The Fortune Hunter: A Novel by Daisy Goodwin

Author:Daisy Goodwin
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781466842243
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2014-07-29T00:00:00+00:00

The Ex-King’s Bedroom

The journey back would normally take twenty minutes, but though Bay could ride well enough one-handed, anything faster than a walk was too painful for his shoulder, and so the journey took them over an hour. He had urged the Empress to go on ahead, but she had refused.

‘If you were to fall again, you would be quite helpless.’

‘But I won’t fall again.’

‘Nobody ever thinks that they are going to fall, Captain Middleton.’

Just after they had had this conversation and were riding slowly along the broad river valley that led to Easton Neston Park, the Quorn came into view, spreading like a scarlet stain down the hill towards them on the other side of the river. The fox was clearly visible in front, running from side to side, trying to shake off the hounds who poured after it. The riders had thinned a little from the morning. As they grew nearer Bay saw the massive figure of the Red Earl and beside him the Prince of Wales. For a moment it looked as though the fox was going to cross the river and bring the whole hunt after it, but at the last moment the terrified animal swerved into a thicket of trees overhanging the water. It must have found some refuge there – possibly in a deserted badgers’ sett – as it did not emerge. The hounds set up a terrific row, and the riders began to rein in their horses, waiting for the kill.

The Empress did not stop to watch the hounds at work, riding steadily on, with Bay following. But she was hailed by one of the riders on the other side of the stream who, recognising her, came right down to the water’s edge.

‘Your Majesty! I was afraid that you were lost.’ There was relief in the Austrian Ambassador’s voice, but also a note of warning.

The Empress turned her head and said, ‘As you can see, Count, I am quite safe. It is poor Captain Middleton who has been injured.’

Bay nodded to the Count. ‘Put my shoulder out. The Empress set it for me.’

Karolyi was too well trained to show any surprise at this, although his eyes did widen when the Empress checked her horse and he saw her chamois leather-covered legs gripping the side saddle.

‘I am taking the Captain to Easton Neston. Perhaps you would be good enough to send for a doctor.’ The Empress gave Karolyi no opportunity for further conversation.

‘Of course, Majesty. I will attend to it directly.’

Without another word, the Empress turned her horse towards the road at the end of the valley. Bay nodded again to Karolyi and went after her.

As soon as they were out of earshot, the Empress laughed.

‘Well, my new riding costume will be the talk of the Hofburg now,’ she said. ‘Karolyi would be far better off to keep it to himself, but he lives to gossip, and he won’t be able to resist turning this into a story. It will all be about my

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