"Your love is like a soldier, loyal till you die." James Blunt, Bonfire Heart

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Chapter Eighteen

Simon knew that they were riding too quickly, especially across the marshy meadow. The horses would slip if they were not careful. Though he knew that Alexandra and Imogen needed to be home in time for luncheon. Something told him that they did not have permission to be out alone with two men. While he applauded their bravery, he certainly did not want to be on the receiving end of whatever their father would have in store for him and Joaquín should Emmett find out.

Simon kept a close eye on Imogen's posture. The minute she started to slump, he would reach for her horse's reins and pull her over onto his horse. It made him nervous to see her travelling at such speed.

He could see the concentration on her face as she rode, and he was so proud of her. For someone who believed that she was weak, she was the strongest person he had ever encountered.

He felt overwhelmed with affection for her. She was beyond anything he could ever have imagined. He truly fell in love with her while she was scolding him, something he never could have foreseen. She was telling him things that he had heard a thousand times from countless comrades, but it had not made sense before it had come from her.

Would you rather be dead?

The shocking question had thrown him, and he had truly realised the alternate outcome of the shooting. Simon had never really thought about what had happened to him, merely what had happened to George Hepburn. Of course, he remembered the pain of convalescing, but he had never really thought about how close to death he had come. Something dreadful had happened to him, and he had not once allowed himself to feel that.

He did not want to be dead. He wanted to move on from his guilt. He wanted to live, and he wanted Imogen to be a part of that life.

So he had kissed her. Simon did not regret that decision for a moment. It was such a freeing moment.

Simon had kissed dozens on young ladies in his youth, but none compared to the surprised and inexperienced lips of the woman he loved.

Simon's attention was taking from Imogen's back in a split second when he saw Alexandra's horse rear. The horse had spooked. Simon instantly realised why. The marshy ponds were the ideal habitat for grass snakes, and he saw the four foot reptile disappear into the water. "Snake!" he cried out as he controlled his own horse, preventing him from rearing as well.

Simon went to reach for the reins on Imogen horse but it was too late. Moon had reared as well, but Imogen did not have the strength to hold on. Simon was helpless as Imogen fell from her saddle and landed on the ground with a thud.

"Imogen!" screamed Alexandra as she struggled to calm her horse.

Moon bolted away as Simon jumped down from his saddle to tend to Imogen. He did not know if Imogen had landed on her back or her head. He did not know if she was unconscious or dead. His stomach flipped at the though.

Please do not be dead, he prayed.

He knelt down on the damp ground and turned her head towards him so that he could feel her pulse. As he did so, he saw that she was bleeding from a cut to the temple. He thanked God when he felt her heart beating strong.

"She is alive," he announced as he placed one of his arms around her back and the other underneath her knees.

"Oh, thank God," cried Alexandra as she nearly fainted into Joaquín's arms.

Simon lifted Imogen into his arms, but her head flopped backwards. She was out cold. They needed to get her to a doctor, and quickly. "Alexandra, my horse will be slower carrying two. You must ride on ahead. Is there a doctor in your village?"

"Yes, yes, there is," she stammered, still overcome with emotion.

"Good, alert him and bring him to your parents' house," Simon instructed. For the first time since his retirement, he felt his military authority in his voice. This was what he was good at, remaining calm and clear in a stressful situation. If everyone ran around like headless chickens then nothing would ever be achieved.

Alexandra nodded helplessly, looking as though she wanted to stay with her sister.

"Let us go, Alejandra," urged Joaquín, as he climbed atop his horse again.

Alexandra did the same. When she was sitting on top of her mare, she looked over her shoulder to Simon. "Promise me you will take care of her. Promise me you will protect her," she cried.

"With my life," he swore. He meant it sincerely.

Alexandra and Joaquín galloped off in the direction of the Ascot village. Simon, as gently as he could, put Imogen over his shoulder so that he could climb atop his stallion. How light she was would always be a surprise. Perhaps his horse would not ail, as she could not have added more than eighty pounds to the load.

Once atop the horse, Simon settled Imogen into his arms as he kicked his heels into the side. His horse broke into a gallop and Simon directed him in the direction of Ascot House.

"You are going to be just fine, Imogen," he whispered to the unconscious girl against his chest. God would not be so cruel, would he? To have dangled the perfect woman in front of him and then to just take her away would be more punishment than he could ever cope with.

Perhaps this was what he deserved. George Hepburn was dead and ... no, no, Imogen would not want him thinking like this. This was not his fault, nor anybody's. Not even the bloody snake's fault. All he could do would be to return Imogen to her family and the care of their doctor.

Her fate was in God's hands. "Do not fail me," he whispered spitefully to the sky as he pushed his horse to its limit.

When he finally galloped through the gates of Ascot, he could see Imogen's frantic family waiting on the steps with Alexandra, Joaquín, and a man that he had never seen before. The doctor, Simon presumed, as he carried a black leather bag.  

Simon slowed his poor, panting horse to a walk as he arrived at the steps, and Imogen's concerned father snatched her from the saddle. Imogen's family did not even acknowledge him, not they he blamed them, as they all raced inside to tend to Imogen's injuries.

Simon dismounted and handed his horse over to a servant. The poor thing needed to be watered and wiped down. The stallion had done its job. Simon followed the Wildes inside, in time to see the family and the doctor racing up the stairs to wherever Imogen's bedroom was located.

Joaquín stayed downstairs, though not necessarily for Simon's benefit. What a way to end a day that ought to be a happy occasion. There was an engagement to be celebrated, and it had ended with a tragic accident.

"Did she wake up at all during the journey?" Joaquín asked Simon quietly.

Simon shook his head. "No, she is unconscious." He had seen men take blows to the head before now, only for them never to wake up. Head injuries were so dangerous.

"Alejandra is scared," he said softly. "She loves her sister so. I fear what she will do if anything happens to Imogen."

Simon feared what he would do if anything happened to Imogen.

Simon and Joaquín ceased to talk as they both paced the foyer. The butler offered them tea and cake in the drawing room but neither of them were in the mood to eat. Simon had taken as seat below a portrait of some ancestor of the Wildes. He placed his head between his knees and prayed.

A few hours later, Simon and Joaquín were still alone downstairs. Nobody had come to inform them how Imogen was so they were still in the dark. If it was taking this long then Simon knew that something was wrong.

A short while later, Simon heard footsteps approaching the house. He stood up and went to the door before the Ascot butler could arrive to do so. He was confused to see his brother, Rebecca, James and Simone standing there, dressed in travelling clothes.

He then remembered that they had been invited for dinner, and were unaware of the events of the day.

"Simon," remarked his brother, "what on earth is the matter with you? You look dreadful!"

Simon had not seen his reflection. He was sure that he looked a right mess.

Rebecca frowned and peered closer at him. "Is that blood?"

Young James seemed quite excited at the idea of blood, as would any little boy, but Simone was disgusted.

"There was an accident on the ride," explained Simon quietly. "A grass snake crossed our paths and spooked the horses. We were able to hold on but Imogen fell from her saddle. They are upstairs with the doctor."

Rebecca did not waste any time in hurrying up the stairs to be with her cousin. James remained downstairs with the children.

"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned.

Simon nodded. "Of course. It is not the first time I have been atop a spooked horse."

"And Imogen?" he continued. "Is she going to be alright?"

"I do not know," confessed Simon, his voice breaking. Simon sank to his knees and felt true grief. Perhaps he should have insisted that Imogen ride with him if they were going to be riding at such speed. If she had been with him then he would have been strong enough to control the horse.

"Imogen is tough as nails, Simon," said James, trying to cheer him. "She has had the world against her from birth and nothing has ever beaten her. This surely will not."

"Bed rest, Your Grace, bed rest is what I am prescribing."

All heads turned to the voices at the top of the stairs. Emmett and the doctor were descending the stairs, conversing seriously.

"Is there not anything we can do?" Emmett asked. Simon could hear the dread in his voice. This was what Imogen's parents had been afraid of when Simon had first put her on a horse without their permission.

"Not until she wakes up," replied the doctor.

She was still unconscious? It had been hours!

"When will that be?" pressed Emmett.

The doctor sighed. "Your Grace, Lady Imogen has taken a nasty fall. The wound on her forehead was superficial and I have stitched it. I have checked her eyes and both are responsive to light. This tells me that there is no serious brain injury. She has no broken bones, just some bad bruises. As to when she wakes up, that is up to her." He smiled sympathetically. "I will return in the morning. If she wakes up before then, keep her in bed."

Emmett finally nodded, accepting the doctor's diagnosis. "Thank you for coming so quickly, Doctor Richardson," he said gratefully.

"Not at all, Your Grace," replied the doctor.

Simon breathed a sigh of relief. She was alive, and her wounds were superficial. All she was suffering from was a concussion. When she woke up, she would be drowsy for a few days, but she would return to normal.

The doctor left swiftly and Emmett greeted the guests, albeit slightly solemnly. He and James shook hands and he offered his sincerest wishes of Imogen's speedy recovery. Emmett thanked him, and then turned to Simon. Emmett's eyes narrowed and Simon knew that the Duke was not happy.

"Colonel," he barked, "I am not used to my daughters disobeying my rules."

"Your Grace, I apologise," he said, sounding quite broken. "It was never my intention ... Lady Imogen ..." He did not know where to begin. How could he make amends to Emmett for retuning his daughter to him bleeding and concussed?

Emmett held his hand up to silence him. "But," he continued, "I know it was their idea to go out today." His tone was calmer, not what Simon had expected. "Alexandra begged me not to be too hard on you," he looked over to Joaquín, who had been standing idly at the base of the stairs, "or Joaquín." Emmett looked back at Simon. "I wanted to thank you for your quick and calm thinking. Alexandra told me that it was you who organised the party. She told me that while she was panicking, you kept a level head and made sure Imogen had everything she needed."

Simon certainly had not expected the Duke to thank him. He did not want gratitude, he wanted Imogen to be safe. But to be polite, he said, "It was nothing, Your Grace."

"No, it was not nothing," retorted Emmett. "My family is very grateful to you, Colonel Spencer. You have done us a great service."

Simon smiled slightly. "You are welcome," he replied. He did what any man would have done, any man with leadership experience.

Emmett nodded gratefully. "You will join us for dinner tonight," he said, as if it was an order. "You would have done anyway, but I want yours to be my particular invitation. I owe you a debt, Colonel Spencer."

Simon did not know how he could convince Emmett that there was, indeed, no debt. He merely sent Alexandra and Joaquín for the doctor while he rode with Imogen, but he decided to oblige the grateful father. "Thank you," he replied, "I would appreciate that."

The party considerably relaxed. Many shuffled into the drawing room to enjoy refreshments while others conversed in the foyer. Imogen's family slowly began to descend the stairs.

Simon wished that he could go upstairs to see her but he knew that it would push Emmett too far to allow a man into his daughter's bedroom.

"Simon." His brother interrupted his thoughts by holding out a letter to him. "I almost forgot. This came while you were out. It is marked urgent."

Simon accepted the letter and looked at it curiously. Sure enough, someone had scrawled 'urgent' across the envelope. It was in Mrs Hepburn's hand. Simon immediately broke the seal and pulled out the letter from inside. It read:

Dear Colonel Spencer,

I hope that this letter reaches you in time. I know you are at a new house, as you said in your last letter to me.

I never could have foreseen that I would be writing this letter. This was not the path I had envisioned for myself.

I have been feeling ill for a very long time, and I have not been able to afford the doctor. I saved a portion of the money that you send me for a long while and I was able to summon the doctor finally. He told me that I have cancer of the uterus, and that it is fatal. I am dying. I can scarce believe it. I have been dying for a long time, he tells me, and my time is coming quickly.

I have no family as you know, Colonel, and I have no friends that could afford another child. Hannah would be sent to an orphanage upon my death. I am terrified that she would be sent to a cold place infested with typhus or some other horrid disease. I am terrified that she will die before he sixth birthday purely because her mother could not afford to summon a doctor sooner.  

You are free to refuse, Colonel, as you have done more than enough for us, but I need to ask you this, just so I can die knowing that I have done everything. There is no one I would trust more to take care of my daughter, or to ensure that she is taken care of. Please come to Somerset. Please take Hannah from here, with you. Put her into the care of someone you trust, or care for her yourself.

Just please ensure that she will grow up safe, happy and healthy. She is such a gorgeous child, and she does not deserve a life that is anything less than extraordinary.

Please, just one last time. Help us.

Yours faithfully,

Evelyn Hepburn.

Simon felt sick. He looked to see when the letter had been written. It was dated a month ago. For all he knew, Mrs Hepburn could be dead! Hannah could have already been moved to an orphanage God knows where.

He had not a minute to lose. Simon did not say a word. He simply sprinted from Ascot House, and was grateful to see that there was a carriage and saddled horses still outside from his brother's journey. He seized the reins of the fastest and fittest looking horse before climbing on top of it.

He needed to get to Somerset. Now.

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Just when one lot of drama seems to resolve, another lot of drama start. Good golly! 

I was really craving some cheese and onion flavoured potato chips today, so I decided to duck up to the shops to get some. Whenever I go shopping, I'm like a woman on a mission. In and out, as quick as I can. 5 mins to the shops, 5 mins in Coles, 5 mins drive home. Home in 15 mins, back on my bed to watch the last few episodes of Dr Quinn Season 5 which is all I've been doing lately. I go outside to tell mum I'm going up the shops and does she want anything. She says "Hold on, I'll get dressed and come with you." I hate shopping with my mum. She takes forever to shop and she always gets side tracked and we always end up bumping into an old friend and she stands there talking for an hour. Anyway, she tells me that she quickly needs to duck into the bank to activate her new credit card which will only take 5 mins. TWO AND A HALF HOURS LATER I'M STILL SITTING BESIDE HER IN THE BANK DYING OF BOREDOM! She ends up getting a bunch of new insurance and is on the phone to someone so I ended up scrawling a note to her saying "Where's the nearest cliff, I want to jump off it. #bored" and she laughed. We finally got out of the bank at 5pm and she decides she want to go into a clothes shop to get some new stuff for work. She ends up joining the bloody rewards club or something and the lady behind the counter is like 100 years old and can't work the computer and I just wanted to jump back there and do it for her. THEN, oh year, we're still goin, THEN WE HAVE TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING. So on a trip that should have taken me 5 mins, I spent over three and a half hours dying of boredom. 

So yeah, that was my day. Oh, I also applied for a new job. Here's hoping I get it :)

Vote and comment lol!