“And romantic,” she added, casting him a teasing glance. “You, a duke, inviting me for a morning ride? You’ll earn yourself a scandal.”
“Then let them talk,” he said. “We shall give them something worth whispering about.”
As they stepped outside, the air was clear and cool, the sunlight crisp over the gravel. The breeze played with the curls at her nape as Theo reached for her hand again.
“I spoke with your aunt yesterday,” April said. “She told me about that summer when you were poisoned.”
He did not look at her. “It was a long time ago.”
“But what if it wasn’t an accident?” she asked. “What if someone still means to harm you? And—what if I didn’t fall into that pond?”
He stopped at once, his hand tightening around hers. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve thought about it so many times,” she said. “I remember almost nothing. But… there was a sound. Footsteps. And then—I felt something. Not like slipping. More like being pushed.”
Theo went still. Then he drew her into his arms, pressing a kiss to her temple as if that alone could shield her.
“I will protect you,” he said. “No matter what. I swear it.”
She leaned into him. “I only want the fear to stop.”
“Then let us outride it.”
They reached the stables, the warm scent of hay and leather curling in the air. Theo moved first to inspect his stallion, Brutus, who nuzzled his hand. Then he crossed to Apollo, the gelding prepared for her.
As he crouched beside the saddle, something caught his eye.
A cut. Narrow, clean. So precise it could not be chance. The girth was held by the barest thread.
His chest tightened.Had she mounted him alone—He felt the horror rise, a tide of fury and dread. His breath came short, his ribs cinched tight. He braced a hand against the stall wall.
Not her. Not now. Not when I have just found her.
He forced his breath to slow.She is safe. She is here. No harm has come to her.
He rose, composed.She must not know. Not yet.
Turning, he walked toward her with a smile. “I’ve changed my mind.”
“Oh?”
“You shall ride with me.”
Her brow lifted. “On Brutus? That great beast who nearly sent August flying into a hedge?”
Theo grinned. “He only throws those with too much pride.”
She laughed that laugh he would follow through fire. “You are scandalous.”
“Exactly my aim.”
He lifted her easily, placing her atop Brutus, then mounted behind her. She settled into the curve of his arms, and for a moment, everything felt right.
They rode through the estate, past wild hedgerows and sunlit fields. April let her head fall back against his shoulder.
“You planned this,” she said.
“I did.”
