A Christmas Courtship by Jeannie Machin

lane, and he didn’t see the unlit trap until it was almost too late. Like the stagecoachman on the main highway a few minutes earlier, he was forced to rein in sharply and apply the brake.
    Blanche turned suddenly, giving a scream as she saw the horses rearing and plunging only a few feet behind her. Hannah heard the scream and turned with a frightened gasp, clutching so hard at Jake’s arm that she made him jerk the reins. The pony swerved, almost catapulting the trap and its passengers into the ice-cold water of the little brook that flowed beside the lane.
    Jake was unhurt, and Hannah only a little flustered, but Blanche had been flung bodily against the side of the trap, and was so badly winded that she could only lie on the floor, too racked with pain to move.

CHAPTER 5
    The coachman struggled to bring his frightened team to a standstill , and for a moment or so there was silence, then Hannah turned anxiously, reaching down to touch Blanche. ‘Miss Blanche? Are you hurt?’
    ‘I-I don’t know….’ Blanche could barely speak.
    The carriage window was lowered suddenly, and Sir Edmund leaned out a little irritably. ‘What in God’s name is going on, Richards?’ he demanded.
    ‘There was a pony and trap in front of me, sir, and it wasn’t carrying a lamp….’
    ‘Is anyone hurt?’
    Before the coachman could reply, Hannah called out anxiously. ‘It’s Miss Blanche, Sir Edmund! Please help!’
    He flung the carriage door open and vaulted lightly down, his scarlet uniform a vivid splash of color even in the darkness. He hurried to the trap, leaning in to where Blanche lay.
    ‘Miss Amberley?’
    The pain was receding, and as it did so, Blanche was able to think more clearly. She turned her head slightly to look up at him. ‘Sir Edmund?’
    Her hair was in a confusion of curls around her face, and he pushed it away gently, his gloved hand resting concernedly against her cheek. ‘Are you all right?’
    ‘Just a little winded, I think. I fell against the side of the trap.
    ‘Can you sit up?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Let me help you.’ Taking one of her hands, he slipped his other arm beneath her, easing her into a sitting position and thensteadying her. ‘Is that all right?’
    She nodded, and made to get out of the trap, but he held her back.
    ‘Take it easy, give yourself a minute or so before you do anything else.’ He looked at Hannah and Jake. ‘Have either of you come to any harm?’
    Jake shook his head. ‘We’re all right, sir.’
    Sir Edmund held his gaze. ‘In future, I suggest you carry a lamp.’
    ‘Yes, sir.’
    ‘Cutler, isn’t it?’
    ‘Yes, sir.’ Jake looked at him in some surprise. ‘How did you…?’
    ‘Your name was mentioned to me in connection with the occasional removal of game from my property.’
    ‘That’s a lie, sir!’ protested Jake immediately.
    ‘Is it? Well, I suggest you see that it is from now on,’ replied Sir Edmund shortly, returning his attention to Blanche. ‘I think you should continue the journey in my carriage, Miss Amberley.’
    ‘I’d rather not,’ she said quickly, not wanting to be closeted in so small a space with Lady Hetherington.
    ‘I’m not giving you the choice, Miss Amberley,’ he said. ‘I insist that you travel in the carriage, because you’ve been badly shaken and it wouldn’t do at all for you to remain in an open vehicle on such a cold night. Believe me, I’m quite prepared to see that you do as you’re told.’
    She stared at him. ‘That won’t be necessary, sir.’ ‘Good.’ He held out his hand to assist her from the trap.
    Reluctantly she accepted, but as she stepped down, she swayed a little, and he put an arm quickly around her waist. The moment of dizziness passed, and she pulled away from him. ‘I’m all right now, Sir Edmund.’
    He inclined his head, and gestured toward the carriage. Without another word, she preceded him toward it, allowing him to help her up onto its luxurious green velvet