Read Online Before The Scandal by Suzanne Enoch - Free Book Online Page B

to the front door. “Lewes ain’t precisely the center of thoroughbred breeding, is it?”
    “No, it’s not. This is sheep country.”
    “Aye. I’ve noticed that fact.”
    Digby opened the front door for them, managing to send Gordon an annoyed look at the same time, and Phineas left the house—and stopped dead. “What, pray tell, is that?” he asked, staring.
    “That’s yer horse.”
    “It’s yellow, Sergeant.”
    Gordon passed him to pat the gelding on the withers. “He ain’t yellow. He’s a butter chestnut.”
    Phineas looked from the horse to the Scotsman. “A ‘butter chestnut’? Who fed you that cartload of turnips?”
    “How else d’ye explain his color? It ain’t as though he’s been painted.”
    “What color is the horse you got for yourself?”
    The sergeant edged away from him. “Ye said a bay or a chestnut fer me. Somethin’ no one would notice. So Gallant’s a scraggly bay, Colonel. I wouldn’t want to be caught ridin’ a more bonny horse than my commanding officer.”
    Tempted as Phin was to argue the point, the yellow horse did serve a purpose; no one who owned another horse like Ajax would be caught dead riding this one. “What’s his name, then?” he asked, checking the gelding’s cinch and then swinging up into the saddle.
    The sergeant cleared his throat. “He’s yer horse. Ye call ’im whatever ye like.” He slapped the animal on the haunch.
    Obviously the move was meant to send horse and rider galloping down the road, but with a precise move of his knee and a light tug on the reins, Phineas sent the animal in a tight circle around Gordon. “Name, Sergeant,” he ordered.
    Gordon straightened. “Saffron, sir,” he said, saluting.
    Saffron . At least it wasn’t Jaundice or some such thing. “I’m going to the theater tonight,” he said. “I want that to be the last event I have to attend wearing my uniform. Make me an appointment with a damned tailor. And shine my dress boots for tonight.”
    “Aye, Colonel.”
    He kicked Saffron in the ribs and headed for the main road and Donnelly House beyond. The gelding had an off gait and a hard mouth, but he had to count it as an improvement over walking everywhere on Warner’s mount. And he supposed his uniform would survive the dubious honor of riding a yellow horse. He’d caused his career enough potential damage by riding about the countryside as a highwayman.

    “You know I don’t show well in green,” Aunt Ernesta snapped, tossing her half-finished hat onto the table. “What in the world made you select green?”
    Alyse stifled the answer she wanted to make. “You admired the green ribbon in the shop, Aunt. I thought—”
    “Yellow. I want yellow flowers, and a yellow ribbon. I won’t have you attempting to make me look foolish. We could send you back to your great-aunt, you know.”
    “I beg your pardon, Aunt Ernesta,” Alyse sighed. “I’ll fetch the yellow ribbon.”
    “I thought you would.”
    As she stood up, Saunders knocked and leaned into the room. “Mrs. Donnelly, Miss Donnelly, Colonel Phin Bromley.”
    Crisp, precise, and commanding, Phin strolled into the room and sketched a shallow bow. “Good morning, ladies.”
    Aunt Ernesta stood. “Colonel. What in the world brings you here today?”
    “I thought I would take Miss Donnelly riding, if you can spare her for a time.”
    Alyse’s heart skipped a beat. He’d said he wanted to go riding with her, but she hadn’t realized that he’d meant it. “I…I’m mending my aunt’s h—”
    “You will return her by luncheon,” her aunt said, and motioned at her to leave the room. “I’ll never have a decent conversation out of her if she doesn’t get her way.”
    Well, that was uncalled-for. And a lie. But arguing would be worse than pointless, since she’d never be allowed to go riding if she reacted. “Thank you, Aunt Ernesta.”
    “Humph.”
    “I took the liberty of asking that a horse be saddled for you,” Phin said, offering