Read Online Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince by Jennifer Moore - Free Book Online
Authors: Jennifer Moore
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no fear, speaking softly and moving smoothly so as not to startle the horse.
“Hello, Bonnie,” Meg said in a gentle voice, keeping eye contact with the mare. She continued stroking the horse as she moved to study the animal’s trappings. Meg expertly checked the saddle’s cinch, making sure the strap was tight and adjusting the stirrup before she turned to Rodrigo. “I do not typically ride sidesaddle. On my grandfather’s farm, he allows me to wear breeches and sit astride. But I am up to a challenge.” Her eyes twinkled. “That is, if you and Patito think you are prepared for a race.”
Rodrigo’s brow lifted on its own volition. A race? He had not done anything for the sheer diversion of it for longer than he could remember. “Patito and I accept your challenge.” He inclined his head. “I’m afraid I did not think to bring a mounting stool,” he said.
“Oh.” Meg’s cheeks colored slightly as he stepped closer to assist her onto the horse, and even though Rodrigo did not want to cause her any embarrassment, he found it to be incredibly charming to see her blush.
Meg placed one gloved hand on the saddle pommel and the other upon his shoulder. She stepped into his linked hands and bounced a few times before they both lifted together, and she situated herself upon the saddle, slipping her foot into the stirrup and arranging her skirts.
Once he was certain Meg was securely seated, Rodrigo mounted Patito and turned to her. “Are you ready?”
Meg looked thoughtful. “I think Bonnie and I should become used to one another before we show you and Patito how ladies lead the pack.”
Rodrigo felt a lightness inside at her words, an impulse to grin like a fool. He’d not grinned in years. Meg seemed to contain an endless supply of joy that seeped into him when she was near.
He watched Meg as they rode down the path away from the castle. She had not misrepresented her skill with a horse. She sat straight in the saddle, looking at ease as she balanced in what he could only imagine was a horribly uncomfortable position. She led the mare masterfully, understanding when to allow Bonnie freedom and when to retain control. She spoke softly but firmly to the animal, and occasionally he noticed Patito reacting to Meg’s voice as well. It seems he wasn’t the only male having a difficult time resisting this young lady’s charms.
After a few moments, she turned toward him and grinned. Then suddenly she spurred Bonnie with her foot and riding crop. The horse leapt forward under Meg’s encouragement and broke into a full-out gallop.
Patito needed no urging. He sprang after them, and they followed Meg and Bonnie away from the path and through a meadow.
Meg glanced back once then leaned forward, pushing her horse faster.
Rodrigo followed, both exhilarated at the competition and at the same time terrified that Meg might be thrown and injured. He knew she would be furious to know he had such thoughts, so he kept them from showing on his face. He ground his teeth and gave Patito his head. The stallion surged toward Bonnie, and when they neared, Meg reigned the mare in, laughing.
The sound penetrated into his heart, warming him from the inside, and Rodrigo made it his personal mission in the next week and a half to hear Meg’s laughter again—often.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was coming loose from its bindings. She pushed the curls out of her face with a flip of her fingers. “Carlo, I cannot thank you enough. I had resigned myself to a day of boredom.”
“As had I.”
“And you are certain the prince doesn’t mind you riding his horse?”
Rodrigo studied her face for an instant and then shook his head. “Patito needs to be exercised.” He turned the horse toward a hill that rose from the meadow floor.
“He seems to favor you,” Meg said, urging Bonnie to follow.
“ Sí . We have been friends for a long time.” Rodrigo patted the stallion’s neck, careful to be as honest as he could,
“Hello, Bonnie,” Meg said in a gentle voice, keeping eye contact with the mare. She continued stroking the horse as she moved to study the animal’s trappings. Meg expertly checked the saddle’s cinch, making sure the strap was tight and adjusting the stirrup before she turned to Rodrigo. “I do not typically ride sidesaddle. On my grandfather’s farm, he allows me to wear breeches and sit astride. But I am up to a challenge.” Her eyes twinkled. “That is, if you and Patito think you are prepared for a race.”
Rodrigo’s brow lifted on its own volition. A race? He had not done anything for the sheer diversion of it for longer than he could remember. “Patito and I accept your challenge.” He inclined his head. “I’m afraid I did not think to bring a mounting stool,” he said.
“Oh.” Meg’s cheeks colored slightly as he stepped closer to assist her onto the horse, and even though Rodrigo did not want to cause her any embarrassment, he found it to be incredibly charming to see her blush.
Meg placed one gloved hand on the saddle pommel and the other upon his shoulder. She stepped into his linked hands and bounced a few times before they both lifted together, and she situated herself upon the saddle, slipping her foot into the stirrup and arranging her skirts.
Once he was certain Meg was securely seated, Rodrigo mounted Patito and turned to her. “Are you ready?”
Meg looked thoughtful. “I think Bonnie and I should become used to one another before we show you and Patito how ladies lead the pack.”
Rodrigo felt a lightness inside at her words, an impulse to grin like a fool. He’d not grinned in years. Meg seemed to contain an endless supply of joy that seeped into him when she was near.
He watched Meg as they rode down the path away from the castle. She had not misrepresented her skill with a horse. She sat straight in the saddle, looking at ease as she balanced in what he could only imagine was a horribly uncomfortable position. She led the mare masterfully, understanding when to allow Bonnie freedom and when to retain control. She spoke softly but firmly to the animal, and occasionally he noticed Patito reacting to Meg’s voice as well. It seems he wasn’t the only male having a difficult time resisting this young lady’s charms.
After a few moments, she turned toward him and grinned. Then suddenly she spurred Bonnie with her foot and riding crop. The horse leapt forward under Meg’s encouragement and broke into a full-out gallop.
Patito needed no urging. He sprang after them, and they followed Meg and Bonnie away from the path and through a meadow.
Meg glanced back once then leaned forward, pushing her horse faster.
Rodrigo followed, both exhilarated at the competition and at the same time terrified that Meg might be thrown and injured. He knew she would be furious to know he had such thoughts, so he kept them from showing on his face. He ground his teeth and gave Patito his head. The stallion surged toward Bonnie, and when they neared, Meg reigned the mare in, laughing.
The sound penetrated into his heart, warming him from the inside, and Rodrigo made it his personal mission in the next week and a half to hear Meg’s laughter again—often.
Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was coming loose from its bindings. She pushed the curls out of her face with a flip of her fingers. “Carlo, I cannot thank you enough. I had resigned myself to a day of boredom.”
“As had I.”
“And you are certain the prince doesn’t mind you riding his horse?”
Rodrigo studied her face for an instant and then shook his head. “Patito needs to be exercised.” He turned the horse toward a hill that rose from the meadow floor.
“He seems to favor you,” Meg said, urging Bonnie to follow.
“ Sí . We have been friends for a long time.” Rodrigo patted the stallion’s neck, careful to be as honest as he could,
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