Chapter 21

Dominic saw everything that had happened. In fact, a single second of Catherine's fall felt to him like an entire hour, until he finally saw her laying unconsciously on the ground. He jumped down from his horse, kneeling beside her, gently shaking her shoulders in a desperate attempt to rouse her from her stupor.

"Catherine?" he called out her name. "Cate, please, wake up… you have to wake up!"

But there was no response, and panic threatened to consume him as he realized the gravity of the situation. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms, cradling her gently against his chest as he rose to his feet.

A moment ago, he was holding her in his arms, kissing her, and now, she was laying unconscious. Once again, life proved to him a fact he already knew. Everything could change in a blink of an eye. The people he cared for most could disappear from his life, leaving him all alone and desperate.

He tried not to give in to those hopeless thoughts. He couldn't. Catherine was counting on him. She needed him to remain calm and have them both return to the house safely.

With a determined resolve, he lifted Catherine onto his horse, carefully securing her in the saddle before mounting the same horse behind her. He would need to send for the other horse later. Right now, he urged his own horse into a gallop, his heart pounding in his chest as he raced back.

As they rode back, every moment felt like an entire eternity. He prayed fervently that she would wake up, that she would give him some sign that she was all right. But every time he glanced at her, her eyes would be closed and her body slumped, like a marionette without its strings or anyone to keep control of it.

"Stay with me, Catherine," he whispered to her more than once on the way back. "We have to race again. You have to show me that you are faster than me. You have to prove it. I need you to prove it to me, Cate… stay with me…" He kept repeating words that made no sense, but something assured him that she was listening. He had to keep talking, even if it was all nonsense. She needed to hear someone's voice, to know that she was needed back.

Finally, they reached the familiar surroundings of the estate and Dominic wasted no time in carrying Catherine inside, instead shouting at whoever was closest enough to hear him.

"Fetch Doctor Manning immediately!" he called out, his voice sharp with urgency. "Catherine needs help!"

Several servants sprang into action, while Dominic gently took her down from the horse. He hurried back to the house with Catherine cradled in his arms, when his aunt emerged from the doorway, her expression a mix of shock and concern.

"Dominic!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with worry, as her gaze jumped from him to Catherine, then back at him again. "What in heaven's name has happened?"

"It's Catherine," Dominic explained breathless, his heart still racing with fear. "She fell from her horse."

His aunt's eyes widened in alarm as she took in the sight of Catherine's still form. Without hesitation, she sprang into action, leading Dominic to Catherine's chamber with quick, determined steps. Once inside, Dominic laid Catherine gently on the bed, his hands trembling with worry as he smoothed a stray lock from her forehead. Aunt Penelope bustled about the room, gathering supplies and summoning the household staff to assist.

"Has Doctor Manning been called for?" she asked.

"Yes, I gave servants instructions to do so," he confirmed.

"That was good," Aunt Penelope declared with resolve. "Lady Catherine needs proper care, and we must do everything in our power to ensure her recovery."

She approached Catherine, who was now resting on the bed. His aunt took Catherine's hand into her own, squeezing it reassuringly. Then, she turned to Dominic.

"I'm sure everything will be fine," she reassured him. He was grateful for those words. He needed them. He only wished he could be as certain as she was.

Doctor Manning arrived swiftly, his presence bringing a sense of reassurance to the anxious household. He was a tall, distinguished man with graying hair and piercing blue eyes that exuded both intelligence and compassion. Dominic remembered how, in his boyhood, he saw the man as even taller, towering even, with his knowledge of the human body and its well-being.

But as he grew older, Doctor Manning seemed to grow smaller, until eventually, the two men ended up being the same height. However, that didn't take away from the respect the man deserved and received in Aunt Penelope's home.

"Oh, Doctor Manning, thank you for coming so swiftly!" Aunt Penelope seized control of the situation immediately, rushing over to the man who appeared in the doorway.

"Of course, Lady Huntington." Doctor Manning bowed respectfully before her, his black leather bag resting in his left hand. He turned his attention to Dominic. "Your Grace, a pleasure to see you, as always."

"The same, Doctor Manning," Dominic responded. "I just wish it was under better circumstances."

Doctor Manning smiled reassuringly, then glanced at Catherine's slumbering form on the bed. "That is the patient, I presume?"

"Yes, my wife," Dominic explained hastily. He had no idea why that fact was of relevance at a moment such as that one. Not that it mattered. "We went horseback riding about an hour ago, and she fell off her horse."

"I see," Doctor Manning nodded gravely, approaching the bed. He didn't turn to Dominic any longer. He was inspecting the patient with only his eyes for the time being. "She hasn't regained consciousness since the fall?"

"No," Dominic replied.

Concern gripped at his throat, and he found it difficult to speak properly. He was desperate for some good news, as he felt guilty for what had happened. It was his idea to go horseback riding. There was no need for it. They could have remained at the house, in separate rooms, he presumed, but Catherine would have been fine then. She wouldn't be lying unconscious in her bed right now. This was all his fault.

He watched as Doctor Manning carefully administered a few drops of smelling salts into a handkerchief. With gentle precision, he held the handkerchief beneath Catherine's nose, allowing the sharp, pungent scent to gradually rouse her from her unconscious state.

As the potent aroma of smelling salts filled the air, Catherine's eyes suddenly fluttered open, her breathing quickening as awareness slowly returned. Dominic's entire body was awash with relief at seeing her conscious again. With a soft groan, she stirred, her brow furrowing in confusion as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings.

"Easy now, Your Grace," Doctor Manning said soothingly, still keeping that respectful tone of voice. "I am Doctor Manning, the Huntington family physician. Now, from what I hear, you've had quite a bit of a tumble, but you're safe now. Can you hear me?" She nodded to his words, so he continued in the same gentle manner. "Can you tell me your name?"

She blinked dazedly, her gaze still a bit unfocused as she stared at the doctor's face, obviously not recognizing him, which probably alarmed her even more. After a moment, she nodded weakly again, her voice barely a whisper as she managed to murmur her name.

"That's it, Your Grace," Doctor Manning replied, his tone encouraging. "You're going to be just fine. Now, I need you to stay still while I examine you. Can you do that for me?"

With Doctor Manning's gentle guidance, Catherine easily complied, although Dominic could see her occasional gaze that was directed at him. Following a thorough examination, Doctor Manning provided his conclusions.

"Your Grace, it appears that you have suffered a mild sprain to your ankle," he began, his voice calm and reassuring. "While it is not a serious injury, it will require some care and attention to ensure a full recovery." He continued, explaining the recommended course of action to facilitate her healing process.

"To start, I advise you to keep weight off the injured ankle as much as possible. You may find it helpful to use a cane for support, but I would put emphasis on rest, ice compression and elevation of the injured limb, allowing time to heal it naturally, while refraining from activities that might exacerbate the injury."

"Yes, Doctor Manning," Aunt Penelope jumped in immediately. "Dominic and I will make sure of it."

"Indeed," Doctor Manning concluded, offering a reassuring smile. "With proper care and patience, I'm confident that her ankle will heal well."

Then, Dominic remembered something else. "But what about her falling unconscious?"

Doctor Manning turned to him. "It is quite common, Your Grace. The fall was a shock for both the body and the mind. But I see no injury to her head or anywhere else, which is a blessing. A mild sprain is the best silver lining I have seen in a long time."

He paused for a moment, then continued. "However, if you start noticing some changes in her behavior, like slurred speech or dizziness, headaches and the like, do not hesitate to call for me for another check-up."

"Thank you, Doctor," Dominic smiled, offering the man his hand, which Doctor Manning shook cordially.

"Just remember, lots of rest and keep her weight off the injured limb," Doctor Manning reminded them once again.

He proceeded to bid them all goodbye, then left the room. Aunt Penelope rushed over to Catherine's side, taking her hand once again.

"You've given us quite a scare, my dear," Aunt Penelope spoke, her eyes wide with both concern and tenderness.

"I'm sorry," Catherine smiled a little weakly. "I didn't mean to."

"No matter," Aunt Penelope assured her, patting her hand. "All that matters is that you will be all right, and that it is nothing but a sprained ankle."

"Don't worry, Aunt," Dominic interjected. "I shall ready the carriage and take Catherine home, so I can—"

"You most certainly will not," his aunt interrupted him, shaking her head. "You will both stay here as long as it takes for her to heal completely."

"But what about your own obligations?" Dominic inquired politely, remembering that she had some plans to go visit a friend.

"What did I always teach you, Dominic?" she asked, with a smile. "Family comes first. Always. Now, I will not hear another word of you forcing this sweet creature to endure a carriage ride with a sprained ankle. Not if I can help it. No, no, no. You shall stay here with me and we shall take good care of Catherine."

Dominic exchanged a helpless glance with Catherine. It was obvious that they both agreed that a sprained ankle was nothing too demanding, and Catherine could easily travel with a carriage back to their home, where she could rest. After all, did it matter in whose home she was resting? Obviously, it mattered to his aunt, so he simply agreed.

"Well, if you are certain that it won't be an imposition," he said with an amused shrug.

"Imposition? When is family an imposition?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. "Now, I shall go and fetch some tea, the three of us can sit here, and you can tell me the entire story of how this unfortunate event happened."

"It is all Dominic's fault," Catherine said still a little weakly, but she said it with such determination following with an impish smile that it made everyone chuckle.

"Oh, I see how this is going to be," Dominic playfully threatened her with his index finger. "You two will band together against me."

"That depends, my dear," his aunt replied, resisting a chuckle. "On whether Catherine is right."

"Of course she is not," Dominic responded, much to the amusement of both ladies. "But a man cannot stand against two women and be right."

This made the ladies laugh again, after which his aunt waved her hand at him. "I shall go fetch that tea. It should give you enough time to come up with a good strategy to prove your point."

In those words, she left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Dominic and Catherine alone. He locked eyes with hers.

"I… I was merely joking," she explained, blushing softly.

He walked over to her and caressed her cheek with his hand. He loved it when she became all rosy like that. He thought she might flinch or move away, but she didn't.

"I know," he smiled. "And don't think that I will say you won the race just because you sprained your ankle."

Her eyes narrowed in mock shock, but a smile danced on the corner of her lips at all times. "You villain!" she exclaimed, making them both chuckle.

He couldn't remember the last time he felt so comfortable around someone. He almost didn't recognize that sensation. How could he, when he never felt about anyone as he felt about her?