Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
I never felt the need to cower or fear for myself in his presence. His broad shoulders, impressive height, and strong form had only been used to protect me. To show me gentleness.
I slanted another glance in his direction. His long hair was pulled back into a queue at his nape, his head covered by a dashing hat. His riding breeches and boots showed off his muscular calves and horseman’s thighs. Goodness, what was I doing, ogling his lordship? New heat crept up my throat, scalding my cheeks. I hoped he hadn’t noticed.
“Thank you,” I said simply, seeking to distract myself.
His eyebrows rose. “For being honest?”
“For inviting me to ride with you. I hadn’t realized how much I missed riding until the opportunity was granted me once more.”
“You needn’t thank me, my dear. As my marchioness, you can have your choice of horses and ride as often or as little as you like.”
I gave Empress another fond stroke. “You are far too generous, my lord.”
“Let me be,” he said, reaching for me and briefly caressing my cheek, the soft leather of his glove brushing against my heated skin for a fleeting instant.
“Why?” I whispered, afraid to ask the question, yet needing to know the answer.
“Because it makes me happy to do so.” His hand fell away. “And because you deserve it.”
He shifted again, putting a proper amount of distance between us just as the groom who had brought Empress to us returned. Lord Wheaton must have heard the young man approaching.
“Miss Smythe has settled upon Empress as her mount,” the marquess announced to the groom. “Please have her saddled and brought to us, along with Lightning for myself.”
The young man tugged at his forelock. “Yes, my lord.”
I still felt woefully inadequate, and yet as the marquess led me from the stables where we could wait for our mounts to be brought to us, for the first time, the life he promised me felt within my reach. Everything I wore was new and fine. I was betrothed to a marquess. I was no longer a servant in my father’s household, forced to bend to his every whim.
The sun was even emerging from the clouds overhead, and birds were calling. The fresh scent of mown grass and turned earth greeted me. The day seemed alive with possibility. It had been so long since I had last sat upon a horse that I wasn’t certain I could ride with the poise I had once possessed. But I yearned to try.
“You are quiet,” Lord Wheaton observed at my side. “Tell me, what are you thinking?”
I met and held his probing gaze. “That I am thrilled for the chance to ride, my lord.”
He smiled, and my breath caught. “Hearing so pleases me more than I can say. I want to show you more of my estate and what it has to offer. Fortunately, the weather looks as if it shall hold for us.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Good heavens, he was already giving me more than I had dreamed possible for myself—a home, a husband, a family of my own.
He frowned. “A groom will accompany us at a proper distance for propriety’s sake, if that is what concerns you. Although the nature of our engagement is rather unusual, I’ll not have a word of scandal breathed about you.”
His words sent a trickle of some indefinable emotion through me. “I thank you for that, but what I meant was that you hardly need to persuade me to marry you by showing me your estate. I’ve already agreed to become your wife.”
“Of course you have,” he agreed smoothly, “but won’t you allow me an excuse to spend more time in your delightful company?”
“Is that what you are truly about, my lord?”
“Without question.”
A smile twitched at my own lips, and my heart felt lighter than it had in as long as I could remember. “Then I suppose I must allow it as your future marchioness.”
“Indeed,” he said with mock sternness, “you really must. In fact, as your future husband, I insist upon it.”
Another flutter of something wonderful and terrifying went through me. The Marquess of Wheaton could be quite charming when he wished to be. How easy it would be to fall in love with him.
The grooms emerged from the stables before either of us could say another word, and we spent the next few hours riding across the farms, fields, and woods of his estate. By the time we returned, I was sore and tired and a trifle chilled, but my heart had never been happier.
ALEXANDER
Two days later, Edward strode into my study, his coat swinging behind him. I stood to greet him, surprised and pleased to see him so soon.
“Edward.” I clasped his hand and shook it firmly. “How fare you?”
“Excellent, my lord.”
“And what of Knight?”
“He is in the stable being rubbed down and his own groom attending him.”