AllFreeNovel
Share Us
William maintained his glower, hoping it wouldn’t slip when she looked up at him with those eager, brown eyes. “You do not like horses,” he said.
Her lips tilted upwards. “You remember. Yes, you’re right. I am terrified of them and I do not think that fear is likely to go away any time soon. But I still would like to go riding with you.”
“Why?”
“To get to know the new you, of course,” she stated without hesitation.
William didn’t know what to say for a moment. He could only watch as she tentatively reached out and patted the horse on the side. “I asked the stable hands to saddle this horse for me. They say he is the gentlest one you have, but I haven’t been able to gather the courage to climb aboard on my own just yet. Now that you are here, however, I think I can do it.” She looked back up at him. “Will you ride with me?”
“No,” he growled, hating how difficult it was to say that word. “I’ll make sure that the carriage is still waiting for you. Go home, Beth, before you upset me further.”
With that said, William turned and walked away. Each step was more difficult than the last, but he kept going, hoping that this time she would truly listen. He couldn’t afford the distraction and that was all Elizabeth was. A distraction, sent from his past life to remind him of all he’d lost and loved.
Walk be damned, he turned out of the stables, intending to make his way back to the study to get started on the many matters that were before him. But then, he heard the thud of hooves behind him.
William turned, surprised. And just at that moment, Beth went trotting by, clutching a riding crop tightly in her hand, her jaw set. She managed to drag the horse to a stop, wiping the terribly frightened look off her face to say, “It is quite convenient that you are located outside of London,” she murmured in a breathless voice. “I will not have to worry about going to Hyde Park for this ride.”
She had quite a knack for making him speechless, it seemed. He watched fear flicker over her face, watched as her hands tightened on the reins and she pushed the horse forward.
“Good God,” William muttered under his breath, whirling back towards the stables. In record time, he managed to saddle a horse, glancing up periodically to see Elizabeth’s figure disappearing into the vastness that surrounded the estate. He swung his legs over the horse and rode after her as if the devil himself was on his heels.
“Are you out of your mind?” he bellowed after her, the rushing wind roaring in his ears. Or perhaps that was simply his anger—or rather the fear he felt watching her sit awkwardly on the horse.
“Perhaps,” she said in a low voice, her eyes trained dead ahead as if she didn’t dare to look away. Her horse moved along nicely even though it was quite clear she wasn’t steering him correctly. “I did leave my home and went to a dangerous neighborhood in search of you, after all.”
“Turn the horse around, Beth. Go back to the manor.”
“Will you let me stay?” she asked, glancing at him.
William gritted his teeth. “No.”
She drew in a shaky breath and looked away. Without another word, she tapped the horse with her riding crop and the dutiful steed went on ahead. William muttered a curse under his breath and trotted back up to her side.
“What is this going to prove?” he demanded to know. His usually cool frustration was fast growing out of control all because of this insane lady riding a horse she would not be able to control if things went south. “Do you intend on riding away from here altogether? Because if that is the case, then go right ahead. I am more than capable of sparing the horse.”
“Your words hurt, William,” Elizabeth said. “I hope you know that.”
“I couldn’t care less what hurts your feelings or not. You are not welcome here. Now, turn back and get off this damn horse!”
She looked sharply at him, her cheeks coloring at his curse. William didn’t care to apologize, even though it went against everything he’d been taught as a youngster. Gentlemen didn’t dare to curse in front of ladies and it felt especially wrong before such a lady such as Elizabeth.
“If you don’t care what happens to me, William,” she said after a moment, her voice still breathless, “then me being atop this horse should not bother you.”
“You know very well that—” William broke off, clenching his jaw. He tried not to look at her, tried to ignore the way she swallowed harshly and how her brows knitted together in fear she couldn’t hide.
Elizabeth stared back at him, as if she could read his mind. As if she knew he’d almost mentioned that day.
