Falling for the Marquess - Julianne MacLean Page 0,74
unconscious and a good civilian brought her to my door. My wife is with her now. The young lady mentioned your name.”
Seger tensed. “Is she all right?”
“Shaken up, to be sure, but I reckon she’ll survive.”
“Have you summoned a doctor?”
“No, my lord, I came straight here.”
Seger nodded. “Thank you for bringing this news to me, sir. Wait here, if you please.”
Seger left the drawing room and requested that his coach be brought around to the front door posthaste. He returned to the room just as Clara appeared in a simple morning dress with her hair in a loose knot.
“Gillian has been hurt,” he told her.
“What happened?”
“She fell from her horse. I must go and fetch her right away. Will you tell Quintina to send word to my physician to meet me at this gentleman’s home?”
Seger questioned the man, who related the address to Clara.
A short while later, Seger was stepping into the coach with John Hibbert, but paused when he heard Clara call his name from the front door.
“Wait!” Without so much as a shawl or gloves or hat, she bounded down the steps and practically leaped into the coach. “I’m coming with you.”
Seger helped her inside and shut the door behind her.
Clara sat by the sofa where Gillian rested in the Hibberts’ front parlor and listened to the physician speak to Seger at the door.
“She’ll be fine,” the doctor said. “No signs of bruising or any broken bones. I believe she is simply distressed, as any lady would be. You might want to take a look at that horse, however. Miss Flint said he bucked suddenly without any cause whatsoever.”
Seger shook the man’s hand. “I will, Dr. Lindeman. Thank you.” A few minutes later, Seger entered the parlor. “You gave us quite a fright, my dear girl,” he said to Gillian.
She squeezed Clara’s hand. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to cause this much trouble. I was riding too fast, I suppose.”
Sensing the girl’s embarrassment, Clara pushed a lock of hair away from her forehead.
“Why would you do such a thing?” Seger asked. “And why did you go out alone without your groom? It’s not like you to be so careless.”
She shrugged. “I know it was foolish...I...I simply couldn’t help myself. I felt reckless this morning.” Gillian leaned up on both elbows. Her gaze flitted back and forth from Seger to Clara. “I didn’t mean to disturb you, the morning after your wedding.”
An uncomfortable silence ensued, and Clara tried quickly to dispel it. “Nonsense. Don’t be silly. We’re just glad you’re all right.”
Gillian smiled up at her. “Yes, me too.”
Mrs. Hibbert entered the room. “Would anyone like a cup of tea?”
“No, thank you, Mrs. Hibbert,” Clara replied. “You’ve been very kind.”
The woman bowed slightly and left the room again.
“All this reminds me of the time I fell at Rawdon Manor,” Gillian said. “I was only twelve. Do you remember, Seger?”
He smiled kindly at Gillian. “Of course. I remember how you cried.”
Clara gazed down at Gillian’s face and saw a warm radiance in her eyes.
“What happened?” she asked.
Seger reminisced. “Gillian was running, that’s all I saw. I don’t know where she was running to, only that she fell. You went down very hard. Your nose scraped the rocks.”
She touched it. “I still have a small scar.”
“Barely noticeable,” he replied.
Gillian tried to sit up. “But you came to my rescue.”
“I merely carried you into the house.”
Clara watched the exchange and realized that Gillian was like a sister to Seger. She hoped Gillian would become like a sister to her, too.
Seger glanced toward the front hall. “Perhaps it’s time to leave the Hibberts to their day,” he said. “Will you be able to walk, Gillian?”
“I believe so.”
“I won’t have to carry you this time?” he said merrily.
Eyes flashing with delight, she giggled and shook her head. “No, Seger.”
“Good. I’ll summon the carriage, then. Are you ready, my dear?” he said to Clara.
She nodded and took his hand as he helped her to her feet.
Gillian chose her newest, most fetching gown when she dressed for dinner that evening. Quintina had convinced her that the color amber brought out the best in her complexion, especially in candlelight, and went well with her sand-colored hair. Quintina also chose a pearl-and-diamond choker from her own collection to go with the gown and lent it to Gillian.
Gillian watched herself in the mirror as her maid hooked the choker at the back of her neck. She wished she had been more daring with her appearance before now, when