“We must have lost a wheel,” Perry said through clenched teeth, attempting to push himself upright. “Charlotte, are you well? Aurelia?”
Rubbing the side of her head with her hand, Charlotte nodded. As she pulled her hand away, traces of blood stained her fingertips.
“I believe I have hurt my head,” she said, turning to her husband, who was now standing on the wall of the carriage, her world upside down.
Lying on top of her, Aurelia’s breath began to speed up, and Charlotte worried her daughter might faint from the shock. Blinking, Charlotte watched as Perry came to examine their daughter’s face and body for wounds.
He then hunched over Charlotte, hissing as he moved her face gently, taking her chin in his hand.
“’Tis but a small scratch. Your mother will be well, Aurelia, once we find a way to get out of here.” Perry shouted for the driver. “Cedric?”
“We’re coming, my lord,” a muffled voice called back.
Beauregard had sent them with an extra man for protection. A few grunts could be heard as the men must have been righting themselves after being tossed from the carriage.
Perry prayed their injuries weren’t too grave.
Charlotte blinked, suddenly overcome with heavy fatigue. How would she get out of the carriage if she couldn’t keep her eyes open?
“My lord, I believe Winston has broken his arm. With your permission, I will send him back to the estate for another carriage and to send help,” Cedric called from outside the carriage.
“Very good, Cedric, I believe I can get the door. I will need assistance pulling everyone out from underneath as quickly as possible,” Perry called out, eyeing his wife and daughter with concern.
What a sad pair she and Aurelia must have made. Her daughter wept softly by her side. Charlotte reached a hand around to comfort the young girl, who nuzzled closer into her side.
Releasing a slow breath, Charlotte attempted to shake herself out of her stupor. If they sent someone to Bodmin or Fermoy, they would be rescued. The servants’ carriage may have already left and could take them the rest of the way. This meant they could still make it to London in good time. They had intended to stop at an inn for the night during their travels. There, they would have time to rest and see to their wounds. Fantasies of a warm, comfortable bed where she could rest were tempting. But first, she had to get up.
Help Aurelia.
She blinked, watching her husband push against the door for it to open. The crash had wedged it shut tightly, and if they could open it, they could drop out beneath the carriage before itcollapsed further. One wheel was preventing the vehicle from completely trapping them in by falling against the ground. It was hard to decipher how much time they had.
“We must get out quickly,” Perry spoke in a calm voice, pulling Aurelia off her mother. “Darling, I need you to crawl to Cedric. Can you do that, Aurelia? He will pull you out.”
With a tearful gaze at her mother, Aurelia reached a hand to Charlotte, afraid.
“Listen to your papa, my love. I will follow you. I promise.”
Sobbing, Aurelia crept down into the hole, and Charlotte’s stomach tightened.
She held her breath as she lifted herself up on one arm. If the carriage fell suddenly, it would crush their daughter to death.
“Yes, that’s it, nice and steady. Move quickly, good girl,” Perry muttered, dipping his head to watch their daughter as she disappeared from Charlotte’s sight.
“Come, Charlotte, you’re next,” he said as he gently took her by the arm and helped steady her as she moved out the door and slid out beneath the carriage. The vehicle groaned as she emerged, wobbling as she hit the dirt road. Panic flooded her body, and she winced at the possibility of the carriage falling and ending her life in a mere moment.
“Over here, Mama. I’m waiting for you,” Aurelia called, a light at the end of the tunnel, beckoning her to follow.
Distracted from her fright, Charlotte scurried out from beneath the carriage and emerged into the bright midday sunlight. Sobbing with relief, she gathered her daughter in her arms, waiting with bated breath for Perry to emerge.
Her husband was much larger than them, and she feared he would rock the carriage even more as he escaped. Perry’s gaze locked with hers as he dragged himself along the ground, his chest scraping along the dirt. He managed to keep from rocking the carriage further, which was teetering unsteadily on the spoke of the remaining wheel.
Her jaw ached from clenching her teeth as she watched him move. She couldn’t imagine how painful it was to crawl using his injured arm.
“That’s it, Papa, you’re almost there,” Aurelia cheered, her small encouragements bringing tears to Charlotte’s eyes. With a final tug, he strained his wounded shoulder and winced in pain as he broke free. He kneeled before them, looking them over carefully for any signs of further injury, then grinned, gathering Charlotte and Aurelia in his arms.
“And now, we wait for our other carriage to arrive. Let us go sit over there, so that we can be more comfortable,” Perry offered them each a hand and guided them to a verdant patch of grass.
Charlotte moved painfully, keeping an arm around Perry as they walked a short distance to wait for help to come. Cedric confirmed that he had been tossed roughly, but his injuries remained mild.
