The Secrets of Thorndale Manor: A Victorian Historical Mystery (The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire Book 2) by Syrie James

Author:Syrie James [James, Syrie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2025-06-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Pain seared through Athena’s face and shoulder as she smashed into the road. Although stunned, she didn’t have a second to lose. Using all her might, she rolled off the edge of the embankment into empty space.

In an ear-splitting roar of wheels and jangling harnesses, the hurtling carriage passed by with barely an inch to spare. Athena tumbled into the ditch, hitting the ground with a jarring jolt. She lay there for a long moment in the damp grass and cow parsley, breathing hard and too dazed to move.

If that carriage had run me over, I would have probably died.

Athena waited until the sounds of the vehicle had disappeared into the distance, and her pulse and respiration had resumed something close to their natural pace, before sitting up to take measure of her status. A sharp pain spasmed in her upper cheek. She flexed all her fingers, then tested her arms and legs to make sure that nothing was broken. Thankfully, other than an aching shoulder, she still seemed to be in one piece.

She stood up, wincing at a tenderness in her right ankle and miscellaneous other aches and pains. She did her best to wipe off the patches of loose soil from her dress and cape before climbing back up onto the roadside. As she resumed the walk home, favoring her good ankle, her mind buzzed with confusion.

It had felt for all the world as if that carriage had deliberately tried to run her down.

But that was a mad idea. Wasn’t it?

*

Athena arrived at Thorndale Manor to find Selena and Miss Russell seated on a bench in the rear courtyard, deep in conversation. At Athena’s approach, they both leapt to their feet, causing the notebook on Selena’s lap to tumble to the ground.

“Athena!” exclaimed Selena. “What happened?”

Athena struggled to keep her face expressionless as she made her way over to them. “I fell in the road on my way home from Darkmoor Park.” She couldn’t announce that she’d nearly been hit by a runaway carriage. What would their pupils’ parents make of that if it got back to them?

Selena hurried up to her. “Did you walk all that way on a twisted ankle?”

“It’s not twisted, just twinging a little. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

“Your cheek is all purple and the skin around your right eye is yellow,” observed Miss Russell, gawking at her. “Is your eye going to fall out?”

“I hope not,” Athena answered, amused and determined to change the subject. “What have you two been up to?”

“Miss Russell asked for advice about the book she’s writing. I’ve been reviewing the first chapters. She didn’t want you to see it until it was further along.”

“What are you writing about, Miss Russell?”

“A girl who makes friends with a ghost.”

Athena smiled. “I look forward to reading it.”

“Miss Russell, we’ll continue this at another time. You have three-quarters of an hour until dinner. Feel free to spend it however you like.”

“Yes, Miss Selena. Miss Taylor, I hope your ankle feels better,” the girl said before taking her notebook back and dashing off.

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