Read Online Hold Your Breath 02 - Unmasking the Marquess by K.J. Jackson - Free Book Online
Authors: K.J. Jackson
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lady, but that man is no more a husband to you than Freddie the coal boy is. I’m just relieved it be done with. It is done with, isn’t it?”
Reanna let Miss Melby’s impertinence slide. She never would have made it whole through the past six months without her. She turned back to her maid. “Yes, I believe it is over. We may as well settle in for good.”
Miss Melby smiled. “I done that three months ago, my lady—now it’s your turn. Why don’t you get outside for a change? It’s sunny and not too cold today. Maybe go down to the stables and see what you can do about learning to ride. The stable master, Ike, is his name, seems to be a good sort and willing to help out where he can. Seems to me like he’d be an excellent teacher.”
Reanna looked out the window to find it had turned into a beautiful day. A complete opposite to the grey snow that was falling when she had sat down to write the letter.
She took a deep breath and stared for a moment at the gleaming top of the desk, now bare. An errant thought that she should look for more of the fine vellum crossed her mind. But as she exhaled, she realized the truth of the situation. A trepid smile crossed her face as she rose from her chair.
“I think I will go out and meet this Ike you talked about.”
~~~
Reanna sat atop the mare she had declared as her own, Ivy, and stared down at the vast estate that was Holloton. She had explored much of it over the past weeks, but this was always her favorite spot.
It was the highest point in the estate, offering unending vistas in every direction. She ended every ride here, not only for the quiet reflection this wide-open space afforded her, but because it was the starting point of the breakneck ride back down to the stables. A ride that had almost killed her a couple times. But she loved it.
Reanna stripped off her gloves and balanced them on Ivy’s white mane, and then noticed the tiniest spot of black ink on her forefinger. No matter how hard she had scrubbed it over the past month, she couldn’t completely get rid of it. A remnant of the six months she had pined away for Killian. And she was ready for it to be gone.
What was he doing right now, in that instant? The thought snuck into her head before she had a chance to squelch it. It didn’t matter. Not to her.
She shoved her gloves back on. Wherever he was, and whatever he was doing, was of no consequence to her. He had made that perfectly clear.
She turned Ivy toward the edge of the hill, aiming for the stables a distance off. Then, thinking the better of it, she turned to head back deeper into the far woods.
Apparently, a longer ride would do her good.
~~~
“I was just about to come looking for you, m’lady.” Weathered hands gripped the bridle of the panting horse. “Thought maybe you got yourself lost again.”
Reanna smiled down at the Holloton stable master. “Come now, Ike, that only happened twice. And that third time I was already set in the right direction before you found me. Besides, can you blame me for the size of this place?”
“No, no, I can’t m’lady. But you were out a wee bit longer than usual today.” He offered up his hand as Reanna lightly descended.
“Yes, well, it was such a beautiful day—cold, but the snow that fell last night just made the day come alive. It was a shame to leave it any earlier than I needed to.” She patted Ivy’s spotted white neck. The mare nudged Reanna’s shoulder, so she moved her hand to the horse’s nose. “And Ivy did not seem to mind one bit. I think she was happy to not be captured inside today, as well.”
“She loves you riding her, that’s for sure. You’ve been an excellent student, m’lady, most certainly the best female rider I’ve seen in a long time, even what with you just learning and all.”
“Ike, stop—no need to flatter me. There is still so much more I have to learn.”
“Actually, m’lady, there ain’t. The only thing you need now is practice, which
Reanna let Miss Melby’s impertinence slide. She never would have made it whole through the past six months without her. She turned back to her maid. “Yes, I believe it is over. We may as well settle in for good.”
Miss Melby smiled. “I done that three months ago, my lady—now it’s your turn. Why don’t you get outside for a change? It’s sunny and not too cold today. Maybe go down to the stables and see what you can do about learning to ride. The stable master, Ike, is his name, seems to be a good sort and willing to help out where he can. Seems to me like he’d be an excellent teacher.”
Reanna looked out the window to find it had turned into a beautiful day. A complete opposite to the grey snow that was falling when she had sat down to write the letter.
She took a deep breath and stared for a moment at the gleaming top of the desk, now bare. An errant thought that she should look for more of the fine vellum crossed her mind. But as she exhaled, she realized the truth of the situation. A trepid smile crossed her face as she rose from her chair.
“I think I will go out and meet this Ike you talked about.”
~~~
Reanna sat atop the mare she had declared as her own, Ivy, and stared down at the vast estate that was Holloton. She had explored much of it over the past weeks, but this was always her favorite spot.
It was the highest point in the estate, offering unending vistas in every direction. She ended every ride here, not only for the quiet reflection this wide-open space afforded her, but because it was the starting point of the breakneck ride back down to the stables. A ride that had almost killed her a couple times. But she loved it.
Reanna stripped off her gloves and balanced them on Ivy’s white mane, and then noticed the tiniest spot of black ink on her forefinger. No matter how hard she had scrubbed it over the past month, she couldn’t completely get rid of it. A remnant of the six months she had pined away for Killian. And she was ready for it to be gone.
What was he doing right now, in that instant? The thought snuck into her head before she had a chance to squelch it. It didn’t matter. Not to her.
She shoved her gloves back on. Wherever he was, and whatever he was doing, was of no consequence to her. He had made that perfectly clear.
She turned Ivy toward the edge of the hill, aiming for the stables a distance off. Then, thinking the better of it, she turned to head back deeper into the far woods.
Apparently, a longer ride would do her good.
~~~
“I was just about to come looking for you, m’lady.” Weathered hands gripped the bridle of the panting horse. “Thought maybe you got yourself lost again.”
Reanna smiled down at the Holloton stable master. “Come now, Ike, that only happened twice. And that third time I was already set in the right direction before you found me. Besides, can you blame me for the size of this place?”
“No, no, I can’t m’lady. But you were out a wee bit longer than usual today.” He offered up his hand as Reanna lightly descended.
“Yes, well, it was such a beautiful day—cold, but the snow that fell last night just made the day come alive. It was a shame to leave it any earlier than I needed to.” She patted Ivy’s spotted white neck. The mare nudged Reanna’s shoulder, so she moved her hand to the horse’s nose. “And Ivy did not seem to mind one bit. I think she was happy to not be captured inside today, as well.”
“She loves you riding her, that’s for sure. You’ve been an excellent student, m’lady, most certainly the best female rider I’ve seen in a long time, even what with you just learning and all.”
“Ike, stop—no need to flatter me. There is still so much more I have to learn.”
“Actually, m’lady, there ain’t. The only thing you need now is practice, which
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