Page 18 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“Yes, indeed.” She grinned at him, and his heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t sure if his reaction was relief that she’d forgiven him for his forwardness the day before, or because he was going to have another opportunity to spend time with the woman who had captivated him so.

He waved his arm. “Lead the way.”

She smirked. “You will follow a woman, my lord?”

He bowed. “I would follow you anywhere, Miss Moore.” He grinned at the red flush that covered her face.

“I believe you say that to all the women you encounter.” Her smirk brought a smile to his lips.

“Not at all. Do you believe me to be so impudent?”

She sniffed. “Once a rake, always a rake.”

So, Miss Moore was aware of his reputation. More pieces of the puzzle fell into place. They brought their horses to a trot. “I take it you have recovered from your indisposition?”

“Yes. I think I merely suffered a chill from the damp weather yesterday. But I feel quite well today.”

“And, as always, you are looking more than quite well.”

She rolled her eyes as they continued until they reached the open field. “Are you up for a run again?”

The look she gave him nudged a memory. Her head cocked to one side, her raised brows and slight smile, reminded him so much of a different time and place that he was struck dumb for the moment. A ballroom. A dance. A light blue gown with a sapphire necklace against milky white skin. He knew this woman. And not in a governess capacity.

He shook his head to clear his mind. “Of course. Let us race once again for the hedge, and the first one over will be declared the top jumper of Wycliff Manor.”

“I’m not sure if that is quite fair, my lord, since you ride a stallion and I a mare. Also, you are settled quite comfortably in your saddle, while I, unfortunately, as a lady, am forced to ride sidesaddle.”

Had she slipped and used the term lady accidentally? Something else to consider. “Ah, but you did acquit yourself quite well the last time we raced.” He leaned on his pommel. “I’ll tell you what. I will give you a head start.”

She grinned. “I will take it.”

“Conniving female.” He looked from her to the hedge. “All right, on the count of three you will take off. I will count two more numbers before I follow you.”

She nodded and leaned over her horse.

“One, two, three—”

Miss Moore took off like she’d been shot out a cannon. He was so busy admiring her form as she raced away, he almost forgot to follow. Laughing, he took off after her.

They were neck and neck and gaining the hedge. She looked over at him, her face flushed, her smile wide. He could not help the bright smile that covered his face as well. She was stunning.

He was a few feet ahead of her as he approached the hedge. With ease, he and Bramble sailed over. The horse’s hooves had barely touched the ground when he heard a terrified scream.

He pulled up on the horse’s reins and turned just as Magpie flew over the hedge, missing her rider, the saddle dragging underneath the animal’s body.

Chapter Eight

“Lizzie!” Hawk shouted as he leaped from his horse. He raced back to the other side of the hedge. Lizzie had been tossed and had rolled down an incline, lying splayed at the bottom of the ditch, not moving. With his heart in his throat, Hawk hurried down, careful not to lose his footing on the still damp grass, lest they both end up in a heap at the bottom. He kneeled next to her and turned her over. Her face was covered in dirt, and she displayed a nasty-looking bump on her forehead, but a quick check of her pulse told him she was alive.

“Lizzie.” He gently tapped her cheek. Nothing.

“Lizzie.” He tried again. The only sound was her soft breathing, and him gulping for air. He made a quick assessment of her limbs, and nothing seemed broken. He slid his arms underneath her and lifted. While her weight was light, the incline was steep, but digging his heels in, he made it without too much difficulty.

Magpie stood next to the edge of the ditch, watching him, as if she knew something was wrong with her rider. Hawk laid Lizzie carefully on the grass and approached the animal. She backed up a bit, snorted, and shook her head, but with a few soft words, she allowed him to remove the saddle and place it on the ground. With a swift smack to her hindquarters, she took off in the direction of the stable.

Hawk gathered Lizzie in his arms, and grasped the pommel on Brambles, and with his foot in the stirrup, hauled the two of them up. He swung his leg over the saddle and settled her in his lap. She still had not awakened, and concerned she might have some sort of internal injury, he dug his heels into Bramble’s sides, and they raced back to the house.

“Wycliff,” Hawk shouted for his cousin the minute he reached the house.