Page 41 of The Runner
‘Go home, Caroline. Don’t say a word of this to Olivia and my mother. I will handle this unfortunate incident.’
‘But what of Nellie, my horse? She took off in a fright and I must find her.’
‘Fret not. I will bid Taylor look for her. You go home,’ he said again, more sharply this time.
Caroline hesitated and shook her head. ‘No, I should not leave, my lord. Let us try to resolve this misunderstanding peaceably with Ralph,’ she said. Her chin jerked upwards as she stared into George’s dark eyes and directly forbade his order. ‘I feel sure he meant no harm.’
George removed his hand from Ralph’s back and the two men glared at each other.
Ralph spat on the ground and continued to stare at George. ‘Just because you’re an earl, it does not mean you may attack me.’
‘And just because you’re a man, it does not mean you may attack her. If you so much as look at her, you will answer to me and I will not let you off so lightly again.’
Ralph spat on the ground again, and then turned to Caroline. ‘Heed what I said, or you’ll be sorry, Mistress Caroline,’ he growled.
CHAPTER18
Willow Wick, York - Georgiana
As they emergedfrom the bushes, Caroline’s horse was nowhere in sight, and nor was Taylor, the groom. George helped Caroline up onto his horse and made sure she was all right.
‘You’ve had quite a shock,’ he said, his deep voice soft as velvet. ‘Hold on to me tight.’ And with that, he spurred the horse on, and they cantered all the way back to Willow Manor.
Caroline was in the throes of conflicting, tumultuous emotions. Still shaken by her run-in with Ralph, who had been more aggressive than she had ever known him, she was overcome with joy as she clasped George around the waist and held onto him as they swooped through the fields toward Willow Manor.
She thought of her dream the previous night when he had been in her bed and they had made love, first tenderly and then feverishly, as they abandoned themselves to their mutual desire.
I must not reveal my love for him, or my position will become untenable.
The thoughts and feelings churned within her as she wrapped her arms around him all the way back to the house, savouring every second of their closeness. She was embarrassed he had come upon her in such a compromising situation and worried he would think ill of her.
They entered the estate and trotted into the stables, the horses’ hooves clip-clopping and echoing in Caroline’s ears. She was flooded with disappointment that their solitary time was about to come to an end. But he reached for her, and his strong hands held her waist, as he carefully set her down before he too dismounted. No one was around, and for a brief time, they stood opposite each other, neither knowing what to say. Any previous awkwardness from before he left for London seemed to have dissipated in the long absence, and Caroline felt like they had known each other forever.
‘I am sorry you had to go through that. I meant what I said. If that scoundrel so much as looks at you again, pray tell me, and I will make certain it’s the last time he troubles you.’ He fired off his instruction in staccato like fashion, his expression dark and his brow furrowed.
She watched his lips move as he formed his words.
Then he stumbled and paused for a few seconds and moved his eyes away from hers as if looking into the distance. ‘Unless, of course, I was thoroughly mistaken, and you should wish for the attentions of that Knight fellow,’ he said, his rich voice now hitting a lower melodious note. ‘In which case, I must apologise for my intervention. I confess, it only now occurs to me I may have misinterpreted the situation and I feel rather foolish.’
A sardonic smile touched his full lips, and his embarrassment touched her all the more deeply as it was in such stark contrast to his usual assured manner.
He added, ‘Perhaps you did not wish to be saved, and my intrusion was unwelcome…’
Caroline blushed beneath his probing gaze.
Is that truly what he thinks of me?
She raised her head slightly, gathered all her courage and, with as much poise as she could muster, said, ‘My lord, I assure you I am not in the habit of cavorting with gentlemen in the thickets.’
She saw the glimmer of a smile cross his handsome face before he grew serious once more. ‘Ah, just as I thought, Mistress Caroline. If I have offended you, I apologise—I realise I may have been rude and for that, I am sorry. Not that I would call that fellow a gentleman.’
Caroline’s heart lurched and clattered in her breast. ‘I thank you for your concern and assure you I am most grateful for your timely intervention. However, I am quite certain Ralph meant me no serious harm. We have been friends since we were children.’
‘I see,’ said George, his dark eyes becoming unreadable. ‘Even so, I must warn you of the dangers of allowing yourself to become entangled with a man such as he.’
Caroline bristled. ‘When you say, “A man such as he”, am I to interpret you mean a man of the lower classes, my lord? We are not all fortunate to enjoy your level of society.’ Her cheeks flamed at her own impudence, but she did not check herself. Despite the obvious class disparity, she felt equal to him and that she must speak up.
George straightened to his full height, and said, ‘You may interpret what you wish, Mistress Caroline, but I assure you I do not allude to his class. What I meant is that blackguard is a member of the Knight family. I have been informed they treat their women poorly, and they have been stealing game from our estate since I was a boy. My gamekeeper has had more than one run-in with him and his brothers in this past year alone.’
