More than once, Melissa had seen people with a cracked rib or two when they fell from their horse, and so she quickly added, “Are you certain the pain is your stomach and not your ribs? Is the pain the reason you fell?”
Lord Spurnrose’s face screwed up slightly, and she believed he would lie or reject her trying to question him. But then, he said through gritted teeth, “It was, and no. I have no other pain. Just a few cuts and bruises. My legs are not broken. I am perfectly capable of returning home.”
“If you mean that you wish to mount your horse, then I shall allow you to do no such thing,” Melissa stated, offering him a challenging expression.
“Forgive me, My Lady, but I do not believe you can stop me.” The smirk that spread across his face made Melissa’s heart skip a beat. She had to bite the inside of her lip to stop herself from being goaded by his charm.
“Perhaps I might not be able to, but I am certain that Mr Anders and his field hands could certainly give you a run for your money,” Melissa pointed out, gesturing with an inclination of her head to the farmer and his workers behind her. “And if you are not careful, I shall have Flit round you right into that cart himself.”
“As I have said, I do not need a cart,” Lord Spurnrose protested. Though his face was still slightly twisted, his jaw did not look at all as clenched as it had been before. Perhaps he was not in nearly so much pain as Melissa had first thought. Maybe it was more the shock of falling from his horse that had pained him. Either way, he seemed to be recovering a little. “My legs are in perfect working order. I just have a terrible stomach ache is all.”
Melissa sighed and shrugged, conceding. “In that case, up you get,” she instructed, and before he could protest, she pushed herself to her feet and slipped her hand under his arm to drag him up with her.
“What exactly do you mean to do, My Lady?” Lord Spurnrose asked though he did not fight her. With one hand on the boulder he had been sitting on, he pushed himself up to his full height. How he towered over Melissa made her feel small and innocent and caused her heart to flutter again. His presence was so dominating and charming that she couldn’t remember ever having met someone giving off such a vibe before.
And yet, she quickly reminded herself that for now, no matter what else was going on between them, he was currently her patient.
“I mean to escort you home, My Lord,” Melissa explained, slipping her arm around his waist and pulling his arm around her shoulders.
“Lady Belmont, I am more than capable of walking by myself,” Lord Spurnrose declared, but when she urged him to take one step, adding pressure to his back with her arm, he did seem to struggle.
Ignoring his comment, she said, “I may look dainty and weak, but I can assure you I am more than capable of aiding you, Lord Spurnrose. Lean on me as much or as little as you need, and we shall return home together.”
At his smile, she felt her cheeks growing hot with a little embarrassment. To keep from meeting his gaze too closely, she half-turned to address Mr Anders and the others. “Thank you, Mr Anders, but I do believe we can handle things from here.”
The farmer did not look entirely convinced, and Melissa suspected he wanted to offer an escort. But at that moment, Betty appeared over the crest of the hill, running as though her life depended upon it with Melissa’s late husband’s leather doctor’s bag clutched in her hand. It looked heavy and awkward in her grip, and Melissa thought she might trip over it at any moment.
Flit hurried off to meet her, and the maid only slowed to a walk when she reached the group of farmers. The men all took a moment to tip their hats and give her a dip of their heads as she passed. She offered them a smile though it was clear she was far too out of breath to say anything. Instead, she inclined her head in acknowledgement before joining Melissa.
The maid gave a quick curtsey before she said breathlessly, “I came as quickly as I could, My Lady.”
“This is ridiculous! Do you have the entire estate running around after me?” Lord Spurnrose hissed at Melissa, and she ignored him, pinching his side a little where she had her arm wrapped around his waist as she addressed her maid.
“Thank you, Betty. It is very much appreciated, isn’t it, Lord Spurnrose?”
She turned her gaze on the lord, glowering at him with a challenge that said she would have something to say about it if he offended her maid.
“Yes,” Lord Spurnrose said through gritted teeth, and the way he placed his hand on his abdomen again suggested he was in some more pain than he cared to admit.
“Betty, if you would be so kind as to escort us to Lord Spurnrose’s house,” Melissa suggested. “I’d like to look at him where things are a little more private.”
“Of course, My Lady,” Betty said, seeming to have recovered from her run. “Shall I send a boy on ahead to let the servants know?”
She glanced back over her shoulder at the farmers still milling about, looking as though they were reluctant to leave in case the women needed anything.
“I don’t think that will be necessary, do you, My Lord?” Melissa asked.
At that, Lord Spurnrose smiled and said, “I think that is the most sensible thing you have said since you arrived, My Lady.”
The playfulness of his expression did nothing to hide the fact that he was still clearly in pain.
Wanting to ensure she did not appear like a pushover, Melissa called over her shoulder, “Mr Anders, would you be so kind as to have someone return Lord Spurnrose’s horse to his stables?”
The farmer hurried forward, removing his hat to dip his head to her all over again. “I shall see to it myself, My Lady.”
“Thank you, Mr Anders. I do not believe we shall need the cart after all,” she said, offering him a grateful smile. “If you would be so kind as to send someone to let the others know so as not to waste any more of their time?”
“Of course, My Lady,” Mr Anders said again, bowing over his hat in his hand. “Do not worry about a thing.”
