Page 16 of Winning Her Duke

In seconds, Gia and his horse were out of sight and he was left there to hope the crusty groom was right and she would come back to him.

He felt he might forever be adrift if she did not.

Chapter Five

The wind rushing past her ears, Godspell’s hooves on the packed dirt, and her own laughter were the only sounds disrupting the warm morning air as Gia raced to the far end of the park.

She’d taken her horses to this discreet corner of Hyde Park every morning to run. But this… being able to run with Godspell again made it worth attending all the annoying London activities. How she wished they had more room so they could run longer.

Unfortunately, she reached the edge of the park too soon and had to turn him to race back to the man who now owned him.

She expected to feel a bit of jealousy toward the man who’d purchased her horse, but she was pleased Godspell was so well-loved by his new owner. It was the best she could have hoped for if she wasn’t able to keep him herself.

The duke fairly beamed with happiness when she returned. She found he was more attractive when he smiled with abandon as he was now.

She didn’t know him well, but she felt that he didn’t smile like that often. Or smile in general all that much. Seeing it seemed like a rare encounter to be cherished. Like coming across a reclusive creature in its natural habitat.

She wondered if that’s how he felt. A Scot in London.

When she stopped in front of him, she realized she must have been smiling as widely as he was. It was invigorating to be on the back of a horse. Though she couldn’t account all of her current happiness to the horse.

She didn’t need help dismounting but realized too late he’d intended to assist. What would it have felt like to have his hands on her waist? Or other places.

“He’s a bit slower, but we can get him into shape before Epsom if you still plan to race him there.” She only realized what she’d said and to whom when the duke’s brows rose. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. Forgive me. Of course, you have his training well in hand. I didn’t mean to presume—”

“No. Please. I would love it if you were available to help me ready him. Who better to get him into fighting form than the person he trusts more than anyone?”

“I’m certain he trusts you as well.”

“Not like you.”

“Perhaps. But he won’t like me so much when I tell you to cut back on his oats. He’s a little heavy. I’d like to lean him down before the race.”

“As you wish,” the duke agreed with a courtly bow. “Should we walk to cool him down?”

“Yes.” Gia held Godspell’s reins lightly. The horse didn’t need to be led to walk next to her. In fact, holding the reins was unnecessary. She held them out to the duke who waved that she should keep hold of him.

They started along the same path she had just run and Owen followed with Arabella, thankfully keeping her in sight while staying at a distance.

She didn’t need Owen’s grumblings interrupting her conversation with the duke, and even more importantly, she didn’t want to face Owen’s teasing afterward.

“I have oats I can send for him,” she said.

“I have oats. Aren’t they all the same?”

“No. In the city they tend to soak them so they plump up and they can charge more for a sack. It can cause bloat.”

Her face went hot when she realized she’d just spoken of horse digestion with a duke. Lydia would faint if she’d heard her.

The word, “Bugger” escaped her lips making it even worse.

When she glanced over, he was watching with a grin. As if he knew she had forgotten herself.

She shook her head.

“You are wondering how you ended up in the company of the daughter of a viscount with the vocabulary of a stable hand.”

“I am wondering how I was so lucky to meet you in the right circumstances to know this side of you. I think had we met in a ballroom I would have assumed you to be like any other woman and would never have known how intriguing you really are.”