My Brown-Eyed Earl by Anna Bennett

in contact with a certain—male—part of his anatomy.
    Blast it all. Cringing, she scrambled to her feet and knelt beside Diana. “Let me see you.” Meg placed her palms on the girl’s cheeks, studied every inch of her face, and found nary a scratch. “Does anything hurt? Can you move your arms and legs?”
    â€œOf course,” Diana said, out of breath but smiling. “Did you see how fast I ran in my new boots?”
    Relief coursed through Meg, but she had to make Diana understand that she couldn’t dash off, unchaperoned. And she certainly couldn’t run in the vicinity of Rotten Row. “You were very fast, indeed. But I don’t think you realize the danger you were in or what could have happened.” Diana’s little face crumpled, but Meg pressed on. “Those horses were huge, and you almost—”
    â€œBeat me in a footrace,” Lord Castleton interrupted smoothly.
    Meg glanced over her shoulder at the earl, who approached with a slight limp, as though he hadn’t quite recovered from the injury her wayward knee had inflicted. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œDiana almost outran me.”
    The girl grinned. “Actually, I did outrun you.”
    The earl chuckled. “So you did. At least I managed to best Miss Lacey.”
    Meg frowned. “This isn’t a laughing matter, my lord.” It was bad enough that she’d let it happen. Diana had been in peril—and it was all her fault. “I don’t think you should make light of it.”
    Lord Castleton gave Diana a conspiratorial wink and jabbed a thumb at Meg. “Sore loser.”
    Meg blinked and opened her mouth to scold the earl or Diana or … someone . But Diana giggled.
    And even if discipline was called for, well, the timing seemed all wrong. Something a proper governess surely would have known.
    â€œMeg! Are you all right?” Charlotte hurried across the lawn, Abigail and Valerie in tow. “You took such a tumble!”
    â€œI fear I tackled her,” the earl said without a hint of remorse.
    Meg ignored him. “I’m fine. Diana is too.”
    â€œThank goodness.” Valerie released Charlotte’s hand and threw her arms around her sister.
    â€œYou’re squeezing too hard,” Diana complained to her twin. Looking up at Meg, she asked, “May we go to Gunter’s now?”
    Meg stood, surprised to find that her knees wobbled a bit. The earl grabbed her elbow, steadying her, while Charlotte fussed over her wrinkled gown and the leaf stuck in her hair.
    â€œGunter’s?” Meg repeated. The girls had been looking forward to it, but she was still worried about Diana. Perhaps they should return to the house and summon a doctor.
    She looked to Lord Castleton, but neither his heavy-lidded gaze nor his uncurving mouth gave any indication of his preference. “I don’t know.” She turned to Charlotte, hoping that her friend would provide some guidance. What was a governess to do after one of her charges was nearly trampled?
    Charlotte gave her an encouraging nod. “It might be just the thing to cheer everyone … if you’re sure you’re feeling well enough.”
    â€œI am.” The twins began to bounce happily. “It appears the girls are as well. Will you and Abigail join us?”
    â€œI’m afraid we can’t. We came to the park for a brief outing but must return home and resume our penmanship lesson.”
    The earl nodded approvingly. “It is encouraging to hear that not all impressionable girls while away the entire day shopping for gowns, playing ball in the park, and eating ice cream. Your commitment to educating your young charge is to be commended, Miss Winters.”
    Charlotte cast Lord Castleton a wary glance. “I know that Miss Lacey is equally committed. It’s all a matter of balance, my lord.”
    â€œIf you say so.” Inclining his head in her