Page 82 of Leap of Faith
He opened his mouth, no doubt on a crushing retort about to be delivered. “That is what you think, is it?” Instead of remonstrance, his head descended to hers, and their lips had barely touched when one of the grooms burst into the garden.
“Chauncy?” Westwood asked in confusion.
Faith’s heart began to race. She recognized the groom from Taywards.
“You must come quickly. The little mite’s been hurt. I sent for the doctor and he is on his way to her, then I came directly here.”
“What happened?”
“She fell from her horse and was kicked in the head.”
Faith’s hand flew to her mouth and she barely held back a cry of anguish.
“Have the best available horse saddled,” he ordered.
“Ready a mount for me as well, if you please!” Faith called after the groom as he hurried off to do his master’s bidding.
Westwood turned and looked at her. She thought he would protest, but said, “We leave in ten minutes. I will inform my mother and she can do as she thinks best with your sisters.”
Faith heard him, but she was already running to change into her habit.
She was downstairs in less than ten minutes. Her sisters had heard the commotion and poured out into the entrance hall to see what was going forward.
“What’s wrong?” Hope asked.
“Joy has had an accident.”
“What kind of accident?”
Reacting as one, her sisters drew together and grabbed each other’s hands.
“She fell off her horse and was kicked in the head. Westwood and I are setting out now. Do whatever Lady Westwood thinks best, and I will send word as soon as we get there and have judged the situation.”
Her sisters’ faces reflected the fear she felt inside. They all crushed each other in a hug when Faith heard Westwood call to her.
“The horses are ready.”
Faith nodded, gave her sisters one last squeeze and hurried out of the front door to the waiting horses.
Westwood boosted her up into the saddle and as soon as she had hooked her leg over the pommel and arranged her skirts, she nodded to him, and they set off.
The ride would forever be a blur in her mind, as thoughts about what could have happened and what state Joy would be in when she found her whirled about in her mind. It was hard not to think the worst, just as it was impossible not to blame herself for letting her sister go to Taywards alone. She knew better than any what Joy was capable of, with her insatiable curiosity and energy.
Grooms ran outside to take the horses from them upon their arrival, and Lord Westwood threw himself from his horse to help her from hers. It was so tempting to collapse in his arms, but that would never do. A reassuring squeeze of her hand from Lord Westwood helped her to maintain her dignity.
“Come, my dear,” he said.
She nodded and let him take her arm to lead her into the house and up the stairs to where Joy was.
It was hard not to cry out when she saw her sister looking tiny and lifeless in the large canopied bed. Words could not express the emotions coursing through her mind and heart as she rushed to Joy’s side and took her hand. She was pale with a large bandage around her head and swelling distorting her face. A housekeeper Faith remembered from their previous visit was at her other side. Freddy Tiger was curled up beside her and let out a little meow when Faith scratched his ears. She needed to do something with her hands and she was afraid to touch Joy.
“He won’t leave her side, poor thing,” the housekeeper told them.
“Where is the doctor?” Lord Westwood asked.
“He is waiting to speak with you in your study, my lord. He said to keep her still and quiet for several days. She is dosed with laudanum so she does not move,” she answered in a hushed voice.
Faith listened, but was looking her sister over. Her head was heavily bandaged around the top and one side. Bruising was already spreading to the other side of her eye.
