Read Online Lady Blue by Helen A Rosburg - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Helen A Rosburg
Ads: Link
to catch up with the gray. Eventually, with a smug smile, Harmony pulled her horse down to a walk. Anthony cleared his throat.
“I, uh, realize I’m only the kidnapper, but would you mind heading to your left, toward those hills over there? Even though I warned your sister in the note not to call out the
gendarmes,
she didn’t much look like the type to be trusted.”
Without response, Harmony turned off the road into the direction Anthony had indicated.
“Thank you,” he said dryly. “Now, would you mind if we rode at a little faster pace? Where we’re going isn’t far, but I’ll feel better when we get there.”
Harmony urged her mare at once into a swift gallop and left Anthony temporarily behind again. When he had caught up with her they continued, side by side, to lope across the wide meadow that stretched away on either side of the road. They slowed to crest the line of low hills, and when Harmony saw what lay beyond them she was pleasantly surprised. She pulled her mare to a halt and gazed down at the tree-lined streambed.
“Is that where you’re taking me?”
Anthony nodded. “It’s nice and secluded and not too far from your sister’s home so I can take you back as soon as it’s dark.”
“Are you anxious to get rid of me?” Harmony bit her tongue, but the words were already out.
Anthony cocked an eyebrow and resisted the urge to smile. “Let’s just say I made a promise to return you. And I never break a promise.”
Before Harmony could wonder at the reply, Anthony turned his horse and started down the steep, narrow path that led to the stream below. Harmony followed and urged the mare to a faster pace as Anthony disappeared behind the thick, hanging branches of a weeping willow. She rode right behind him into the cool, green shadows.
A frog plopped noisily into the water and a frightened hare darted into a hole along the stream bank. The mare dropped her head to drink and Harmony slid from her back. She found herself standing to her knees in soft, fragrant river grass.
Anthony joined her when he had tethered the horses then stretched out on the bank with his arms folded behind his head. When his eyes drifted closed, Harmony allowed her gaze to caress his long-limbed form.
Sunlight filtered through the branches of the willow and dappled the smooth skin of his face and forearms. He looked so handsome, so innocent, a half smile on his lips. Harmony felt a little guilty for the hard time she had given him that morning. She felt guiltier as she let her eyes slide a little further down his body.
Anthony had crossed his legs at the ankles. His tight black boots and even tighter breeches accentuated his muscular thighs. And something else. Something that had made her knees weak and her head spin last night. It was doing so again. In a desperate effort to turn her attention elsewhere, she picked up a pebble and tossed it into the stream.
Anthony rolled over and supported himself on one arm. “Would you mind answering a question?”
Curious, and glad he had spoken at last, Harmony shook her head. “Go on.”
“Tell me what a beautiful young woman is doing locked away with her ugly sister in an even uglier old tomb of a house.”
Harmony couldn’t resist her smile. “As a matter of fact, I hadn’t lived there very long. You … abducted me on my very first day.”
Anthony looked surprised. “Your very first day. Well. I’d heard from my … sources … that you’d recently come off a ship from America. But I had no idea you’d only just arrived.” He shook his head. “What prompted you to leave your country and come to England’s fair shores?”
Harmony’s smile faded. “My parents died,” she replied quietly. “I had nowhere else to go.”
“I’m sorry.” Anthony, too, had quickly sobered. He sat up with his arms clasped around his knees. “Then what happens, but on your first day in England you’re robbed and kidnapped.” He rose abruptly and walked a few paces to
“I, uh, realize I’m only the kidnapper, but would you mind heading to your left, toward those hills over there? Even though I warned your sister in the note not to call out the
gendarmes,
she didn’t much look like the type to be trusted.”
Without response, Harmony turned off the road into the direction Anthony had indicated.
“Thank you,” he said dryly. “Now, would you mind if we rode at a little faster pace? Where we’re going isn’t far, but I’ll feel better when we get there.”
Harmony urged her mare at once into a swift gallop and left Anthony temporarily behind again. When he had caught up with her they continued, side by side, to lope across the wide meadow that stretched away on either side of the road. They slowed to crest the line of low hills, and when Harmony saw what lay beyond them she was pleasantly surprised. She pulled her mare to a halt and gazed down at the tree-lined streambed.
“Is that where you’re taking me?”
Anthony nodded. “It’s nice and secluded and not too far from your sister’s home so I can take you back as soon as it’s dark.”
“Are you anxious to get rid of me?” Harmony bit her tongue, but the words were already out.
Anthony cocked an eyebrow and resisted the urge to smile. “Let’s just say I made a promise to return you. And I never break a promise.”
Before Harmony could wonder at the reply, Anthony turned his horse and started down the steep, narrow path that led to the stream below. Harmony followed and urged the mare to a faster pace as Anthony disappeared behind the thick, hanging branches of a weeping willow. She rode right behind him into the cool, green shadows.
A frog plopped noisily into the water and a frightened hare darted into a hole along the stream bank. The mare dropped her head to drink and Harmony slid from her back. She found herself standing to her knees in soft, fragrant river grass.
Anthony joined her when he had tethered the horses then stretched out on the bank with his arms folded behind his head. When his eyes drifted closed, Harmony allowed her gaze to caress his long-limbed form.
Sunlight filtered through the branches of the willow and dappled the smooth skin of his face and forearms. He looked so handsome, so innocent, a half smile on his lips. Harmony felt a little guilty for the hard time she had given him that morning. She felt guiltier as she let her eyes slide a little further down his body.
Anthony had crossed his legs at the ankles. His tight black boots and even tighter breeches accentuated his muscular thighs. And something else. Something that had made her knees weak and her head spin last night. It was doing so again. In a desperate effort to turn her attention elsewhere, she picked up a pebble and tossed it into the stream.
Anthony rolled over and supported himself on one arm. “Would you mind answering a question?”
Curious, and glad he had spoken at last, Harmony shook her head. “Go on.”
“Tell me what a beautiful young woman is doing locked away with her ugly sister in an even uglier old tomb of a house.”
Harmony couldn’t resist her smile. “As a matter of fact, I hadn’t lived there very long. You … abducted me on my very first day.”
Anthony looked surprised. “Your very first day. Well. I’d heard from my … sources … that you’d recently come off a ship from America. But I had no idea you’d only just arrived.” He shook his head. “What prompted you to leave your country and come to England’s fair shores?”
Harmony’s smile faded. “My parents died,” she replied quietly. “I had nowhere else to go.”
“I’m sorry.” Anthony, too, had quickly sobered. He sat up with his arms clasped around his knees. “Then what happens, but on your first day in England you’re robbed and kidnapped.” He rose abruptly and walked a few paces to
Similar Books
