“I hope you don’t break your neck,” she blurted out and then swallowed. “Running, I mean. Well, I mean, falling off your horse, too. Really, there are so many ways you could break your neck. Either way, I hope you don’t.”
Silence followed. Panicked, she turned to her companions. Rose and Grace were covering their mouths,presumably to hide their smiles, while Faith mouthed, ‘what is wrong with you?’ For the life of her, Hope did not know.
Graham smirked, though his brow knit together and tilted his head.
“Thank you for those words of encouragement,” he said just as Jared and Jeanne joined them. Jeanne wore a cream and emerald striped gown and her red hair was pinned back in a smart, practical hairstyle, though several strands seemed to be falling out of place already.
“Fine day for a race, innt?” Jeanne asked.
“Aye, fine a day as ever there was,” Jared said, grinning at Hope. “How do you do, Miss Sharpe?”
“Very well, thank you,” Hope said, trying not to blush at his pointed interest in her when he should have addressed all the ladies present. “Are you competing in the race, Mr. McTavish?”
“Aye, I am.”
“Rose was just explaining to us how it was done.”
Jared’s gaze flickered to Rose for a moment.
“Miss Rose would be the best to explain it. She has been coming to see us race for nigh five years now, haven’t you?” Jared asked, but before he let Rose answer, he continued. “Who will you champion, Miss Sharpe?”
“Champion?” she asked, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Well, each competitor has a lady who he races for,” Jared explained, smiling at Graham. “Innit true, Graham?”
“Aye,” Graham said, seeming a bit stiffer than he had been a moment ago. “The McTavishes are prone to romantic gestures.”
“Ack, it’s not romantic. It’s historic.”
“Like the knights of old.” Hope’s heart beat faster as she observed Graham. The expression he gave her was not sweet or romantic. It was scorching. To avoid it, she quickly turned to face Jared. “It is a bit romantic, Mr. McTavish.”
“Aye, and Miss Sharpe is quite a romantic herself,” Graham said. “Aren’t you?”
Hope’s cheeks burned with embarrassment. She wasn’t sure what Graham was playing at, but she felt annoyed as she wondered if Graham was mocking her.
“Is that so?” Jared asked, smiling.
“Leave Hope alone, you two,” Jeanne said, coming up to hook her arm into Hope’s. Her green eyes seemed to match the emerald color of her dress. “They’re both teasing you. None of the men take favors from anyone. They race for no motive other than their own desire to be the biggest jackass of the highlands.”
Hope’s mouth fell open at the curse while Faith snickered and Grace slapped her hand to her mouth. Jeanne led Hope and the rest of the ladies away towards a pointed pavilion.
Chairs had been set up to support the eldest attendees, who sat surrounding several tables. Two gigantic oriental rugs had been laid out, overlapping one another. Massive cushions, pillows and the like had been strewn in a way that reminded Hope of an illustrated book of the Rubiyat by Omar Kyaamann. Guessing that they would be expected to sit on the ground, she let Jeanne pull her down to the spot with the most oversized pillows.
“We’ll be able to see just about everything from here.” Jeanne nodded to the others to sit. “You know, Jared nearly broke his leg last year.”
“That’s what Rose was saying,” Hope said, looking back at Rose.
“Aye, she would know,” Jeanne said with a sly glance at the freckled blonde. “She’s been in love with Jared ever since she first laid eyes on him.”
“I have not, Jeanne!” Rose said hotly but quietly, ensuring no one overheard. She leaned forward and continued in a low voice. “Do not say such things.”
“Why not? It’s true.”
“It isn’t. I’m not in love with him,” Rose insisted, though her cheeks shone bright red.
“Fine, have it your way,” Jeanne said, clearly not believing her. She leaned closer to Hope and added quietly, “Don’t let her fool you. She’d travel to hell and back just to please my brother.”
“And he doesn’t feel the same?”
