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Eliza couldn’t find the words to reply and instead lay gazing up at him as he leant over her, his face tense with concern
“Eliza? Talk toas he swept his worried gaze over her, looking for blood or any obvious injuries
“I hurt” She whispered as a wave of pain swept through her when she tried to ainst the swirling mass of blackness that threatened to overwhelm her
“Do you think it’s broken?” Edwardat the arm furthest away from him as he leant over her Even from where he knelt, he could see the uneven lu on her bruised flesh and cursed fluidly He glanced at the steep bank behind thee how far she had fallen and what the likely injuries to the rest of her could be
“Can you stand?” He glanced down into her pale face, sensing the pain she was trying not to show
“I think so” She shot hi out her cheeks at the dull throbbing in her side as her ribs protested to the movement
Edward helped her onto her wobbly legs, and waited patiently until she could stand without swaying He studied the trees at the top of the bank, searching for any signs of their pursuers before turning back towards her
“If you feel up to it, let’s get out of here” He gave her his arm and helped her pick her way down the strea horse
By the ti on his horse, wrapped in the safety of his ar The pain was unbearable but she couldn’t voice it If they had any chance of survival, she knew they had to get out of the area and thatany discomfort Their survival depended on her bravery
“How far are we fro to take herpain in her arhtening the stabbing sensations across her forear landscape around them blankly
“It is about three or four hours away We won’t get there today, so ill have to find soht” Edward took a moment to study the area behind the the on had low slung hedges on either side of theh they weren’t protected, nobody could creep up on the seen either He was fairly certain they were safe for now
“Why can’t we get there today?” Eliza queried with a frown She was thoroughly sick and tired of spending days on a horse and wondered hoard bore it
“It’s too far to ride with your injuries You need to see a doctor” He hadn’t missed the fine sheen of perspiration on her forehead Not a sign of heat, but a sign of her intense pain The fine lines bracketing herdeeper as theypoint Edwardan eye on her and had failed miserably He had been some distance away before he had realised she wasn’t behind hi The return journey, although unchallenged, had been fraught with tension and worry
Tension and worry that hadn’t abated now he knew she was safe and well He frowned down at her and studied her arotten any bigger, it hadn’t reduced in size either and that orrying
“We need to get out of this blasted rain” He gru the Gods for the latest cruel trick Clearly she was in discomfort and there was deuced all he could do about it Now she was soaking wet and risked catching a chill It was imperative he find somewhere warm and dry, and quickly