Page 11 of Captivating the Earl (Lords and Ladies in Love 5)

“You’re quite pensive this morning.” Lord Hawkins’s deep voice broke into her thoughts, reminding her she had company on this ride, and it was rude to ignore him.

“I am sorry, my lord, I’m afraid I was woolgathering.”

“Can’t you please let off with the ‘my lord’ and refer to me as Hawk?” He raised his hand as she began to speak. “I know you believe it is not proper, but when we are alone together, perhaps you will acquiesce?”

She was not happy to consider his request, still concerned he might discover her true identity if they became too friendly. On the other hand, she did not want to give him reason to check further into her background, either. “I doubt we will have many occasions to be alone together. But if you wish it, then I will call you Hawk.”

“Excellent.” Her stomach jumped at his brilliant smile, even white teeth, and the small wrinkles alongside his mouth and eyes. She did not want to be affected by the man, and every minute she was in his company, she grew more and more concerned about being recognized.

“Are you up for a race?” Perhaps if she kept him from talking and spent more time flying over the ground, he would not focus so much on her. He watched her like he was trying to figure out a puzzle.

“As you wish.” He dipped his head. “As long as you feel secure enough in your saddle to race.”

Lizzie laughed and waved her arm. “I race all the time. I agree, this does put me in an awkward position, but I’ve learned to deal with it.” She turned and placed her hand above her eyes to block the sun. “How about that hedge a bit more than half a mile away?”

Hawk looked in the direction she gestured toward. “The hedge it is, then. The first one over it is declared the winner.”

“Go!” Without giving him a second to think it over, she smacked Magpie’s hindquarter with her crop and took off.

Barely a few seconds after she began her sprint, Hawk was right beside her, leaning over his horse and urging him on. Lizzie smacked Magpie once more. “Come on girl, we can’t let the boys win.”

The hedge grew closer, and Lizzie lost her hat, and her thick hair came loose from its chignon. But nothing stopped her. She was happy for the first time in days. The jump was barely twenty feet in front of her, and she was ready. With easy grace, she and Magpie flew over the hedge, landing smoothly on the other side, right after Hawk.

“Winner!” Hawk threw his fist up in the air as they rode side by side. They slowed their horses down to a trot, then a walk.

He pointed to a pond on the other side of a field of summer wildflowers. “I suggest we rest the horses there and let them take a well-earned drink.”

Lizzie nodded and turned Magpie to follow Hawk.

Before she could even think, Hawk had dismounted, had his hands wrapped around her waist and lifted her off the horse as if she weighed no more than a child. She stared at him as he slowly lowered her to the ground.

His chocolate brown eyes bore into her, making her feel as though he could see right into her soul. Could he see more than she presented? Could he detect that she was not who she pretended to be?

Before he began to question her, she stepped back, and thankfully he dropped his hands since Magpie stood behind her, and Lizzie would not have been able to escape. “Thank you.”

Hawk nodded and grabbed the reins of both horses to lead them to the water’s edge, allowing her time to compose herself. She took a deep breath and moved to a large tree about ten feet from the pond. Disregarding the possibility of grass stains on her skirts, she settled under the tree, tucked her legs under her bottom, and watched Hawk.

He murmured softly into the horses’ ears and gave each of them a pat as they bent their heads to drink. Hawk turned and offered her a smile as he spotted her resting comfortably.

He walked toward her, his gait one of a predator on the prowl. Her insides twisted, and she wished with all her heart that she hadn’t agreed to let him ride with her.

Chapter Five

Hawk stretched out on his side alongside Miss Moore, his head propped up on his hand. He reached for a blade of grass and stuck it between his teeth. She was certainly a lovely woman, but as she was an employee of his cousin, he should not even be thinking about that. It was bad enough when women were unprotected in the world and needed to make their own way without having a houseguest annoy them with unwanted attentions. Not that Miss Moore had objected to his company—yet.

“Tell me how you came to be a governess, Miss Moore. I believe your father was a vicar?”

He did not imagine the stiffening of her shoulders, and the wariness in her eyes. “Yes, he was a vicar.”

“Ah, so he is deceased?”

“Yes.”

He pulled the grass from his mouth and dropped it. “You’ve no family, then?”

She picked at her skirts and avoided his eyes. “No family. My father was my only relative.”

Interesting that Miss Moore did not wish to speak about herself. And whatever reasons she was on her own in the world were no concern of his. Or should not be, anyway. Except he could not leave it alone. “Somehow, I can imagine you in a ball gown, waltzing with a dashing gentleman.”