“Right away,” the stablemaster said, heading back into the stables. A few minutes later,he led Satine and the stallion named Hercules out. Peter was following with a mounting block for Emma.
“There’s no need for that,” Richmond said, placing his hands on her waist and lifting her effortlessly into the saddle.
Her skin seemed to catch on fire when his hands touched her. “Thank you, Your Grace, although I could have easily used the mounting block.”
Richmond chuckled, vaulting onto the stallion’s back. “It was entirely my pleasure, Miss Bainbridge. Are you ready?”
Emma nodded and touched her heels to Satine’s sides. The mare trotted off toward the meadow.
Peter followed them at a discrete distance.
After they’d ridden at a leisurely pace for a bit, he asked, “Are you enjoying the ride?”
Emma nodded. “I am indeed. Thank you for inviting me today. Are you enjoying riding Hercules?”
“He’s a magnificent beast.”
“I love riding Satine.”
“I’m glad to have obliged you then,” he said with a sparkle in his eyes.
Emma showed Richmond to her favorite spot. “I showed Charlotte this spot before her accident. We came here often during our rides.”
“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Shall we stop and stretch our legs for a bit?”
“Yes. That will be lovely.”
Richmond dismounted and helped Emma dismount. They walked along the river as a cool breeze blew.
Emma shivered, not from the breeze but from being so close to Richmond. The more time she spent with him, the more she wanted. She had stopped being surprised at her change in feelings toward him and just enjoyed this new closeness.
Richmond shrugged out of his coat and draped it around her shoulders. “We should head back. I don’t want you to catch a chill.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Emma said, pulling his jacket closer around her and breathing deeply, inhaling his scent. It was intoxicating.
When they reached the horses, Richmond lifted her into the saddle, and she handed him his jacket. He pulled it on before mounting Hercules. They turned their horses and headed back to the stables.
“Thank you for such a lovely outing, Your Grace. I’ve missed riding.”
When they reached the stables, he jumped off the stallion, then reached up and wrapped his hands around her waist. “We must do it again, Miss Bainbridge.”
He seemed to hold her a moment longer than necessary, and she wanted to leaninto his warmth. She dithered about whether to lean in as he lowered her, sliding down his rock-hard body, but he stepped back before she could make that decision. “I’d like that. I’ll see you at luncheon, Your Grace.” She hurried to the house, her heart once again pounding in her chest.
Frederick came out of the stables. “Your Grace, I hope you had a pleasant ride and Hercules behaved himself.”
Richmond chuckled. “He’s a spirited animal, but I like them that way. Be sure to give him extra oats. He earned them today.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
***
After luncheon, Emma excused herself and made her way to the garden. She needed the peace and solitude of the space to quiet the riotous thoughts in her mind. She’d repeatedly relived the moment when Richmond had lifted her from Satine’s saddle and pressed her against his hard body. There was no padding in his jacket, and she wondered what it would feel like to run her hands over his broad chest. That thought shocked her to her core.
Did she really want to touch the duke? The answer was yes, and a secret smile lifted her lips. She was in danger of imagining a life with the duke. However, a thread of doubt crept into her mind as she wasn’t sure of Richmond’s feelings. He seemed to enjoy hercompany but was that only because he was staying at Emerson Hall while Charlotte recovered from her fall? What would happen when it was time for them to leave? Would he move on to the next woman to strike his fancy?
She walked through the garden and soon found herself on the path to the dower house. She didn’t remember making the decision to head this way, but then, the only thing she’d been thinking about was the duke. She had to stop that. She didn’t want to think about him or his magnificent chest constantly.
Soon the dower house came into view. She was about to turn around when one of the Hall’s maids stepped outside to empty a bucket of water. What was Millie doing here? No one was currently in residence at the cottage. She quickened her pace and followed the maid back inside, heading toward the kitchen to find out why the maid was there.
