Read Online The Winter Love by April Munday - Free Book Online Page B

on him easily enough. Next she tried to change his direction. This was just as difficult as starting. She had to pull hard enough on the reigns that he noticed, but not enough to hurt him or annoy him. Eventually Solomon turned in the direction that she wanted, but she was so surprised that she fell off. Winded, she lay on the wet ground for a while. Henry would not want these clothes back very soon, she thought, as she felt the cold mud seep through them to her skin. Solomon stood by her and occasionally nudged her shoulder with his nose. As soon as she felt she could do so without falling over she got up and leant against the horse as she tried to catch her breath.
    “Come on, Solomon,” she said, “l et’s start again.”
    By the time Eleanor was ready to go back to the ship she had learned how to make Solomon trot and she was managing to stay on his back for longer than she spent on the ground. She was also wet to her skin.
    “You’re persistent,” said Edward as she stepped back on board.
    “You were watching?”
    “You were lucky not to break anything and that he didn’t step on you.”
    “Yet you did not feel the need to come and stop me.”
    Edward hesitated. “You learned very quickly.”
    Eleanor guided Solomon past him. “Yes, I do learn quickly. And I remember my lessons.”
    “Let someone else look after the horse. You’re soaked through.”
    Eleanor made a pretence of considering his offer, but turned it down. Solomon was not a horse to be left to the care of rough sailors, although she imagined that that must be what had happened on the voyage from France.
    It took her a long time to care for Solomon. He was wet and hungry. Only when she finished could she allow that she was also wet and hungry. She made her way to Edward’s cabin, to find him waiting for her outside. “You must be very cold. Here is a blanket to dry you.”
    “Thank you.” Eleanor reached for it, but Edward wrapped it, and himself, around her. She shivered.
    “Not a moment too soon,” said Edward, as he began to smooth the blanket over her body, touching her without a blush where Henry had grieved so much to put his hand.
    “I can manage,” Eleanor said, struggling to free herself.
    “Let me help you,” Edward persisted.
    “Let her g o.” Henry’s voice was low and dangerous.
    E leanor felt a moment of fear, as well as relief and did not dare look at Henry. She did not want to be the cause of a quarrel between the two brothers. Edward hesitated. He was still holding her tightly against him. “It’s not as if you’d rather be in my place,” he said.
    “Let her go,” said Henry, again. Now Eleanor looked at him. He paid her no attention. Sick as he was, he was still ready to prove that he could protect her.
    Edward released her and stepped away. “We’ll see what happens when you can’t move because you’re too afraid that the ship will sink.”
    “You gave your word.” Henry spat out the words.
    Edward considered. “So I did. Until this afternoon, then.” He walked away. Eleanor shivered again and felt Henry’s hand land gently on her shoulder.
    “Come in and get warm. It was kind of you to walk Solomon, but foolish.”
    “I enjoyed it.”
    When she had left the room, Eleanor had folded her clothes and left them on the trunk, now they were waiting for her on the bed. Henry stopped at the door. He was swaying slightly and very pale; the ship had been under way for some time now.
    “Come in,” Eleanor said, holding out her hand to him. “I trust you not to look, as I did before.”
    “Right now,” said Henry, “ you could lie next to me naked and I would not care.”
    “Then lie down.” Eleanor removed her clothes from the bed and replaced them on the trunk. Henry was quick to obey and turned away from her as he stretched hims elf upon the bed. Eleanor smiled; she had already trusted him to close his eyes once, she would not doubt him now.
    She did not dare to acknowledge to herself in the