After a mostly sleepless night, I finally gave up trying when dawn came. What point was there to lie about in bed? I dressed and made my way to the stable, detouring through the kitchen to alarm the cook by snatching some bread to stave off my hunger. The morning air was crisp, and I breathed it in, enjoying the scent of hay and feed.

The grooms and stable boys were already hard at work. I nodded at them as I passed, intent on reaching my destination. "Hello, old boy," I said when I reached Phaeton's stall. My horse bobbed his head in answer and nudged my arm, no doubt searching for some treat. "Did you miss me?"

All I got in answer was a huff of horse breath to my face when I bent to lean my forehead against his. Laughing, I patted his neck and fed him a small carrot that had also made its way into my pocket when I had gone through the kitchen. Phaeton crunched it as I collected my riding tack.

"I can do it, Master Lucas." One of the older grooms, the man who had taught me to ride, attempted to intercept me.

"I prefer to do it myself, this one time, Geoff," I said with a smile. "You have duties to see to this early in the day, and I don't want to wait. I've been away from Phaeton too long, and I want to run him."

With reluctance, Geoff stepped back but remained nearby, watching as I saddled Phaeton. "It was a bad day when Mrs. Bywood fell," he finally said.

My attention caught, I glanced over my shoulder. Finally, someone who could give me some answers to the questions I had. "What can you tell me about what happened, Geoff? I know Mama is too good a rider to be caught off guard by a hole in the ground."

The groom nodded, his expression grave. "She is. Mrs. Bywood went out riding, as was her habit. I went about my own business, and a few minutes after she left, I heard the screaming. We all ran to find out what had happened. The mistress had only gotten as far as the road, and she was trapped under Sprite."

Sadly, I could imagine what it must have sounded like. I had heard the anguished screams of horses injured before and knew I would remember the bone-chilling sound to my dying day. The thought of Mama's cries of pain being added to those of Sprite's made me shudder. I was sincerely glad I hadn't heard it.

"I sent John to get the doctor and Roddy to get Mr. Bywood while the rest of us got the mistress free," Geoff continued, his voice troubled. "We got the mistress home in a cart, but there was nothing we could do for Sprite. The only thing to be done was put her out of her misery."

"What aren't you telling me, Geoff?" It felt like everyone I had spoken to since I stepped foot on the estate was trying to protect me from something. "Did you see the hole?"

Geoff nodded. "I tried to tell Mr. Bywood about the hole, but he wouldn't listen. It wasn't natural and placed right where Mrs. Bywood always jumps. She wouldn't have seen it when she approached the gate, and she wouldn't have been able to avoid it once she was in the air."

"Someone dug a hole deliberately?" I demanded, horrified at the thought. Who would do such a thing to Mother? "You are certain of this?"

"When I went back to have a second look and collect Sprite's body, the hole was filled."

Phaeton bumped his head against my shoulder, impatient for us to be on our way. Reaching back to pat his neck, I considered what I had just learned. "My father didn't believe you?" I guessed. Since Father had said it was an accident, I already knew the answer to the question. Geoff's nod merely confirmed it. "No one else noticed?"

"If they had, maybe Mr. Bywood would have believed me."

Taking a deep breath, I reached over to clap him on the shoulder. "I believe you." How well I knew the value of hearing those words from someone! "Thank you for telling me, Geoff. I will do my best to discover who did it."

"Be careful, Master Lucas. You may not like the answer when you learn it."

He walked away before I could ask what he meant by those words. My first thought was his implication was my father who dug the hole. "But that's ridiculous," I said to myself, leading Phaeton out of the stables. "If any two people loved each other, it's Mama and Father. There must be another reason."

I pulled myself up into the saddle and guided Phaeton away from the yard. I could feel Phaeton stretching his head, eager to race. Knowing I couldn't think about Mama's 'accident' and focus on my ride, I pushed the new information from my mind to give my attention to Phaeton. I nudged his sides and off we went.

Keeping Phaeton from a full run for the moment, I went to the site of Mama's accident. I rode right up to the gate and studied it. Naturally, I knew I would find nothing of any use at this point, but I wanted to get a fresh look at it. Many times in the past Phaeton and I had jumped in the same spot, and it hadn't changed much.

Shaking my head, I guided Phaeton away. "Alright, boy. Let's fly!"

Green grass rushed by under Phaeton's hooves as we crossed the pastures. I barely took in the sight of the growing fields and the wildflowers that were blooming along the fencerows. The smell of early summer was on the wind and was invigorating.

When I finally reined Phaeton in, an hour later, we had reached the pond that often served as the destination for a picnic. Ducks were swimming in the middle, creating ripples that stirred the water. A frog jumped from the banks into the water as Phaeton, and I walked by. Birds sang all around me, and a cow lowed nearby.

Halting Phaeton, I gazed over the scene. Nothing could compare to the serenity of the country. As much as I had enjoyed the streets of Paris and the parties in Venice, I knew I would always return to where I had grown up. Or at least, someplace that reminded me of home.

"Olivia, where are you going?"

A woman's voice startled me out of my reverie. Across the water, I saw a young woman coming around a bush, following the path that led from Braglow to the pond. She was looking over her shoulder and hadn't noticed my presence yet. A moment later, another woman came into sight, twirling a parasol.

One of them could be Phoebe, and I felt a moment of panic. I didn't feel ready to face her, not without this whole engagement thing settled. Then again, who better to resolve the matter with than her? And being away from our parents was definitely an advantage.

"Here we go, Phaeton," I murmured, patting my horse's neck. "Let's see what has brought two ladies out so early."

I rode towards them, certain they would hear my approach. The second lady hurried to the first lady's side the closer I got. I slowed Phaeton to a halt and dismounted a few yards from them. "Good morning," I said, pulling my hat from my head. I offered a bow, keeping Phaeton's reins in my hand.

"Lucas Bywood?" the second girl asked, sounding alarmed. "Is that you?"

Turning my attention to her, I frowned. Gone was the tangled hair I remembered her always having and no longer did she appear gangly. Her hair was arranged in a surprisingly elegant way, for her being on a country walk, with one curl on her shoulder. Her gown wasn't wrinkled or stained, but dainty and fashionable. Phoebe Ramsey had gone from an ugly duckling to a swan while I had been gone!

"Miss Phoebe Ramsey. You're looking well this morning."

"Thank you?" Her tone was uncertain, and she sent a wide-eyed glance at her friend. "I didn't know you had come home. Did you come with Mil—I mean, Mr. Russell?"

Her companion heaved a sigh and shook her head. I glanced at her as I frowned at Phoebe's use of my best friend's Christian name. "No, I did not. I wasn't aware he was planning on coming this way."

Miles had initially gone on the Grand Tour with me but had left after a month in Italy. He had said foreign travel wasn't for him and had seen enough for a lifetime. He and I had met up while I was in London, though we had not had the opportunity to do more than acknowledge each other and share a few news items, which is how I knew about his father wanting to sell Midnight Summer.

But the news that he was to come to Bywood Hall should have been the first thing he told me.

"Oh, dear. Olivia, this is Mr. Lucas Bywood," Phoebe said with a start. Her cheeks had flushed a bright red. "Mr. Bywood, Miss Olivia Darkin. She and her aunt are here for my parents' house party."

"Miss Darkin, it is a pleasure to meet you," I said, bowing again.

Miss Darkin made a brief curtsey, her blue eyes bright with curiosity. She was not as elegantly dressed as Phoebe, looking more at home in the country in her pale blue gown. Black hair peeked out from under her bonnet. "Mr. Bywood," she said with a pleasant smile. Her voice had a soft, musical quality to it. "I see you are taking advantage of the lovely weather this morning."

"I must confess I was not expecting to see two fine ladies at this hour. What prompted this early morning excursion?"

Miss Darkin glanced at her companion, but Phoebe was steadily gazing up at the sky as though the wispy clouds were the most fascinating thing she had ever seen. "Is it so odd ladies would choose to walk at this hour?" Miss Darkin asked when it was clear Phoebe had nothing to say.

"Not at all. It's simply unexpected."

She gave another soft smile. "Will you be joining the gentlemen for their competitions during the house party, Mr. Bywood?"

"I expect I shall," I said, though I had had no such notion in mind before that moment. I shifted my gaze to the woman my father expected me to marry. "Will it be a big party, Miss Ramsey?"

It felt strange to be formal with her. She had always been 'Phoebe' the entire time I had been growing up, among other more unpleasant nicknames when we hadn't gotten along. I'm not sure why I felt like I needed to adhere to propriety when I had never been so inclined before but I convinced myself Miss Darkin had nothing to do with it.

"Oh, isn't that lovely!" Miss Darkin exclaimed. She started for the edge of the pond, leaving Phoebe with me.

"Your friend is pleasant," I said to Phoebe. She steadfastly refused to meet my gaze as she stared in the opposite direction. "You must be happy to have another female of your own age in the house now your sisters have all married and moved away."

At long last, she brought her gaze to me, her eyes wide, panicked. "Please don't."

"What?"

"Oh, dear, she's been telling me and telling me I need to decide how to speak to you about this," she said, wringing her hands together and completely confusing me. "Why couldn't you still look like the evil boy who tormented me?"

Evil boy? Me? When had I ever been the one to torment her? Shoving away the desire to argue the point, I shook my head. "What's wrong, Phoebe?"

"Now, you mustn't go into a decline over this or some such silliness," Phoebe continued as though I hadn't said anything. "And I don't want you to be mooning over me either. I don't think I could bear it."

"Decline? Mooning? What kind of novels have you been reading? Phoebe, can you be serious for one moment and tell me what's bothering you?"

"I don't want to marry you."

After all my father's worrying about the money and saying Phoebe expected to marry me, this was all it would take to put an end to it? "You don't want to marry me?"

She shook her head. "Oh, you are upset, aren't you?"

A laugh left my lips. Maybe Father and Mr. Ramsey would be disappointed, but they couldn't argue with Phoebe and me both. "Of course I'm not upset. I had no intention of asking for your hand in marriage."

She blinked, and a frown began to form. "You didn't? Why not?"

"Because you and I would never have suited," I said bluntly. Did she expect it was all well and good for her not to want me as a husband but she would be insulted when I didn't want her as my wife? "When it comes right down to it, we would not have made each other happy."

Pursing her lips, Phoebe shook her head, and her expression was mutinous for a moment. "But you're supposed to be in love with me."

"I have to tell you I am not."

She scowled for a moment but then sighed. "Then, I should be relieved, I suppose. I would hate for you to be mad at Mr. Russell. An estrangement between two best friends over me would be horrible."

Biting my tongue, I kept from laughing. "Miles? Why would I be mad at Miles?" A split second later, I remembered her earlier slip up using my best friend's first name. "Oh. Have you and Miles formed an attachment?"

Phoebe's smile became bright. "He intends to offer for me," she confided.

"Then, I wish you both much happiness," I told her honestly. Though I couldn't see what had attracted Miles' attention. Phoebe's looks may have improved, but she seemed sillier than ever. "He is to join the house party?"

"He said he was staying with your family."

A frown creased my forehead. "I see. I hadn't been informed of that."

And Miles hadn't said a word about it when our paths crossed in London. Did he believe I was in love with Phoebe? I would have to put things right as soon as I saw him.

"Phoebe, we should return," Miss Darkin said, as she joined us. There was no sign of whatever it was that had caught her attention and prompted her to leave us in the first place. "I am ready for my breakfast, and I want to sketch some of these flowers before I forget them."

On impulse, I bent down and broke off several of the wildflowers at their stems. I offered them to Miss Darkin. "So you don't forget."

Raising her eyebrows, she accepted the small bouquet. Phoebe stared at us with open astonishment. "Thank you, Mr. Bywood. Good day."

"Good day, Miss Darkin, Miss Ramsey," I said, stepping back. I mounted Phaeton and guided him in the direction of home. As I rode away, I couldn't resist glancing over my shoulder once. My eyes connected with Miss Darkin's, for she had glanced over her shoulder as well.

It felt like a good morning indeed.