Niall shot to his feet. Caitlin struck the banner at an awkward angle and flew in the opposite direction to her shying mount. She hit the ground hard.
“My God!” Athena cried. “Niall!”
He needed no further encouragement. Hopping over the low barrier between the seats and the ring, he dashed to Caitlin’s sprawled form. If she had been hurt… if she were—
She opened her eyes. “Oh. It’s you,” she said, slurring her words. “I cannot understand it. Pennyfarthing has always been my best gelding.”
“Don’t try to speak,” he commanded. He stripped off his coat and spread it across her. Others had come, forming a worried wall about them. Harry French pushed his way through.
“Firefly! Are you hurt?”
Caitlin grinned weakly. “I have been better.”
Niall glanced up at Harry. “The children should not see this. Please ask the teachers to take them out, and be so good as to distract them in some way until… until this is resolved.”
“Naturally, naturally, just as you say,” Harry said, looking very near tears. “But we must get a doctor—”
“Of course. Niall, you should send for Dr. Brenner at once.”
Athena. Niall cleared his mind enough to look for her, and found her reclining in the arms of the man he recognized as Morgan Holt. He stared into Niall’s eyes with unmistakable challenge.
Holt. Niall remembered how the ruffian had remained close to Athena during her first visit, but now he began to wonder what interest Holt had in her. Who was he?
“Please, Niall,” Athena said, all brisk purpose and unconcern for her compromising position. “We do not know how badly Caitlin is hurt.”
She was right, and he had no time to worry about Morgan Holt at the moment. He turned back to Caitlin and tucked his coat more snugly under her chin. Her face was creased with pain.
“Lie quietly,” he told her. “The rest of you, make sure she is kept warm and still. Her injuries may not be obvious to the eye.”
The dwarf, Ulysses, stepped forward. “You need not worry, Mr. Munroe. We will take care of her until the doctor arrives.”
Niall nodded. “I’ll be back within the hour. Athena—”
“I will stay here, with Caitlin,” she said. Her quiet conviction promised a lengthy argument if he protested.
“Mr. French, please get my sister her chair,” he said. Belatedly he remembered Cecily Hockensmith and the other ladies. Miss Hockensmith stood safely beyond the ring of circus folk, her face set in a frown. The expression quickly transformed to one of worry when she caught his glance.
“Miss Hockensmith,” he said, getting to his feet, “will you stay with Athena? I would be much obliged.”
“Of course.” She smiled tentatively as he made his way through the crowd. “I will do whatever I can.”
“Thank you.” He pressed her hand in passing and strode toward the tent’s wide entrance. Once there he paused, half afraid that Caitlin would not be where he had left her.
But the crowd had dispersed enough to reveal her figure, covered now by a blanket as well as his coat. Harry French brought Athena’s chair, and Holt settled her into it. Ulysses knelt beside Caitlin, speaking in his soft, pleasant Southern drawl.
Niall turned on his heel and headed for the carriage. The doctor would see to Caitlin. Now that the performance was effectively ended, time and distance would take care of Morgan Holt, whatever his interest in Athena, and dispose of the very unwelcome complication the circus had caused the Munroes.
He couldn’t wait for life to return to normal again.
Chapter 11
Cecily stood with her hand resting on the back of Athena’s chair and cursed Niall Munroe for the hundredth time.
Damn him. Damn him for giving in to his sister and her whims, damn him for making eyes at this crude snip of a girl, and damn him for leaving her here with these horrible people and their nauseating sentiments.
“Thank you for remaining,” Athena said. “I know that this is not a pleasant situation, but I am grateful.”
Cecily smiled. “You know that I would do anything for you and your brother, my dear,” she said. She looked with distaste upon the red-haired devil’s imp, whose flat chest seemed even less substantial when she lay on her back. What in heaven’s name did Niall see in such a creature?