him, Jenny pushed her horse on and within seconds she saw the figure lying on the ground a few feet ahead of her. She reined in her mount, threw herself down and rushed towards him. With no thought for her gown or her own safety, she knelt beside the fallen man and turned him on his back. He moaned, but did not immediately open his eyes.
‘Are you badly hurt, sir?’ Jenny ran her hands over his face and body, looking for signs of blood, but thankfully could find none. Of his horse there was no sign and she thought it must have thrown him and gone crashing away through the trees. ‘Paul—Mr Ravenscar, please speak to me.’
Another horseman had arrived. Jenny did not look up, but was somehow not surprised when Adam’s voice spoke to her, ‘Is he still alive?’
‘Yes. He moaned just now. We heard the shot, but I cannot find any blood. I think his horse must have been spooked and thrown him.’
‘That is exactly what happened. He was riding Lochinvar—that horse is difficult enough at any time. If the shot were close enough to frighten him, Paul would not have stood a chance of holding on.’
‘Damn and blast...’ Paul muttered, his eyes flickering and then opening. He stared up at them. ‘What the hell happened to me?’
‘You fell from your horse,’ Jenny said.
‘I imagine someone took a pot shot at you and scared Lochinvar silly.’
‘Damn! If he’s damaged himself, Mark will never forgive me,’ Paul said. A moment later his face creased with grief as he realised what he’d said. He was getting to his feet as Lucy rode up and sat staring at them all from the saddle. Paul’s tone was irritable as he said, ‘What is everyone staring at? I took a tumble. It happens to the best of riders from time to time.’
‘Don’t you realise what this means?’ Adam said and offered his hand, hauling Paul to his feet. ‘Someone probably just tried to kill you.’
‘You needn’t rub it in,’ Paul muttered. ‘You will frighten the ladies. It was probably only a poacher.’
‘If you wish to believe that, do so,’ Adam said. ‘We should get you home and send for the doctor.’
‘Doctor be damned.’ Paul glared at him. ‘Do you imagine I’m going to walk?’
‘No—you will take Timkins’s horse,’ Adam said and signed to the groom to get down. ‘The stallion made off in that direction. Would you look for it, please? If Lochinvar will allow you, you may lead him to Ravenscar stables. If not, tie him to a bush and one of us will fetch him later—do not try to ride him if you value your life.’
‘I’ve heard of that devil’s temper,’ Timkins said. ‘Never fear, Captain Miller. If I find him, I’ll lead him or make him secure. If you are to take the ladies to Ravenscar, they will be safe until I come for them.’
‘Perfectly safe, sir,’ Adam said and smiled. ‘You have my word on it.’ He turned to Jenny. ‘Let me help you up. Thank you for trying to assist my cousin. Had I not arrived, I’m sure he would have been well cared for.’
‘We should certainly have done our best, should we not, Lucy?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Lucy was staring at Paul, almost as if she’d seen him in a new light. ‘Are you hurt, Paul? Can you ride?’
‘Of course I can,’ he muttered, then, in a softer tone, ‘Thank you, Lucy. I am bruised, but I think nothing is broken. Had it been any other horse I should not have been thrown despite the shot—but Lochinvar is a wild brute at the best of times.’
‘Why did you ride him?’
‘The poor beast needed the exercise and the grooms are all terrified of him. He is good breeding material, but not wonderful as a riding horse—at least for anyone other than Mark.’
‘You should sell him.’
‘Perhaps—and yet he is a wonderful stallion. Mark said the horse had served him well in France and deserved his time at stud. I think I shall follow my brother’s plans for him as much as possible.’
Lucy nodded, but did not answer. Her face was pale and Paul averted his eyes, refusing Timkins’s offer of support and mounting on his own. He rode with his eyes focused straight ahead, his mouth grim, clearly angry and in some discomfort, though refusing to admit it.
* * *
The little party had ridden at a steady trot and were soon back at Ravenscar. Dismounting at the front of the house, they were immediately surrounded by anxious servants with the information that Lochinvar had that moment returned riderless to his stable.
‘We were about to send out a search party, sir,’ one of the grooms said. ‘That devil wants putting down—no one is safe near it.’
‘You will do nothing of the sort,’ Paul said. ‘The fault was not Lochinvar’s. We were doing very well until...a fox spooked him.’
‘Give the poor beast a hot mash,’ Adam said. ‘And put a blanket over his back. I’ll come and rub him down later.’
‘Yes, Captain Miller.’
Adam offered to help Jenny dismount. She slid from the saddle into his arms and stood looking up at him for a moment before he let her go, a little smile on his lips. Adam turned with the intention of helping Lucy, but Paul had already performed the office for her. The two were staring at one another intently and Adam took Jenny by the arm, steering her towards the house.
‘I was on my way to warn you that you might possibly be in danger,’ Adam told her. ‘If whoever shot Mark believes you saw him leave Mark’s bedchamber, he may think you know more than you do. You must be on your guard, Jenny.’
‘The thought occurred to me last night,’ she admitted. ‘We had decided to ride this way and I meant to ask you if you thought as I did...it is most uncomfortable.’
‘This whole business is a damned outrage,’ Adam said and looked angry. ‘Do you not think it might be a good thing if you were to go away somewhere, Jenny?’
‘Lady Dawlish is thinking of taking us to Bath for a few weeks if her husband agrees. She thinks it would lift Lucy’s spirits. After all, her engagement wasn’t announced officially—though all her friends knew, of course.’
‘I see nothing wrong with a visit to Bath,’ Adam said. ‘No one could take offence at it, at least in this family. I might come down for a while myself—once things are more settled here. My uncle has taken to his room. His doctor says he is worn down and should rest. I think he cannot bear to see any of us for the moment. Hallam has gone to London to discover what he can—and Paul is angry with us all.’
‘Yes, I can imagine this must be harder for Paul than anyone. He is suddenly Ravenscar’s heir and the full weight of responsibility must be on his shoulders. He did not wish to inherit his brother’s birthright and never expected to—but he has no choice. It is a difficult thing to accustom oneself to, I should imagine.’
‘Yes, I believe it is,’ Adam said and looked thoughtful. ‘I have always known that I am my grandfather’s heir. Unfortunately, he has encumbered the estate with so much debt that I am not sure it can be recovered. For myself I should not care. Neither
