He had been wondering how long she intended to stand there.
Then he glanced over his shoulder.
The moment their eyes met, she spun on her heel to leave but got caught on her own ankle and stumbled.
He caught her arm just before she did but immediately released it the minute she was steady on her feet.
"If you didn't want your presence to be known, then you shouldn't have been walking so loudly."
Her coloring only seemed to heighten.
"Forgive me," she muttered, taking a step backward.
He surveyed her for a while before returning to his horse's side.
For someone who had defended him so fearlessly just the previous night, she looked terrified out of her wits.
He still had not found the opportunity to thank her.
"I should return to the house."
He set the brush he was holding down.
"You're limping. Did you hurt your ankle?"
She froze in her tracks.
"No, I did not."
He turned to look at her fully.
"You must have twisted it again just now."
She let out a long sigh.
