Page 65 of Secrets of the Marriage Bed

That sounded unlikely. He frowned, trying to recollect the event. He remembered a field and his head resting in her lap and something about his horse. ‘Thor?’

She tutted. ‘What is it about you and that horse? He is fine. Indeed, we can thank him for our rescue.’

‘How so?’

‘Well, I am not sure I believe it, but I scared him off, hoping he’d run for his nice comfortable stall, and Jaimie swears he led them back to where you had fallen and he, being a very smart stable lad, brought a wagon along.’

‘Did I misjudge a jump?’ It would be the first time he had been thrown since the age of eight, when Isobel had put him up on a half-broken colt.

She smoothed the pillows each side of his head, bringing those deliciously plump breasts close enough to kiss. Beneath the sheets his body hardened. Well, even if his head was unusable, one part of him was in perfect working order. Unfortunately, that was the part he would rather went to sleep.

She straightened, her face serious. ‘Your girth gave way.’

He stared at her blankly. He would never ride out with a loose girth. ‘Gave way?’

She gave a little grimace. ‘One broke and the other slipped. You were lucky it did not happen during the jump.’

The jump would have likely been the cause of the break, yet his equipment had been in perfect condition. He’d checked it himself before they rode out. His and hers. ‘I see.’

‘More water?’

‘Thank you, but I must get up—’

A hand flattened on his chest, a light touch but commanding. He froze, hauling back on the reins of a surge of anger.

‘The doctor said you are to remain in bed until the dizziness passes.’ she said. ‘It might be a day or so.’

‘The doctor came? When?’

‘Yesterday afternoon.’

He glanced toward the now covered window. ‘What time is it?’

‘My, what a great many questions. It is late afternoon. Almost dinner time. Are you hungry?’

He grinned. ‘I’m not the only one with questions.’ Much as it went against the grain, and he certainly was not going to admit it, he was enjoying her fussing. He had no memory of anyone fussing over him in quite this way. Ever.

Reality came rushing in. Recollections. ‘How are you?’

‘I am well. No sign of any illness.’ The relief in her voice was odd. Too intense. ‘I took afternoon tea with Miss Digby, by the way. She was worried about you.’

‘I hope you set her mind at rest.’ He did not like to worry Digger.

‘As much as I was able.’

A scratch at the door and Grindle entered, his face anxious. His lips twitched in what might be described as his version of a smile when his gaze rested upon Alistair. ‘You are awake, Your Grace.’

‘It would seem so,’ Alistair replied.

‘McPherson begs a word, if you feel so inclined.’

‘I expect he wants to apologise about the broken girth,’ Alistair said. ‘Show him up.’

Julia rose to her feet. ‘While you lecture Jaimie, I am going to see about some broth since you haven’t eaten since yesterday.’

Lecturing was also a wife’s privilege. ‘I would prefer bread and a few slices of roast beef.’

‘Broth first. Doctor’s orders. You do not want to be ill again.’