Read Online Brighter Than The Sun by Julia Quinn - Free Book Online Page B

to twist them back to his advantage.
    By now Ellie was laughing in earnest, and he was not amused. "Stop that," he commanded. "Stop it right now."
    "Oh, I couldn't," she said, gasping for breath. "I couldn't possibly."
    "Eleanor, I will tell you one last time ..."
    She turned to reply, her eyes passing over the road on the way to his face. "But—Good God! Watch the road!"
    "I am watching the—"
    Whatever else he'd meant to say was lost as the curricle hit a particularly large rut, bounced to the side, and tossed both its passengers to the ground.

Chapter 5
    Charles grunted as he hit the ground, feeling the jolt in every bone, every muscle, every damned hair on his body.
    Half a second later Ellie landed on top of him, feeling for all the world like an immense sack of potatoes with very good aim.
    Charles closed his eyes, wondering if he would ever be able to sire children, wondering if he'd ever again even want to try.
    "Ow!" she let out, rubbing her shoulder.
    He would have liked to respond, preferably with something sarcastic, but he couldn't speak. His ribs hurt so much that he was certain every last one of them would shatter if he so much as tried to use his voice. After what seemed like an eternity, she rolled off of him, her pointy little elbow finding the tender spot below his left kidney.
    "I cannot believe you didn't see that rut," Ellie said, managing to look supercilious even as she sat in the dirt.
    Charles thought about strangling her. He thought about getting her fitted for a muzzle. He even thought about kissing her just to wipe that annoying expression off of her face, but in the end he just laid there, trying to find his breath.
    "Even I could have driven the curricle with greater skill," she continued, rising to her feet and brushing off her skirts. "I hope you haven't damaged the wheel. They're terribly expensive to replace, and Bellfield's wheelwright is drunk more often than not. You could travel to Faversham, of course, but I wouldn't recommend—"
    Charles let out an agonized groan, although he wasn't quite sure what was paining him most: his ribs, his head, or her lecture.
    Ellie crouched back down, concern growing on her face. "I say, you're not hurt, are you?"
    Charles managed to stretch his lips out far enough to show his teeth, but only the most optimistic sort could have called it a smile. "Never felt better," he croaked.
    "You are hurt," Ellie exclaimed, her tone rather accusatory.
    "Not too much," he managed to get out. "Just my ribs, and my back, and my—" He broke off into a fit of coughing.
    "Oh, dear," she said. "I'm terribly sorry. Did I knock the breath out of you when I fell?"
    "You knocked it clear to Sussex."
    Ellie frowned as she touched her hand to his brow. "You don't sound well. Do you feel hot?"
    "Christ, Eleanor, I don't have a bloody fever."
    She brought her hand back to her side and muttered, "At least you haven't lost your wide and varied vocabulary."
    "Why is it," he said, his breath coming out in a long-suffering sigh, "that whenever you are near, I emerge injured?"
    "Now see here!" Ellie exclaimed. "This was not my fault. I wasn't driving. And I certainly didn't have anything to do with your falling out of a tree."
    Charles didn't bother to reply. His only sound was a groan as he tried to sit up.
    "At least let me tend to your injuries," Ellie said.
    He shot her a sideways look that reeked of sarcasm.
    "Fine!" she burst out, standing up and throwing her arms in the air. "Tend to yourself, then. I hope you have a splendid time walking home. What is it— ten, fifteen miles?"
    He touched his head, which was beginning to throb.
    "It should be a lovely stroll," she continued, "especially on that ankle."
    Charles jammed his fingers more tightly against his temple, hoping the pressure would somehow dull the pain. "I'd wager you have a vengeful streak a mile wide," he muttered.
    "I am the least vengeful person I know," she said with a sniff. "And if you think otherwise, then