Now that her immediate ordeal had come to an end, tears sprang to her eyes and she wanted to cry. ‘My… my ankle,’ she sniffed.

Very gently he took her hands away from her foot and studied the swollen tissue round the ankle bone. ‘This is a bad injury, Rosie, you must be in a lot of pain. Did you fall far?’

She nodded, afraid to speak, knowing her tearfulness would turn into a flood.

Sensitive to her feelings, Oliver asked questions that required only a nod or shake of her head. ‘Have you been here a long time like this, Rosie?’

She nodded again.

‘I see you have lost a shoe. I noticed your basket near the top of the valley. Will you be all right for a moment if I go back for them?’

Once more Rosie nodded to him.

Oliver put a hand lightly on her shoulder. ‘I won’t be gone for very long, Rosie, and then I’ll take you home.’

When he had gone Rosie wiped the moisture from her eyes. She was more composed when he returned. ‘I found your hat too,’ he said, giving it to her, its blue ribbon torn.

Rosie took it but did not put it on. ‘Thank you, sir.’ She found she was able to speak almost normally.

‘Beatrice will have a salve to soothe that,’ Oliver pointed to her raw elbow, adding with a smile, ‘and your ankle, but you’ll know all about that, won’t you? I understand she is teaching you some of her secrets.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Rosie answered shyly. She had never been this close to Sir Oliver before, their class and his height had kept them at a suitable distance. Now he was just in front of her, their eyes on the same level, and he had even touched her. Drawing the undivided attention of a man so handsome and masculine had come only in her maidenly dreams before now. Her predicament forgotten, she hoped that she didn’t sound as flustered as she felt. ‘C-comfrey, the… healing plant… for… for strains and bruises. I… I have some at home.’

‘Good. It won’t take long to ride to the farmhouse on Conomor. I’ll lift you up on his back.’

Rosie’s heart fluttered as Oliver eased her up to sit side-saddle and swung himself up behind her.

‘Are you ready, Rosie?’

‘Yes, sir. I… I’ll be glad to get home.’

He glanced down at her swollen ankle. ‘Try to keep your foot away from Conomor’s side.’

‘Yes, sir, thank you.’