The Duke's Bridle Path by Burrowes Grace & Romain Theresa

Author:Burrowes, Grace & Romain, Theresa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grace Burrowes Publishing
Published: 2017-09-12T04:00:00+00:00

“What were you thinking,” Harriet shouted, once the stable lad had led Ramsdale’s horse down the drive. “Jumping an obstacle like that on a horse you’re not familiar with? You fell not two weeks ago, before my very eyes and over a smaller jump in good footing. You could have been hurt. You could have been killed! Philippe, you c-could have been k-killed.”

She went from shaking him—or trying to—to squeezing Philippe so tightly he could barely breathe.

“That gelding is nothing if not athletic,” he said, speaking as calmly as he could when his lungs were ready to burst. “We hopped a few stiles in the last mile, and I knew he was up to the challenge, but, Harriet, it’s Ramsdale who’s taken a fall. He said he was merely winded, but I know he took a knock on the head, and I fear a worse injury.”

“Hang Ramsdale,” Harriet retorted, pulling back but keeping a good grip on his arms. “You rode like a demon, Philippe. Like a winning steeplechase jockey when you swore to me…” Her eyes, which had been filled with concern, narrowed. “You swore to me you were done with horses forever. You had tried and failed, and nothing I could say, threaten, or promise would change your mind. You gave up.”

Jackson Talbot thumped down the porch steps. “What’s all this about? Good form, Your Grace. Harriet, let the man go.”

“Send the lads to assist Lord Ramsdale, Papa. He’s taken a fall, and I will not turn loose of His Grace until I’ve had an explanation.”

Talbot’s eyebrows climbed nearly to his hat brim. “Ramsdale’s taken a tumble?”

“I left him sitting beneath an oak where the bridle path, the woods, and the stream all meet east of here,” Philippe said. “He seemed right enough, if a bit dazed, but the clouds are gathering, and he’s miles from shelter.”

“And you left him your coat,” Harriet said. “What if it had started to rain, and you on a strange horse, in bad footing, no coat… I taught you better than this, Philippe.”

She was scolding him, also stroking the lace of his cravat and calling him Philippe.

“You are concerned for me,” Philippe said.

“Of course she’s concerned,” Talbot said. “Else she’d not be so ill-mannered as to use your Christian—”

Harriet left off petting Philippe’s chest and faced her father, hands on hips. “Hush, Papa. I can speak for myself. Your business partner is sitting beneath a tree nearly three miles away, possibly addled and injured and storm on the way. Hadn’t you best concern yourself with him?”

Philippe slipped an arm around Harriet’s waist. “I’d be obliged if you’d send Ramsdale some aid, Talbot. I can continue on to the Hall, but your property was closest to his mishap, and I’d hoped to count on my friends for assistance.”

Harriet stiffened beneath his arm.

“Of course,” Talbot said. “Cooper! Hitch up the dog cart. Tell Jeremy to put up the coach and get word to the solicitor that I’ll have to reschedule my appointment. Lerner, you go down the bridle path on horseback.

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