Page 19 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

One of the footmen came barreling out the front door. His brows rose when he saw Hawk holding Lizzie in his lap. “My lord. How may I help?”

“Here. Take Miss Moore.” Hawk held her out to the footman, who took her, looking as though he had no idea what to do. Once he was dismounted, Hawk motioned to the footman. “Give her to me and see if you can find Lady Wycliff.”

“Yes, my lord.” The man hurried in front of them.

Once they were in the house, Hawk decided it was better to bring her to the drawing room, since he had no idea where her bedchamber was.

He barely got her settled on the sofa when Lord Wycliff entered the room. “Whatever happened? Charles said you asked for Leah, but she is still abed.”

“Miss Moore took a spill from her horse. I don’t think she has broken anything, but she has a bump on her head, and hasn’t awakened yet.”

“I will get one of the maids to assist her and send for the physician.”

Hawk nodded and grabbed a colorful knitted shawl from the back of the sofa and covered Lizzie with it. Once again, he tapped her cheek, but there was no response. The longer she remained unconscious, the more dangerous it would be.

“My lord, if you will follow me, I will direct you to Miss Moore’s bedchamber.” A young maid he’d seen around the house bustle

d into the room, her eyes growing wide as she took in Lizzie lying on the sofa.

Wycliff was right behind her. “I have sent for the doctor. Carry her upstairs, and Bernice will undress her for the doctor’s examination.”

Hawk lifted her again, trying to ignore the warmth from her body and the softness of her curves as he shifted her in his arms. They made the trek upstairs to the end of the south hallway where Miss Moore had her room.

“Come, Hawk, let’s leave her to Bernice, and we’ll wait downstairs for the physician. I’d like to know how she came to fall from the horse, since I know Miss Moore is an excellent horsewoman.”

Once they were settled in the breakfast room, with plates of food and cups of strong coffee in front of them, Wycliff again raised the question. “How did Miss Moore fall?”

Hawk shook his head as he buttered a warm roll. “That is something I want to investigate. It looked like the girth on the horse snapped. If the groom did not tighten it correctly, he should be reprimanded. We still don’t know what Miss Moore’s injuries are, but a loose saddle has caused more than one death.”

“I agree.” Wycliff took a sip of coffee. “Where is the saddle now?”

“I removed it when I sent the horse back to the stable. I left it alongside the hedge we jumped over.”

“That’s when she fell? During a jump?”

“Yes. She cleared it beautifully the last time we rode. I’m sure there is not a problem with her skills.”

They finished breakfast and were discussing the latest bills in Parliament when Charles entered the breakfast room. “My lord, the physician has arrived.”

Wycliff pushed his chair back. “I will see to Miss Moore. Why don’t you retrieve that saddle?”

As much as he wanted to hear what the physician had to say about Lizzie’s injuries, it would look odd had he made that request, since he had no connection to the woman. That thought annoyed him, since his feelings seemed to have become more than a passing acquaintance, but since nothing about that would be proper, it was best to keep his mouth closed.

Brambles had already been groomed and was happily munching on oats when Hawk entered the stable. The stable master approached him, wiping his hands on a cloth dirtier than his hands. “How can I help you, my lord?”

“I’d like another horse saddled.” As the man turned to do as he bid, he called him back. “Who tacked the horse for Miss Moore earlier today?”

“I did, my lord. I saw the horse come back without the saddle. Was there a problem?”

“Yes. Miss Moore took a tumble. I’m about to retrieve the saddle.”

The man gave him a terse nod and soon had another horse tacked and ready to go. Hawk led the horse back to the spot where Lizzie had fallen. The saddle was still where he’d dropped it. He swung from his horse and strode to where the pillion lay, squatting down alongside it. He turned it over and examined the girth.

His thumb ran over the spot where the girth had snapped. Even to an amateur eye, it was obvious the leather strap had been cut about three-quarters of the way through, so any stress would have broken it.

Who would want to cause a governess a potentially fatal tumble? Once more, the feeling washed over him that something was off with Miss Lizzie Moore. Someone wanted her either dead or severely injured. Why?

With dozens of questions crowding his brain, Hawk threw the saddle over his horse and mounted. Taking a slow ride back to the stable to go over in his mind what all this could mean, he arrived back at the front of the house just as the physician was taking his leave.