“It appears,” he said in a low voice, “that my brother has finally become interested in someone besides himself.”
Lyndsey couldn’t hold back the laugh that sprang from her throat. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Adrian glanced at her briefly, before looking back at Priscilla.
“Forgive me, my lord,” Lyndsey said to the earl, “but that was very droll.”
Collin’s smile widened.
“I can’t help but wonder,” she continued in soft tones, hoping Adrian couldn’t hear, “if your brother is really that way or if it’s an act to ward off upstart women.”
He chuckled. “I can tell you’ve been conversing with my brother too much.”
Panic filled her, and she nodded. “Yes. We spoke at the party when he pretended to be your penniless cousin.”
“Then can you honestly tell me that you didn’t think he was arrogant and cocksure of himself during your lengthy conversation?”
She tried not to laugh this time. “I must admit, when I first met him, it was several hours before the ball had started. My sisters were trespassing on your land, and he presented himself as your cousin at that time. I found him very arrogant, but at the ball...” She shrugged. “He seemed to change a little.”
Collin’s eyebrow arched. “Change? How so?”
“He was sweeter and didn’t seem so self-absorbed.” Lyndsey wasn’t about to tell him that Adrian had only acted that way while they were hiding in the kitchen’s pantry.
Collin released a heavy sigh. “My brother has been judgmental when it comes to social classes. He had his heart injured by a woman who only wanted him because of the Dorsey money, and since then, Adrian has hardened his heart. I hope he wasn’t too rude to you.”
“No, he wasn’t too rude... Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
As she studied Adrian still pretending to be intently listening to Prissy, Lyndsey’s heart began to soften. He’d actually allowed a woman into his heart – enough to hurt him? For some reason, that seemed impossible. But if that were really true, then it was no wonder he had lied about his identity when they first met.
Blowing out a pent-up breath, she realized she couldn’t allow this to alter her decision about him. He was still a scoundrel.
The crunching of wheels behind them drew Lyndsey’s attention to the buggy slowly coming their way. Collin stopped his horse, and she pulled the reins to stop her animal, too.
“Good afternoon.” Aunt Beatrice was driving the one-horse buggy toward them, waving. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you, Lord Hanover. When your valet told me that you and William had gone to take the Benson sisters riding, I knew I had to come along.”
Collin nodded. “Of course, Aunt Beatrice. We’d love your company.”
He glanced at Lyndsey as if waiting for her approval, so she quickly smiled at the older woman. “Of course. It’ll be nice to chat with you once again.”
Suddenly, a blast like a pistol firing ripped through the air. Before Lyndsey knew what was happening, Collin clutched at his shoulder and fell from his mount. Lyndsey’s horse reared up. She grasped the reins firmly, trying to calm the animal and bring it under control, but the mare continued to dance around. Seconds later, her mare bolted away from the others.
Lyndsey cried out and clung to the reins, trying to tighten her leg around the horn of the sidesaddle. She leaned closer to the horse’s neck as fear rushed through her.Oh, Lord. Please help me!
* * * *
EVERYTHING HAPPENEDall at once, and Adrian didn’t know who to help first. His brother was holding his shoulder, but since he could see there was no blood, Adrian knew Collin was all right.
Priscilla screamed her sister’s name.
Without another thought, Adrian dug his heels into the flanks of his horse and urged the animal into a gallop, racing after the runaway mare. His heart pounded with the same rhythm as the horses’ hooves as they galloped toward Lyndsey. Pain gripped him, and he prayed that she wouldn’t be thrown from the horse.
Come on... faster!The gap between them was closing, but not quickly enough in his opinion. Finally, when he was at last able to maneuver his horse beside hers, he reached out to her. “Take my hand.”
Wide, frightened eyes looked at him. Her face had lost color, and her lips were tightly pressed together. She shook her head.
He guided his horse a little closer. “Lyndsey, take my hand. I won’t let you fall.”
Tears filled her eyes as she shifted her attention between his hand and her horse.
A thicket of trees loomed ahead. If they rode in there, he wouldn’t be able to make this move. It had to happen now.
