adorable like my Pattie. I bet you both would get along quite well, if you promise to behave like Samuel.”
On hearing his Christian name he stopped so suddenly Eli bumped into him. Quickly, he gathered his feet under him thus saving himself from a fall.
“My apologies but hearing her words caught me by surprise,” he whispered.
“Let’s see what mischief Brittany is causing with your charger?”
With a nod Samuel started forward until they came to Tempest’s stall. Peering in, he almost choked when he saw his horse lying down with his huge head in Brittany’s lap. Happy that she didn’t know of his or her father’s presence he retreated down the aisle aware the earl was following. Once far enough away he turned to Eli.
“Do you believe Lady Brittany might wish to accompany me tomorrow to alert tenants to be on the lookout for strangers?” he announced in a loud voice.
“I’m sure she would and I’ll arrange for a groom to accompany you both for safety.”
Having made their presence known, they walked up the aisle, this time to see Brittany leaning against the inside of the stall door. Not surprised, his mount had also risen and stood calmly in front of her, something he’d never seen.
“Yes, I would love to go with you on the morrow. I’d also like to ride this beautiful horse. I’m sure you’ve heard me say he has such a sweet disposition and as you see we already get along,” Brittany declared, while patting Tempest’s nose.
“M’ lady, except for Quinn and myself, you’re the first person able to get this close to him without being attacked.” Samuel opened the stall door so she could slip out.
“I don’t believe that. When I came to see him he was standing quietly with his head hanging over the stall door. When he noticed me, he whinnied. It sounded so friendly I didn’t think he would hurt me, but I was careful. Father, m’ lord, if you’ll excuse me I must return to my suite to dress for dinner. Later, I might play the pianoforte.” She gave her father and Samuel a curtsey then strolled down the aisle.
Samuel watched as she glided down the passageway, a slight haughty tilt to her chin. He’d first noticed the special mannerism, her stubbornness, when they’d butted heads in London. Her determination to be herself. Not superior to another. Not to be told what to do. Was this what had attracted him to her, and not the Hersey book, to begin with?
Granted, from the start he found her intelligent and attractive, but until now he had no idea the true reason. Would he be able to keep her safe from Hersey and his henchmen? He’d risk his own life to save her. A hand on his arm brought him out of his ruminating.
“Yes, m’ lord?” Samuel said.
“I should have mentioned this before. Besides being a bluestocking, she does have a way with animals, particularly horses,” Eli explained.
“Well, that explains why she could sit on the straw with his head in her lap.”
“Correct. Shall we return to the mansion for as she said, time is getting on so we should return to dress for dinner? We’ll gather in the family parlor for a drink which will be served at seven,” Eli directed to him.
An hour later, bathed, even shaved and dressed to perfection, something his regular valet at times failed to do for him, Samuel descended the stairs to the family parlor.
“M’ lord and lady and Lady Brittany,” he said.
From the nervous wringing of her hands, he suspected Brittany had a request.
“Lady Brittany, I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to ride my horse. And before you try arguing, my decision is final. Even though you seem to get along well with him I can’t assure your safety on his back. Also, he’s never been trained to accept a sidesaddle.”
“I agree with your decision and will abide by what you stated. He’s much too tall for me anyway.”
Samuel nodded.
“With your permission Eli, I thought Lady Brittany and I would start tomorrow afternoon with the farms
On hearing his Christian name he stopped so suddenly Eli bumped into him. Quickly, he gathered his feet under him thus saving himself from a fall.
“My apologies but hearing her words caught me by surprise,” he whispered.
“Let’s see what mischief Brittany is causing with your charger?”
With a nod Samuel started forward until they came to Tempest’s stall. Peering in, he almost choked when he saw his horse lying down with his huge head in Brittany’s lap. Happy that she didn’t know of his or her father’s presence he retreated down the aisle aware the earl was following. Once far enough away he turned to Eli.
“Do you believe Lady Brittany might wish to accompany me tomorrow to alert tenants to be on the lookout for strangers?” he announced in a loud voice.
“I’m sure she would and I’ll arrange for a groom to accompany you both for safety.”
Having made their presence known, they walked up the aisle, this time to see Brittany leaning against the inside of the stall door. Not surprised, his mount had also risen and stood calmly in front of her, something he’d never seen.
“Yes, I would love to go with you on the morrow. I’d also like to ride this beautiful horse. I’m sure you’ve heard me say he has such a sweet disposition and as you see we already get along,” Brittany declared, while patting Tempest’s nose.
“M’ lady, except for Quinn and myself, you’re the first person able to get this close to him without being attacked.” Samuel opened the stall door so she could slip out.
“I don’t believe that. When I came to see him he was standing quietly with his head hanging over the stall door. When he noticed me, he whinnied. It sounded so friendly I didn’t think he would hurt me, but I was careful. Father, m’ lord, if you’ll excuse me I must return to my suite to dress for dinner. Later, I might play the pianoforte.” She gave her father and Samuel a curtsey then strolled down the aisle.
Samuel watched as she glided down the passageway, a slight haughty tilt to her chin. He’d first noticed the special mannerism, her stubbornness, when they’d butted heads in London. Her determination to be herself. Not superior to another. Not to be told what to do. Was this what had attracted him to her, and not the Hersey book, to begin with?
Granted, from the start he found her intelligent and attractive, but until now he had no idea the true reason. Would he be able to keep her safe from Hersey and his henchmen? He’d risk his own life to save her. A hand on his arm brought him out of his ruminating.
“Yes, m’ lord?” Samuel said.
“I should have mentioned this before. Besides being a bluestocking, she does have a way with animals, particularly horses,” Eli explained.
“Well, that explains why she could sit on the straw with his head in her lap.”
“Correct. Shall we return to the mansion for as she said, time is getting on so we should return to dress for dinner? We’ll gather in the family parlor for a drink which will be served at seven,” Eli directed to him.
An hour later, bathed, even shaved and dressed to perfection, something his regular valet at times failed to do for him, Samuel descended the stairs to the family parlor.
“M’ lord and lady and Lady Brittany,” he said.
From the nervous wringing of her hands, he suspected Brittany had a request.
“Lady Brittany, I’m sorry, but I can’t allow you to ride my horse. And before you try arguing, my decision is final. Even though you seem to get along well with him I can’t assure your safety on his back. Also, he’s never been trained to accept a sidesaddle.”
“I agree with your decision and will abide by what you stated. He’s much too tall for me anyway.”
Samuel nodded.
“With your permission Eli, I thought Lady Brittany and I would start tomorrow afternoon with the farms
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