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Tearing off her gloves, she dashed to the stables, her boots pounding the earth with a vengeance

Admittedly, her fear for Sir Hiranation

Uncharitable of her, but it was nonetheless the case

Her aunt squawked behind her, "Meredith, where are you going?"

"To knock so stride

Meredith fetched Petunia fro the tiroo the mare when Aunt Eleanor arrived breathlessly, both hands pressed to her sides

"Dearest, you’re not wearing a riding habit," her aunt panted

"It doesn’tthe rest of her aunt’s objections as she placed her boot in the stirrup and swung herself up

"Meredith, your legs!"

She glanced at her bare calves and knees, exposed for all to see, and shrugged "I haven’t the ti scandal forSir Hiram will feed the local fervor and very well pushher aunt’s eyes hopefully "Perhaps I’ and Nick only wants to talk to the man

Surely he’ll behave in a civilized fashion"

Aunt Eleanor’s wide eyes blinked "For goodness sake, of course he won’t! This is Nick we’re discussing What are you waiting for?" Her aunt slapped Petunia’s ruor

Meredith aled froallop

Aunt Eleanor’s cry warbled on the air like a shrill songbird as Meredith took off "Do hurry! You must save us!" The rest of her cry faded to a distant whisper on the wind "And Sir Hiram too!"

Meredith disaped open The throng of babbling servants was visible even before she stepped inside the foyer "Excuse me! Is Sir Hiram…" Her voice died away as the housekeeper stepped back fro Hira his feet and the other bearing him beneath the arms His head lolled froht Mewling whi her of a newborn puppy

Apparently she was too late

Her hand flew to her mouth as Sir Hiram’s nose, red and swollen, came into better view She rushed forward to offer her syain her husband’s attention had led to this Sir Hiranized her and released an un wildly in the ar him as if a fire hot poker prodded his backside

"Stay away fro eyes on his servants "Out! Get her out!"

The housekeeper faced her, face screwed tight with apology "I’ hand "I understand I have no wish to distress Sir Hira over her shoulder to ask, "The gentleo did he leave?"

"Just a few moments before you arrived, , she hurried out

If Nick were headed to Oak Run, she would have passed hi to London on the south road And he had no intention of seeing her His sole purpose in co had been to trounce Sir Hiram And not face her Griet off that lightly

Nick’s satisfaction grew as the distance between hithened He had seen to the iven into te her No e and risen above it He was not weak Not vulnerable Not hisof horse’s hooves behind hilanced over his shoulder to see Meredith charging toward hiht of her ratulatory attitude and sent a bolt of panic to his heart

He spun his horse about and called out in a hard voice, "Go hoalloped, she either failed to hear hinore him It made no difference Any ed his horse into a gallop, caring little that he appeared to be running away, that he could be accused of cowardice Desperate situations called for desperate measures Even the most hardened army chose to retreat in times of need

"Stop!" The wind carried her voice to his ears, but he didn’t break speed

Suddenly, a great force hit hio of his reins as he locked hold of her body so he would take the brunt of the fall Because no question about it They were going to fall Hard

They toppled to the ground in an undignified tangle of limbs For an interminable ht sprawled on top of hi canopy of branches and leaves overhead, waiting for his body to alert him of any broken bones After a few eneral soreness

"Have you lost your bloody lared at hifor wrapping his hand around the silken strands and holding it behind her head The action thrust their faces closer, nose-to-nose Dangerous proximity

"No more than you How dare you attack Sir Hiram--"