Lyla apologised and disappeared, and Darcy blinked a couple of times, still staring at the spot where she had been as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. Concussion. And he was going to catch his death if he didn't consider removing some of the wet layers soon. He was just confused and a little under the weather, than was all. Maybe he was starting a fever.
The horse? The horse was bothering him, he'd been so absorbed in his own problems that he'd scarcely noticed there was any issue with the horse.
"Yes, of course," he gave him a small bow, and easily led Annie into the barn.
Once inside, he secured her as best he could with his own riding gear and what he could find in the barn. He had noticed that the man wasn't formally dressed, and so he could only assume that he wouldn't be terribly offended if he took off some layers to dry. The hat was definitely coming off. Then the tailcoat, which he hung over a post to dry, the waistcoat went the same way. He realised, with dismay, that the shirt underneath had turned somewhat see-through with the wet, but at least it would dry quicker with the top layers gone. The boots were still a problem, but he was sure walking about barefoot was where the line was to be drawn.
This done, he stepped back out. "Please excuse me, I landed in the lake," he explained, all but rolling his eyes at himself. It sounded so undignified. "Mr Sully?"