Page 28 of Dare to Tempt an Earl This Spring (Wedding Fever #1)

A shley didn’t know how to let go of the reins and slid along the turf with her boot skidding along for a moment before the pain that shot through her shoulder forced her to let go. As she hit the ground, the impact jarred through Ashley’s entire body, the world around her blurring in a shroud of red dust and bright light. The breath was knocked out of her lungs, leaving her gasping in disorientation. Her vision darkened, little purple and green flecks dancing before her eyes, and for a moment everything went still and silent, the roaring of the crowd a distant echo in some other world.

I made it past the finish line, did I not?

For a few endless seconds, she knew only the heavy ache spreading through her limbs, pulsing from her shoulder down to her fingertips, her mind swimming in and out of awareness. She tried to blink, but the simple effort felt monumental, her eyelids slow to obey.

However, her body protested every attempt to move. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a wry thought surfaced— Well, it could have been worse. At least I’m not dead.

Yes, she was still alive.

The shouts and footsteps grew louder, urgent voices piercing the fog. She forced her eyes open again, catching the hazy outline of a figure above her, his hands gentle but firm as they cradled her head.

“Ashley!” Thomas’s voice, rough with worry, sounded like it was coming from far away. “Ashley, look at me.”

Someone’s arm propped her head up.

Thomas’s crisp scent made her flutter her eyes open.

She focused on his face, the raw intensity in his eyes bringing her back, grounding her amidst the swirl of pain and dizziness. Thomas hovered over her, his gaze darting across her face as though searching for any sign of lasting harm. Her head throbbed, but the sight of him there, so uncharacteristically panicked, managed to draw the ghost of a smile from her.

Her gaze drifted over his dust-filled appearance, and she furrowed her brows when she spotted the bruise forming on his jaw. “You look worse than I do.”

“Damn it, that’s all you have to say! You shaved a decade from my life!” His voice broke with both relief, exasperation, and a bit of fury. “Are you mad? Absolutely mad?”

Ashley let out a weak laugh, though it turned into a cough as her lungs struggled to catch up. “Possibly,” she whispered, her voice shaky. “But it seems I’m not entirely dead yet.”

“Not dead? Not dead yet? You nearly frightened me to death!” He brushed a stray curl from her face, his thumb lingering for a moment, gentle and warm.

“What happened to you?” she asked him. “Did the horses trample you ?” His elegant attire had been ruined, the sleeves ripped, and there was more dust in his hair at the Royal Ascot than even after he trained the horses.

Before he could answer, the world suddenly erupted around them as familiar faces pressed closer, their voices blending into a clamor of concern.

“Ashley! Oh, my dear Ashley! How could you do this to your mother!” A voice cried out above the rest, followed by a thump.

“Oh, my!” Charlene called. “Bring the smelling salts! Quickly, someone! And catch that dog!”

Ashley turned her head to see her mother had fainted and lay sprawled out a few feet away from her. Well, drat, the gossip rags would be plastered with caricatures of mother and daughter lying on the racetrack at the Ascot.

Even Lord Cambridge wore a look of genuine worry. He leaned over Thomas. “I must say, Ashley, you are quite daring. That was an impressive tumble.”

“This is not the time for teasing,” Maddie scolded, her hands clasped over her mouth as she leaned in, eyes wide with worry. “Ashley, are you all right?”

Ashley gave a slow nod. “I think so.”

Thomas cursed again.

Jordan, dusted and slightly battered himself, kneeled off to the side of her mother. Her gaze moved back to Thomas. They’d fought?

Her mother’s voice rang out again, shrill and horrified. “Oh, how will I survive this scandal! This is simply…” She fainted again.

Charlene rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Here.” Sera came around to hand Charlene a small bottle. “But I vote to leave the countess be.”

Ashley moved to sit up and winced, attempting to move her leg before a sharp pain shot up her calf. Instantly an arm cradled her. “My leg hurts,” she breathed, squeezing Thomas’s hand, and he immediately shifted closer.

“We need a doctor,” Thomas called out.

“No,” Ashley said. She didn’t want a doctor. She wanted to go…home. His home. The castle.

“Yes.” He cursed again. “Whatever possessed you to take such a reckless risk?”

“I had something to prove.”

“To whom?” he asked, brows furrowing. “Because it certainly wasn’t to yourself. Is this about what you wish to share with me?”

She hesitated, shifted uncomfortably.

“Easy now,” Thomas murmured. “You don’t need to prove anything else today.”

Her eyes flitted to him, her heart twisting as she caught the rawness in his gaze. She sighed. “I wanted to make things right. But I’ve done everything wrong. Can we leave now, if that is all right?” Sitting on the ground, with people hovering, made her feel like a circus animal that didn’t perform as wished.

He nodded, sweeping the track with a look. The crowd around them had quieted a little, but murmurs and shocked whispers still rippled through.

Her mother woke again, and once more the scene teetered on the edge of chaos. Through it all, Ashley kept her gaze locked on Thomas. The anger in his eyes was unmistakable, but she could see relief there too—a vulnerable openness that made her heart twist. She wanted to ask him about Jordan, but with the man a few feet away, she didn’t want to take a chance. This might be the last time she’d be in his arms if he found out…what exactly did he know?

“Are you angry with me?” she whispered, needing to hear the answer even if she already knew.

His jaw tightened as he stared down at her, brows furrowed. “How could I not be furious?” he said quietly. “You are hurt. You could have been hurt much worse. Dead even.” His voice softened.

Ashley’s heart swelled, and she smiled weakly, placing her hand over his. “Then I suppose you’ll have to keep a closer watch on me. If you still want me?”

Thomas let out a breath that was almost a laugh, his anger softening as he shook his head. “If that’s what it takes.”

The arm on her back firmed while another slipped beneath her legs. He lifted her up and strode from the track. Her arms circled around his neck.

Did that mean the worst was over?

*

Thomas strode toward the carriage with a furious determination, every muscle in his body taut. His heart was still hammering, the rush of adrenaline only beginning to ebb away, leaving a dreadful, hollow ache in its place. She’d been one slip away from catastrophe, and now, with every step he took, the fear he had tamped down boiled to the surface, nearly blinding him.

He felt as though he’d lost the youth in his life in those final, terrifying seconds of the race. It wouldn’t have surprised him if he’d gone entirely gray from it. One thing was clear: like she’d lost grip of the horse, he hadn’t been in control of holding the proverbial reins, either.

Bloody, bloody hell and damnation.

“Are you certain you’re not hurt anywhere else?” he asked, his voice still gruff as he glanced down at her. Her face was still pale, her brow faintly creased as if even now she was debating whether she should apologize or argue or complain of hurt.

Her fingers clutched his jacket. “Just my pride—and maybe a few bruises here and there,” she murmured, though her voice wavered enough to betray her own uncertainty.

“So, you are hurt everywhere.”

He’d fallen from a horse before. There was no way she only felt a small ache here and there. He exhaled sharply, a faint laugh escaping him. “I could throttle you,” he muttered, tightening his hold around her. “I still cannot begin to understand what you were thinking. You know you are not a seasoned rider.”

Her smile was faint, almost sheepish. “I’m not entirely sure, now that I’ve had a moment to reflect on it.”

So, she was still hesitant to tell him. “We need to talk, love. Really have a good talk.” He pulled her a little closer as he reached the carriage, realizing belatedly he didn’t intend to let her out of his sight for the foreseeable future. As gently as he could, he climbed in, cradling her on his lap as he sank into the seat and drew her securely against him. She melted against him, leaning her head into the crook of his neck, and he exhaled fully, finally able to breathe again. Somewhat.

But as soon as the door shut, it was wrenched open once more, and he blinked in surprise as Sebastian’s head appeared, his expression urgent. Without waiting for a word, Sebastian stepped up into the carriage, and before Thomas could question him, Maddie, Charlene, and Sera scrambled in behind him, each of them shuffling to fit into the carriage’s cramped interior.

“Go!” Sebastian called to the driver, rapping on the roof as the wheels began to roll.

“What the—” Thomas started, but Sebastian only shot him a look of mild panic.

“Your almost mother-in-law,” he said grimly, jerking his thumb over his shoulder. “She’s on her way over with renewed vigor and enough indignation to fuel the rest of London for the season.”

Ashley groaned softly, her head sinking against his chest. “Is she—oh no, not again.”

“Oh yes,” Maddie said with a serious look. “And from the look on her face, I’d say we barely escaped unscathed. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s rallying all the old dragons of her acquaintance to lay siege to the castle.”

Sera leaned in from her cramped corner. “And Lord Linsey, I wouldn’t rule out that throttling you mentioned.”

Charlene gave a prim sniff. “You may want to watch yourself, my lord. She’s not thrilled about your role in all this.”

“My role?” Thomas repeated, looking at Ashley in bewilderment. “And what role would that be?”

“Allowing me to race.”

“But I did no such thing,” he all but growled.

“Tell her that,” Ashley said simply.

Sebastian grunted, but he kept his voice low, glancing back through the rear window. “She’s still coming, you know. And with remarkable robustness.”

Thomas shook his head, barely able to muster more than disbelief at this point. “Remarkable indeed.”

The carriage jostled as they picked up speed.

“I have half a mind to ride ahead and warn your staff to close the castle gates,” Sebastian said.

Thomas swallowed a sigh. He wanted time alone with Ashley. They had things to discuss, but that didn’t seem to be in their immediate future. He let out an inward groan.

“That might be a good idea,” Sera said, shaking her head. “Once she enters, she may never leave until she sees you both wed.”

Ashley groaned.

“True,” Maddie murmured. “Your father will learn of this soon, too.”

Ashley sighed. “There is no helping it now.”

Thomas nodded. “This is going to cause a scandal, but nothing too wild, I think.”

“Ah, well, what is the point of life if you can’t have a little scandal attached to your name?” Sera murmured.

Charlene nodded. “You may have just secured a lifetime of notoriety. But don’t worry—we’ll make sure it’s the good kind.”

Thomas shook his head, his eyes meeting Sebastian’s. With four women in the carriage and an almost mother-in-law with her feathers ruffled so badly that the Ton had seen it, he wouldn’t get out of this one unscathed.