“And what makes you think I do not plan to do the same?” she retorted, urging her horse into a trot.
“Do you?” Blake followed suit, taking time to adjust to the rhythm of his horse’s trot.
“Yes,” Jane called over her shoulder.
Blake drew level with her. His blue eyes found her brown ones. For a moment, time seemed to stand still.
He smiled. “Prove it.”
The words seemed to hang in the air between them. Jane bit her lip, an unreadable look on her face. For a moment, he wondered if she would balk. His heart twisted at the thought, catching him by surprise.
What does it matter if she runs from the challenge?
“How?” Jane asked, tilting her head towards him.
“A race. Do you know the pine glade?” Blake pointed in the direction of the glade.
Jane nodded. “Yes, Cressida showed it to me when we first arrived.”
“The first one there shall claim the victory.” Blake grinned.
“And what does the victor get?” A mischievous smile crept across Jane’s face. It lit up her eyes, and Blake found himself unconsciously smiling back.
What is wrong with me?
Blake shook his head and adopted an overly earnest tone. “Is not the victory itself enough?”
“No,” Jane said flatly.
“Then what do you propose?” he asked.
Jane seemed to mull this over, chewing on her bottom lip as she did so. After a few moments, she laughed and said, “Let us play for the same stakes as yesterday.”
“Are you sure you are ready to do another thing I ask? Perhaps this one will be a little less proper,” Blake said in his best sultry voice.
“You are an utterly incorrigible rake.” Jane scowled at him. “Must you do that at every opportunity?”
“Must I? No. Do I want to? Yes.” He grinned at her.
“Rake.”
“At your service, Your Highness.” Blake bowed to her from atop his horse. “And are you sure you do not wish for more interesting stakes?”
“They are interesting enough. But I doubt you will win.”
“And why is that?”
“Because you are far too slow off the mark.”
And with that, Jane urged her mare into a canter, and then a gallop, speeding away as she laughed wildly.
Blake gaped and kicked his horse into action. “That is cheating!”
“No, it is simply choosing the right moment,” Jane called back. “Do not act as though you would not have done the same if you had thought of it first.”
“I prefer to win my horse races with honor.”
“And I prefer to win,” Jane answered.
