“Ouch. I don’t understand it myself, Aunt.”
“Where are you hurt?”
“Mostly my bottom. Tristan thinks I might have cracked my tailbone.”
Her aunt’s fingers paused again. “You told Lord Dare that you hurt your bottom?” she asked, very slowly.
A blush crept up Georgie’s cheeks. “It was fairly obvious.”
“Oh, heavens. I hope he doesn’t go telling everyone about this, Georgiana. Really, you used to know better.”
“He won’t tell anyone.”
Frederica continued to gaze at her with a quizzical expression, but Georgiana feigned light-headedness so she wouldn’t have to talk until the physician arrived.
One thing seemed certain: Tristan truly did bear her some affection. And she was beginning to care for him more than she felt comfortable admitting. If she knew anything for certain, though, it was that caring for Tristan Carroway was a sure way to a broken heart.
Thankfully, the physician decided that having her take a hot bath and lie on her stomach for the next day would take care of the worst of her injuries. She didn’t know how he could be so certain, considering that he wouldn’t even lift her shift to take a look at her injured bottom, but Tristan had said the same thing.
Once the physician had gone she took her bath, letting the hot water relax the sore muscles and clean the scraped skin of her backside and elbow. Then with Mary’s help she climbed into bed and propped her chin on her folded arms.
Her aunt entered the room again. “He’s still here, and he wants to see you.”
“Please have him come up, then, if you don’t mind.”
“Only to the doorway.”
Drat. She was going to ruin herself, if she wasn’t more careful. “Of course only to the doorway.”
“I’ll tell him,” Frederica muttered, leaving again.
A moment later another knock sounded at her door. “Georgiana?” Tristan’s deep voice came. He pushed open the door, but stopped before she could order him to do so. Evidently, he’d already been warned. “I really don’t think your aunt likes me at all,” he drawled, leaning against the doorframe.
She chuckled. “How’s Sheba?”
“As I thought, it’s a muscle strain. John and I put a compress on it, and he’s to walk her twice a day for a week. After that you might try riding her, but no galloping for a month or so.”
“I won’t be ready to gallop for at least that long,” she said ruefully.
He glanced at Mary, hovering unobtrusively to one side of the room. “I’m just thankful you didn’t break any bones.”
“So am I.”
Light blue eyes studied her face for a long moment before he stirred. “I need to go,” he said, pushing upright. “I was supposed to be in Parliament an hour ago.” He stood there, still looking at her, then visibly shook himself. “I’ll come see you this evening.”
There he went, dictating again. “If you’re courting me, you must ask my permission to come calling.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Very well. May I come by to see you this evening?”
“Yes.” She smiled, trying to cover the low flutter in her stomach. “By then I’ll be grateful even for your company, I imagine.”
“One can only hope.”
She actually had more visitors than she’d expected. Before noon, Lucinda and Evelyn came to call. “Heavens,” Lucinda said, closing the door as Mary exited, “I half expected to see you covered in bandages from head to toe.”
Georgiana frowned. “It was just a little fall. And how did you know about it, anyway?”
“Mrs. Grawtham’s maid was at the milliner’s at the same time as Dr. Barlow’s daughter.”
