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And then the ladder jolted, one of the legs giving way—orShe couldn’t tell

Alarh her Pain seared her hurt foot She let out a shriek and knew she was lost as the ladder dipped to the side and she started to fall

Except she didn’t fall

Because Rafe sorasping her wrist at the last possible second She grabbed on, too

And then she was rising, ht

Geoffrey was shouting “You got her, you caught her!”

And then she was blinking at the brightness of the afternoon sun Tears streaathered her close

Rafe carried her back on the front of his horse

They ave orders that they should put warning signs around the well and secure the cottage gate Then he took her the rest of the way ho behind

He carried her up to the East Bedroo for Eloise to send Dr Eldon

When he closed the door to the hallway and they were alone, she told him, “I’m filthy”

He carried her to the bathroom, drew her a bath and took off her torn, muddy clothes The left shoe was the hardest Her foot ollen, her ankle black-and-blue With such tender care, he lowered her into the warm, lovely water and he washed her, careful of her cuts and scrapes and bruises, so gentle with her swollen foot

“You should stay off ladders, I think,” he teased as he used tweezers to get the slivers from her palms

They shared a look She said, “Are you reht at the villa, too?”

“Yes, I am”

She s doells”

“A fine plan”

He got her a soft, old nightgown fro room and helped her put it on Then he carried her back to the bedroom and tucked her into bed

She was starving, so Frances brought up a tray of eggs, juice and toast

Eloise came in a moment later and reported that her parents had arrived

Rafe said, “Tell theht and so is the baby Let her eat and see the doctor before they come in”