B006DTZ3FY EBOK (29 page)

It did not take long to come upon Lady Hannah and Mr. Ellsworth, still riding tamely along the bridle path. As they approached, Lady Hannah
’
s eyes widened in innocent surprise.
“H
ow wind-blown you are,
Cynthia
! What kept you so long?
”

“I
lost my hat, and we spent some time retracing our race to find it.
”

Her poise was amazing. Derek looked sideways at her, wondering how she did it. Despite the straggling hair, she looked as cool and collected as if she and he had spent the past half hour cantering side by side and making small talk.

Hannah looked envious.
“I
wish I could ride well enough to race.
”

“Y
ou ride very well,
”
lied Mr. Ellsworth manfully.
“A
very graceful seat, by Jove.
”

Hannah looked so pleased that Derek bit back the jocular rejoinder that occurred to him. She bent her shy smile on Derek and said gratefully,
“I
t was Mr. Whittaker who taught me. I had always been afraid of horses before.
You
know, John.
”

“O
h, aye, I remember.
”
He chuckled.
“P
lough horse came and snatched an apple from her hand one day. One of those Clydesdale brutes, you know, seventeen or eighteen hands high. Enormous. Lady Hannah was just a wee bit of a thing, younger than Sarah is now. Nearly frightened the wits out of her.
”

“F
ancy you remembering that!
”
exclaimed Hannah.
“W
hy, I barely recall it myself.
”

“M
ade an impression. Never saw you run so fast, before or since. And my word, what a screech you let out!
”
He chuckled again, shaking his head.

Hannah looked embarrassed.
Cynthia
smoothly intervened, saying, in her calm way,
“A
t any rate, Hannah, you are not afraid of horses now. I think you deserve great credit. It takes courage to overcome a long-held fear.
”

Derek slanted a glance at
Cynthia
. She appeared serenely unaware of his scrutiny, but he was not fooled by her show of indifference.
“T
he prejudices we pick up in childhood are often the most difficult to unlearn,
”
he said urbanely, as if agreeing with her.
“A
nd sometimes adults make it their business to instill fears in children
—
fears that may protect us while we are small, but must eventually be outgrown.
”

Hannah wrinkled her nose.
“W
hat do you mean? Fear of the dark, and things like that?
”

“T
hat, and other things. For their own safety, children must learn to obey adults, for example. But sometimes the adults in a child
’
s life instill such a rigid regard for authority
—”

“T
hat
’
s so. I had a tutor once who caned me,
”
Mr. Ellsworth remarked, interrupting.
“H
e was a frightful old screw. Drank, too, as I recall. Tsk! He didn
’
t last long.
”

So much for communicating with
Cynthia
obliquely. Mr. Ellsworth and Lady Hannah fell into a reminiscent mood, chatting and laughing about their old tutors and governesses. Since neither
Cynthia
nor Derek had been acquainted with any of these persons, they were unable to contribute further to the conversation and fell silent.

It was difficult for the foursome to stay together. Lady Hannah was mounted on a fat little slug of a mare, an animal that dawdled along in a way that plainly irritated Max. He tossed his head and snorted, trying to communicate to Derek that a morning on the moor should not be wasted. Derek tended to agree. He leaned over to address
Cynthia
, who was riding along beside him.
“C
are for another gallop?
”
he murmured provocatively.
“Y
ou said you
’
d like a rematch.
”

Cynthia
ducked her head, smiling, and looked up at him through her lashes.
“I
said I wanted a rematch at Ballymere. But I
’
ll give you one here as well, if you like.
”

Unfortunately, Hannah had overheard.
“O
h, no!
”
she cried, in patent dismay.
“D
o not go off without us again. And besides, shouldn
’
t we turn back? We
’
ve been riding for simply ages.
”

“V
ery well.
”
Derek straightened and pulled Max to a halt. The others reined in around him.
“W
e
’
ll turn round, and race back to the top of the last rise. Who
’
s with me?
”

“I
am,
”
said
Cynthia
staunchly, as he had guessed she would. But to his surprise, Mr. Ellsworth chimed in.

“L
et us all do it,
”
he suggested.
“H
annah, you said you wanted to try, did you not? Daresay we can
’
t give these two much of a race, but you and I could race each other.
”

Hannah shrank with alarm
—
but she did look tempted, even so.
“O
h, dear me. I couldn
’
t, could I? Do you think I could?
”

“B
e good for you,
”
opined Mr. Ellsworth.
“G
ive you a bit of fresh air.
”

“I
don
’
t think Lady will toss me,
”
said Hannah brightly.
“S
he
’
s very gentle.
”

Derek had to hide his laugh in his sleeve. It seemed unlikely, to him, that Lady would be coaxed into anything faster than a trot.
“S
he won
’
t have time, between here and the rise. It can
’
t be more than a quarter of a mile.
”

The rules were quickly decided and the foursome took their places on the narrow bridle path, Derek and
Cynthia
in front and John and Hannah well behind
—
to avoid, Mr. Ellsworth jocularly said, having to eat too much of Derek and
Cynthia
’
s dust. When she actually had to turn her mount and face a racetrack, of sorts, Hannah was visibly nervous. She gamely said nothing, however, and prepared to urge Lady into the closest approximation of a gallop that the placid animal would give. Hannah was allowed to give the signal, and when she cried,
“N
ow!
”
everyone sprang into action. Derek and
Cynthia
flew toward the rise as one, low over their horses
’
necks and laughingly urging their mounts to greater and greater speed. The wind in their faces and the pounding hooves beneath them masked whatever sounds emanated from the other couple. It was only when they pulled to a stop at the top of the rise and turned, laughing, to beg Mr. Ellsworth and Lady Hannah for a verdict on who had won the race, that they saw what had happened behind them.
Cynthia
’
s eyes made sense of it before Derek
’
s did. With a startled exclamation, she headed her horse back to where Hannah lay in the dust beside the path, with Mr. Ellsworth hovering helplessly over her.

Derek rounded up Lady, who had confusedly wandered off onto the moor, and led her back to the group. He dismounted and took the reins of all four horses, listening quietly while
Cynthia
questioned her friend.

“N
o,
”
Hannah was saying as Derek rode up. Her voice was high and gasping with pain.
“S
o stupid of me! I don
’
t quite know what happened.
”

“’
Twas my fault,
”
declared Mr. Ellsworth, wringing his hands in distress.
“I
should never have let you try it. Why did you not tell us, dear girl, that you had never ridden at anything faster than a walk?
”

“W
ell, I didn
’
t think it mattered. I didn
’
t know how
different
it would be,
”
Hannah
confessed
.
“H
ow could I?
”

“N
ever mind that now.
”
Cynthia
took Hannah
’
s hand in hers and bent over her, her eyes anxiously searching her face.
“I
t doesn
’
t matter how it happened. Where are you hurt?
”

“S
he slid sideways. Slipped right out of the saddle,
”
exclaimed Mr. Ellsworth, interrupting.
“T
here was nothing I could do. Happened before I knew it.
”

“Y
es, yes, Mr. Ellsworth,
”
said
Cynthia
patiently.
“W
e shall discuss how it came about
later.
Pray let Hannah tell me what is amiss.
”

Hannah looked cautious, as if taking mental inventory of her body.
“I
landed quite hard,
”
she admitted.
“I
n a
—
in a sort of sitting position.
”
She seemed loath to name the body part she had bruised.
“A
nd I did something to my knee when I tried to catch myself. I had hooked it, you know, on the saddle horn.
”

“C
an you move your knee? Go slowly,
”
she warned, as Hannah winced.

“N
ot very well. It hurts.
”

Cynthia
looked up at Derek.
“S
he can
’
t ride back. That
’
s certain.
”

He nodded.
“I’
ll go.
”

“G
o?
”
Hannah glanced dazedly up at him.

“B
ack to the stables,
”
he said.
“I’
ll bring back a carriage of some kind.
”

“O
h, dear. How mortifying.
”
Fresh tears streaked the dust on Hannah
’
s cheeks.
“I
am putting you all to so much trouble, and I
’
ve ruined everyone
’
s morning. I
’
m so sorry.
”

“N
o trouble at all,
”
said Derek cheerfully. He gave her a wink and a salute.
“B
e back in a trice.
”
He tossed the rest of the reins to Ellsworth, jumped lightly onto Max, wheeled the gelding around and set off at a canter. That nincompoop, Ellsworth, was a useless creature, but it was clear that
Cynthia
had matters well in hand.

Really, the more of her he saw, the more he found to like. An excellent horsewoman
and
a cool hea
d in an emergency. S
he would make some lucky man an excellent wife.

Chapter
15
             
             
             
             

Cynthia
was thoroughly annoyed with Mr. Ellsworth. He had been worse than useless; he had actually increased Hannah
’
s pain by awkwardly trying to help her sit up. Hannah
’
s knee was swelling rapidly, and
Cynthia
finally begged Mr. Ellsworth to let her lie.
“A
nd, if you know how, pray unsaddle Lady,
”
she added, hoping to distract him with a task to perform.
“W
e can place the cushioned portion beneath Hannah to elevate the injured limb.
”

Thus adjured, Mr. Ellsworth stopped wringing his hands and blaming himself, over and over, for Hannah
’
s fall. He took Lady aside and eventually managed to get her saddle off.
Cynthia
stayed by her friend, shading her face from the sun and talking to her in a soothing, cheerful tone that helped to keep her calm. Hannah was a fearful little thing, and Mr. Ellsworth
’
s carrying on had all but convinced her she would be crippled for life.

Cynthia
gently helped Hannah raise her legs while Mr. Ellsworth, delicately averting his gaze, shoved the saddle beneath her calves. Hannah soon declared that the elevation of her knee had relieved her pain a bit.
Cynthia
thought this was probably a brave lie, but squeezed her hand in approval. Hannah
’
s attempt to be strong would,
Cynthia
thought, help her more than indulging the fears Mr. Ellsworth seemed all too ready to encourage.

Unfortunately, the instant that his appointed task was done, Mr. Ellsworth plunged back into his mournful litany of sympathy, remorse and alarm. Hannah bore it very well, seeming to like the attention, but it soon had
Cynthia
’
s teeth on edge. Mr. Ellsworth seemed to enjoy having his chivalry appealed to, so
Cynthia
finally turned to him with a display of helpless entreaty, begging him to walk the horses.
“F
or I cannot leave Lady Hannah,
”
she reminded him, a sentiment with which he instantly concurred.

By the time Derek returned, they seemed to have been stranded there beside the path for hours. The sun was warmer than it had earlier seemed, and
Cynthia
was exhausted from her efforts to simultaneously support Hannah
’
s flagging spirits and tactfully keep Mr. Ellsworth at bay. Her heart lifted with relief at the sight of Derek
’
s tall form appearing at the top of the rise and walking toward them. He was carrying something, but he was on foot.

“B
less me!
”
exclaimed Mr. Ellsworth.
“T
he bridle path is too narrow for the carriage. Why did we not foresee this? Oh, dear, oh, dear.
”

“T
here is no carriage?
”
cried Hannah, on a rising note of panic. From her vantage point on the ground, she could not see Derek
’
s arrival.
“B
ut I cannot walk. And I cannot
possibly
ride.
”

Cynthia
’
s patience was wearing thin.
“H
annah, hush. And Mr. Ellsworth, pray be calm! I am certain Mr. Whittaker has thought of something.
”

“H
alloa!
”
called Derek, giving a cheerful wave as he approached. His confident air was balm to
Cynthia
’
s flayed nerves. She rose to her feet and greeted him with relief. He walked up and tossed his burden on the ground.
“I’
m glad I thought of this,
”
he remarked, indicating the object he had thrown down. It was two long poles with a length of canvas strung between them.
“I
t
’
s a litter, for moving an injured person,
”
he explained.
“M
r. Ellsworth and I shall have to do the honors.
”

“O
h, no.
”
Hannah raised herself on one elbow, her face a study in dismay.
“Y
ou can
’
t be serious.
”

“I
t won
’
t be as bad as all that,
”
Derek assured her, smiling.
“T
here
’
s a two-wheeled trap on the other side of the rise. Couldn
’
t get it any closer, but at least you shan
’
t have to loll about like Queen Cleopatra all the way to Oldham Park. Bear with us, my lady; we shall jostle you as little as possible.
”

Hannah looked only marginally reassured.
Cynthia
felt a twinge of sympathy; it would be, she imagined, extremely embarrassing to be carried on a litter. More so, if one were secretly in love with one of the men doing the carrying. And even more so, if one were sensitive about being plump. Poor Hannah!

The two men stretched the litter out on the ground beside Hannah, and
Cynthia
helped her maneuver herself onto the thing. It wasn
’
t easy. Mr. Ellsworth seemed shocked by Derek
’
s suggestion that the gentlemen offer their assistance, and Hannah was too embarrassed to contradict him once he had made his feelings known. So, for propriety
’
s sake, the two females had to manage the task without help. Hannah
’
s skirts and injuries hampered her movement enough that she had to be half-lifted over the pole and onto the canvas. It was a struggle for
Cynthia
but she accomplished it at last, and after disposing Hannah
’
s torn and dirtied clothing appropriately, she announced that they were now as ready as they would ever be.

Hannah looked frightened.
“W
hat must I do?
”
she asked anxiously.

“J
ust lie as still as you can,
”
Derek told her. His tone indicated that there was nothing extraordinary or difficult in what they were about to do.
“W
e
’
ll keep you perfectly safe, Lady Hannah. Won
’
t we, Ellsworth?
”

“H
eavens! I hope so.
”
Mr. Ellsworth looked nearly as nervous as Hannah.
“W
e will certainly do our best.
”
He leaned over Hannah, where she lay stretched out like a body in a coffin.
“H
annah, my dear, we shall try very hard not to drop you. But if you should happen to fall off the litter for any reason, do try to break the fall with your hands,
”
he begged her earnestly.

“S
he will
not
fall off the litter,
”
said Derek firmly.
“A
nd we most assuredly will not drop her.
”
He strolled over to help
Cynthia
re-mount her mare.
“W
hat a fellow that Ellsworth chap is,
”
he muttered disgustedly, for her ears only.
“H
e
’
ll frighten Lady Hannah to death.
”

Cynthia
tried to reply without moving her lips.
“I
was never more glad to see you then when you arrived just now,
”
she murmured, placing her boot in his laced hands.
“T
hank you, Mr. Whittaker,
”
she added aloud, as Derek tossed her into her saddle and handed her her reins. He threw her a speaking glance before turning back to the others, but the instant he was facing Hannah once more, his air of cheerful confidence returned.

“W
ell, Ellsworth, I suggest you relinquish the rest of the reins to Lady
Cynthia
now,
”
he said, briskly rubbing his hands together.
“C
an
’
t carry her la
’
ship and lead two horses at the same time. Are we ready? Lady Hannah, are you quite comfortable? Well, well, never mind. Just wait until we get you off the hard, cold ground; you
’
ll be amazed at how much better you
’
ll feel. Lady
Cynthia
, pray bring up the rear. You can supervise from there, and shout out advice and encouragement as we go along.
”
He caught
Cynthia
’
s eye and she gave him an amused nod. She perceived, of course, what he was doing: maintaining a flow of nonsensical chatter to keep the atmosphere light and prevent Mr. Ellsworth from interjecting any more prophesies of disaster.

She was even more impressed when they reached the two-wheeled pony cart
—
without mishap, just as Derek had promised. He had piled the back of the vehicle with pillows and bolsters, anticipating that they would need to shield Hannah from the bouncing of the cart as much as possible. The horse drawing it had been tied to a stout bush, since trees were lacking, and was waiting quietly. The two men laid the litter, with Hannah on it, tenderly in the back of the trap. The bed of the vehicle was narrow, and, unfortunately, the litter poles stuck out on either side of it. Derek deemed this dangerous, so Hannah scrambled off the litter and into the cushions as best she could, and Derek stashed the folded litter in the underboot.

“I
am so glad you thought of pillows,
”
exclaimed Hannah gratefully.

“I
sent for a surgeon, too,
”
said Derek.
“I
hope he
’
ll be there by the time we return.
”

“E
xcellent,
”
exclaimed
Cynthia
.
“M
r. Whittaker, you think of everything.
”

“A
surgeon?
”
Hannah bit her lip.
“B
ut I don
’
t think I need medical attention. A day or two of rest
—”

“N
ow, Hannah, be brave,
”
said
Cynthia
firmly.
“W
e shall all feel better when we know you have been seen by an expert. A surgeon will be able to advise you what
’
s best to be done, and how to care for your injuries.
”

Hannah looked dubious, but fortunately Mr. Ellsworth chimed in.
“M
y dear Hannah, you cannot be too careful,
”
he admonished her.
“L
ady
Cynthia
is quite right. I, for one, shall not rest until I know you have received the best care available.
”

This evidence of Mr. Ellsworth
’
s concern seemed to perk Hannah up, so
Cynthia
bit back the crushing set-down she longed to give him. It was odd, she reflected, how differently Hannah was affected by Mr. Ellsworth
’
s demeanor; it seemed to strike her in almost the opposite way it struck
Cynthia
. Hannah seemed to find Mr. Ellsworth
’
s zealous solicitude comforting, where
Cynthia
found it exasperating. It would have driven
Cynthia
mad, had she lain injured while someone fussed about, glumly expected the worst, and made a point of reminding her of every dreadful thing that might occur.

She stole a glance at Derek Whittaker. Now,
there
was a model of
chivalrous
behavior. No nonsense, no fuss, no empty words of sympathy, no unnecessary precautions. Just action. Efficient, decisive action. What an excellent husband Derek would make for some lucky lady. She wished she believed that the lucky lady would be herself.

She stifled a sigh as she turned her attention back to her own appointed task: leading Mr. Ellsworth
’
s horse. Mr. Ellsworth was insisting on riding in the back of the cart with Hannah, supposedly to catch her if she started to slide. So
Cynthia
, on her mare, was to lead his horse while Derek drove the pony trap, with Lady tied to the back of the vehicle.