“This stallion is yours. Mr. Boucher will deliver a new adjusted harness and saddle. Once he arrives with them tomorrow, whenever you venture into town, you will not have to trample through the woods for hours.”
A thrill burst inside her chest as warmth spooled through her entire body, her tongue suddenly feeling thick in her mouth. Georgianna whispered, “It is an extravagant purchase, Daniel.” A horse this exquisite would cost more than a hundred pounds. “We cannot afford to keep a stable and a stallion.”
“I’ve calculated it and will see it done,” he said, staring at her with his usual intensity. “I have also arranged for a lad to clean the stables, the fowl pen, and the cow enclosure for a year.”
Astonished, she was at a loss for words for several moments. “How can you afford this?”
“I sold my jacket pin.”
Georgianna made an incredulous noise in her throat. “Apinallowed you to purchase a horse and arrange for its feeding for a year?”
The earl lifted a very decidedly arrogant brow. “The local pawn offered three hundred pounds. I believe it worth more, but I did not haggle.”
He walked over to her and brushed a kiss across her forehead. “I forbid you from worrying about it in any manner. It is my duty to provide for you and our family.”
Oh God, this is going too far. She had never anticipated the earl would be such a considerate and giving gentleman. “I…” She looked beyond his shoulder at the horse, her throat tightening.
“Do you know how to ride, wife?”
She pushed a few strands of hair from her cheeks. “Yes…we…Lizzie and I were taught by Papa. We had a carriage and a mare before Papa died. We had to sell them when we retrenched.”
“Good. When you are not riding, I’ll start teaching Anna and Sarah. It would be best if they learned on a pony; however, I shall be very careful.”
Harsh emotions wrenched through her heart, and Georgianna wanted to run away from him and the helpless feelings digging so relentlessly beneath her skin.
“Wife,” he said, his gaze narrowing. “Why do you look at me with such fright—”
She jerked one step closer to him and fit her mouth against Daniel’s, kissing him with desperation and longing she had not thought herself capable of.
“I believe we are scandalizing our audience,” he murmured roughly against her lips.
A laugh and a sob escaped Georgianna, and she pulled away, burrowing against his chest to hug him.
“You are squeezing me, wife.”
Georgianna was, and she could not stop, because too many yearnings were breaking her apart.I want this to be real. And for the first time since her aunt’s constant reminder of procuring a husband, Georgianna thought a gentleman to call her own would be a fine thing indeed. What would it be like to have someone to hold when the nights were cold? Someone to share dreams and fears, joy and woes? Someone whose kiss set her heart and senses aflame?
Perhaps a gentleman like you.
Pulling away from his embrace, she hugged the neck of the horse. Georgianna cleared her throat, which had thickened with emotions. “Does he have a name?”
“The gentleman who reared him gave him the name Montgomery.”
“Montgomery,” she whispered, combing her fingers through his mane. “It is a good, strong name, and you and I are going to be the best of friends.”
“Would you like to go for a ride?” he asked.
Her heart soared, but she glanced behind her to her sisters.
“Ease your worries. Mr. Hayle is already leaving.”
“Yes, I would like to ride with you,” Georgianna said with a laugh, noting Mr. Hayle indeed went toward his horse and her sisters walked toward the main house.
The earl launched atop the horse with seamless grace and held out his hands to her.
Their gazes collided, and in his, she spied a wicked spark of challenge. “Are you comfortable riding astride, wife?”
Thankfully, she wore no bustle under her simple day gown. “Yes.”
