The Dangerous Lord Darrington(2)

       
           



       

Davey led the way through the winding lanes for another mile before  turning off on to a narrow track. As they left behind them the little  villages that lined the main highway the country became ever more barren  and soon they were riding across a wilderness with no houses in sight.  Guy glanced up at the sky. The sun had disappeared behind thick clouds  the colour of lead and the air was heavy with the threat of rain.

'How much farther is it?' he asked as they slowed down to a walk, resting the horses.

'About another five miles,' replied Davey. 'I am sorry we did not think  to bring our greatcoats. If this rain comes down, it will be heavy, I  fear.'

Guy shrugged.

'No matter. We may yet beat it.'

'We may indeed. We can at least cover the next mile or so at speed, if  we cut across the fields.' With that Davey spurred his horse and they  were off again, galloping across the large, rectangular fields. Guy's  powerful hunter took the dry stone walls in his stride, but he silently  cursed his friend's recklessness as they scattered sheep and a herd of  milch cows in their headlong flight. The daylight was reduced to a  gloomy twilight and a soft rain had started to fall as they thundered  towards another grey stone wall. It was not particularly high, but as  they approached it Davey's bay mare stumbled. They were too close to  stop and she made a valiant effort to clear the wall, but a trailing  hoof caught one of the topstones, sending horse and rider tumbling to  the ground.

Guy did not hesitate. He put his own horse to the jump, but reined in  as soon as he could, turning back to help his friend. His heart sank  when he saw the mare on the ground, legs flailing, and Davey trapped  beneath her. Quickly he dismounted and dashed across to the stricken  pair. The bay rolled over and clambered to her feet. She stood,  trembling and snorting, but appeared otherwise unhurt as Guy dropped to  his knees beside his friend.

Davey's face was ashen and one leg was twisted in an unnatural position. He opened his eyes and looked up at Guy.

'Pushing … too … hard,' he gasped.

'Don't talk and keep still,' barked Guy. 'I need to see just what damage you have done to yourself.'

'Damned fool,' muttered Davey. 'Light was going … didn't see the rabbit hole … '

There was the thud of heavy boots as two farmhands ran up.

'We saw the fall from the road, sir,' called the first, grimacing as he gazed down at the injured man. ''Owt we can do?'

'We need a doctor,' said Guy. 'And somewhere to take him out of this rain.'

'There's the barn on t'other side o' beck,' offered the second man, coming up. 'Or t'owd Priory just over there.'

Guy followed his pointing finger and noticed for the first time the outline of a steeply roofed building in the distance.

'The Priory would be best, if it is inhabited.'

'Oh, aye, Lady Arabella will be at home. She never leaves the place these days.'

Guy nodded. Quickly he gave instructions for the men to fetch help  while he removed his jacket and threw it over Davey. He sat by his  friend's head, leaning forwards to shelter him from the worst of the  drizzling rain.

'This is a damned nuisance,' muttered Davey, wincing.

'Don't try to move. We will carry you to that house yonder and soon have you comfortable again.'

'Comfort, hah! Didn't know my legs could hurt so much.'

'You are growing soft, then,' retorted Guy, secretly relieved to know  his friend could still feel pain. He was no doctor, but he suspected at  least one leg was broken, but he hoped there would be no more serious  damage. He took his friend's hand. 'Don't worry. Help will be here  soon.'

Davey gave a slight nod and squeezed Guy's hand, then his eyes closed  and his head fell to one side. Only the tiny pulse throbbing at one side  of his neck told Guy his friend was still alive.



Guy had no idea how long he had sat beside Davey, the sky growing ever  darker and the rain falling steadily. It felt like eternity, but he  guessed it was less than an hour later when he heard the welcome sound  of voices. Half-a-dozen men arrived with a donkey pulling a small cart.  Guy tried to ensure that Davey was lifted as carefully as possible into  the cart, but he was profoundly thankful that his friend was still  unconscious. He winced when the cart rocked on the uneven field; by the  time they reached the gravelled drive leading to the old Priory he felt  as if he had been walking for miles.

The stone building towered over them, a black, looming shadow against  the leaden sky, but the warm glow of lamplight shone from several of the  windows and an oblong of light spilled out from the open doorway and  illuminated the steep stone steps leading down to the drive. As they  approached, the black outline of a woman could be seen in the doorway.  She hurried down the steps and handed a blanket to one of the men.                       
       
           



       

'Here, you can use this to carry him indoors.'

Silently Guy watched as the woman issued instructions, directing the  men in the best way to ease the unconscious man on to the blanket and  how to hold it to cause the least movement as they made their way up  into the house. He stopped for a quick word with the groom who came  running out to take charge of the horses, then followed behind the  ragged cortege, unheeded as they made their way through the echoing hall  and up a wide stone staircase to a small chamber where a maid was  hurriedly building up the fire.

Guy retired to the corner, reduced to a spectator. He was ready to  advise if necessary, but the young woman was supervising the men as they  laid Davey on the bed and Guy did not think he could improve upon her  instructions. He watched her as she moved around the room, the  candlelight glinting on her flame-red hair. Despite his concern for his  friend, Guy found himself wondering how old she was: not a girl, that  was certain, for she carried herself with assurance, speaking to the  men-all known to her by name-in a calm, low voice. She was dressed in a  grey gown that showed her slender figure to advantage and she moved with  a youthful grace and agility that was very pleasing to the eye. She was  clearly used to running a household. Was she perhaps the Lady Arabella  the men had mentioned? He broke off from his reflections as the sound of  a hasty footstep in the corridor announced the arrival of the doctor. A  large, cheerful-looking man appeared in the doorway.

'Ah, Mrs Forrester, good evening to you!'

That answered one of Guy's questions.

The doctor approached the bed, saying cheerfully, 'So this is the young  man I have been summoned to attend, is it? Thrown from his horse, I  understand.'

'Yes.' Guy stepped out of the shadows. 'The mare came down on top of him.'

'Hmm.' The doctor frowned down at the unconscious form now laid out  upon the bed. With a sudden movement he began to take off his coat.  'Then I must get to work. The rest of you should leave me now-except for  your footman, ma'am. I will need him to help me undress my patient.'

'I will help you do that,' said Guy quickly.

The doctor gave him a searching look.

'I think not, sir. You would be advised to get out of those wet clothes  or I shall end up with two patients instead of one! Mrs Forrester,  perhaps you will take care of that-and get the rest of these men out of  here! They have served their purpose and should all go away now!'

The red-haired woman immediately moved towards the door.

'Of course. Thank you, everyone. If you would like to go down to the kitchens, Cook has prepared a bowl of punch for you all.'

'Does that include me?' asked Guy as he filed out of the room behind  the others. The young woman's large, dark eyes regarded him solemnly.  She gave no sign that she had noticed his attempt at humour.

'No, sir, you may wait for your friend in the great hall. I will have refreshments brought to you there.'

Guy followed her back down the stairs. He had not realised how chilled  he had become until he felt the heat coming from the fire blazing in the  huge fireplace. Thankfully he moved towards it.

'And just who is this man dripping water all over my floor?'

The imperious voice stopped him in his tracks. He looked round to find  an old woman standing on the far side of the room. She was dressed in  severe black with a black lace cap over her snow-white hair and she was  leaning heavily on an ebony cane. She looked very regal and Guy glanced  down at his mud-stained clothes.

'I fear I must present a very dishevelled appearance, ma'am, and I beg  your pardon.' He gave her his most elegant bow. 'I am Darrington.'

'The Earl of Darrington?'

'The same, madam.'

Behind him he heard the young woman's sharp intake of breath and smiled  to himself. She had clearly not thought him of such consequence!

'Well, you will catch your death of cold if you remain in those wet clothes! Beth, my dear, what are you thinking of?'

'But Tilly and Martin are-'

'If the servants are busy, then you must take the earl upstairs, girl. Immediately!'

'I assure you, ma'am,' Guy began, 'I would as lief stay here beside the fire-'