Miss Delacourt Speaks Her Mind Read Online Free PDF

are you doing?” Ginny cried, her hair windwhipped and her bonnet askew.
    “I am going after them. I have a trick or two of my own, I’ll have you know. If only these two could just go-“
    A sickening crunch robbed Sir Anthony of words. The landaulet tilted forward with a harsh thud, and he felt the reins ripped from his hands. With a final lurch, the carriage tipped forward, spilling its contents into the road.

There was a moment of intense silence followed by the sound of settling dust. Ginny struggled to a sitting position and checked her arms and legs. They moved as they should, but her hip ached a little. There would be a bruise there before the day was over.
    “Are you all right, Miss Delacourt?” Sir Anthony, his face spattered with mud, was kneeling in the road attempting to brush dirt from his silver-threaded waistcoat. A long streak of mud smeared his trousers, and he would never be able to wear that expensive jacket again. He looked up and dust cascaded into his eyes.
    Ginny held back a giggle. “Yes, I think I am.”
    “You look a little worse for your fall,” he said, giving her the once-over.
    “I do!” She glanced down at her skirt. Drat! It was her favorite outfit, emerald green with a sage overdress, and now it was ruined. She scrubbed at the mud with her handkerchief. “Well! Weren’t they bold as brass? Imagine, being held up in broad daylight.” She had heard of such happenings in the dark of night, but never to anyone she knew. And certainly not to her.

    “No doubt it is most common in these parts.” Sir Anthony stood, his face twisted with pain.
    Ginny repressed an impulse to run to him. “Are you hurt?”
    “It is only my ankle. I gave it quite a turn.” Sir Anthony took a tentative step. “It’s not too bad. I don’t think we can say the same for the landaulet, however.” He limped over to the tumbled carriage and examined it. “Just as I thought. The axle has been cut almost clear through, and the traces have been tampered with.” He unhitched the frightened horses from the badly tilting carriage.
    Ginny felt the blood drain from her face. “You mean we were meant to crash? Seb and Dobbs waited for us?”
    Sir Anthony nodded, his expression grim.
    “Well ,” Ginny said, brightening, “at least we have the horses” She gave Bobby a cheerful slap on the rump, who snorted, reared, and came down within inches of Bess. Frightened, she took off down the road. Bobby followed, kicking up a colossal cloud of dust.
    “Don’t go!” Ginny cried. She turned to Sir Anthony. He was bound to be angry with her. She hesitated to meet his eyes. “I hadn’t meant to send them off.”
    He pressed his lips together. “You led me to understand, Miss Delacourt, that you have had some experience with horses.”

    “Oh, I have, indeed, I have. These were very skittish, I think. I only meant to give her a pat of encouragement” It wasn’t her fault the horse misunderstood. “There is a difference between that and a slap of dismissal,” she added, braving it out.
    “Her? It’s a wonder no one thought to educate Bobby,” Sir Anthony said, with a humiliating lack of emphasis on the word Bobby.
    Ginny felt her cheeks turn to flame. “What does it matter if I can’t tell which is male and which is female? I can handle the reins, and I can make them go and make them stop. That is, most of the time.”
    “I trust you are a better hand at gardening than at horsemanship, Miss Delacourt? Otherwise, our trip out here is sadly unnecessary”
    Outraged, Ginny forgot to avoid his gaze. She was surprised to see how his eyes danced with amusement. “I refuse to answer that question,” she replied. He might throw her answer back in her face at some later date. In the politest way possible, of course.
    “There, there, Miss Delacourt, I shan’t quiz you anymore. Quite a sacrifice, I must say, as your cheeks turn the loveliest shade of rose when I do”
    Ginny felt her cheeks betray her with