strode out of the inn and round to the stables, where he assumed Theo’s horse was waiting for her.
She emerged from the kitchen, slipping the parcel of apple tartlets carefully into the deep pocket of her jacket. She saw the earl leaning against the stable wall, idly chewing a straw, and ignored him.
“Ted, my horse, please.”
The lad brought the neat dapple-gray mare, and Theo swung astride her without assistance.
“An unusual choice of saddle,” Sylvester commented, crossing the cobbles. “But perhaps not for a gypsy.”
“It’s convenient,” she said shortly, gathering up the reins. “I have always ridden astride round here. No one remarks it. Good day, Lord Stoneridge.”
Something else that would have to be discouraged in his countess. Shaking his head, he mounted his own horse and rode out after her. It was just his luck that the only possible Belmont daughter had to be this intransigent romp who clearly detested him…. Perhaps he could persuade Lady Belmont to reconsider an offer for Clarissa.
But no … the pursuit might be harder with Theo, but winning over such a passionate nature would be worth the effort. Besides, Theo’s knowledge and expertise in estate management made her an invaluable resource.
He urged his horse into a gallop, coming up with her as she turned out of the village toward the cliff top above Lulworth Cove.
“A word with you, cousin.”
“Why can’t you leave me alone!” she exclaimed in a low voice.
His lips tightened. “It would be so much easier for everyone if you’d accept the inevitable with good grace,” he said with calculated severity. “We are going to be neighbors whether you like it or not. You are behaving like a spoiledhoyden who should have had some manners whipped into her years ago.”
“I
do
accept the inevitable,” she said, flushing. “But I don’t have to cultivate you. You seem to be deliberately trying to annoy me, following me around, pestering me, making me sound horrible … and I’m not.”
She sounded so desperately aggrieved that he couldn’t help being amused. Leaning over, he placed a hand over hers and said, smilingly persuasive, “I believe you, Theo, and I don’t intend to make you sound horrible. But I do wish to get to know you, and you’re making it very difficult for me.”
Shark!
Theo snatched her hand away and nudged Dulcie’s flanks, turning her aside onto a ribbon track descending the cliff to the cove. The mare stepped surefooted down the steep path, clearly familiar with the terrain. Sylvester set his black to follow, holding him on a tight rein as he picked his way cautiously through the loose sand and scree.
Theo heard the horse behind her and began to feel as if she were truly hunted quarry. It was time that odious Gilbraith tasted her mettle. It was time to stand and fight.
The mare reached the smooth, flat sand of the beach, and Theo dismounted, knotting the reins on the horse’s neck, waiting until the black had touched solid ground.
She tossed her hat aside and unbuttoned her jacket with slow deliberation. “Very well, my lord. Since you won’t leave me alone for the asking, then I challenge you to combat. The best of three falls.” She slipped out of her jacket
and
regarded him steadily.
Sylvester’s eyes were unreadable as he met her gaze for a long minute. Then in silence he swung off his mount.
Theo placed her jacket on the sand and stood facing him, a lithe, slender figure in her white shirt, her feet braced, her legs unhampered by the divided skirt. She raised her arms and tightened the pins that held her plaits in a knot at the nape of her neck. Her breasts lifted with the movement, their crowns dark for an instant against the fine cambric shirt.
“The best of three falls, my lord. And if I win, you keep your distance from now on. Is it agreed?”
Sylvester shrugged out of his own coat and rolled up his sleeves. “Certainly,” he said calmly. “And if I win, gypsy, I’ll have some
She emerged from the kitchen, slipping the parcel of apple tartlets carefully into the deep pocket of her jacket. She saw the earl leaning against the stable wall, idly chewing a straw, and ignored him.
“Ted, my horse, please.”
The lad brought the neat dapple-gray mare, and Theo swung astride her without assistance.
“An unusual choice of saddle,” Sylvester commented, crossing the cobbles. “But perhaps not for a gypsy.”
“It’s convenient,” she said shortly, gathering up the reins. “I have always ridden astride round here. No one remarks it. Good day, Lord Stoneridge.”
Something else that would have to be discouraged in his countess. Shaking his head, he mounted his own horse and rode out after her. It was just his luck that the only possible Belmont daughter had to be this intransigent romp who clearly detested him…. Perhaps he could persuade Lady Belmont to reconsider an offer for Clarissa.
But no … the pursuit might be harder with Theo, but winning over such a passionate nature would be worth the effort. Besides, Theo’s knowledge and expertise in estate management made her an invaluable resource.
He urged his horse into a gallop, coming up with her as she turned out of the village toward the cliff top above Lulworth Cove.
“A word with you, cousin.”
“Why can’t you leave me alone!” she exclaimed in a low voice.
His lips tightened. “It would be so much easier for everyone if you’d accept the inevitable with good grace,” he said with calculated severity. “We are going to be neighbors whether you like it or not. You are behaving like a spoiledhoyden who should have had some manners whipped into her years ago.”
“I
do
accept the inevitable,” she said, flushing. “But I don’t have to cultivate you. You seem to be deliberately trying to annoy me, following me around, pestering me, making me sound horrible … and I’m not.”
She sounded so desperately aggrieved that he couldn’t help being amused. Leaning over, he placed a hand over hers and said, smilingly persuasive, “I believe you, Theo, and I don’t intend to make you sound horrible. But I do wish to get to know you, and you’re making it very difficult for me.”
Shark!
Theo snatched her hand away and nudged Dulcie’s flanks, turning her aside onto a ribbon track descending the cliff to the cove. The mare stepped surefooted down the steep path, clearly familiar with the terrain. Sylvester set his black to follow, holding him on a tight rein as he picked his way cautiously through the loose sand and scree.
Theo heard the horse behind her and began to feel as if she were truly hunted quarry. It was time that odious Gilbraith tasted her mettle. It was time to stand and fight.
The mare reached the smooth, flat sand of the beach, and Theo dismounted, knotting the reins on the horse’s neck, waiting until the black had touched solid ground.
She tossed her hat aside and unbuttoned her jacket with slow deliberation. “Very well, my lord. Since you won’t leave me alone for the asking, then I challenge you to combat. The best of three falls.” She slipped out of her jacket
and
regarded him steadily.
Sylvester’s eyes were unreadable as he met her gaze for a long minute. Then in silence he swung off his mount.
Theo placed her jacket on the sand and stood facing him, a lithe, slender figure in her white shirt, her feet braced, her legs unhampered by the divided skirt. She raised her arms and tightened the pins that held her plaits in a knot at the nape of her neck. Her breasts lifted with the movement, their crowns dark for an instant against the fine cambric shirt.
“The best of three falls, my lord. And if I win, you keep your distance from now on. Is it agreed?”
Sylvester shrugged out of his own coat and rolled up his sleeves. “Certainly,” he said calmly. “And if I win, gypsy, I’ll have some