CHAPTER FIVEThe world spun violently around Elvina. Trees and ground seemed to merge into one blurred whole. From somewhere she heard a terrified cry of “no!” before she crashed into something solid and darkness descended.
She opened her eyes to find that the world was still going round although less fiercely. She was lying on the ground being held up by a strong pair of arms.
Looking up she saw the Duke’s lean face gazing down at her with an expression of horror in his dark eyes.
“Mrs. Winters,” he whispered. “Can you hear me?”
“Yes,” she murmured.
She tried to move, but immediately his arms tightened.
“Keep still,” he said. “Help is on its way. Luckily Violet ignored my order to remain where she was. She followed at a distance, saw what happened and galloped off for help.”
Elvina
