Earl of Billington and Miss Lyndon

Chapter 21

"Even I can ride the carriage better," Ellie continued, standing up and patting her skirt. "I hope you don't break the wheels, they're very expensive, and the wheelwright at Bellfield gets drunk more often than you realize. Of course you can always go to Faversham, but I wouldn't suggest..."

Eventually Charles groaned in pain, though unsure which one hurt more: his ribs, his head, or listening to Ellie's talk.

Ellie leaned over, her face worried. "You're okay, right?"

Charles managed to curl his lips to reveal a bit of his teeth, although not everyone could think of it as a smile.

"Never felt this good" Charles said.

"You're really hurt" cried Ellie, her tone somewhat accusatory.

"Not too much" Charles tried to get up. "Just my ribs, my back, and so..." Charles coughed loudly.

"Yes, geez," said Ellie. "I'm so sorry. Are you really in pain because I just fell on top of you?"

"Lumayan."

Ellie frowned while touching Charles' forehead. "You sound sick. Are you feeling hot?"

"Geez, Deliana, I'm not in a fever."

Ellie pulled her hand aside and grumbled, "At least you haven't lost your vast treasury of words."

"Why," said Charles, did he exhale with a long sigh like he had suffered, "Everywhere near you, I am always hurt?"

"Let's go!" exciting Ellie. "It's not my fault. The one holding the reins is not me. And I obviously had nothing to do with your fall from the tree."

Charles did not bother to reply, the voice that came out of his mouth was only a groan because he was trying to sit down.

"At least let me see your wounds" Ellie said.

Charles threw a cynical glance towards Ellie.

"All right!" ellie snapped, standing up while throwing her hand into the air. "Help yourself, then. I hope you'll enjoy your time walking home. How many.. fifteen, twenty kilos?"

Charles touched his head which began to throb.

"It's definitely going to be a nice walk" Ellie continued, "especially with your ankles still hurting."

ease the pain. "Looks like you have a vengeful talent" Charles said.

"I'm the one who's never held a grudge the most" Ellie retorted with a snort. "And if you think otherwise, then you better not marry me."

"You will marry me" Charles said, "even if I have to drag and gag your mouth."

Ellie smiled cynically. "You can try" the challenge. "But with a situation like yours, it's like flies won't be able to drag."

"And you said you weren't vindictive."

"Maybe I'm starting to get used to it."

Charles grabbed the back of his head that felt like he was on a rusty long needle stick. He nodded and said,

"Don't say anything more. Not a single word. No.." he gasped when he felt the sting of pain again, "one word."

Ellie, who had no idea Charles was having a headache at all, meant that Charles thought Ellie was stupid, reckless, and troublesome. Ellie straightened her back, gritted her jaw, and her finger involuntarily stiffened as if ready to claw. "I don't deserve to be treated like this" Ellie said in a haughty tone. Then, adding, "Hmmmph," he turned around and walked towards his house.

Charles raised his head high enough to see Ellie's departure, sighed, then fainted.

"Based on a little snake" Ellie grumbled to herself.

"If she thinks I want to marry her now... He's even worse than Mrs. Foxglove!" Ellie raised her eyebrows, deciding it was unfair to lie to herself, let alone at twenty-three. Then he added, "Well, almost."

He continued walking a few steps, then when he saw something glittering on the ground, he bowed. Like some kind of bolt. He picked it up and he took it in his hand and slipped it into his pocket. There was a boy in his father's congregation who liked stuff like this. Maybe Ellie'll give it the next time she goes to church.

Ellie took a breath. He had plenty of time to give the bolt to Tommy Beechcombe. It looks like he won't be moving out of his father's house anytime soon. Maybe even this afternoon he has started to be able to practice cleaning the chimney.

The Earl of Billington may have given his life a bit of excitement, but it is now clear that they are no match for each other. But Ellie felt a bit guilty leaving the man lying on the side of the road. It's not that Charles doesn't deserve it, of course, but Ellie does want to be helpful, and...

Ellie shook her head and rolled her eyeballs upwards. Getting it once won't hurt him. Just to see if the guy's okay.

He looked back but realized that he had gone down the hill so he could not see Charles again. He exhaled loudly and again stepped closer to the place of the fall earlier.

'This doesn't mean you're starting to care about her" Ellie told herself.

"You're doing this just because you're a good, respectable woman, who doesn't abandon people, no matter how rude, immoral..." Ellie smiled slightly, "when they couldn't keep up... Yep. Lord!"