Forever My Love (Historical Romance) (9 page)

Glancing up, Royal saw the woods just ahead. The cart could not possibly get through the dense trees. Lady Alissa saw this, too, and cried out to Royal.

"Help me! Please help me!"

"Be brave," Royal called out above the din of thunder that rumbled angrily across the sky. "I'll have you in a moment."

Royal inched closer to the cart and reached out to Lady Alissa, but just as their fingers touched, the cart bumped over a jagged rock, and the terrified girl had to hold on to keep from being thrown out.

Royal knew that if she did not pull Lady Alissa free of the cart now, there would be disastrous results.

9

Enchantress shot forward with powerful strides. Time seemed suspended, yet Royal was aware of a bird's song in a nearby bush—she even felt the first drops of rain against her cheek.

Jagged limbs tore at Royal's face, but she ignored the pain and thundered onward. Just ahead, the woods broke away to a deep crevice, and the fear-maddened team of horses was heading straight in that direction.

"Please, Royal," Lady Alissa pleaded. "I don't want to die! Help me!”

Enchantress, as though born to the task, kept her pace even with the cart as it bounced over fallen trees and huge rocks. Again Royal strained forward and, with a physical strength she did not know she possessed, clasped Lady Alissa's arm and held on. Slowly she managed to raise the girl out of the cart until she appeared to dangle in the air—her only lifeline was Royal's grip on her arm.

Lady Alissa tried to twist her body so she could hook her foot over Enchantress's back, but she could not make her useless legs obey.

"You must!" Royal insisted when she saw the effort Lady Alissa was making. "I haven't the strength to hold on for long. Help me save your life!"

Lady Alissa saw something in the young girl's eyes that gave her the strength to try again. Her fragile body trembled with the effort she was making. She could feel Royal struggling desperately to keep a grip on her arm. She gritted her teeth and willed her useless legs to move.

Lady Alissa's hair had come loose from its confines and blew across her face, blinding her. With an impatient gesture, she brushed her hair aside. She had never been so frightened in all her life. In a fraction of time she glanced back at Royal, and the look Royal gave her made her think she could do anything.

With a wild cry, Lady Alissa thrust her legs forward and made contact with the horse.

Royal dropped the reins and let Enchantress have her head so she could clasp Lady Alissa with both hands, thus pulling her free of the cart. A heartbeat later the frenzied horses tore loose from the flimsy rig and sent it careening toward the deep crevice. Both girls heard the splintering and shattering of wood as the cart slammed against a tree and broke apart before sliding over a bluff, to be lost from sight. A heavy silence ensued as both girls fought to keep Lady Alissa from falling.

Royal felt as if her arms were being pulled from their sockets, but she managed to keep a grip on Lady Alissa, and finally, with a surge of energy, she dragged the lame girl onto Enchantress's back.

Royal was unaware of the significance when Lady Alissa slipped her leg over Enchantress's back and gripped the horse with her knees. Lady Alissa herself was too exhausted to care that she had moved her legs; she only felt gratitude for being alive.

Royal reached out and grasped Enchantress's trailing reins and brought the filly to a halt. Both girls stared, horrified, at the spot where the cart had gone over the rocky bluff. They looked at each other, realizing that if Lady Alissa had been in the cart, she would also have been smashed on the rocks below!

"I... I am a bit shaky," Lady Alissa whispered. "Could we... dismount long enough for me to catch my breath? I have no wish to be near a horse at the moment."

Royal nodded. "Just allow me to dismount first, then I will help you down." She slid to the ground and held her arms up to Lady Alissa. "If you will trust me, I'll endeavor to bear your weight."

Lady Alissa smiled weakly. "You have just saved my life, at great risk to your own. There will never be a time when I do not trust you, Royal Bradford."

Royal braced herself against a tree and stood on tiptoes to grip Lady Alissa's tiny waist. "Perhaps you should not be too hasty with your trust. I may yet spill us both on the ground. Hold on."

As Royal supported her companion's entire weight, her knees almost buckled, but she managed to pull the frightened girl free of the horse. When she felt herself collapsing, Royal managed to deposit her burden safely on a pile of leaves. Emotionally and physically spent, Royal dropped to the ground, glad that the frightening ordeal was over.

"Are you all right?" Royal inquired, noticing how pale Lady Alissa was and how her eyes still held a hint of fear. "Is anything broken?"

Lady Alissa tested her arm. "Nothing's broken. That was a truly the most incredible, frightening moment of my life," she stated. "Considering all my misadventures with horses, I don't care to go near one of those animals ever again."

"My papa always told me if I was thrown from a horse, I should get right back on again." Royal paused. "I... am sorry. Of course, that would not apply in your case. I had heard that you lost your ability to walk because of a riding accident."

In a move that surprised Royal, Lady Alissa reached out and wrapped her fingers around hers. "From this day forward, Royal, you need never apologize to me for anything. You saved my life, and I am grateful. No one has ever done so much for me before." She was thoughtful for a moment. "I don't understand why you would help me when I have been so unkind to you."

"I never stopped to consider the consequences. I only knew that if I didn't act quickly, you would either be killed or horribly injured. I'm sure you would have done the same for me under like circumstances."

Lady Alissa leaned her head back against the tree trunk and closed her eyes. "I would like to think so, but I'm not certain...." She opened her eyes and stared at Royal. "I have been so wretched to you, and I don't know why, except that I am so unhappy, and you are everything I am not. I watched you proudly ignore us when we all made sport of you."

She squeezed Royal's hand. "Teach me to be as you are. Show me how to rise above disillusionment and torment. I want to be like you."

Royal blinked in astonishment. "I would be pleased to help you in any way I can. But I'm not special. I can assure you I have a temper, and at times it is hard to keep it under control."

"You will not regret this day, Royal Bradford. I intend to make up to you for all the hurt I have inflicted on you in the past."

Royal was uncomfortable. "You owe me nothing, Lady Alissa. What I did was instinctive—I would have done the same for anyone. I will not accept a friendship based on such a thin thread of gratitude."

Lady Alissa looked astonished. "Lud, you are a proud one! I would like to climb inside your head and know what makes you so independent in your thinking."

"It's not that. Just because you almost met with a fatal accident doesn't make me want to be your friend. I didn't like you before... why should I like you now?"

Lady Alissa had never been spoken to in such a manner. She stared at Royal with a growing respect. "That may be so, Royal Bradford, but I would like to have you as a friend. I am weary of those who only tell me what they think I want to hear. I have a feeling you would always be honest."

Royal stood up and dusted the dried grass from her black skirt. "My papa often told me that to have a friend, you have to be a friend." Her eyes were sharp and penetrating as they connected with Lady Alissa's. "You get out of friendship what you put into it. I suspect you have bullied and prodded your friends until they are afraid to tell you the truth."

Lady Alissa jerked her head up. "Careful you do not go too far, Royal."

"Don't try to bully me, Lady Alissa. I am not one of your toads that grovel at your feet."

Suddenly amusement touched Lady Alissa's lips, and she smiled softly. "Is that how you think of my friends?"

Royal pushed a stray strand of hair beneath her black hat. "I don't mean to be unkind, but, yes, I often think of them as your sycophants."

Now Lady Alissa laughed aloud. "I have never met anyone as refreshing and original as you, Royal Bradford. I don't believe you would ever be a toad to anyone, would you."

Royal was surprised by the girl's sudden burst of humor. "No, not a toad, but I might be considered a mule since I am so stubborn."

"I would much rather you just be my friend and always tell me exactly what's on your mind. We can start with you calling me 'Alissa.'"

Royal was doubtful that the two of them would ever be friends, but she tested the name. "Alissa."

Lady Alissa did not hear Royal. She had reached down to her legs, daring to hope she could move them again. She concentrated all her strength on her right leg. Beads of perspiration popped out on her forehead, and she trembled from the intensity of her efforts.

Seeing Lady Alissa's pallor, Royal dropped down beside her. "Are you ill?"

"No," the girl said excitedly. "Watch this!" Had she moved her leg, or was it her imagination? "Did you see that?"

Royal stared in wonder. "I thought you were... lame?"

Lady Alissa closed her eyes as joy swept through her body. This time she moved both her legs, laughing and crying at the same time. "I did it—I did it!"

Royal sank back on the grass and watched with tears in her eyes as Lady Alissa took a deep breath, pulled her leg forward, and pushed it back. "It's a wondrous miracle," Royal declared. Then she looked at Lady Alissa, undecided. "Does this mean you can walk?"

Her new friend beamed at her. "I am hoping it does. I doubt I would ever have had the courage to try if the horses hadn't bolted... if I hadn't been forced to move my legs to keep from being crushed."

"I am truly happy for you. It is as if something wonderful came from a near tragedy."

"I owe it all to you, Royal," Lady Alissa said softly. "If it hadn't been for you, I would most probably be dead."

Disconcerted by Lady Alissa's praise, Royal glanced at the sky. The heavy thunderclouds had moved away, as had the threat of rain. "I believe we should return to the others. They will probably be concerned by now. Will you allow me to help you onto Enchantress's back?"

Lady Alissa shuddered. "I don't see that I have a choice."

Royal grasped her hands and helped her lean against the tree. "You will be safe. Don't forget, it was Enchantress who really saved you today."

Lady Alissa pushed down her fear. Leaning heavily on Royal, she reached for the saddle. Between them the two girls finally managed to get Lady Alissa firmly in the saddle.

"Climb up beside me," Lady Alissa offered.

"No, you are still shaky. It's but a short way back to camp, and I'm sure you will feel more secure if I lead Enchantress."

As Royal grasped the reins and pulled the horse forward, Lady Alissa spoke to her. "Tell no one that I can move my legs, Royal. I want to be able to walk before anyone finds out."

"It will be our secret, Lady—"

"Just Alissa," she reminded Royal.

***

It was a group of astonished teachers and students that watched Royal lead Enchantress out of the woods with Lady Alissa poised on the horse's back.

Deborah rushed forward, pushing Royal away. "What has happened? We were so worried about you, Alissa. Has there been an accident?"

Lady Alissa spoke softly. "I had a brush with death, but was saved by Royal." Lady Alissa's gaze traveled across the faces of the startled girls. "I will take it as a personal affront if any of you insult my friend," she said pointedly.

The groomsman came forward to help Lady Alissa from her lofty perch. She was soon surrounded by her personal servants and concerned teachers, who saw to her comfort. The girls gathered about as well, each wanting to do something to make her more comfortable and pressing her for details of her mishap.

Royal gave Lady Alissa an imperial glance. "Toads," she said airily.

Lady Alissa smiled. "If you want to know what happened, ask my friend Royal," she said, settling back on the padded seat where she had been placed.

Royal immediately found herself surrounded by chattering girls. She caught Lady Alissa's eye, and they both smiled. With only a few words from the duke of Chiswick's sister, Royal had gone from outcast to the center of attention. But she had a feeling that she had gained more than acceptance today; she had gained a friend.

***

As the girls were climbing into the carriages that would take them back to London, Lady Alissa insisted that only Royal ride with her. While the horses moved down the tree-lined roadway, Royal thought how circumstances could change one's life. If the horses had not bolted, and if she had not been there to rescue Lady Alissa, she would still be shunned by the other girls.

"How I envy you, Royal," Lady Alissa admitted. "I have observed with envy your pride and sweetness."

"I have too much pride."

Lady Alissa smiled and glanced at her torn and soiled pink gown. "You don't know what it is to envy someone, do you?"

"You are mistaken, Alissa. I envied the friendship you and the other girls had for one another."

"I saw a sweetness in you that I knew came from the heart, and for some reason unknown to me, I wanted to destroy that which I could not understand. I'm glad now I didn't succeed."

"I don't understand."

"No, you wouldn't." Lady Alissa pulled a dried piece of grass from the folds of her gown and flicked it out the carriage. "I hope you will believe me when I say I had nothing to do with the incident involving Mrs. Hargrove's broach."

"I thought you might have," Royal admitted with her usual honesty. "I've often wondered how Mrs. Fortescue found out the truth."