She swallowed and bent, her skirts swishing about her legs as she offered him a gloved hand. He was surprised to see the red kid leather. It was an unusual choice for a woman who appeared so sensible.
But he immediately liked that about her, that she had chosen something so bold.
He took her smaller hand in his and was pleased that he felt no spark. “Pull,” he instructed.
She groaned, leaned toward him a little, and yanked up.
He was impressed that she knew how to gain leverage enough to pull up a man as big as he, but then…it was a bit of a struggle.
Her face strained, and her teeth gritted.
“I believe in you,” he declared, enjoying this far more than he should. “Don’t give up. You’ve got the power in you.”
“You weigh as much as a blasted boulder,” she proclaimed through her clenched teeth.
“Probably more,” he replied sympathetically, even as she groaned and pulled him up, up, up, and then finally onto his feet.
He staggered a bit and winced, stunned to find he had been a bit hurt. “Damnation. I may have sprained my ankle.”
“Well, that’ll teach you to ride so quickly,” she said, bushing her hands together with a dismissive gesture.
“Are you castigating me?” he asked, amazed at her cheek. “When clearly it was you bolting out of the shadows that terrified my stallion.”
She had the good graces to look askance before she cleared her throat. “I was merely coming down to greet you.”
“Why weren’t you waiting inside my house?” He eyed his own imposing door before he swung his gaze back to the drive. “And where is your damned coach?”
“If you must know, he deposited me at the end of your drive.” She licked her lips. “And then, well, I was too nervous to go in.”
“You were too nervous to go in?” he repeated, stunned. She’d seemed too bold, a veritable Diana, goddess of the hunt, to be nervous.
“Well.” She pressed her lips together then rushed on, “It does seem a bit odd, doesn’t it? My presence here at your home at dawn?”
“Yes, it does seem odd in general, but my butler is most used to odd occurrences.”
She frowned. “I see.”
He stopped a laugh, knowing it wouldn’t be helpful. After all, she was in a most upsetting position. “You’ve come for help, haven’t you? You spoke to your father.”
A muscle visibly tightened in her throat, and she nodded.
It struck him that she was both deeply upset and simultaneously furious that she needed his, a bounder’s, assistance. And from the look upon her face, she was also displeased that he had been correct.
He had a striking sensation she was usually correct. Like he was.
They were both accustomed to being correct.
Which meant they would have a great deal of fun together. If they didn’t murder each other first. Of that, he was certain.
The truth was, he liked her confidence, her self-assurance, and her clear sense of capability. Few people had that in his experience.
“We’ll get this sorted,” he promised. “And my likely broken ankle.”
She narrowed her gaze, but her sapphire eyes sparked with amusement, and her lips curved ever so slightly. “Sprain,” she reminded.
He shrugged. “Sprain, fracture, wound.” Then he did something that stunned him to his toes. He winked at her. A playful gesture. One he did not usually do, for it denoted a sort of intimate camaraderie.
It was his turn to clear his throat. “In all events, you’ve maimed me.”
“You’re quite dramatic for a duke and former soldier.”
“All the better to do exactly as I please, Lady Victoria.” He held out his arm to her. “Would you be so kind as to assist me into my home?”
She cocked her head to the side…then winked back. “I could never deny a wounded man, Your Grace.”
At that wink, he stumbled. No lady had ever winked at him. And suddenly, he knew he was on foreign ground indeed.
Lady Victoria was going to be an adventure. And that was either the very best or very worst of things.