An Unexpected Love by Barbara Cartland Page B

into the yard just as Jacob walked his horse out into the sunlight.
    Within seconds he had swung into the saddle and with a brief “good morning’ to Ravina, he turned the horse’s head and trotted out of the yard.
    Automatically, she urged Sweetie forward and followed him.
    She still could not believe what she had overheard. There had been nothing wrong with the grey stallion! It was all lies.
    But why? What purpose had been achieved by his staying at Curbishley Hall for a few days?
    She remembered the way she had met him at the ball in London and the very odd encounter at the hotel on the way to Dorset.
    Was he following her?
    A cold chill ran across her body. Could it be that he was not the English gentleman he said he was?
    She knew her father kept all sorts of secrets and private papers in his study. Had this Sir Richard wanted access to the house to spy, explore, discover?
    She stared at his broad back as they trotted swiftly down the drive and turned onto a path that led into the hills.
    A spy? No, she could never believe that. Whatever this man was, he was surely honest. There must be some other explanation.
    Then she recalled Bobby’s words. She had been alone in the woods with Sir Richard.
    Was that the danger Bobby had meant?
    The track up the steep hillside was too narrow to ride two abreast. Sir Richard rode on first, occasionally shouting back comments about the state of the path, holding back a bramble with his whip, or advising on a different direction for her to follow as Sweetie’s hooves slipped on the chalky ground.
    They crested the ridge and reined to a halt, gazing down at the sweeping slopes that ran green and gold towards the sea, which was a kaleidoscope of blue and green and turquoise as the wind skimmed the surface.
    Ravina felt the salt wind bringing colour into her face and laughed with the sheer delight of being out on such a glorious day.
    A lark was singing unseen high in the sky above them and Sweetie bent her head to crop the turf studded with tiny blue and yellow flowers.
    Sir Richard turned in his saddle and smiled at Ravina.
    He thought he had never seen anything as beautiful as she looked at that moment. Her gold curls in tangles, her eyes bright and shining, a smattering of freckles across her nose.
    â€œWhat a wonderful place England is on a day such as today,” she exulted. “How beautiful the sea appears from up here. So smooth and peaceful. I love Curbishley Hall with all my heart, but sometimes I wish Papa had a home right on the beach.”
    Sir Richard stood in his stirrups and pointed with his riding crop to where a fold in the hills sheltered a honey-stoned mansion whose gardens ran down to the cliff top.
    â€œThat is our destination, Lady Ravina. Mitcham Manor. It stands empty as its owner recently emigrated to the New World where he has large estates – in Carolina, I believe.”
    â€œYou are thinking of purchasing it?” Ravina asked as they walked the horses towards the house.
    â€œIndeed so. As you can see, it has very fine stabling and ample pasture for the animals I intend to breed. And that long stretch of sandy beach where I will be able to exercise them every day.”
    Ravina fell silent. Surely a spy would not be planning on buying a home such as this and planning a life when he would need to be on hand all the time to oversee such an ambitious undertaking?
    â€œCan we see inside the Manor?” she asked as they trotted through a wide entrance between two stone pillars and along the soft turf by the drive.
    Sir Richard nodded.
    â€œYes, indeed. I understand the rooms are large and airy with magnificent views of the sea from all the upstairs apartments. And I would be glad of your opinion. Obviously it is not as old as the Priory, but perhaps you will find some parts of it agreeable.”
    Ravina cast him a surprised glance. For a second, Sir Richard’s voice had sounded almost sarcastic.
    She supposed he was