There were some biscuits and some early blueberries from the garden. Soon they would also have blackberries. She was looking forward to those. Charlotte grabbed a handful of blueberries and popped a plump berry into her mouth. The tangy sweetness rolled over her tongue, and she moaned. At least the berries didn’t taste terrible. “My food is perfectly acceptable,” she told him in a mulish tone.
He swallowed hard as he stared at her. “I gather that.” He shook his head slightly and then glanced away. Did it bother him so much to look at her? Well, then he should just leave already. She would be far happier if he did.
No... that wasn’t exactly true. She would have liked it if he didn’t view her as someone he would rather not know. Charlotte wanted him to desire her the way she did him. Apparently that was too much to ask.
“We shouldn’t stay too much longer,” Jaclyn said. “We’ve already been gone from school longer than we should have.”
What was Jaclyn going on about? They could stay out far longer than they had. They barely had much of a picnic and time away. Charlotte glanced at her friend and frowned. That was when she noticed her friend’s unease. She didn’t wish to be there any more than Charlotte. The Duke of Amberwood looked equally uncomfortable. He appeared to struggle not to look at Jaclyn, and her friend seemed to be suffering from a similar dilemma. What had she missed? Was Jaclyn acquainted with the duke? She would have to ask her friend about that when they were alone.
“Go back now?” Georgina asked in a confused tone. “But...”
“Jaclyn is correct.” Charlotte interrupted Georgina before she said something that unraveled Jaclyn’s ruse. “We wouldn’t want the headmistress to be upset with us.” She stood. “I’ll pack up the basket.”
“No, I can...” Georgina scrambled to her feet and rushed to take the picnic basket from Charlotte. She lost her balance and stumbled in her haste. “Oh,” she shouted as she fell. Unfortunately, no one was close enough to catch her, and she hit the ground hard.
“Are you all right?” the Earl of Foxmoore asked. He leaned over to examine her. “Did you hurt anything?”
“My ankle,” Georgina said. “It turned when I fell. I’m not certain I can walk.”
They should not have rushed Georgina. If Charlotte and Jaclyn had remained patient and just suffered through the grueling picnic, then their friend might not have hurt herself. Now they would have to ascertain the best possible way to help her return to the school, and once they were there explain what had befallen her. Charlotte hated to think what the instructors and their headmistress might think of them. They were selfish fools. “Does it hurt very much?” Charlotte asked.
Georgina attempted to stand but winced and sat back down. “I definitely cannot walk.”
“She will have to be placed on one of our horses,” Easton said in a firm tone. “And escorted back to the school.
Charlotte didn’t like this plan; however, she had to concede it would be the best solution for Georgina’s predicament. “Yes,” she agreed. “Are you all right with this, Georgina?” With her shy nature, she might find this as uncomfortable as her sprained ankle.
Georgina glanced at Charlotte, and then at the marquess. She nibbled on her bottom lip as if considering how to answer the question.
“I can escort her back,” the earl said. Georgina swung her gaze toward him and blinked in surprise.
“You will?” she asked.
“I will,” he said. Then Lord Foxmoore turned to the marquess. “May we borrow your horse? She can sit upon mine better. My mare is more sedate than your stallion. I’ll ride yours and she can ride mine, if that is all right with you.”
Lord Easton nodded. “Of course.” Then he smiled at Georgina. “You never said if you’re all right with accepting our assistance.”
“I am, thank you, my lord,” Georgina replied demurely.
“Then that is settled,” Lord Easton declared. “Foxmoore will escort Miss Georgina back on his horse. We will remain with the other two ladies.” He nodded at Charlotte and Jaclyn. “And walk with them.”
Wonderful. That was not what Charlotte wanted to hear. “That is unnecessary,” Charlotte told him. “Jaclyn and I will be all right walking on our own. We walk these paths every day and do not meet any harm.”
“Nevertheless,” Lord Easton replied in a tone that suggested arguing with him would be futile. “We will walk with you. Besides, I will have to retrieve my horse at the school. We may as well accompany you.” He motioned toward the duke. “If you don’t mind, you can lead your horse as we walk.”
“I think that is a perfectly acceptable solution,” the duke replied casually.
Charlotte gritted her teeth. Of course he agreed with Lord Easton. They were probably silently communicating on how to best disrupt Charlotte’s day. Jaclyn didn’t seem any more pleased with this outcome. Charlotte could not wait to be alone with her friend and ask her why she seemed disturbed by the Duke of Amberwood’s presence.
“Now that we’ve settled what we are to do,” Lord Easton said. “Let’s assist Miss Georgina onto the horse.”
“I’ll do it,” Lord Foxmoore replied. “If you’ll hold the mare’s reins while I help her onto the saddle.”
Lord Easton nodded and complied. Lord Foxmoore lifted Georgina into his arms and carried her over to the horse and then helped her mount it. She sat stiffly on the saddle as the marquess handed her the reins.
“Go slowly,” the duke said. “If she falls off the saddle, she’ll be in a far worse condition.”
The earl rolled his eyes. “I’m aware of what needs to be done.” With those words he mounted his own horse, then nodded at Georgina. “Are you ready?” he asked.
