The Unlikely Lady (Playful Brides #3)(46)

Garrett winced. There was no chance Jane wouldn’t scoop up Isabella’s gauntlet and slap her with it.

“By all means, then.” The gleam of competition shone in Jane’s eyes. “I’m eager to show you how wrong you are. Where shall we race to?”

Garrett rubbed the back of his neck. Jane wasn’t about to listen to reason coming from him. Excusing himself, he rode to where Lucy was trotting ahead of Cassandra, Claringdon, and Swifdon. “Jane’s accepted a challenge to race Mrs. Langford.”

Lucy’s brows shot up. “Has she?” A sly smile settled on her face.

“Yes,” Garrett replied grimly.

“Excellent, we’ll have something to divert us,” Lucy said.

Garrett pushed his hat back on his forehead. “You think it’s a good idea?”

“I don’t see why not. I’ll be interested to see it. Jane never loses at anything she sets her mind to.”

Garrett groaned. “You don’t plan to stop her, then?”

“Stop her?” Lucy laughed. “I intend to wager upon her.”

Garrett shook his head. By the time he returned to where Jane and Isabella cantered next to each other, they were busily discussing the details.

“See that field in the distance?” Jane pointed to a meadow a half-mile away.

A quick single nod from Isabella. “Yes.”

“Shall we race to the other side of it? There’s a tree at the far end. Do you see it?”

Garrett followed Jane’s gaze. A lone tree stood at the far corner of the field.

Another nod from Isabella.

“That shall be the finish,” Jane declared.

“Perfect.” Isabella’s face was wreathed in a smile. She turned in the sidesaddle and called to the group. “You must all stop and watch us, everyone! Miss Lowndes and I intend to race to that tree.” She pointed with her riding crop.

A great deal of murmuring ensued while Lucy led the betting. The entire company lined up along the side of the meadow.

“Make the call to start, Mr. Upton,” Isabella prompted with a too bright smile.

Removing his hat, Garrett scrubbed his hand through his hair. He turned his attention to Jane. “You insist upon doing this?”

“Of course,” Jane replied.

Garrett let out his pent-up breath. “Very well.”

Claringdon drew up his mount beside Garrett. “One has the distinct feeling they’re racing over you, Upton.”

Garrett grimaced. “Two ladies racing sidesaddle across a field? It’s bloody dangerous.”

Claringdon grinned at him. “Quite. Who do you think will win? The horseflesh appears to be evenly matched, but I’ve got five pounds on Jane.”

Garrett didn’t answer. He turned back to the two ladies, who had brought their mounts to the head of the field.

“When I drop my arm, you may go,” Garrett called, raising his right arm high in the air.

Jane was bent low over her horse’s neck, whispering to the beast, a determined gleam in her eye. Isabella, however, seemed completely relaxed, nearly disinterested. She, too, had a gleam in her eye, but it looked more wicked than determined.

Garrett lifted his chin. So be it. If they were set on doing this, they might as well get it over with and get on with the day. “On your mark … set … go.” His arm slashed downward. Jane kicked her mount with her booted heel and slapped the crop against the horse’s flank. Isabella made a show of kicking and slapping, too, but she didn’t go nearly as quickly. Jane was already three full lengths ahead of her across the field.

Garrett exchanged an exasperated look with Lucy and Cassandra. He shaded his eyes to watch Jane’s progress. She was galloping as if the devil chased her. Her horse’s hooves pounded the grass and kicked up tufts of dirt and leaves. She improved her lead by another length.

She’d made it three quarters of the length across the field when her saddle tilted crazily to the side and she flew off into the high grass.

“No!” Garrett kicked his mount into a gallop and made straight for Jane. His heart raced in a frantic rhythm along with his horse’s thundering hooves. He slowed to a stop just before the spot where he’d last seen Jane and vaulted to the ground, frantically searching for her in the tall grass. Her horse had trotted off but remained grazing nearby.

“Jane. Jane!”

A low groan caught his attention and he whirled around. She was lying in the grass, her leg bent at an unnatural angle. Her eyes were closed. God, please don’t let her die.

He lunged toward her and fell to his knees beside her. Her face was turned to the side, a large dirt smudge was smeared across her cheek, and her spectacles were nowhere to be seen.

Mrs. Langford’s mount galloped to a halt next to them. “Is she all right?” came Isabella’s breathless voice.

Garrett put his fingers to the pulse in Jane’s neck. It was there, thank Christ. “I don’t know,” he replied through clenched teeth.

Lucy, Cassandra, Swifdon, and a few others arrived moments later. They dismounted and hovered in a circle around Jane while Garrett cradled her head in his lap. “Derek’s gone to the village to fetch the doctor,” Cassandra said.

Garrett nodded. Nothing else seemed out of place, but Jane’s leg was surely hurt. Her ankle was already bruised and swelling. He leaned down and pressed his ear to her lips.