 All Rights Reserved Lelia M. Silver
