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Authors: Mad Marias Daughter
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love?”
Evan threw a stick at the fire and stood up. “In the name of loathing, I should say.”
Before his friend could stride away, Rhys threw in the last word. “Aye, and in the name of loathing, she hid your hide from the soldiers, didn’t she?”
Not deigning to reply, Evan stalked off into the protection of the trees. Who was he to know the mind of females? All he knew were their bodies, and damned if Miss Daphne Templeton didn’t have just the body he had in mind.
Coward, indeed, he snorted as he made his way to the roadside. Had she full courage, she would be a lethal weapon. All he could see in his mind were those flashing green eyes, the impertinent dimple at the corner of those luscious lips, and those fully feminine curves that beckoned a man’s hand. He didn’t want to consider what his other senses told him. He was already in well over his head.
* * * *
Jane Dalrymple seemed to prance as excitedly as her horse as she rode up next to Daphne. The swooping feather of her hat bounced pertly and her blue eyes danced with laughter as she whispered, “Have you ever seen such handsome gentlemen as Captain Rollings and Lord Griffin? I cannot decide between them. The captain is so dashing in his uniform, but there is something about a title ...”
Daphne laughed at this nonsense. It was very easy to see that Jane was a mischievous minx, but there was no harm in her. Freedom from her mother’s overprotective presence had only released her high spirits.
She glanced at the two men riding ahead. Both rode exceedingly well, with the aristocratic grace of hours in the saddle. Lord Griffin was noticeably taller, but Captain Rollings appeared broader in the shoulder. Perhaps that was just the uniform.
“Why don’t you choose on the basis of color? Lord Griffin, I have noticed, favors blue that looks well with his light-colored hair. The captain, of course, wears scarlet and looks quite dashing since his hair is so dark. I should think you would favor the captain since he provides such a striking contrast with your own light coloring,” Daphne announced judiciously.
Jane’s peal of laughter brought both men to a halt. Allowing the rest of their party to ride ahead, they waited for the two slower horses to catch up. No one questioned Daphne’s cautious pace. The party had alternately slowed and spread out so that she was not always alone or in anyone’s particular company. Their graciousness endeared them to her. Her leg did not grip as well as it should.
Lord Griffin gave Jane a mocking grin of familiarity. “Are you saying shocking things to Miss Templeton, Jane? I’ll not have her thinking badly of us already.”
Jane wrinkled her nose at him and turned to the more serious mien of the soldier. “Do I look the sort to say shocking things, Captain?”
Having only just met the lady a few days before, the captain was extremely reluctant to put his foot forward. He took only the most cautious of steps where the blonde handful was concerned, but his dark eyes shone with admiration as he replied. “You could never be anything but what is proper, Miss Dalrymple.”
Daphne grinned. “Then saying shocking things must be proper, and we must all indulge in it from now on. Am I correct, my lord?” She threw Lord Griffin a laughing look that brought a twinkle to his eye as he drew closer.
“Undoubtedly, Miss Templeton. Shall I begin by calling you Daphne? It is a most enchanting name and one I have been eager to use.”
He was swift on the uptake; there was no doubting that. Before Daphne could reply, the remainder of the party swarmed down the hill, shouting with excitement, and she was saved the need of response.
Despite Jane’s protestations to the contrary, the neighborhood did boast a number of young people. Some were not old enough to be out yet, and some were already married and looking for diversion on a sunny day, but they made a group of nearly a dozen. Captain Rollings was the only officer in
Evan threw a stick at the fire and stood up. “In the name of loathing, I should say.”
Before his friend could stride away, Rhys threw in the last word. “Aye, and in the name of loathing, she hid your hide from the soldiers, didn’t she?”
Not deigning to reply, Evan stalked off into the protection of the trees. Who was he to know the mind of females? All he knew were their bodies, and damned if Miss Daphne Templeton didn’t have just the body he had in mind.
Coward, indeed, he snorted as he made his way to the roadside. Had she full courage, she would be a lethal weapon. All he could see in his mind were those flashing green eyes, the impertinent dimple at the corner of those luscious lips, and those fully feminine curves that beckoned a man’s hand. He didn’t want to consider what his other senses told him. He was already in well over his head.
* * * *
Jane Dalrymple seemed to prance as excitedly as her horse as she rode up next to Daphne. The swooping feather of her hat bounced pertly and her blue eyes danced with laughter as she whispered, “Have you ever seen such handsome gentlemen as Captain Rollings and Lord Griffin? I cannot decide between them. The captain is so dashing in his uniform, but there is something about a title ...”
Daphne laughed at this nonsense. It was very easy to see that Jane was a mischievous minx, but there was no harm in her. Freedom from her mother’s overprotective presence had only released her high spirits.
She glanced at the two men riding ahead. Both rode exceedingly well, with the aristocratic grace of hours in the saddle. Lord Griffin was noticeably taller, but Captain Rollings appeared broader in the shoulder. Perhaps that was just the uniform.
“Why don’t you choose on the basis of color? Lord Griffin, I have noticed, favors blue that looks well with his light-colored hair. The captain, of course, wears scarlet and looks quite dashing since his hair is so dark. I should think you would favor the captain since he provides such a striking contrast with your own light coloring,” Daphne announced judiciously.
Jane’s peal of laughter brought both men to a halt. Allowing the rest of their party to ride ahead, they waited for the two slower horses to catch up. No one questioned Daphne’s cautious pace. The party had alternately slowed and spread out so that she was not always alone or in anyone’s particular company. Their graciousness endeared them to her. Her leg did not grip as well as it should.
Lord Griffin gave Jane a mocking grin of familiarity. “Are you saying shocking things to Miss Templeton, Jane? I’ll not have her thinking badly of us already.”
Jane wrinkled her nose at him and turned to the more serious mien of the soldier. “Do I look the sort to say shocking things, Captain?”
Having only just met the lady a few days before, the captain was extremely reluctant to put his foot forward. He took only the most cautious of steps where the blonde handful was concerned, but his dark eyes shone with admiration as he replied. “You could never be anything but what is proper, Miss Dalrymple.”
Daphne grinned. “Then saying shocking things must be proper, and we must all indulge in it from now on. Am I correct, my lord?” She threw Lord Griffin a laughing look that brought a twinkle to his eye as he drew closer.
“Undoubtedly, Miss Templeton. Shall I begin by calling you Daphne? It is a most enchanting name and one I have been eager to use.”
He was swift on the uptake; there was no doubting that. Before Daphne could reply, the remainder of the party swarmed down the hill, shouting with excitement, and she was saved the need of response.
Despite Jane’s protestations to the contrary, the neighborhood did boast a number of young people. Some were not old enough to be out yet, and some were already married and looking for diversion on a sunny day, but they made a group of nearly a dozen. Captain Rollings was the only officer in
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