Chapter 10

The Fall of Lady Bridget

Bridget rode away from the estuary, cursing herself for becoming caught up in a morning with the Duke and, worse, stoking his ego. It was an ego that certainly did not need to be stoked. Still, it was not as if she had succumbed to his charms or anything like that. She had sat in one of her favorite places with him and taken his compliments, and she had not been tempted to do anything.

Mostly.

When he was not saying things to get a rise out of her, he could be perfectly charming. Bridget corrected herself. He had been nice, not charming.

There was a flash to the left as a small animal darted out of one of the bushes. It zipped from side to side, a hare escaping from something. A moment later, a wildcat emerged, chasing the hare furiously. They were so fast that they passed by in a blur.

Bridget's horse snorted in fear at the quick movement, and it stopped suddenly. Bridget was thrown forward, but she managed to hold onto the reins and grip her horse with her thighs. Then, the horse spun, trying to make sense of the situation, and the force was too much.

Bridget was tossed sideways from the horse, a branch breaking her fall. She stuck out her hands as she fell toward a bush and was able to protect her face for the most part, but she could feel the small branches scratching at her. She landed on one foot, but the force made her topple over. She hit the ground with her shoulder, and the wind was knocked out of her.

There was a ringing in her ears as she looked up through the trees toward the blue sky. She struggled to breathe for a second, but then was quickly able to inhale. She groaned and then sat up to get her bearings.

Her horse looked calm again, and it stood a few feet away, looking down at her as if nothing happened.

There was a noise from behind, and Bridget worried the wildcat had returned. She tried to turn, but a sharp pain shot through her side.

The wildcat grabbed her, and she gasped.

"It's me," the Duke said. "I have you."

She leaned her head against his hand on her shoulder, comforted by his presence. Her body started to shake at the shock of being thrown off her horse. It was not the first time it had happened, but it never got any easier.

"Are you well?" the Duke asked.

"I don't know. There was a wildcat, and it spooked my horse, and I was thrown off it. I didn't fall very far, but my side hurts, and I think I scratched my face."

Bridget brought a hand to her cheek and placed a finger where it felt most raw. When she brought it away, there was no blood there.

"Just take it easy," the Duke instructed.

He moved around to her side and knelt on the ground. She knew he was getting his riding trousers dirty on the earth below and appreciated that he cared about her.

"Which side hurts?" he asked.

"My right side," she said.

She didn't expect him to touch her there, and she flinched when he did.

"It's alright," he soothed. "I can't see any blood, but I want to check you haven't broken a rib. Do you trust me?"

In most situations, she would not, but she did trust him to help her after her fall. She nodded.

The Duke placed his hand on her side again and checked her for any other injuries. He touched her gently, being careful not to let his hand stray.

"I think it is only bruised, but we will have to wait until we get back to the estate to have someone check. Are you able to stand?"

"I don't know," Bridget admitted. "I just need a moment." Her body would not stop shaking.

"It's fine. We have all the time in the world."

The Duke wrapped both his arms around her, just as he had done on the beach. Bridget could feel that there was nothing untoward in his actions. He only wanted to help her. She rested her head on his chest.

She could hear his heartbeat, and it helped calm her. He smelled of sandalwood and the early-morning dew. She inhaled slowly, and their breaths became synchronized. The pain in her side subsided a little.

"I think I can get up," Bridget said softly.

"Alright, let me help you."

The Duke stood up first, and then he bent down to help her up. As soon as she stood on her left foot, the pain ripped through her, and she almost fell. She would have if he wasn't holding her.

"Your foot?" he asked.

Bridget groaned and nodded. "I don't think it is broken, but it's twisted. I can't put any weight on it just yet."

"We'll have to ride back on my horse," the Duke told her.

"What about mine?"

"I'll tie him to the back of my steed," the Duke replied. "Let's get you back on your feet. Or foot! Lean on me, and try not to put any weight on your bad foot."

Bridget clung to the Duke as he helped her up a second time. She refrained from putting any weight on her left foot, keeping it raised and bent at the knee.

"Alright, over to my horse," the Duke said.

Bridget hopped her way over to the Duke's horse. He positioned her and then lifted her good foot into the stirrup. Bridget leaned on him and then swung herself over the horse. She leaned forward and grabbed the horse by the neck, lying on it.

"Just a moment," the Duke said.

He went to her horse and took the reins. He took a short length of rope from his saddle and tethered her horse to his. Then he patted her horse's neck to assure the animal that everything was fine. When he was done, he mounted his horse.

Bridget was glad for the warmth radiating from the Duke and the horse—she was feeling faint, and there was a chill in her bones. He took the reins in one hand and wrapped his free arm around her stomach. Bridget had not imagined how they might ride.

"Here we go," the Duke murmured.

They moved a little faster than a trot back toward the estate. They both bobbed up and down on the saddle. Bridget was in pain, but she held on to both the horse and her consciousness. She only needed to get back to the estate, and she could rest. One thought stuck in her head: how irritating the Duke would be because he had saved her. She almost laughed at how ridiculous the thought was, and didn't only because of the pain it would cause in her side.

The pain in her side disappeared, but she knew it was still there. The same could be said for her foot, but as soon as she put any weight on it, the pain would flare up.

They reached the estate thirty minutes later. It was still early, and most of the estate would still be asleep. Even if there were some awake, the breakfast room was on the other side of the building.

Nicholas reached the stables and stopped. He dismounted first and then lifted Bridget down from the horse. Bridget tried her left foot again, and the pain had dulled. She was able to put some weight on it and walk with discomfort.

"Can you please take care of my horse?" she asked. "I will go and ask for a doctor to be sent to check me over."

"It shall be done," the Duke replied.

He waited a moment because Bridget was looking at him as if she wanted to say more. She did want to say more.

"I… I wish to thank you for being a gentleman this morning," she began. "I suppose that when you try, you can be very polite and mild-mannered."

"Don't tell anyone," Nicholas teased with a wink. "I have a reputation to keep, and I shall have to start acting roguishly again. We can't have anyone thinking I am anything other than what my reputation suggests."

Bridget smiled.

"Until the next time, Lady Bridget," the Duke said, pretending to doff his cap.

Bridget wanted to assure him that there would not be another time alone together, but all she could do was smile some more as she limped back into the building.