Lady Alexandra's Lover (Sex and the Season #3) - Helen Hardt Page 0,4

he’d said, “and the rail won’t be safe.”

“For goodness’ sake,” Ally had replied, “I’ve traveled during many storms and had no problems at all.”

“Not by rail, you haven’t.”

True. She couldn’t argue. She’d rarely traveled by rail. Having grown up in near poverty, she wasn’t accustomed to such. In her mind, the rail would be safer, as they weren’t dependent on horses, who could spook at any time.

Evan had refuted that concern as well. “My team is well trained and will do fine. Besides, if the weather gets too unruly, we will simply stop for the night for lodging.”

Of course. Lodging. Something else she wasn’t used to. Lodging cost money, which she’d never had in abundance. Money matters seemed to be over now that her mother had married the earl, but Ally couldn’t be a burden forever. If her current plan worked out—and she had no doubt it would—money would no longer be a worry to her. With Mr. Landon’s millions at her disposal, she could take care of herself and Sophie both. Spinsterhood was probably in her sister’s future. Ally loved Sophie dearly, but given her timidity and adherence to convention, the poor dear was likely never to marry. Ally had every intention of taking care of her older sister and making a home for her. She could be a doting auntie—the picture suited Sophie well.

Ally looked up from her book at Evan’s handsome face. The rain was pelting the roof of the carriage now, but Evan didn’t seem concerned. Good. Neither would she be concerned then. The horses were doing fine, and the coachman hadn’t said two words since they left.

Evan. Ally smiled to herself. While the idea of spending time with him hardly enamored her, her scheme couldn’t have worked out better. Evan would be the perfect person to catch her and Mr. Landon in the act. His sense of honor would work in her favor. He’d demand that Mr. Landon do right by her. He might even call him out. Evan had a temper, though he kept it well disguised most of the time. He’d come close to calling out her cousin-in-law Cameron a month previously, when Rose had chosen him over Evan.

Yes, he might be insufferable, but the more she considered her circumstances, the more she was sure everything was progressing perfectly.

When a jolt of thunder crashed through the air, Ally jerked forward and nearly fell into Evan’s lap.

He took her arm and steadied her back into her seat. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “Of course. But are you sure we should be continuing? This is a bad storm.”

“John will let us know if we should be concerned, Alexandra. Trust me, I’ve driven through far worse.”

Ally nodded and gulped down a swallow. “You may call me Ally. Everyone does.”

Evan nodded and turned back to the newspaper he was perusing.

Well, then. That was that. Ally returned to her novel and tried reading the page she’d been on for the last half hour. When she’d finally absorbed the words, she closed her eyes and tried to drown out the whomping of the rain on the carriage roof.

Her eyes shot open as she was catapulted into Evan’s lap.

“John, John!” Evan was yelling. “What’s going on?”

The carriage was bumping along the road—or not the road—and Ally’s heart thudded right along with it. Icy fear gripped her.

“What’s happening?” she yelled, trying to gather her wits. She’d been half-asleep and now… What was going on?

“I don’t know,” Evan said. “Calm down, Alexandra.” He held her tightly.

Still, she shivered.

“It’s Thor,” came the coachman’s voice. “I think lightning struck him. And Odin—”

Ally let out a blood-curdling scream as she was jammed against the side of the carriage, blacking out.

* * *

“Alexandra, Alexandra!” Evan shook the woman gently, and then not so gently, gripping her shoulders like a vise. “Wake up! Please!”

She’d been thrown against the side of the carriage when it toppled, but she was breathing, and he thanked God for that. Poor John had been thrown much farther outside and hadn’t fared as well. A good man, John, and he deserved better in life than to have it ended because a horse got struck by lightning. What were the chances? Thor was comatose. Poor beast. Evan’s heart broke for the horse, but he could do nothing. His first priority was Alexandra.

They’d driven off the road and into the countryside. John had clearly lost control of the horses. The road was no longer visible, no doubt only because of the rain and fog. At