Eulogy's Secret (The Huntley Trilogy) by Elliot Grace

Author:Elliot, Grace [Elliot, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Romance
Publisher: Grace Elliot
Published: 2011-10-17T16:00:00+00:00

Briefly, she lost consciousness and when she came too, her lungs burnt with gasping pain. She heard groaning and realized it was her.

“Lie still.”

Eulogy felt disinclined to argue. Her head cradled against a wide chest, she felt strangely safe. The disembodied voice crooned words of comfort as stabbing pains shot through her chest.

“Pant like a dog,” the deep voice commanded, “it helps when you’ve been winded.”

She wanted to protest that she wasn’t winded but dying, but could only manage a splutter. Someone stroked her forehead. She smelt the reassuring scent of musk…of Jack, she realized with a thrill, like waking from a nightmare secure in a lover’s arms.

“Jack,” she whimpered, ribs screaming with the effort.

“I’m here. Lie still” Softly, he touched her cheek, brushing aside a stray curl. “Is anything broken?”

Cautiously, she moved her limbs. “I don’t think so.”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “When I saw you lying there I feared the worst…”

She stared, beneath the dust he was ashen, dried blood coating his cheek.

“You are hurt!”

“It’s nothing, but you….”

“Just winded.” Cautiously, she felt her ribs and satisfied nothing was broken she managed a shaky smile.

“Can you sit?” Huntley eased her up. But then the trees started to spin and to her mortification, she vomited on the grass. ‘There, there, sweeting.” One broad hand rubbed her back, whilst the other lifted hair from her face. “Here, use this.” Jack handed her a silk handkerchief.

“I’m sorry,” she moaned and wiped her mouth.

“No, tis me that should apologize. You weren’t happy about the phaeton.”

“What happened?” Eulogy hugged her knees, waiting for the clammy light headedness to pass.

“Something spooked the horses,” the flat tone of his voice made her alert, “…and the axle broke. We were lucky to be thrown clear.”

“Oh.” Eulogy pondered on his use of the word ‘lucky’. At this particular moment, with every part of her body hurting, she didn’t feel particularly fortunate. Then she peered round his shoulder to the splintered wood and exposed underbelly of the ruined carriage, and shuddered at what might have been.

Miraculously, the horses stood quietly grazing, seemingly unhurt after dragging the wreckage of the overturned phaeton to a halt.

He folded her slim hand in his and pressed her fingertips to his lips.

“My darling Eulogy, I’d be lost without you.”

Her thudding heart, having finally slowed, started racing again.

“Mr. Huntley?”

“Jack,” he corrected, “I prefer it when you call me Jack.”

Dimly Eulogy became aware of voices growing louder. Riders arrived, cutting the greys free, people approaching from all corners of the park, intruding on their intimacy.

“Jack?”

“Yes, Eulogy. May I call you, Eulogy?”

“I’d rather walk home, if that’s all right by you.”

“Of course, anything you want. I’ve been such an idiot.”

“It was an accident, you couldn’t help it.”

“I don’t mean the phaeton, I mean you. That’s why I brought you out today, I wanted to tell you how I feel.” Her heart tumbled afresh, but before he could elaborate, a gentleman reined in his hunter and dismounted.

“I say, this looks a pretty pickle. Are you chaps all right?”

Jack replied, curtly, his eyes never leaving Eulogy.

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