“Heaven forbid that ye should take issue with me, my lady,” Lord Kirkston growled, baring his teeth like an angry beast.
“Shall we take to the horses?” Serendipity tugged on Merry’s cloak. “Lord Kirkston was quite right about the day growing colder. Come along.”
“A fine idea.” Lord Malcolm took hold of his brother’s arm and forcibly turned him toward the team.
Merry seriously considered hitting Lord Kirkston in the back of the head with a snowball but decided against it. Such an action would probably throw poor Serendipity into a fit of apoplexy. Instead, she haughtily swept her way to the pair of saddled mounts at the edge of the roadway, larger than the horses she was accustomed to riding. She jutted her chin higher and kept marching toward them. She would not give Lord Kirkston the satisfaction of seeing her second-guess herself. She would be fine. Her sister Grace had taught her to ride, and she enjoyed the sport immensely. Today, she would simply enjoy the opportunity of riding a horse that was almost the size of Windsor Castle. She chose the black stallion, determined to pick the larger of the two. “Hello, horse, and how are we today? Shall we take a ride and find some shelter?”
The animal turned its head and eyed her, flicking an ear.
She gathered up her skirts and moved to step into the stirrup, only to have the beast sidle away from her. “Now, now. Let us be nice, my fine lad. I merely wish to get into the saddle.”
“If ye dinna allow her up there, Spartan, she will take issue with ye, and we dinna want that.”
Merry clenched her teeth and slowly turned. “I should have known this was your horse. He is as trying as you are.”
In a single, powerful stride, Lord Kingston closed the distance between them, lifted her by the waist, and plopped her into the saddle. “It appears your gratitude has reached its limit, my lady. I never knewforeverto be so short.”
“You are such an arse!” Merry clamped her mouth shut. She should not have said that. How could she allow Lord Kirkston to infuriate her so? But she refused to apologize and admit defeat. Instead, she gathered up the reins and signaled the stallion to get moving. The horse flattened its ears and remained still. “Oh my gracious, this beast is just like you!”
“She means that as a compliment, Spartan.” For the first time since their meeting, the haughty lord wasn’t scowling, but neither was he smiling. “I thought ye said ye could ride, my lady?”
“Spartan and I will come to an understanding, my lord.” She gave the horse a reassuring pat before waving the irritating man away. “On with you, now. I am sure I shall be fine.” Somehow, she would get this horse moving just to show Lord Kirkston that she could.
“Indeed.” Arching a dark brow, the marquess took a step back and folded his arms across his chest. “Proceed, my lady. Yer confidence is most commendable.”
Lord Malcolm escorted Serendipity to his horse, helped her mount, then moved away with a smile as she took control of the obedient beast.
“Merry? What is the problem?” Serendipity rode closer. “It’s snowing harder. Come along, now.”
“This bloody horse is as infuriating as its master!”
“Merry!”
“Do notMerryme in that tone, Seri. I am in no mood, and I could have said much worse.”
“Spartan,” Lord Kirkston said, “proficiscor.”
The horse came to life, answering to the flick of the reins and the pressure of her knees as if the two of them had ridden together many times before. She reined in the beast and turned to glare at the gloating lord. “You knew he wouldn’t move until he heard the Latin word forset out, yet didn’t think that worth mentioning?”
“I am infuriating. Remember?”
“Indeed, you are.” Merry urged the horse onto the roadway, then waited for the others to join her. Warmed by her irritation, she shoved her hood back and lifted her face to the faster-falling snow.
Lord Kirkston rode toward her, managing the large chestnut draft horse with masterful ease. “Cover yer head, my lady. We have much ground to cover, and the iciness of the wind will surely cause ye to fall ill.”
“Do not trouble yourself, my lord,” she said. “I am quite hearty.” She wouldn’t raise her hood now if her life depended on it.
“Merry.” Serendipity flanked her on the other side. “I know you are stubborn, but see sense.”
“Do not side withhim.” Merry spurred her mount to a faster gallop.
Lord Kirkston bellowed, “Spartan!Sto.”
The horse halted with such speed that Merry almost flew out of the saddle. Wishing she had something within reach to throw at the arrogant lord, she turned and shook her fist instead. “Are you trying to kill me?”
He didn’t comment, nor did his expression give away his thoughts as he brought his horse to a standstill beside hers, dismounted, then swung up into the saddle behind her.
“What do you think you are doing?” She jabbed her elbows into him, bouncing them off the wall of muscle at her back. “I demand you return to your horse and leave me alone.”
