Free A Gentleman Says "I Do" by Amelia Grey

able to control him. Now get yourself over to a side street, and stay off the main roads until you learn a lot more horsemanship than you have now.”
    Iverson shook his hands free of the man and headed back over to where Miss Crisp and a small crowd had gathered around her. He had to force himself not to limp from the pain in his hip.
    “That was an amazing feat of gallantry, Mr. Brentwood,” said Mrs. Gottfried. “I can’t thank you enough for saving Catalina.”
    Iverson didn’t acknowledge Mrs. Gottfried’s praise. He had eyes only for Miss Crisp. “Are you sure you’re not hurt?” he asked her.
    She lifted her chin and her lashes as she drew in a soft breath. Her beautiful green eyes glistened. He knew she had been as frightened as he. Suddenly, Iverson had a desperate urge to pull her into his arms and hold her until she stopped trembling. He wanted to kiss away the fear that lingered in her expression.
    “I’m happy to say only my pride is damaged. I thought I had time to save the dog and get out of the way.”
    He would have liked to tell her that was a damn foolish thing for her to have done, but he could see she was already admonishing herself, so he tempered his words and said, “You would have, if you hadn’t stumbled.”
    She gave him a grateful smile. “So I like to tell myself. I looked around for the dog. He must have run away. I hope he’s all right.”
    “Don’t worry about him. Street dogs learn early how to take care of themselves.”
    “Do excuse us, Mr. Brentwood,” Mrs. Gottfried said. “I think I should get Catalina home now.”
    “I agree, madam,” Iverson said, but he kept his gaze on Miss Crisp.
    “Thank you, Mr. Brentwood.”
    Iverson nodded once before Miss Crisp was ushered away by her aunt. His hip was hurting like hell, but suddenly he felt very good. He didn’t mind receiving Miss Crisp’s gratitude. He didn’t mind it at all.
    ***
    Night had fallen by the time Iverson made it back to his house. His afternoon had been busy, going over monthly account books with his solicitor, and he’d just finished meeting with the gentleman who was looking for a summer home for him in the country. He was hoping to find an estate for sale somewhere close to his older brother’s home. But so far, that project was proving difficult to accomplish.
    He stepped down from his carriage and winced as his weight landed on his leg. His hip would be sore for a few days, but thankfully, he’d saved Miss Crisp. And she had saved the dog. A shiver of fear shook him when he thought about how close she had come to being trampled by the horse and carriage. He didn’t know how, but he’d known the moment he saw the dog that she was going to try to save it. Maybe it was because of how kindly she’d treated her staff, speaking to them gently, helping them do their jobs. Maybe it was just that same perplexing connection he had with Matson. Sometimes he just knew what his brother was going to do and say.
    He smiled to himself as he started up his stone walkway. Miss Crisp had been crowding his thoughts off and on all afternoon. He couldn’t remember how long it had been since he was this attracted to a young lady. She reminded him of a sunny spring morning: warm and cool at the same time. He liked that about her. He liked a lot of things about her. No, he liked everything about her except the fact that she was Sir Phillip’s daughter.
    The door opened as Iverson’s foot landed on the first step. He swallowed a groan of pain.
    “Good evening, sir,” Wallace said, holding his hand out for Iverson’s hat.
    Iverson smiled to himself again. How difficult would it have been yesterday for Mrs. Wardyworth to have greeted him even half as properly as Wallace? He doubted that woman even knew how to hang a coat, let alone how to take one from a guest.
    “Your brother is here, sir,” his butler said, reaching for Iverson’s coat.
    “Thank you, Wallace.”
    “He’s been here for quite some time, too.