Page 39 of A Duke's Wicked Secret
“On your count,” Theo offered.
“All right: one, two, three!” Penelope yelled, and they both dug their heels hard into their steeds’ sides urging them forward. They took off with a flash, and as they reached the second stretch of the race, they were still neck and neck full of competitive exhilaration.
Penelope’s heart raced wildly as they neared the last turn of their race, and she gave Phoenix her head and let her gallop at full speed. The wind whipped in her face as she leaned closer to her mare’s mane so as to create less resistance, and Penelope felt a thrill of victory as she took the lead by more than two lengths.
In a flash, though, she realised that something was amiss, her saddle was slipping from under her, and before she had time to comprehend what was happening, Penelope had hit the ground hard and was rolling down the slope.
At long last, the world stopped moving, and she laid there for a few moments in shock. By the time Theo had reached where she lay, the reality that she had fallen from her horse entered her mind.
“Penelope, are you all right?” Theo exclaimed as he jumped off of General, and in a mere second was at her side with his hand cradling her in his strong arms.
“Ahh, I think so. To be honest, other than sore and very dazed, I do not feel anything hurting at the moment,” Penelope said as she began slowly sitting up. When she did so, she tried to move her right foot and felt a searing pain shoot up her leg! Penelope cried out in agony and reflexively grabbed her foot.
“Careful. Here, let me test it for you. Try to hold still, my dear,” Theo directed her.
Penelope listened to his direction and sat there doing her best not to move as he gently touched her foot. When he reached her ankle, Penelope once again cried out. Theo then touched another area around her ankle, which was tender but did not cause nearly as much pain.
“We will have to get you home and call for the doctor immediately to confirm, but I do not think it is broken from my experience. Call Phoenix over to us.” When Penelope beckoned her mare, she eagerly approached them.
Theo looped Phoenix’s reins through his arm and then knelt next to Penelope.
“Now, here, lean against me and wrap your arms around my neck.”
Penelope did so, and Theo stood up and walked quickly over to General. He carefully sat Penelope on his back and then got on behind her. Again, Penelope rested her head on Theo’s chest. It was a very long ride back because Theo would not allow his horse to go much faster than that of a tortoise, across the flattest route home.
By the time they reached Penelope’s home, she was mostly unaware of what was going on around her and everything seemed hazy. Though the pain in her ankle was only increasing, she felt very safe with Theo’s arms around her, and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat kept her calm.
Chapter 16
Theo knew it would not look good for him to arrive at the viscount’s estate with Penelope half passed out, injured, and in his arms like this, but at that moment, his last concern was of appearances. Penelope had drifted in and out of consciousness the entire ride back.
Theo was longing to take off at top speed so that he could ensure her safety as swiftly as General would carry them, but he did not want her to feel any more pain than she was already enduring. Even the smallest jolt, and her sweet, beautiful face contorted in torment.
It was utter torture for him to see her like this, but finally, they arrived, and he called for the stable hand to come out and take care of the horses while he jumped down and carried her into the house, not bothering to wait to knock or be announced.
“Hello, I need help at once!” Theo exclaimed. The butler came around the corner soon after that and looked very surprised to see him there with his young mistress in Theo’s arms.
“You! Go get your master, the viscount, and send someone else immediately for the doctor.”
The butler looked as though he did not care for his tone but bowed and did as he was instructed without argument. Mere moments later, several servants were gathered around him asking a flurry of questions, but Theo answered none of them until the viscount rushed into the foyer with the viscountess only a few steps behind him.
“Oh goodness gracious, what has happened?” the viscountess cried as she ran over.
“She was out riding, and I saw her take a fall from her mare,” Theo said, doing his best not to lie but also not to make it completely obvious that he was with her when she fell. “I believe her ankle sustained the worst injury, though. She tumbled down quite far, and I am worried about her head as well.”
“Peter, go for the doctor!” the viscount ordered.
“I have already sent one of your men when I arrived,” Theo informed him.
The viscount called for the servant, Robert to come over.
“Robert, kindly take my daughter and lay her gently down in her chambers. Bessie, please go with him and do not leave there unless she awakens before the doctor arrives, and if she does, I want to be informed immediately.”
“Of course, Your Grace. At once,” Robert replied as he lifted Penelope into his arms and carried her up the stairs as Penelope’s mother trailed him crying loudly about her poor, dear, child.
“Thank you for everything you have done Your Grace. I am very grateful that youhappenedto be in the area when my daughter took her fall,” the viscount said sincerely, but Theo could not help noting the emphasis he had put in his words and knew that her father probably suspected the truth of the matter.
Theo hated that this could soil all his plans to seek the viscount’s permission to court Penelope, but there was nothing else he could do about that now what had happened was done.
