Page 75 of A Dangerous Engagement

Philip never took his eyes off Miss Mayson. His heart pounded with the thundering of his horse’s hooves as he drove him to reach her before she went off the edge.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Felicity had grown more and more uncomfortable the longer they had stayed on the beach. She had wanted to enjoy the beauty and magnificence of the place, but the men had all become more boisterous and showed less and less restraint, Mr.Ratley included.

When they had all gotten back on their horses, she was relieved, but she dreaded having to deal with her horse again. She’d never been very good with horses, and though this one seemed fairly gentle, she also startled at every little thing.

She explained the situation to Lady Blackstone, who kindly positioned her horse on Miss Mayson’s left, while Mr.Ratley’s horse was on her right. Riding between the two, her mare would have little choice but to stay on course.

But as they started on their way, Mr.Ratley reached out and touched the back of Felicity’s neck. She flinched and leaned away from him. Heat rose inside her at the inappropriateness of his action. He was grinning.

“Please do not do that, Mr.Ratley.”

“What do you mean?”

A moment later, she felt his hand on her neck again.

She jerked away from him, and he laughed, a throaty sound. Just then, Mr.Ratley’s stallion used his head to nudge her mare’s neck. Her mare snorted and tossed her head, edging closer to Lady Blackstone’s horse. Felicity did her best to pull the horse back to the center of the trail.

Mr.Ratley’s horse nudged Felicity’s horse again, this time more aggressively. Felicity’s horse reared, her front hooves lifting off the ground.

Felicity leaned forward, terrified she’d slide right off the sidesaddle. She scrambled to hang on, and the reins slipped from her fingers. The horse dropped back to all fours, jarring Felicity’s teeth together so hard her vision went black for a moment.

As soon as the mare’s front hooves were back on the ground, she bolted.

Felicity grabbed the horse’s mane, holding on as tight as she could. The pommel of the saddle stabbed her stomach, making it hard to breathe.

She managed to glance to her left and saw blue ocean instead of green grass. At any moment the horse’s hooves could slip right off, sending them both to their death.

Darkness started closing in on all sides. She was about to faint.

Something tightened around her ribs, a steel band, or perhaps someone’s arm. She felt herself being lifted. She floated above the ground as everything went black.

Philip snatched Miss Mayson off her horse and let his own horse slow and stop. He was holding Miss Mayson’s limp body rather awkwardly, so he pulled her upright in front of him, seating her in the front of his saddle and letting her upper body slump against his chest.

Thanks be to God, he had reached her in time. Her head rested on his shoulder, as she was obviously in a dead faint. Her horse had slowed her frantic run as soon as Philip had taken Miss Mayson off the mare’s back, and the horse now stood fifty yards ahead, calmly grazing.

After carrying Miss Mayson into her room after she fainted, and holding her up after she nearly fell into the printing press, it was the third time Philip had held a woman in his arms. He had no sisters and no other experiences to compare it to, but holding Miss Mayson made him want to hold her forever.

“Oh, good heavens, Mr.Merrick.” Lady Blackstone rode up beside him. Several more horses galloped up behind her.

Mr.Ratley galloped up, stopping his horse short, sending rocks and dust flying.

Miss Mayson began to rouse, her head lolling on his shoulder. He held her firmly to him so she wouldn’t fall, but everyone was gathering around them now, staring.

“You are quite the heroic rider.” Lady Blackstone looked almost amused. “What do you say, Mr.Ratley?” she called. “Mr.Merrick has saved your fiancée from falling over a cliff to her death.”

Mr.Ratley scowled at Philip. “She would not have fallen over the cliff. Her horse is over there.”

“Rather ungallant of you, Mr.Ratley,” Lady Blackstone said, “not to at least thank him.”

Ratley’s drunken face was flushed, and he scowled and barely glanced at Miss Mayson.

Miss Mayson made a sound like a deep sigh, then said in a groggy voice, “What happened?” She lifted her head off his shoulder. “Did the horse fall?”

“No, my dear,” Lady Blackstone said. “It is a miracle she did not, and that Mr.Merrick was able to rescue you.”

“I could have rescued her,” Mr.Ratley said loudly.