The boy scampered off and Ewan shook his head. Lord Mayfeather was an old man known for his temper. He lived on a dilapidated estate at least two hours ride away. He had a reputation for treating his servants poorly. No wonder the poor lad had been afraid of being sacked.
Ewan turned his attention back to the horse. The magnificent stallion tossed its mane and lifted its gorgeous hooves from the packed earth.
Phillip needed him. Ewan wouldn’t fail his friend. After all, he owed him his life.
CHAPTER THREE
The next afternoon, Thea squared her shoulders and expelled a long pent-up breath. She sat at the writing desk in the far corner of her bedchamber at the window. She’d never been much for writing letters, but she could certainly do an adequate job when the situation called for it. This time it called not just for writing but for a bit of storytelling, perhaps. Not lying. No. No. Never that, but it didn’t hurt to bend the truth if absolutely necessary. Now, did it?
She’d already crossed out several lines on a clean sheet of vellum before starting for a fifth time. She cleared her throat and read the words aloud as she wrote them.
Dear Lord Clayton,
My brother tells me you won the auction for the Duke of Harlowe’s Arabian. I would like to inquire as to whether you would be willing to sell the horse to me.
Blast. No. That was simply boring. She crossed it out.
Dear Lord Clayton,
It seems you and I have something in common. A love of fine horseflesh. Would you please sell the Arabian to me? I’d be ever so grateful.
No. No. Far too desperate. She crossed it out.
Dear Lord Clayton,
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lady Theodora Ballard. I am the daughter of the Earl of Blackstone and we are neighbors. I want your horse.
Gah. Too blunt. More crossing out.
Dear Lord Clayton,
You may not be aware, but Alabaster, the Arabian, was my horse when he was a foal. I’ve loved him since I was a child. My brother attempted to purchase him back for me last week, but it seems your desire to own the horse was as great as ours, greater in fact, as you were the winner of the auction. I appeal to you as a horse owner and lover. Will you please entertain an offer for me to purchase the horse from you for the full purchase amount you paid? I would be ever so grateful. Besides, you must be regretting spending such an exorbitant amount.
Yours with sincerity,
Lady Theodora Ballard
She read it over a few more times, settling on crossing out the very last line about regretting spending so much. That might just anger him.
“What do you think, Mag?” Thea said to the maid who was mending clothing on the other side of the room.
“Why didn’t you mention how your father sold Alabaster without your knowledge?”
Thea contemplated the question for a moment. “Men like Viscount Clayton don’t care about such things, Maggie. He’s probably wanting his money back. I intend to give it to him.”
Maggie shook her head. “I hope you know what you’re doing and that spending that sort of money won’t be somethingyouregret one day.”
Thea pursed her lips. “I only regret that dodgy old Viscount Clayton has forced me to spend so much to get what I want.”
“There are other horses in the world, Thea,” Maggie began.
“Don’t you dare start,” Thea said, giving her friend a look that indicated she wouldn’t hear of it. “There is only one Alabaster and there only ever will be.”
“Lord, you’re stubborn,” Maggie retorted, rolling her eyes. “Very well, send the letter. But I honestly have no idea how you think you’ll come up with that much money.”
Thea shrugged. She’d been thinking about that particular problem ever since she’d heard the amount Alabaster had sold for. “I’ve decided to write to my uncle Teddy. He’s rich as Croesus and he loved my mother to distraction.”
“Do you think he’ll give you that much money?” Maggie wanted to know.
