Page 14 of Winning Her Duke

And even more interesting was her use of the word “passion,” and how it so perfectly matched with his feelings.

He’d seen the hint of interest in her gaze, but her initial nervousness when she’d come into the room spoke loudly of her innocence.

Once he was sitting in his study with a brandy in hand, he realized he’d never gotten around to the business of asking her if her horse was for sale. Not that he would consider purchasing her now.

He’d seen the joy in Gia’s eyes when she’d spoken of her Arabella and saw how much she regretted having to sell Dante and Godspell.

Despite what he wanted, he wouldn’t allow her to be parted from her horse.

He’d only been home an hour when a message arrived from Gia.

Your Grace,

I will be riding in the park tomorrow morning at five. West of the Lancaster Gate.

If it is not too early, I would love to see Godspell.

Giovanni

Hale felt the oddest twinge of jealousy that she wished to see his horse, yet didn’t mention any overwhelming desire to see him again. He laughed in the quiet of his study.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen five in the morning as the beginning of his day rather than the end. But rather than go out that evening with his friends, he stayed in and went to bed at a decent hour so he’d be ready to go riding with her.

He pretended his eagerness was to see her pleasure in being reunited with the horse she cared for. But he knew it went deeper than that. He simply wanted to be close to her again.

It was ridiculous, but it didn’t keep him from having Godspell saddled in the early light of day to ride off to meet Gia in the most remote area of Hyde Park. He’d only been there one other time to witness a duel.

If it had been anyone else, he would have thought this an elaborate deception to trap him into marriage. But Gia had made her plans clear on any husband-hunting ventures.

He found her easily.

She’d brought Arabella who was cinched into a side saddle.

Gia was fitted beautifully in a dark blue riding habit with a jaunty cap on her head. But it was her wide smile that quickened his heart. The fact that the smile was for his mount rather than him only dulled his excitement slightly.

“You came,” she said excitedly as he dismounted.

“I couldn’t delay your reunion,” he said as Godspell stood restless in what Hale could only describe as excitement.

Gia stepped forward. “Hello, sweet lad.” Her soft words—though not for him—sent a thrill of warmth through his body. Had anyone ever spoken to him with such concern? He didn’t think so.

Hale watched in surprise as Godspell dropped his head, placing his forehead reverently against Gia’s chest. Hale hadn’t thought her small until seeing his gargantuan stallion so close to her tiny frame. But now he noticed she must be a foot shorter than his six feet four inches. He refrained from gripping the horse’s bridle, somehow knowing Godspell would never do anything to injure her.

Gia ran her hands over the horse’s neck and again Hale flared with envy.

“So beautiful,” she whispered and for a moment he wasn’t sure if he’d heard her words or his thoughts.

“If it isn’t too much to ask, would you mind if I took him for a ride?”

“Of course,” Hale said before realizing what he’d even agreed to. Caught in the magic of her, he would have said yes to anything she’d asked for. But now that he’d agreed, he saw the ramifications of his promise.

Godspell was much too large for her. Not to mention he was strapped into a regular saddle.

He glanced over to the saddle on Arabella and considered how they might make it fit the larger horse. He didn’t want to disappoint her.

But before he had the chance to make any suggestions, she had hurried back over to her groom.

“Help me out of this, Owen.” She turned her back to the older man as she began pulling off the cap. “What is this?” She frowned at the cap.