Read Online Wolf, Joan by Highland Sunset - Free Book Online

want," Lady Linton said proudly. "But not all landowners are as diligent or as clever as he."
    "Nor as rich," Van put in dryly.
    "It isn't merely a matter of money," Edward said, and his voice was very serious. "It's a matter of being open to new ideas. Most Englishmen farm the exact same way their great-great-grandfathers farmed. Agriculture will never progress until people are ready to use new inventions and new ideas."
    "Such as?" Despite herself, Van was curious.
    "Such as Jethro Tull's new seed drill. It sows seed in straight rows and makes weeding easier and more efficient. And all my own land is planted under Lord Townshend's crop-rotation plan. This eliminates the fallow year and allows you to bring more land into cultivation each year."
    His eyes were brilliant. "Then there is the pedigree breeding of cattle," he began, but Lady Linton cut in.
    "I don't think that is a proper topic to discuss with Vanessa, Edward."
    Van stared at Lady Linton in surprise. "Why ever not?"
    Edward grinned. "Young girls don't discuss breeding in mixed company," he said.
    "Breeding cattle?" Van asked in astonishment, and Edward's grin broadened.
    "It's time for the tea tray," Lady Linton said firmly, and rang the bell.

    For the remainder of the week Edward and Van met only in the company of Lady Linton and were scrupulously polite to each other. Edward spent his days with his horses, his estate manager, and his tenants. Van was being bored into near-rebellion by the dressmakers and the constant talk of clothes and found herself increasingly resentful that the earl never even offered to let her ride again.
    Then, on the day before they were to leave Kent for London, he told her to get her riding habit on and he'd take her out. Van's initial impulse was to refuse; his invitation had sounded remarkably like an order. But she was desperate to get outdoors and exercise, so she swallowed her temper and accepted.
    "Just give me half an hour with Vanessa, darling," Lady Linton interposed. "The cream satin ball gown needs only one more fitting."
    "Very well. Mama," Edward replied with resignation. He was already dressed for riding in a rust-colored coat and tan breeches that showed off his long, muscular legs.
    "I'll meet you down at the stables," Van said.
    His eyes just touched hers. "Very well," he said again. "I'll have one of the footmen escort you."
    "I know my way, thank you," Van replied irritably.
    He cocked a golden eyebrow and then nodded.
    "Come along, Vanessa," Lady Linton said. "We don't want to keep Edward waiting too long."
    An hour later Van arrived at the stables dressed in her green riding habit. One of the grooms immediately came over to her. "His lordship is riding Marcus in the paddock, my lady. I'll go tell him you're here."
    "That won't be necessary," Van said. "I'll go." She could see a horse and rider circling the paddock immediately behind the carriage house and she moved in that direction.
    Edward was riding Marcus in a large circle in one corner of the paddock. He was, as usual, bareheaded, and the April sun beat down on his bright hair and the richly shining dark bay coat of the stallion.
    Van's throat began to ache strangely. The two of them were so beautiful, moved in such perfect harmony together. As she watched, Marcus turned his shoulder slightly and, still traveling forward in a soft, springy trot, began to cross his inside legs over in front of his outside ones.
    Van's mouth dropped slightly open. She had never seen anything like that before. Then, smoothly and softly, with no perceptible movement on Edward's part, Marcus came back to trotting forward normally. As Van watched, he slowed the trot even more but came further off the ground at each step. It seemed, in fact, as if he hung in the air, the great, powerful stallion as light as a current of air himself.
    Marcus came down to a walk and Edward leaned forward to pat his neck. Then he looked up and saw Van at the rail.
    "Sorry," he said as he came up to