With fierce determination, he spurred his horse forward, intent on capturing the large creature. But as he charged, the stag suddenly turned, its wild eyes locking onto him, and in that instant, chaos erupted. The horse reared, startled by the creature’s defiance, and Alistair lost his grip.
Time seemed to slow as he plummeted, the world spinning around him. He hit the ground hard, snow exploding around him like a cloud. His horse took off, and so did the stag, leaving him all alone in the woods so suddenly.
Pain shot through his body, but to his surprise, his thoughts were barely consumed by the stag’s snorts echoing in his ears from afar and more of the nagging worry for Cecilia lingering around alone, all because he let her leave.
Desperation clawed at him as he struggled to rise, and he realized he had to confront both the physical beast and the one of his own feelings as well.
However, the pain felt more intense the more he applied pressure on it. He lay sprawled in the snow, the cold seeping through his clothes, numbing his limbs. Pain radiated from his shoulder and leg, a sharp reminder of his reckless charge and helplessness.
Each breath felt labored, the icy air stinging his lungs, and he fought the urge to panic. He desperately wished for someone to find him, to pull him from this frigid nightmare.
Perhaps I should call out for help?
The thought flickered through his mind, but hesitation gripped him. What if the stag returned? He was vulnerable, exposed on the ground. The wildness of the forest felt suffocating, the silence amplifying his worries.
Alistair glanced around, half-expecting to see the dark shape of the stag emerge from the trees once again. His heart raced at the thought, each rustle in the distance sending adrenaline coursing through him.
I need to go after her. To ensure she’s safe.
He lay there, shivering, struggling to recoup his strength, when suddenly he heard the distant sound of hooves crunching through the snow. His heart leaped with a mix of hope and dread.
As the figure drew closer, he recognized Cecilia’s silhouette, more strands of her dark hair were out her braid now, whipping around her face as she rode with urgency. When she spotted him on the ground, her expression shifted from determination to shock.
“Oh my goodness, Your Grace!” she exclaimed, dismounting swiftly and rushing toward him. Her voice was laced with concern, and Alistair couldn’t help but feel a flutter of warmth despite the biting cold. He groaned, trying to push himself up, but the pain shot through him again, forcing him back down.
“I’m quite all right, really,” he managed to say, his voice strained, but Cecilia wasn’t having it. She knelt beside him, her eyes scanning his body before landing on the wound on his shoulder, blood seeping through his shirt.
“No, you’re not,” she replied firmly, her brows furrowed in worry. She shook her head, stuttering, “What happened? How are you- What- Why-You’re bleeding! I heard a shout!”
He opened his mouth to explain, but the words caught in his throat as she reached out, her fingers brushing against his skin as she assessed the injury. The warmth of her touch sent a jolt through him..
“Stay still,” she instructed, her voice softening as she searched the area around them.
Alistair watched her in wonder and disbelief, captivated by her fierce determination. “What are you doing?”
“You need to stop the bleeding,” She spoke as she quickly gathered some plants from the snow-covered ground, expertly seeming to identify the ones that would help as she said.
As she hurried over once again and applied the crushed leaves to his wound, their eyes locked, and time seemed to suspend. The world around them seemed to no longer exist, leaving only the two of them, so close that he could feel her breath mingling with his.
What am I doing?
But just as quickly as the moment had arrived, it slipped away. Cecilia finished tending to his injury, her focus shifting back to the task at hand. “All right, let’s get you up,” she said, her voice steady but still tinged with concern.
With careful hands, she helped him rise, her strength surprising him as she guided him toward their horses. Alistair could feel her trembling, even though she never complained.
As they made their way out of the snowy forest, he glanced at her, noting the way her jaw was set, the slight furrow in her brow. He wanted to reassure her, to tell her that he would be fine, but he did not know how to express the words.
The journey back to the estate felt longer than it should have, every step echoing unspoken feelings that seemed to hang between them.
Alistair couldn’t explain why but he wished for the moment to last longer. And as they emerged from the trees, reality settled back in, reminding him of the world outside their shared silence.
CHAPTER 13
“Cece, tell me, what do you think of this lace?” Evangeline held up a delicate piece, the sunlight catching its intricate patterns as they stood in the bustling modiste.
Cecilia leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. “It’s exquisite, Evie! It adds a touch of elegance without being too overbearing. You’ll look stunning in it!”
Evie beamed at the compliment, her cheeks flushing with excitement. “I just want everything to be perfect for the wedding. I can’t believe it’s so soon!”
