Moonspun Magic (Magic Trilogy 3)

She said more strongly, forcing herself to pull away from him, “Yes, of course.”

Rafael straightened her torn underthings as best he could and pulled down her riding skirt. Slowly, supporting her with one arm, he managed to stand up, bringing her with him, taking most of her weight himself. He studied her pale face a moment, her downcast eyes, and said, “Now, I’m going to help you climb that fence. When you’re at the top, I’ll go over, then lift you down. You can do it, Victoria. All right?”

“Yes,” she said again, her eyes on the rocky ground in front of her. “Yes, I can do it.”

When he’d gotten Victoria to the top rail of the fence, he climbed over and held out his arms to her. Her face was still pale, her lips now a thin line. He knew her leg was hurting more now. But he knew he had to get her back to the Hall.

“Victoria,” he said, “just one more step up, that’s all.”

He saw the sudden determination darken her eyes. “Yes,” she said. “Just one more step.”

He didn’t say another word. He watched as she dragged herself up, then closed his hands under her arms, lifting her over the top wooden rail. He brought all her weight against him as he lifted her down. He held her close a moment, feeling the slow, steady thud of her heart. “You did well. We will have to leave Toddy here. Now, I’m going to put you astride Gadfly. Will that make your leg hurt more than if you ride sidesaddle?”

“No.”

He lifted her onto Gadfly’s back, then went for Damaris. “Come, child.” She was chastened, that much was obvious, and he wished he could comfort her without lessening the impact of the scold he’d given her. “Damie, I’m going to set you in front of Victoria. I want you to sit very quietly and carefully. I want you to take care of her. All right?”

“Yes, Uncle. What’s wrong, Torie?”

“Nothing, love, nothing, I promise.”

Once he’d placed Damaris in front of a very silent Victoria, Rafael climbed on behind them. Gadfly wasn’t at all pleased with the additional weight and promptly began dancing sideways, snorting as he did so. Rafael cursed him, held tight to Victoria, and finally Gadfly calmed.

“Don’t worry about Toddy. I’ll send Flash for her.”

Victoria didn’t say anything. She concentrated on holding Damaris, this time keeping the child safe. Her thigh throbbed and hummed as the muscles rippled and deepened their knotting. She wouldn’t cry, no she wouldn’t.

Ten minutes later Rafael pulled Gadfly to a stop in front of Drago Hall. The last of the guests had left a half-hour before and now no one was about to see them. For that he was grateful. He dismounted with great care, then accepted Damaris from Victoria.

What to do with the child?

Bless Ligger. At that moment the great oak doors of Drago Hall opened and he appeared, thick white hair lifting off his forehead in the stiff breeze.

“Master Rafael? Is there a problem, sir?”

“Yes,” Rafael called back. “Would you please take Damaris to Nanny Black?” At Ligger’s nod, Rafael kissed the child’s cheek and said softly, “All is well now, my dear. Victoria and I will be up later to see you. All right?”

“All right, Uncle.”

He grinned at her and handed her over to Ligger.

“Now, its your turn, wife.”

Victoria willingly stretched out her arms, wrapping them about his neck as he lifted her off Gadfly’s back into his arms.

“I’ll tell you the same thing . . . it’s all right now, Victoria.”

Certainly it was all right, everything was marvelously all right, she thought with hopeless sarcasm, allowing herself the all-too-brief opportunity to relax in her husband’s arms. He was strong, she thought vaguely, and her leg hurt like the very devil.

Rafael saw Molly, one of the maids, come around a corner. Of all things, her mobcap was crooked on her head, giving her a demented look. He said crisply, “Fetch me a very hot towel, Molly. Then bring me another one in fifteen minutes.”

The girl blinked at that, but nodded.

“Have you ever tried a hot towel on the leg?” he asked as he climbed the staircase.

“No, but hot baths have helped in the past.”

“Well, we’ll try it. It can’t hurt. I remember my physician, Blick, using heat on a man who’d severely strained his leg. It helped.”