He took Thor over two fences and rode on.
A rider galloped toward him. William Faulkner reined in, his face red. He whipped off his hat. “It’s the duchess, Your Grace. She’s taken a fall.”
“Her Grace? She was not to ride today.” Charles controlled Thor, who had scented his distress and danced about.
“She took part in it, Your Grace. A young dog spooked her horse.”
“Dear God! Lead me to her, man.”
Charles nudged Thor into a gallop, his heart beating hard in his throat. They climbed the hill in minutes, and from the top, he saw the horses clustered around the fallen rider. Nellie!
Charles could hardly breathe as he rode down to them.
He jumped down, tossed Thor’s reins to one of the men, and fell on his knees beside her. She was alive! But she was unconscious. Her face so white, it scared him. What the devil was she doing riding?
“Nellie!” When she didn’t open her eyes, he patted her hand. “Her Grace was not to ride today,” he uttered savagely, staring around at the concerned faces. “Who changed her mind?” His gaze fell on Frances. “Was it you, Aunt?”
Frances twisted the crop in her hands. “Nellie was not to be there at the kill. She was riding away toward those trees when one of the young hounds got under Coventry’s hooves.”
“Coventry?” he asked as he examined Nellie for any signs of injury. There was a bruise forming on her forehead. “Why was she riding that feckless animal?”
“Her horse had a loose shoe,” Aunt Frances said. “Can I do something to help?”
“Call off the hunt. There will be no fox caught today.” Charles hefted Nellie up. His heart attempted to beat its way out of his chest as he carried her limp body in his arms. Her head lolled back against his shoulder, her eyes still closed. For one terrifying moment, he feared he had lost her, but her chest rose and fell. He suffered a surge of relief so strong his feet faltered. He took a stronger hold of her. “You’ll be all right, my love,” he murmured.
“Bring Thor over here and assist me. Don’t just stand there like a statue,” he thundered at his hapless groom.
Charles rode home, holding Nellie tightly against him. He thought her face had gained a little color, but still, fear crept in. What if he lost her? Dear God, he couldn’t bear to lose her!
Why did it take something like this for him to realize how deep and absolute was his need for her? He simply could not live without her. Nellie was his anchor, his passion, his peace.
Charles sat at Nellie’s bedside, waiting for the doctor, resting his head in his hands. He’d instructed the staff not to tell his mother until there was good news. Nellie would wake soon, wouldn’t she?
Over an hour had passed before she opened her eyes. She reached up with a smile to touch his cheek.
“Nellie, love! You gave me the devil of a scare.” He caught her hand and pressed it to his lips.
“What happened?”
“A dog frightened your horse, and you fell.”
“Coventry is a nag, Charles, and you should sell him.”
“I intend to.” He smiled. “The doctor will be here soon. How do you feel, sweetheart?”
She put a shaky hand to her head. “My head aches intolerably.” She stretched out her limbs carefully. “I’m a bit bruised in an unmentionable place.” Her eyes widened and went dark with distress. “The baby, Charles, have I…?”
“Let’s wait to hear the doctor’s opinion, darling.”
She closed her eyes, and a tear escaped down her cheek. “Oh, I hope I haven’t hurt the baby. I should have refused. But I didn’t want to embarrass you again.”
He smoothed her hair back from her face. “What nonsense. How could you embarrass me?”
“I did once before. When your friends discovered the article I wrote.”
“I’d forgotten about it. I wasn’t embarrassed. I was proud of you, and I was a damn fool for not telling you at the time. I was angry with Walsh. Jealous of your friendship. I regret it deeply. All the time lost.”
“Oh, my darling. I have been jealous, too. But you had no need to feel that way about Walsh. He sought to embarrass me when I failed to invite him back to the salon.”
“He’d best stay out of my way, then.” Charles raised his eyebrows. “I gather my Aunt Frances was behind you riding today. No need to tell me,” he said when Nellie failed to answer. “I could see by her demeanor. She looked contrite, most unlike herself. And she wishes to come and see you. I shall send her packing tomorrow.”
Nellie reached up and grasped hold of his sleeve. “Oh, no, you mustn’t. Let her come and see me. Your mother might have need of her. You cannot blame your aunt. It was my decision to ride. No one forced me.”
He frowned. “Well, I am not ready to forgive Frances yet.”
Nellie pulled his head down to hers. “Let’s not allow her to upset us,” she said with an anxious look. “Not when…” her hand went to her stomach.
“I love you so much, Nellie. When I feared you might have…” He couldn’t say the word. He impatiently flicked the tears away. What was wrong with him? He had only cried a couple of times in his life. Not even when they lost Michael or when his father had died. He was ashamed. It seemed so weak.
She reached up to hold his face in her hands. “Oh, Charles,” she said, her voice shaking with emotion. “You love me?”
“I do, deeply. I should have told you a long time ago, Nellie.” Had he been frightened to even admit it to himself?
“I wish you had because I couldn’t tell you how I feel, Charles,” she gently admonished him. “I thought you wouldn’t want to
