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    Painfully a w are that Thor’s nearside foreleg hung at an odd angle, W r oxh a m urged h i s mount to a gallop and raced toward the i n jured horse. Drawing rein, he threw hi m self from the saddle and took hold of Thor’s bridle to try to calm hi m . It took but a cursory exa m ination to confirm his belief that the leg was broken.
    The chaise halted j u st a few yards from the trees and without waiting for any assistance the Duchess of Lear thrust open the door and hastily alighted, catching her skirts and running t o ward the scene of the accide n t. Desperate to know what had befallen her son.
    As those on foot neared t h e coppice, it was seen that a youth in a shabby coat that appeared far too big for h i m started out from the crowd and would have run toward the trees but, s eeing the d uchess alight, t u rned, and with dragging step, retreated into the converging throng. Those witnessing his departure would have been surprised as he gave an u n m anly sniff and f ound it necessary to wipe his eyes with his grimy sleeve. However he did not im m ediately quit the scene but stood anxiously w aiting for news of the co m petitors.
    Entering the coppice the d uchess looked desperately a m ongst the trees for her son and Fitzwilliam and it was a mo m ent b e fore she could co m pr e hend the scene that presented itself. As her eyes beca m e accust o m ed to the de f used li g ht she saw that Fitzwillia m , his horse lying horribly still so m e yards aw a y, was k neeling over the ine r t figure of the e arl.
    “Do m inic,” she cried r u nning forward to cast h erself onto her knees and gently took her son’s head into her lap. Seeing the paleness of his countenance she feared the worst.
    “He breathes,” stated Fitzwillia m , visibly shaking and with blood strea m ing from a head wound. “I know not what happened only that as we rounded the trees I was slightly in the l e ad b u t m y horse colla p sed a nd Vale ’ s mount pitched into him and was brought down. Vale was trapped beneath. I m anaged to pull him fr e e and he recovered consciousness m o m entarily, but that was all. I know not what his injuries m i ght be; I have not dared to move him a gain.”
    “Call m y man,” said t h e d uchess, atte m pting to keep her cal m . “ D o m inic must be re m oved to m y carriage im m ediately. Send someone for the doctor to m eet us at Blake House; he m ust be attended to at once. My husband is at Stovely and m ust be recalled.”
    As Fitzwilliam rose to do her bidding they heard a shot f i red on the downs as W roxh a m, confir m ed that it would have been his friend’s wish, ended Thor’s m i sery .
     
    *****
     
    The Duke of Lear returned from Stovely in t h e early hours of the m orning, having driven his team through the night at news of his son’s acci d ent.
    “ W hat the deuce has he been at now ? ” he de m anded of his wife on his arrival in the hall of Blake House, his bluff m ann e r acting as a blind for his true concern. He was a large m an who, despite his years, retained his i m posing fra m e and a rresting countenance, his dark hair graying at the te m ples but re m aining as thick and vigorous as ever.
    “ Thank God you have come, Marcel , ” she cried in much agitation . “ I have been at my wits end . The physician has co m e and gone and returns at first light. It was a wager, a race a n d there was an accident. Do m i nic was pinned beneath his hors e , his ribs are broken and there is m uch bruising.”
    “His inj u ri e s are not li f e - thre a t enin g? ”
    “Thank God, they are not.”
    “Then he is luck y it is no worse,” growled the d uke. “He could have broken his neck, the stupid boy.” Taking his wife’s hand, he led her into the drawing room and there poured h i m self a glass of reviving spirits, allowing so m e of the tension to seep from his weary fra m e. The drive had taken its toll on his reserves and only now did he feel the effects.
    “He is so p