Read Online A Suitable Bride by Fenella J Miller - Free Book Online

danced around her feet and then Toby shot off towards a paddock she could see in the distance and she gathered up her skirts and ran after him. The other two animals raced after their brother and by the time she reached the fence her stallion was galloping towards her.
    He skidded to a halt, sending divots of grass flying up behind him and lowered his massive head onto her shoulder. ‘I’m glad they turned you out, you’ll be much happier here.’ She stared around the field and could see several empty fields stretching ahead which would be ideal for an early morning gallop. As she had no notion where his tack was she would have to ride astride and bareback.
    ‘Stand still, Rufus, I’ve no wish to further damage my head by falling on it again.’ The horse calmed and remained stationary a few inches from the fence whilst she scrambled on his back. After arranging her skirts to her satisfaction she was ready to go.
    ‘Remember, sweetheart, I’ve no saddle or bridle and you must be careful not to tip me off.’
    She gently touched her heels to his sides and wound his long wiry mane around one hand. He needed no further encouragement and moved smoothly from trot to canter, increasing his stride when he saw the obstacle in front of them. She leaned forward, staring through his pricked ears, her blood pounding with excitement.
    Rufus soared into the air and cleared the fence with a foot or two to spare and then they were galloping. The pins in her hair came out and it was streaming behind her. Forgetting she was at the home of the Duke of Silchester and that she was here for the sole purpose of finding herself a husband, and that her outrageous behaviour would offend, she laughed out loud.
    *
    Bennett had retired as early as he could do so without seeming uncivil, he wasn’t a heavy drinker nor a gambler and found the twittering of society ladies unbearable after his years spent on the Continent as a soldier.
    He rose at dawn as he always did, dressed quickly and took the backstairs so he could leave the house without disturbing anyone. He arrived at the side door and was startled to find it already unbolted. Surely no one else had come out so early?
    As usual the stable yard was empty of grooms, he didn’t expect one of them to get up just to saddle his horse as he was quite capable of doing so himself. He was walking to the tack room when he heard the uninvited dogs barking and was almost sure he also heard Miss DuPont.
    He must have imagined this as she would hardly be out here at dawn when she had been so sorely injured less than a day ago. Although she’d looked well enough when he’d seen her sleeping, being out and about was another thing entirely.
    The noise had come from the paddocks at the rear of the stable block where the chestnut stallion and the four grey carriage horses had been turned out. He couldn’t believe his eyes and increased his pace until he was running flat out in a vain effort to reach the fence before the girl mounted her stallion.
    Calling out would be disastrous, he would startle the animal and she would fall a second time and might not be so lucky. He arrived too late and watched helplessly as the horse took off. Then his horror turned to admiration as he realised the girl was in complete control and had a better seat than anyone he’d ever seen astride a horse.
    He held his breath as the animal approached the fence and sighed as Miss DuPont, mounted astride and bareback, landed safely and continued her wild ride. Her three canine companions scampered after her. He turned and raced for the tack room and within five minutes he was on his own horse and galloping after her.
    His initial admiration for her horsemanship had turned to fear that she was risking her life so casually. Lucifer cleared the fence with ease and thundered across the grass enjoying the unaccustomed race. The girl would have to slow her pace, if she was capable of doing so, when they reached the fourth fence as this