Death of a Duchess, Nellie Steele [non fiction books to read .txt] 📗

from the stable. Lady followed without much urging on my part. Robert offered instructions here and there. However, Lady’s behavior proved above reproach. I found her easy to manage on my first outing.

We kept a slow, steady pace, meandering about the estate. I found the experience enjoyable. As we approached a field with a large oak, I spotted a table and several servants milling around. Robert planned a picnic as a surprise.

“I had hoped you tolerated the ride well enough to make it here,” Robert said as he assisted me to dismount.

“I found it most enjoyable,” I said as he escorted me to the table.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch under a cloudless sky. After lunch, we mounted the horses to return to the stable. As I settled into the saddle, a flash of color on the hillside caught my eye. I squinted into the distance, focusing on the color. My eyes widened as I realized it was Annie’s red dress blowing in the breeze.

“Annie?” I whispered to myself.

The horse turned as I spoke, its eyes also catching sight of Annie’s blowing dress, of her disheveled form standing on the hillside. The sight caused the horse to panic. She reared; her eyes wide with fright.

I struggled to keep my seat, managing to hang on by grasping a fistful of her mane. The spooked horse turned in a circle before bolting in the opposite direction, racing away from the specter.

I shrieked in panic as I fought to stay on Lady’s back. “Lenora!” Robert shouted behind me. I dared not glance back for fear of falling from the horse.

Thundering hooves pounded the ground as we fled from Annie. Lady raced down the hillside, heading into a wooded area and toward a stream that cut through the property. Branches tore at my face and arms. I lowered my head behind Lady’s as she continued her mad dash.

Lady sprinted into a clearing near the stream, showing no signs of slowing. Without warning, she skidded to a stop, turning in circles. I attempted to soothe her as we spun in a dizzying loop. The horse panted hard, chomping on her bit, still spooked. She squealed and trumpeted, her distress obvious.

After three revolutions, Lady reared again. In this instance, I was unable to maintain my grip on her. I toppled off, landing hard on my backside and twisting my ankle. As I fell, movement caught my eye.

Lady dashed off as Robert and Charger rushed toward me. Robert leapt from his steed. He rushed to me, grasping my hand, worry etched in his face. “Lenora, my God, are you all right?”

“Yes,” I answered without making eye contact. My focus remained straight ahead.

“Are you hurt? Did you jar anything?” Robert noted my gaze, adding, “What is it, Lenora?”

“A child,” I answered. Near the stream’s bank, a small, dark-haired child played. The girl, around three-years-old, wore a light pink dress, her dark hair tied with a pink ribbon. She giggled as she splashed her hands in the stream’s cold, clear water.

“Child?” Robert questioned, his eyes scanning the horizon. “Where?”

“By the stream,” I answered. “Little girl?” I called to her.

The child snapped her head in my direction. Her small brown eyes were wide with fear. She stood and raced across the stream and disappeared into a thicket of trees on the other side. “No!” I called after her. “Wait!” I struggled to climb to my feet, wincing as pain flared through my ankle.

“Lenora!” Robert exclaimed. “What are you saying? I see no child.”

With the child gone, I turned to Robert. “There was a child. About three, just there, near the stream. With brown hair and brown eyes. She ran when I called to her.” Over Robert’s shoulder, Annie stood on the ridge. My brows knit as I tried to piece the information together.

Robert huffed, focusing his attentions back on me. “Lenora, are you certain you are not hurt?”

“What? Oh,” I responded, turning my mind back to the situation at hand. “Yes, I am unharmed. Lady ran off. I could not hold on to her, I am sorry. My ankle is sore, but with your help, I can stand and walk, I am sure. We can call for her as we walk.”

“You shall do nothing of the sort,” Robert enjoined. He wrapped one arm around my shoulder, cupping the other under my knees. He lifted me as he stood. “I shall carry you back to the castle.”

Several of the servants, who had witnessed Lady’s flight, raced toward us. “Your Grace! Is everything all right?” James, one of our footmen, inquired. He, along with Andrew, another footman, heaved deep breaths from their sprint.

“No,” Robert answered. “Her Grace fell from her horse. Fetch the doctor at once, James. Andrew, collect Charger and search for Lady, she ran off in that direction.” Robert nodded toward Lady’s last known location. James rushed in the direction of the castle at full speed. Andrew took hold of Charger’s reins, leading him in the direction Robert indicated.

“No,” I objected. “A doctor is not necessary. And the castle is too far. I can walk, put me down.”

“I will not hear of it, Lenora.”

“Robert…” I countered, but found myself interrupted.

“Lenora, I said no! Have you no faith in my ability to care for you? I am not feeble!”

I sighed at him. “I have every faith in your abilities, Robert. But I also have faith in my own abilities to walk.”

“You winced when stepping on your ankle. You will not walk on it until you have been seen by the doctor.”

“You could have ridden on Charger and carried me with you.”

“I shall not have you bounced about on another horse after your accident.”

I acquiesced, finding myself unable to change the situation. Although, in truth, I appreciated being cared for. “Now, with that settled, tell me about the child.”

My forehead wrinkled as my thoughts returned to the conundrum. “There is not much to tell. When I fell from Lady, I noticed her. She was crouched by the stream, playing. She had long brown