Charlotte’s foot slipped from beneath her, and she flailed wildly, hoping to catch something, anything to save her from falling. But there was nothing to grab, and instead, she plunged into the mud, sinking up to her elbows and waist.
Dominic looked at her, amusement plain on his face, clearly trying to stifle his laughter. “What were you saying?”
“I will have you know that this was all part of my plan,” Charlotte replied, mustering as much dignity as she could caked in mud.
“Of course, it was.” Dominic gave her look.
“It was, just —” Charlotte tried to stand and yelped in pain, clutching at her ankle, and sinking back into the mud.Drat.
Dominic moved to her side, the amusement in his face vanishing in an instant. “What happened?”
“It is nothing. Just, ah, my ankle.” Charlotte winced as she tried to stand again. “I just need a moment. Do not worry about me; go on ahead.”
“Do not be ridiculous.” Dominic reached a hand towards her. “I can hardly leave you like this.”
Dominic put an arm around her, pulling her into a standing position. “Can you put any weight on it?”
She tried and gasped as pain shot through her ankle, and she clutched at him to steady herself. “Dominic, you are wasting time. She is going to catch up.”
He glanced at Lady Andrea, who was making slow but steady progress towards them, and then back at Charlotte. “God curse me for a fool.”
“What?” Charlotte began, but before she could form her question, Dominic had swept her into his arms. “What are you doing? What if you fall? Your clothes, they will be ruined.”
From the starting line, several people let out whoops and cheers, someone even whistled. Charlotte felt her cheeks redden.
“Look at Dorson!” a voice called. “Who would have thought him the gallant hero?”
“It seems ‘Sweetkins’ cannot bear to leave his ‘Precious Plum’ behind!” another voice called.
The crowd laughed. Charlotte was fairly certain it was not possible to actually die of embarrassment, but she wished it was. She looked at Dominic.
“Well, we might as well give them a show.” Dominic moved through the pit, his steps slow and careful.
Charlotte’s chest twisted, but she did not say anything. After all, that was what they were trying to do.
“What if you hurt yourself?” she asked.
“Then we shall both have to crawl to the end,” Dominic answered. “But with any luck, it will not come to that.”
“This is ridiculous,” she groaned.
“I think you mean chivalrous,” Dominic answered. “Now stop your wriggling, Precious Plum, or I will definitely fall.”
Charlotte stopped trying to glance over Dominic’s shoulder and instead focused on remaining as still as possible. Her ankle throbbed, and with each step, she worried that Dominic might lose his footing.
When they finally reached the finish line, he set her down gently and gestured for one of the servants to fetch a stool or something for her to sit on.
A moment later, the Dowager Duchess appeared looking amused. “An excellent show, dear boy. One hundred points for you and your future wife. And an extra thirty-seven for style.”
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Charlotte murmured.
“Now, try not to injure yourself again. Once is romantic, twice is just desperate.” The Dowager Duchess gestured to a servant and turned on her heel calling over her shoulder. “Fetch a litter for Lady Charlotte, and bring her to the house.”
Charlotte looked at Dominic who shrugged.
“It would appear we have won this one.” Dominic looked at her.
“So, it would seem,” Charlotte agreed.But why does it feel as though I have lost?
