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She gave up trying to reason with him. “Can you stand on your own while I fetch Demetrius?”
When he gave her a curt nod, she cautiously withdrew her support. But he staggered, so she grabbed his arm.
“I’m fine,” he said. “Please just get the blasted horse.”
Repressing a sigh, she went to fetch the horse. Although Demetrius was a massive animal, he had beautiful manners. He patiently waited while she ran a quick hand over his flanks and checked his legs for obvious injuries. Finding none, she took the reins and led him to his master.
“He seems quite fit,” she said.
“Thank God for that, at least.”
Royal still looked dreadful. His complexion remained ashen and perspiration trickled down his temples, despite the cool breeze off the river. His normally clear eyes were hazed with pain, and she could only hope he didn’t keel over before she got him home.
“Royal, I’m so sorry you hurt yourself because of me.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine, Ainsley. Stop worrying.”
His stubborn refusal to even acknowledge that he needed help stirred her irritation. “You’re not fine. I’m sending for the surgeon as soon as we get home.”
“We’ll see.”
“Royal, this is not—”
“Would you please just help me check Demetrius? I’m not riding him until I’m sure he’s uninjured.”
“Your horse isnotinjured.”
“I need to check.”
Ainsley mentally gave her husband a good shake before taking his arm, supporting him as he limped his way around the horse. He ran his hands carefully over the animal’s legs and examined the hooves. By the time he finished, he truly looked ready to keel over.
“I believe he’s safe to ride,” he said. “If you could just hold his head while I get myself into the saddle.”
“I can boost you up.”
“Ainsley, you’re a big girl, but you’re notthatbig.”
“There’s no need to be insulting. I’m simply trying to help,” she retorted, then immediately felt horrible for snapping at him. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. Just hold Demetrius, will you?”
Silently, she went to the stallion’s head and took hold of the bridle. Royal managed to hoist himself into the saddle, swearing under his breath the entire time, while Demetrius stamped and flicked his ears to signal his displeasure with the awkward process. Ainsley firmly held him, telling him what a good boy he was, and rubbed his nose until he settled down.
“Are you all right?” she asked her husband.
He hunched forward along the horse’s neck, trying to catch his breath. “Yes, although that just about killed me.”
She wanted to cry with frustration and anxiety as she came around to touch his knee. “Royal, I am so, so sorry. This never would have happened but for my idiotic behavior.”
He sat up straight, his malachite gaze narrowing to infuriated slits. “For Christ’s sake, Ainsley, would you please stop apologizing? It was I who failedyou. Again. In fact, I seem completely incapable of giving you what you need to be happy, no matter how hard I try.I’mthe one with the problem, not you, so please stop trying to pretend otherwise.”
She gaped up at him, too stunned to muster a sensible reply. “I, ah . . . I’m not sure how to respond to that, except to say I don’t think it’s true.”
“You don’t need to say or do anything but get on your blasted horse so we can put this episode behind us and return home. My lady,” he added in a commendably sarcastic tone for a man driven with pain.
Silently, Ainsley went to fetch the mare, pondering that she had a great deal of ground to recover with her much put upon husband.
Chapter Seventeen
