Lady Catherine's Secret: A Secrets and Seduction book (13 page)

“No... well, yes... I think I hurt my ankle.” Her eyes welled with tears.

“I need to find some help.” Catherine tried to keep her voice calm. “Poor Muggles was frightened and ran off. I need to find a way to get you home.” She patted her sister’s shoulder. “Wait here and don’t move. I promise I’ll be right back.”

Sarah’s chin trembled as she tried to keep her fear in check. Catherine had to force herself to leave her side, but she had no choice. It took two grooms to help them mount sidesaddle, or one groom and a mounting block. There was nothing around to serve as a mounting block, and Catherine couldn’t lift her sister up onto Wildfire without help.

She stood, grabbed her horse’s dangling reins, and led him up the path. Ahead of her, she heard the sound of approaching hoofbeats. Catherine turned around and pulled Wildfire across the path to protect Sarah from the oncoming rider. Judging by the sound of the pounding hooves, the horse was approaching fast.

Catherine tightened her grip on Wildfire’s bridle so he wouldn’t bolt. The hoofbeats were getting closer, and now Catherine could tell that two horses were coming. “Help!” she yelled. “Help us, please!”

The horses slowed, and a man’s voice called out, “Are you hurt?”

Catherine took a wobbly step forward as the rider appeared, rounding the promontory rock with Muggles in tow.

13 - Eyes the Color of Scotch Whiskey

Daniel’s stomach clenched as he rounded the corner of the trail.

Catherine stood in front of him, blocking the path with her horse. Thank God she looked uninjured. He’d immediately recognized her voice when he’d heard her calling for help, and he’d feared the worst.

“Lord Huntley.” She took a step to one side, allowing him a clear view of what lay behind her.

Daniel leapt from his horse, taking in the crumpled form on the bridle path. Although he’d planned an “accidental” encounter with Catherine, he counted himself lucky to be here at this precise moment. Of course, it also had something to do with the fact that he’d seen her take this path and had circled around to the other end, planning to meet her halfway.

“What happened?”

“Sarah took a bad fall from her horse. She was unconscious for a moment, but she’s awake now.” Her fists were clenched, but aside from that, she appeared calm.

Daniel furrowed his brow as he crouched down on one knee to look at the girl’s head. He smelled the iron tang of blood as he leaned over her. It dripped down the side of her face, seeping toward her ear. He removed his riding gloves and gently pulled her hair to one side to inspect her head. A lump had already emerged high on her forehead, and blood still oozed from the wound.

“The good news is that it’s a very small cut. It looks to be only a half inch long.”

He pulled a fresh white handkerchief from his pocket, tucked it into Sarah’s hand, and helped her press it against her head. He glanced at Catherine, noting that she remained remarkably calm and level-headed. No hysterics, no hand-wringing.

He looked back down at Sarah. “Press firmly against the cut. I know there’s a lot of blood, but head wounds tend to bleed profusely. It should stop soon. Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Sarah just gave him a wide-eyed stare, and Daniel wondered how hard she had hit her head. Could she be addled?

When she didn’t speak, Catherine answered for her. “She told me her ankle hurts. Perhaps she caught it in the stirrup when she fell.” Catherine crouched down and gently rested her hand on her sister’s laced-up boot.

“You can’t say ankle,” Sarah whispered loudly to her sister. “It’s not polite.”

Catherine grinned at her. “I just did, and nothing bad happened.”

Sarah glared at her and then turned her attention to Daniel. “The fixed pommel was bothering me, so I lifted my... my
limb
out of it to rest it on top, and at that exact moment, Muggles stumbled and I slipped off.” She lifted her head from the packed earth to look toward her feet. Her chin trembled. “It isn’t broken, is it?”

“I can’t tell, but I think we should keep your boot on until we get you home. I don’t want to jostle your
limb
any more than necessary.”

She nodded her approval at his plan— or was it at his proper use of the term “limb”? And then she bit at her lower lip.

The horses shifted restlessly on the path, and Daniel became aware of how cold the damp earth was under his knee. The girl would be chilled to the bone if he didn’t move her soon.

Sarah pulled the cloth from her head and examined it. “There’s so much blood,” she said, her tone shaky. The tears pooling at the corners of her eyes began to spill down the sides of her face, mingling with her blood.

“That’s because it’s a head wound,” he said again, wondering about the severity of the blow to her head. He exchanged a worried glance with Catherine. “It isn’t as bad as it seems. Keep the cloth pressed against it, and it will stop bleeding soon. Let’s see if we can get you up on your horse so we can take you home.”

Daniel stood up and reached out his hand so that Sarah could grasp it. He pulled her to her feet, but the girl stumbled and seized his sleeve to keep from falling. He wrapped an arm around her waist to help steady her.

“My head is spinning.”

“I don’t think you’ll be able to ride your horse after all.” He rubbed his chin. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you ride with me on my horse? I can help steady you, and your sister can bring your horse.”

“Muggles,” interjected Sarah.

“Muggles?” What on earth was the girl saying? It sounded like an expletive. That blow to her head seemed to have left her befuddled.

“My horse’s name is
Muggles
.” She sounded annoyed.

“Ah!” He grinned, relieved to learn she wasn’t spouting gibberish. “I like that name. Muggles. It makes him sound friendly.”

“Oh, he is.”

“Well then, your sister can lead Muggles home, and you can ride with me on my horse, Rajah.”

“Rajah? Isn’t a rajah like a king?” Sarah asked as he maneuvered her closer to his horse.

“Yes, it is. You’re a very intelligent girl,” he said, gently lifting her to sit just behind the saddle. He took care not to jostle her ankle. “My Rajah has a king-like disposition, and I’m sure he’ll be proud to carry a princess such as you.” He glanced behind her. With Sarah’s skirts trailing over the horse’s rear, it appeared as though Rajah wore a dress.

Daniel suppressed a smile as he handed Sarah the reins to Catherine’s mount. “Keep a firm grip on these and hold him still. You’ll need to play the role of a groom while I lift your sister onto her sidesaddle.” He waited until she nodded in agreement before turning to face Catherine.

He gestured her over and then stooped down as he laced his fingers together so she could step into them. He forced himself not to look at her small foot as she placed it in his hands and he then hoisted her onto the saddle. Last night his proximity to her bare ankle had incited the events that had led her to fall into his arms. Although he might enjoy recreating that moment, he didn’t relish having Sarah as an onlooker.

Daniel turned his attention back to Sarah, and with some athletic maneuvering, he managed to mount Rajah so that he sat in front of her. She wrapped her arms around him, clinging to his waist.

“I know what a Rajah is because Papa used to be in the army. He was in India for many years. In fact, Catherine and Charles were both born there.”

“Were they really? That’s rather unusual.” He shot a curious glance at Catherine and noticed that her lips were pressed together. Was she embarrassed by her unusual childhood, or was she simply bothered that Sarah talked about her?

“I’ve never been outside of England. Papa sold his commission when he became Grandfather’s heir, so he’ll probably never take us back to India. It’s so unfair.”

“Hmm.” The girl was full of information. Perhaps that accounted for the look on Catherine’s face.

“Catherine barely remembers India,” Sarah continued, “but Charles talks of it frequently. That’s where he first learned to fence.”

“We don’t live far from here,” Catherine said, jumping in and interrupting the flow of family information.

Daniel grinned. As an only child, he’d never suffered through the tribulations of having a younger sibling, but he’d witnessed Wentworth in similar situations. Sarah was precocious... and particularly chatty.

“Look at the way Rajah holds his head up high,” Sarah said. Daniel felt her lean slightly to one side to look past him, and he swept an arm back to make sure she didn’t lose her balance. “I bet all the horses in India look like him. He’s so handsome, and he looks proud and regal, just like a king. See?” she said as she released one of her arms on his waist to point. “He’s twitching his ears as though he knows I’m talking about him. I’m surprised Prince Albert doesn’t ride him. Prince Albert is married to Queen Victoria, you know. I’m sure he’d love Rajah.”

“I’d hate to have to give him up. Do you think I should hide him from Prince Albert?” he asked in a teasing tone. “Perhaps I should send him back to Scotland for safekeeping.”

“Silly.” Sarah slapped him on the shoulder and then wrapped her arm around his waist again. “Prince Albert wouldn’t take your horse from you.” She chuckled. “Ow... don’t make me laugh. It makes my head hurt.”

Daniel exchanged amused glances with Catherine.

The route to Catherine’s home took them directly past Daniel’s townhouse. As they approached it, he noticed one of his servants, Driscol, sweeping the front steps.

Driscol marked their approach, returned to his task, and then glanced back to stare at them. He dropped his broom with a clatter and rushed toward them. “Lord Huntley, may I be of assistance?” He trotted alongside them, his eyes full of concern as he took in the blood on Sarah’s face.

“You’re just the man I hoped to see. I’m escorting this young woman home. Please send someone to Kensington House immediately to inform them that Lady Sarah has taken a small spill from her horse and will be returning shortly.”

“I’ll do it myself, my lord,” he said, with a small bow of his head. He trotted around the side of the house toward the rear stables.

He noted Catherine’s frown. “I hope he won’t alarm them overmuch,” she said.

“Driscol is a reliable fellow. I’m sure he’ll be able to deliver the message without causing any panic.” Daniel urged his mount forward and they continued on toward Kensington House.

Catherine’s expression eased at his words. She looked over her shoulder and peered at his house with curiosity. “Am I to assume that is your residence, Lord Huntley?” she asked.

“Yes, for now.” He gave a small shrug. “I’m currently leasing this townhouse, but I hope to buy something larger. This place doesn’t allow me to entertain many guests, but it has the advantage of being conveniently located.”

“Does that mean you plan to spend more time here in London?” Catherine shifted in her saddle as she studiously avoided his gaze.

Could it be that his answer mattered to her?

Driscol overtook them on horseback, cantering past on his way to deliver the message. The young man was prompt, and Huntley watched him with satisfaction. Offering him this opportunity had been a good decision. The young man’s family had always been reliable, and Huntley had been pleased to offer him a position as footman. The young man had never wanted to work building ships like his father, but had frequently mentioned wanting to come to London.

Huntley glanced at Catherine, watching her through hooded eyes. “I plan to be in London for the next few months.” He noticed that her mouth twitched, but she said nothing. Yes, his answer mattered to her, but how? And why?

“I have a couple of reasons for frequenting London,” he continued, watching her reaction. How much did she know about him? “Over the past few years, I’ve developed many business interests in this region, and I must spend a great deal of time here managing them. Also, I find I enjoy visiting London. It’s become a second home to me. This is the first year I’ve availed myself of society’s entertainments. My title has been helpful in making me more welcome, despite my lowly business interests.” He pressed his lips into a thin line.

“Yes, most gentlemen tend to avoid business dealings, thinking it beneath them,” she said. Then she rushed to add, “But not in my family, of course. Papa has a keen interest in the shipping business and encourages my brother, Lord Spencer, to learn about it as well.”

He’d forgotten about the new Earl of Kensington’s interests, Daniel realized as he pulled his head back slightly. Kensington’s business involvement had caused him to remain on the fringe of society until just recently, when he’d inherited the title.

He frowned. Was she an outcast too?

“I’m glad you like London,” Sarah piped up from her perch behind him. “It’s one of my favorite places. Catherine loves it too, don’t you, Catherine? Perhaps you’ll find a house near ours. We could be neighbors.” She bounced a little on the saddle behind him. “Wouldn’t that be wonderful, Catherine? I’m sure you would love to have such a handsome man as Lord Huntley living next door.” Her voice took on a singsong quality as she openly baited her sister.