"I’ll do it," Calliope volunteered.
She gingerly took the candle and mounted an ancient ceiling beam that had fallen to the floor. Moving one foot after another, she gracefully crossed the beam. As she reached the other side, a smile wreathed her face. "Done!"
The servant nodded and handed them a sheet of paper. Another pair of participants ran into the abbey as James and Calliope rushed to their horses.
"Another riddle," Calliope said, bouncing up and down. " ‘The sweet bloom of a maiden fair. Pluck one for your lady’s hair.’ "
"Lady Pettigrew’s rose garden. "
They set off. A series of six additional stops led them to the maze, the kitchens, the stable, a copse of trees in the shape of a hand, the carriage house and the conservatory. The last clue sent them galloping back to the lake. Calliope was so eager to be the first team back that her wig was in danger of falling off. She had thrown herself aggressively into the challenges. And she had acquitted herself adequately as a new horsewoman, if a bit enthusiastic.
"Hurry up, you’re slowing us down," Calliope yelled over her shoulder.
James threw his head back and laughed. He hadn’t had this much fun in, well, forever.
They galloped back to the lake but other couples were already milling about. One couple was arguing with Pettigrew.
"We lost it on the way-you can’t penalize us for that!"
" How many servants were at the maze station?"
"Two."
"Wrong, three."
The couple stalked away from Pettigrew, muttering under their breath.
"Ah, Angelford and Esmerelda. Do you have your clues?"
They dismounted and left the horses with the others that were grazing. Pettigrew hadn’t mentioned keeping the clues, but Calliope had retained each one, refusing to toss them on the ground.
Calliope handed them to Pettigrew, who examined each before proclaiming, "You are the winners. A few other teams tried to claim the title without actually completing the course." Pettigrew scowled at the other couples. " Congratulations, here is your prize. Ah, it looks like the second- and third-place finishers are right behind you. Please excuse me, I need to get their prizes."
He handed them two boxes. Calliope opened the first and her mouth dropped. James peeked over her shoulder and saw a ruby necklace. She opened the other box to find matching earrings.
She sputtered. "What… how…"
James raised an eyebrow. "A courtesan wouldn’t be impressed with those baubles, my dear."
Her mouth snapped shut and she closed the boxes.
"Yes, they are pretty little things." Her voice had turned haughty. He grinned at her and she looked disgruntled.
The rest of the participants slowly drifted back and everyone was enjoying the sandwiches and wine brought by the servants. The guests were chatting and sitting by the lake.
Roth wandered over. "Heard you two won."
.
James cocked an eyebrow. "Expected some competition from you, but didn’t come across you once on the course."
Roth looked unperturbed. "Lady Willoughby and I stayed close to the lake. We decided to forgo the hunt."
Calliope tugged on James’s coat. "If you don’t mind, I think I’m ready to go back. My legs feel like they’ve been molded around a banister."
James and Roth both smiled. "I think I’ll ride back with you," Roth said. James followed as they walked to fetch their mounts. A number of people were milling near the horses and examining the animals. One man touched Apollo’s forelock. Apollo nickered and moved away. James tamped his irritation.
Calliope gathered Damsel’s reins and led her to James for a boost. He lifted her, and as she smoothed her skirts, Damsel fidgeted and tossed her neck.
Calliope leaned forward to soothe the restless horse and Damsel went wild. James reached forward to grab the reins, but horse and rider were off. Damsel was jerking and Calliope was hanging on for dear life, form forgotten. James vaulted onto Apollo and raced after her. Roth did likewise. Damsel galloped into the trees, yanking left, then right. James and Roth entered the copse seconds behind.
Damsel slowed and thrashed wildly. If he could just get a little closer…
Calliope flew from Damsel’s back, landing roughly at the base of a giant oak. Damsel threw her head back and galloped down the path.
James jumped off Apollo and ran to Calliope’s still form. Terror and despair coursed through his body. He had lost more than one friend in riding accidents. What had he been thinking, letting her ride? Roth dismounted and joined him at her side. James felt her head and she groaned. Relief washed over him as he pictured a totally different outcome.
Roth stood up. "I’ll get the horse. " He remounted and rode into the trees.
"Ow, stop that. " Her eyes opened and she frowned.
"What happened? " James asked.
"That wasn’t my most graceful exit."
"Are you hurt?"
"I would have been, sooner rather than later, I think. Why did Damsel react that way? I thought she liked me." Calliope looked more hurt by the horse’s betrayal than by landing on the ground.
She sat up and winced. "I think I might rest a bit, if you don’t mind."
Mind? She wasn’t going to be given a choice. "Do you think you can stand?"
She nodded. He picked her up and gently put her on her feet.
"I can walk. I’m just a little bruised. I think my confidence is a bit bruised as well."
James let her walk around, seeing nothing broken, and then picked her up and set her on Apollo’s back.
Roth returned with a grim look on his face. "Check the saddle."
James didn’t need to uncinch the saddle. He followed the trail of blood to the burrs that had been shoved underneath the leather. Someone would know an inexperienced rider was sure to lean forward trying to find her seat. The culprit would not even have to remove the saddle for the damage to be done. Rage filled him. Calliope could have died.
"Could have been done anytime at the lake. The question is, why?" Roth asked.
"What are you two talking about?" Calliope inquired.
Roth looked from one to the other. James wished he knew what the man was thinking. He was always so bloody hard to read.
"Fine, keep your secrets, but gentlemen, do you think we can head back now?" Her voice was dulled by pain.
James mounted behind her, his rage simmering beneath the surface. He enveloped her in his arms and she immediately relaxed against him.
Pettigrew and a few of the other guests burst into the trees. They had to bring their horses up short before colliding with them.
"What happened? Is Esmerelda all right?" Pettigrew looked concerned.
"Yes, a bit shaken but otherwise unharmed. We are returning to the house."
"Of course. I’ll come with you. Can’t leave an injured guest."
They rode back to the stables. James kept up a quick pace, holding Calliope carefully in his arms, and trying to avoid Pettigrew’s questions.
They arrived at the stables. James lowered Calliope into Roth’s arms, jumped down and reached for Damsel’s reins. Pettigrew dismounted and hurried over. He saw the blood and investigated the saddle.
"Tanner!"
The head groom ran out of the stable. "Yes, my lord?"
"What is the meaning of this? Who put the saddle on this horse? Someone is not doing his job properly!" Pettigrew continued to yell at the groom. "One of my guests could have been killed! I will have someone’s head. Yours if no one else’s!"
Pettigrew was overdoing the outrage. He could have been convincing with a bit less fervor. He stomped off to the manor.
James walked over to the abashed groom. "I know you and your staff didn’t have anything to do with the accident. I will speak with Pettigrew. Here is my card. If you or anyone else is turned out as a result of this incident, go to this address and ask for Stubbins. If you could take care of Damsel’s injuries, I’d appreciate it."
"Thank you, my lord." The groom’s eyes regained a spark of life. He wiped a hand over his brow, took Damsel’s and Apollo’s reins and hurried inside.