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Thunder rumbled in the distance and he looked up at the sky just as some droplets fell on him. He turned his horse and started back toward the castle, but then galloping came from behind him. He was surprised to see a horse without a rider, and once he noticed it wore a side saddle, his body tensed.
The horse had come from the direction of the secluded side of the lake, and it could very well be Diana’s horse, although it was different from the one she had ridden to the lake the first time. Despite the assumptions and contradictions running through his mind, he felt that something was wrong and began to gallop toward the lake as the rain began to fall heavily.
It was dark when he reached the lake several minutes later, and he could barely see in the downpour. “Is someone there?” he called. “Diana!” He dismounted and began to search the area when no answer came, but suddenly, he heard a whimper near a rock.
Running to it, he saw something pale before he reached it, and it appeared to be moving. “Oh, God, Diana!” He saw her when he moved closer, and fear gripped him for a fraction of a moment before he pushed it down and acted.
“M-Matthew?” She looked up at him, seeming breathless, nay, in pain, and he looked to find where she was injured. One of her legs was stretched out, and he assumed that was it.
“Did you hurt your leg?” he asked.
“Y-yes…my f-foot.” She was shivering.
Matthew gently scooped her up into her arms, careful with her foot, and carried her to his horse. He mounted behind her, shielding her from the rain with his body, and spurred the horse toward the castle. She clutched him, and Matthew was glad he had found her when he did. He could not bear to imagine her being more hurt than she was.
Less than an hour later, he reached Kendall Castle and carried her inside. “Send for the physician at once,” he ordered McGill as he ascended the stairs. “And send Mrs. Ross with warm water and dry towels.”
“At once, Your Grace,” McGill answered.
Matthew took Diana to one of the guest chambers and laid her down on the bed, gently brushing her wet hair from her face before kneeling in front of her.
“T-thank you,” she said.
Matthew smiled at her. “I hope you can understand why I brought you here.”
Diana nodded. “It is closer than my aunt’s house.”
“And my physician can tend to your injury.” He looked at her foot which had begun to swell. “What happened?”
“I climbed the rock and fell when it began to rain,” she explained as a knock sounded on the open door. The housekeeper, Mrs. Ross, walked in with some towels and a blanket, and Matthew rose.
“I will leave you in Mrs. Ross’ care for now but I will return shortly.” He kissed her cold fingers.
After leaving her, Matthew considered sending word to Lady Dervin. He suspected her wound would keep her in the castle for some days, and having her aunt or cousin here would be proper. Safeguarding Diana’s reputation was important. However, he decided to wait until the rain had abated.
The physician, who lived on the estate, arrived as Matthew reached downstairs and he returned to Diana’s chamber with him, explaining on the way that he had found her in the rain.
The door was closed, so Matthew knocked. Mrs. Ross poked her head out.
“She will be ready shortly, Your Grace.”
Matthew and the physician waited for several minutes before the door was opened and they walked in. Diana had changed out of her wet dress and was under the bed covers with her injured foot out.
Instead of standing over the physician as he was tempted to do, he went to sit in a chair on the other end of the room near the fireplace. The physician carefully examined her, and when he was through, he gave Mrs. Ross instructions before coming to where Matthew sat.
“Your Grace, Miss Pearson sprained her ankle, and I suggest she keeps off the foot for at least two days.”
“We will ensure she does,” Matthew said.
“She might get a cold from being out in the rain,” the physician continued. “I have given Mrs. Ross a prescription for her. If anything changes that requires my attention, please call me.”
“Thank you, Morgan.” Matthew showed him out.
The rain had subsided and he sent word to Lady Dervin so she was informed of Diana’s condition, and he also sent another messenger to call Emma. Diana would likely stay for three days, and he knew she would be glad to have her friend with her.
He waited until he thought Diana was alone before going back up to her chamber. Mrs. Ross was stepping out of the room when he arrived, and she shook her head at him.
“Miss Pearson is asleep,” she told him. Matthew nodded but he did not leave. The housekeeper placed her hands on her hips to challenge him. “She must not be disturbed.”
