Page 21 of Wagering for Miss Blake (Lords and Ladies in Love 4)

Edgar emerged from the stable leading Gallant. He was a fine black Welsh Cob, Giles’s pride and joy.

Giles greeted Gallant with a few words, snuck him half an apple, and rubbed his nose, then turned to Suzanna and grasped her around the waist, depositing her on the back of Demon.

“For goodness sakes, Mr. Templeton. You might have given me a warning.” She smoothed out her skirts and shifted in the saddle.

“You’re welcome, Miss Blake.” He swung his leg over Gallant and settled into the saddle.

“Thank you,” Suzanna mumbled.

They walked the horses from the stables, then trotted the animals toward the acreage behind the manor. “Where do you generally ride, Mr. Templeton?”

“Hmm. Still using Mr. Templeton, I see. My very disreputable uncle is Mr. Templeton.”

Ignoring his comment, she moved ahead of him. He couldn’t help but admire how she sat a horse. Indeed, she was no amateur when it came to riding. She controlled her mount with very little effort, which was no easy feat considering she rode sidesaddle.

“I usually ride out toward those woods.” He pointed to his left. “On the other side is a wonderful place to give the horses their head. Also, a few jumps if you feel up to it.”

“Yes, I do. Jumping is one of my favorite things about riding in the country. Unfortunately, my horse, Reginald, remained at our country home, so I don’t ride very much in London, since Lord Montford has only his personal mount and the carriage horses stabled there.”

“Does your cousin not ride?”

“No. Lady Montford took a toss when she was younger and has not ridden since.”

Giles shook his head. “’Tis well known that if you’re thrown from a horse, you should get right back on and ride again.”

“I know. I’ve told her that many times, but she is a bit stubborn.”

He glanced at her sideways. “It appears that trait runs in the family.”

Suzanna broke into a trot and grinned over her shoulder, her eyes flashing. “It might do you well to remember that, Mr. Templeton.”

He picked up his pace, and they trotted side by side until they reached the wooded area, then urged the horses into a canter. The wind blew through his hair, the crisp morning air perfect for a run. From time to time he glanced over at Suzanna, who looked like a goddess.

Her hair had blown free of its confinement and streamed behind her like a fairy princess, her hat long gone. Her cheeks had a rosy glow, and her eyes were wide with excitement as the horses’ hooves pounded the earth as they flew over the ground.

She turned her head and grinned at him, and like a thunderbolt over his head, he fell in love. He wanted this woman, no matter what.

…

Suzanna never felt more alive than when she was racing over the ground on a horse. She missed Reginald, but Demon made a wonderful substitute. The air was fresh, the sun shone from a deep blue sky, and the green of early spring surrounded them as she and Mr. Templeton dashed across the meadows from Hawkins Manor.

She’d been quite surprised to see him when he’d strolled up to the stables as she was requesting a better mount. She hated to think it was Mr. Templeton’s urging that made the groom change his mind. It had always annoyed her that women had to depend upon men to make decisions for them. Another reason to eschew his attentions. She was tired of living under someone else’s dictates, and she was certain Mr. Templeton had a great many of them.

She’d been suspicious when he had arrived. She’d thought for sure he’d seen her head to the stables and followed her, but something in his face told her he was being honest when he’d said he ordinarily rode each morning. Besides, she was a bit nervous about riding alone, since she’d never ridden at Hawkins Manor before and hadn’t wanted to take the groom from his duties to accompany her.

If Mother had known she’d planned to ride without a chaperone, the lecture would go on for hours. She should have had Bessie with her to act as chaperone, since Cousin Eunice did not ride. Additionally, she should not be spending time with a man who had no title. It was all so tiresome.

Once they reached a more confined area, they slowed the horses to a trot and Suzanna turned to Mr. Templeton. “You are an excellent horseman. Do you do everything well, then?”

“I try. One could say I

find success more often than failure.” He offered that devilish smile, and her insides tingled. “A third son must be quite adept at any number of things to maintain his position.”

“Tell me about your brothers.”

His face softened, revealing his love for his family more than any words could. “Eric is the heir, the pompous one whom we all dearly love. When the time comes—and I hope not for a very long time—he will be a fine Earl of Wexford. Richard, a year older than me, is a bit of a recluse, spending a great deal of his time with scientific books and journals. He writes volumes of papers and is a lauded member of the Linnean Society.”

“And you are number three.”