“Yes.” She lifted her head. “Vincent, Pegasus never wanders off.”
“Shh…” He brushed away the tears from her cheek with the pads of this thumbs. “I’ll find her.”
She grasped the lapels of his overcoat. “Let me come with you.”
His gaze roamed over her long hair hanging over her shoulders, and then to her face. “I’m quite certain your father wouldn’t approve.” He ran his palm over her hair again. “You need to ready yourself first, my precious.”
She scowled. “I don’t care what my appearance is. I need to find my horse. So are you taking me or not?”
Slowly, he nodded and cupped her face. “Calm yourself. I shall take you.”
Sighing, she leaned against him. “I thank you, Vincent. I shall have Oliver find my father and inform him of my whereabouts.”
Vincent turned them toward his horse and lifted her on top before mounting behind her. A warm, comforting feeling surrounded her as she relaxed against his chest. One strong arm circled her waist as he used his other hand to grip the reins. His hot breath blew against her cheek, making her feel more secure in his arms.
He guided his horse back toward the stable, where he instructed the stable man to find her father and let him know where Ellie was. The servant nodded and dashed toward the house.
Without another word, Vincent urged his horse into a fast gallop. She searched as far as her vision could go, but she didn’t spot Pegasus. Dread filled her more the longer they rode around the estate.
“Where is she?” Ellie sobbed.
Vincent rode to the end of her father’s property and stopped the horse. She covered her face with her hands as the tears fell freely. They couldn’t give up now.
“Ellie, my precious.” Vincent kissed the back of her head. “We need to locate your father. I believe he can help us.”
“There’s no time.” She shook her head, keeping her hands over her face.
“But we must. I believe there is more to this than just a missing horse.”
Dropping her hands, she looked at him over her shoulder. “What do you mean?”
“I received a threat this morning. In the note, they mentioned there might be another incident if I didn’t do what they instructed.”
She blinked, trying to clear her teary vision as she focused on his handsome face. “What did they instruct you to do?”
Vincent was silent for a few moments before he licked his lips. “They want me to stay away from you.”
Fear rushed through her, and she sucked in her breath. “Oh, please, tell me you’re teasing.”
He shook his head. “They threw a rock in the dining room window. They also took responsibility for the sticker weeds under the horse’s saddle blanket. Sadly, this is not a joke.”
A tremor passed through her. She clutched his arm. “Do you know whotheyare?”
“Not yet.”
“Do you think they took Pegasus?”
He shrugged one shoulder. “At this point, I will accuse them of anything that goes wrong.” He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “Now do you understand why I think we should find your father first?”
Nodding, she withdrew just enough to peer into his blue-gray eyes. “Yes.”
She faced forward and cuddled against his chest as he guided the horse back toward the manor. Her mind swam with unanswered questions, confusing her more. Someone wanted him to stay away from her? What utter nonsense! Why would anyone—
Her memory played back the conversation she had eavesdropped on between Augusta and Edgar. Could it be them? She wouldn’t put it past Edgar to be so underhanded. And it wouldn’t surprise her to know that Augusta was in on it with her nephew. Butwhy? What was their reasoning for wanting Ellie and Edgar to marry?
For certain, she would make her father aware of what she’d heard. She just prayed he believed her, as when she had brought her concerns to him about Augusta before, he just pushed them under the rug as if they were not important. Well, this time they were very important, and with Vincent by her side, she would make her father see what was going on.
They reached the house. Vincent jumped off his horse first, and then lifted her down. Their gazes locked, and she enjoyed how gentle he was with her, as if she were a porcelain dish.
