Page 36 of His Godsent Duchess
Christina tilted her head, intrigued by the glimpse into his past. "And where does it lead?"
For a long moment, he said nothing, his eyes fixed on the path before them. Then, with a measured breath, he answered, "It leads to a lake."
"Have the girls been there?"
His reaction was immediate, and his tone more guarded than she expected. "No. I would not allow them to venture that far into the woods."
They likely have without your knowledge.Christina sensed a shift in his demeanor and decided to tread carefully. "Was your brother very adventurous?"
His jaw clenched at the question, and she instantly regretted it. It took him several seconds before he spoke, his voice tight. "He was too adventurous for his own good."
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken words, and Christina bit her lip, realizing she had touched upon something that closed him off once more. To ease the tension, she offered a gentle smile and said, "Angelique is quite well trained. She responds beautifully."
Victor's features relaxed slightly, and he glanced at the mare. "I trained her—and Toro—myself."
Christina blinked, her jaw dropping slightly. "I don't believe you," she said, her tone teasing to lighten the mood.
His brow lifted, amusement flickering in his eyes. "I can tame anything."
Her grin widened, and before she could stop herself, she added, "Anything except your daughters""
Victor's expression softened further, and he gave a slow nod. "And my wife, it seems."
The warmth in her chest spread, though she tried to mask it with a light laugh. Their banter felt easy, natural. She hadn't expected this from him—a man so often shrouded in reserve.
Just then, a sharp creak overhead broke the moment. Christina's gaze snapped upward just as something moved in the trees above. Before she could fully register what it was, Angelique reared back in panic.
"Whoa!" Christina cried, tightening her grip on the reins, desperately trying to calm the horse. But the mare's hooves landed unevenly on the rocky ground beneath them, and the next thing Christina knew, the world tilted violently.
Christina felt herself slipping. She tried to regain control, but it was too late—the mare fell, and Christina was thrown to the ground.
Sixteen
Aloud crack echoed through the woods, and before Victor could fully register what had happened, a tree branch fell, crashing onto the path ahead of them. Toro halted immediately, but Angelique reared, startled, her front legs kicking the air. In a blur of motion, Christina was thrown from the mare's back. Victor's heart twisted violently, and his breath hitched as he watched her fall.
He dismounted swiftly, his boots hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Rushing to her side, his insides churned with dread. Angelique, thankfully, had not landed on her, but the sight of Christina wincing on the forest floor filled him with a raw, gnawing fear.
"Christina," he called softly, his hands moving over her body, checking for any sign of injury. His fingers grazed over her arms, her ribs, her legs—desperate to ensure she was unharmed.
She opened her eyes and struggled to catch her breath. "What... what happened?" she asked, her voice shaky as she attempted to sit up. Victor slipped his arm behind her back, helping her ease into a sitting position.
"Are you in pain?" he asked, his voice tight with concern.
She shook her head, though she winced again. "No... merely had the wind knocked out of me."
Victor's gaze darted to Angelique, and Christina followed his eyes. The mare lay on the ground, struggling to rise. Christina gasped, her concern immediately shifting. "Angelique—what's wrong with her?"
"I'll tend to her," Victor said, his tone firm. He moved to the horse, his hands running gently over her foreleg. The strain was obvious near the hoof—likely from landing awkwardly on the uneven forest floor. He helped Angelique to her feet, watching as she limped, favoring the injured leg.
Turning back to his wife, Victor found her already standing, though unsteadily. "How are you feeling?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Christina offered him a faint smile, though worry flickered in her green eyes. "I'm well. What about Angelique?"
Victor explained, "A branch fell in front of us. She reared and must have twisted her leg when she landed."
Without hesitation, Christina knelt beside the mare, her fingers tracing carefully over the injury. "We need to get her back to the castle," she said, her voice steady despite the concern in her gaze. "If we wait too long, the injury might worsen."
Victor watched her, his admiration for her sharp reasoning growing. She spoke with certainty, with care, and he could not help but feel a strange pull toward her in that moment.
