Page 47 of A Lady Most Wayward (The Queen’s Deadly Damsels #5)

‘What the bloody hell is this?’ Cedric thundered.

His eyes had gone wide and wild at the sight of the journal.

He wheeled on Olivia. ‘You little bitch!’ He lunged for her.

Before Philippa could step in front of her, Olivia fisted her hand tight, pulled back her arm the way she had been taught, and punched Cedric as hard as she could.

She was aiming for his nose, but her fist landed smack in the middle of his neck.

Cedric stalled in his attack, both hands that were reaching for Olivia clasped instead around his throat as he gasped for breath. His face turned bright red, then dark crimson, then purple. He fell heavily on his arse.

As he writhed on the floor, Queen Victoria flipped open the diary. ‘I require my spectacles.’ She looked to the guards standing around her parlour. ‘You might as well release these people and make yourselves useful.’

The guard holding Hannah quickly let her go and began ferociously searching.

His fellow brethren followed suit, upturning every drawer, table, hearth, and desktop until one man held up a pair of glasses with a cry of triumph.

He cleared his throat, blushed furiously, and hurried to the Queen, bowing as he handed her the glasses.

‘Oi, I see ’ow it’s done now. Nice and fancy like.’ Billy mimicked the young man’s bow.

Millie quickly strode to the boy and pushed him behind her, the sumptuous copper gown nearly hiding him entirely.

‘That’s lovely, dear, but mayhap we’ll practise your courtly manners later.’

Drake joined his wife and cuffed Billy on the head. ‘You did well, lad.’ He winked at the boy.

The Queen raised a judgemental brow at the trio before returning her focus to the diary in her hands.

‘The Lord High Chancellor has sent me many letters during our work together. I noted early in our acquaintance his peculiar habit of adding an extra flourish to his “i”s. It is mirrored perfectly here.’ Victoria tapped her finger on the page.

‘Because it was written by his hand.’ Philippa spoke quietly.

Victoria speared her with a glance. ‘That is yet to be determined, Lady Winterbourne. I would remind you, I make the final decisions.’

Philippa bowed her head, but a smile played about her lips.

‘If your guard were to search Hardgrave’s offices and private rooms, I’m certain they would find other diaries,’ Commissioner Worthington added as he strode to Ivy and held her hand. He leaned close, murmuring something in her ear.

‘I’m perfectly well, Edward.’ Ivy smiled up at her husband. While she looked demure and delicate in her simple gown of ice blue, Olivia knew she held more courage in her little toe than the entire Queen’s guard combined.

Killian stepped forward. ‘As investigators for the Prime Minister, Drake and I would happily go ourselves to search Lord Hardgrave’s home and offices.’

‘But we wouldn’t want there to be any suspicion about planted evidence,’ Hannah added.

A small cough from the corner of the room shifted everyone’s focus as Hyacinth wiped tears from her cheeks and strode forward.

‘I can tell you where they are. He showed me. He made me read some of them out loud.’ Her eyes filled with tears.

‘He promised worse would happen to me if I didn’t write those terrible things…

’ Her voice trailed off as a sob choked her.

Finally free to act as she wished, Olivia rushed to her daughter, pulling the young woman into her arms as the girl dissolved into racking sobs.

‘He can’t hurt you now, darling. I’m so sorry. So, so sorry.’

Philippa still stood next to the Lord High Chancellor, who gargled something incomprehensible as his feet scrabbled on the floor. She lifted her skirt and kicked him hard in the ribs. The wheezing increased in intensity.

Queen Victoria looked from Philippa to the man at her feet.

‘Well, this has been a ball to remember. But it is late, and I am tired. I think I shall take this’ – she held the diary aloft, shaking it – ‘and retire for the evening.’ She turned to the head guardsman standing at her right.

‘Take him to Newgate until we can sort this out. I’m inclined to believe our Lord High Chancellor will be taking a very long journey to New South Wales in the immediate future.

I have heard the treatment of men like Hardgrave can be very rough indeed in prison colonies.

Mayhap he will learn some empathy for all those he has mistreated. ’

Queen Victoria flipped a few pages in the notebook, her glasses slipping to the tip of her nose.

‘It would appear he kept meticulous records of all those who worked with him. How convenient.’ She removed her spectacles and looked at the group of Damsels and their men.

‘You have work ahead. Best get some rest while you can.’

Queen Victoria swept to Philippa, whispering something to the duchess that had her cheeks warming in a blush. She dipped her head in a flustered bow. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’

As the Queen passed Olivia and Hyacinth, she paused, placing a small hand on Hyacinth’s shoulder. ‘You have shown courage and strength tonight, child. I am always amazed at the resilient nature of humanity. You will heal from this, I promise.’

Hyacinth ducked her head, tears falling freely though her sobs had mellowed to shaky breaths. Olivia squeezed her arm tight around Hyacinth’s waist, grateful to finally have her daughter back, devastated she hadn’t been able to protect her from her brother’s reach.

Queen Victoria looked once more into Olivia’s eyes, but this time, there was a warmth and understanding there that shocked Olivia.

‘No mother should see her child suffer, though we all must endure it. Even the Queen. For that, I offer my greatest sympathy. But while a mother’s love can be the most terrible of things, it also has the power to heal the deepest wounds.

I have found when facing adversity, it is my close confidantes who offer me the support and sanctuary I need to replenish and revive.

Never be afraid to draw close to your friends.

’ She looked meaningfully at Philippa, then back to Olivia.

‘Goodnight, Lady Olivia. I hope to see you again. Mayhap it will be the next time I visit with the duchess.’

Queen Victoria left with the royal guard fanning around her like a crimson shield.

‘In all my giddy daydreams, I never thought I’d ever meet the Queen. Me. A lowly maid who was raised in a prison.’ Penny shook her head, her face dazed.

‘There is nothing lowly about you, darling Penny. And you keep forgetting. You are a marchioness now.’ Liam pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

‘I don’t know what all the fuss is about.’ Billy ducked out from behind Millie’s skirt. ‘She ain’t ’alf so ’oit’-toity as the duchess.’ He nodded to Philippa.

Philippa crossed the room and took Olivia’s hand in hers. ‘I think it’s time for us to go home.’

Olivia looked at their joined hands. She glanced at Hyacinth, but she was too lost in her own emotions to notice what her mother was doing.

But she hadn’t missed when Olivia declared her love for Philippa in front of everyone.

It was a conversation they would need to have.

Later. When Hyacinth had been given the time, love, and support she needed to recover.

Right now, Olivia was going to let Philippa lead them out of the palace, into her carriage, and home to Belgrave Square.

* * *

When they arrived home, young Callum announced quietly that he would be going Cornwall, seeing as Miss Hyacinth had been safely returned to her mother.

Olivia tried to convince him to stay a bit longer and enjoy some of London’s amusements now Hyacinth was no longer in danger, but he was determined to get back to his mam.

Philippa handed him a heavy bag of coins and gave him free use of her carriage the next morning to take him to the train station. He turned crimson and tried to hand the purse back, to which Philippa merely raised her brow.

‘One does not refuse the gratitude of a duchess. Certainly not this duchess.’

He murmured his thanks, walked over to Hyacinth, and hesitated as though he might say something to the girl, who couldn’t manage to meet his gaze. In the end, he only nodded at her, gruffly telling her how glad he was she was safe, then strode out of the room. That had been several hours ago.

Now Philippa sat in bed, waiting for Olivia to return from tucking Hyacinth into her new room.

Despite the fear and horror of the past few hours, a warmth filled Philippa’s chest. She frowned, unfamiliar with this new emotion.

Unlike the fear she felt earlier in the evening, this was quite pleasant.

Is this contentment? Is that what I’m feeling? Dear God, is this what Hannah, Millie, Ivy, and Penny have been blustering on about for so long?

No wonder they defied Philippa’s orders to avoid love. This was absolutely bloody brilliant.

Olivia padded into the room. She wore a pale-rose quilted robe over a white nightgown. Philippa couldn’t wait to strip her bare and lie together, skin against skin, hand over her lover’s heart, breathing in rhythm with her other half. She patted the blanket next to her.

‘I’ve had a revelation,’ Philippa said as she pulled the covers back for Olivia to tuck next to her in the obscenely large bed.

‘Wait, before you tell me, I have to know something.’

‘All right. I suppose my earth-shattering epiphany can wait.’

Olivia grinned, then quirked her brow. ‘How did you get his diary?’

Philippa pulled her close, running her nose along Olivia’s cheek, nuzzling her neck until she squirmed. ‘When you were spying on me the other day at Twinings, did you happen to notice the young lad who bumped into your brother as he left?’

‘The one who spilt his tray all over Cedric’s waistcoat?’ Olivia gasped, and delightful things happened to her breasts, just visible through her nightgown. ‘Billy!’

Philippa nipped Olivia’s earlobe. ‘Billy,’ she confirmed.

Turning her head to give Philippa better access to her neck, Olivia sighed. ‘I can’t believe it’s finally over.’

The quaver in her voice pulled Philippa out of her desire and instilled a stronger need to comfort. She ran a soothing hand down Olivia’s arm.

‘He can’t hurt you any more.’

‘I never thought I would actually be free.’

‘Always. You will always be free. You can do whatever you wish. I only hope you wish to be with me.’

Olivia reached out, tucking a strand of hair behind Philippa’s ear. Her soft touch made something quiver in Philippa’s chest. ‘I never want to be anywhere but right here. In your arms. You are the future I didn’t dare dream of finding.’

Tears threatened. Philippa valiantly swallowed them down. ‘I never thought I would be free either. To love again. But I know Liza would have been so happy for me. For us.’ It was too late. The tears were falling. Olivia leaned close, kissing each drop.

‘I’m so sorry you lost her. But I’m so grateful we have each other now.’

Philippa cleared her throat, turning the conversation to other emotionally fraught issues.

‘How does Hyacinth fare?’ After Callum’s exit, the young woman had asked her mother to help her ready for bed.

She seemed oblivious to her surroundings as Olivia had led her up the stairs to Hannah’s old room. Now it would be Hyacinth’s.

Olivia’s smile was shaky. ‘Hyacinth needs time to heal. She was able to tell me that Cedric never touched her, so we have that to be thankful for. It was as I suspected. He was a doting uncle until just before the ball when he needed her confession. He frightened her with his diaries and threats, and broke her trust, but he didn’t break her foundation.

She is a strong woman. With time and love, she will heal. ’

‘Do you think she will ever come to accept me? To accept us?’ Yet another unfamiliar emotion swept through Philippa. She realised she was not a fan of insecurity in the slightest, nor the anxiety it brought along with it as an uninvited guest.

‘Well, she did ask me if we were going to be living here now.’

Philippa held her breath, terrified to ask how Olivia answered.

‘I told her that is what I wanted.’

‘And?’ she wheezed, still unable to release the air trapped in her lungs.

‘She told me your house is finer than any other she’s seen, including her uncle’s. She also wanted to know if you would teach her to fight. I think watching you go after Cedric the way you did woke something within her. She is hurt right now, but she’s also angry.’

Air rushed out in a puff. ‘I understand that kind of anger. So do you. Of course, I’ll teach her to fight.

I’ll teach her everything I know. She’ll be the deadliest Damsel of us all.

’ And she would. Philippa would make sure of it.

Never again would Hyacinth live in fear of her power being taken away.

‘Then that’s a start.’ Olivia brushed her fingertips over Philippa’s mouth. ‘I love you, Duchess.’

‘I love you too, Marchioness.’

Olivia flipped, giving Philippa her back. Philippa wrapped her arms around Olivia, squeezing tight, her fingers dipping into the loose neckline of her nightgown, stroking the soft underside of her breast.

‘You were going to tell me your revelation,’ Olivia murmured, wiggling her bottom to nestle against Philippa’s pelvis.

‘Oh. Yes. Well. I just realised that sometimes, it’s quite wonderful being wrong.’

Olivia burst into a startled laugh. She turned her head, and Philippa marvelled at the perfection of her profile. ‘I promise I won’t tell anyone that the indomitable Duchess of Dorsett has a few flaws. Never fear, my lady. Your secret is safe with me.’

‘My entire world is safe with you.’ Philippa pressed her lips against Olivia’s in a kiss that was more than just two mouths meeting.

It was two hearts intertwining. Opposite elements fusing into something completely new.

Two souls knitting together for the rest of this life and into the next. Forever.