AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jemmie—drawing near the black beast who had nearly trampled her.
At Theo’s gasp, Ransleigh saw them, too. ‘Great Lucifer, is the boy mad?’
‘Too late to warn him! What should we do?’
‘Stay here, and don’t call out to Jemmie!’ he said, restraining her when she would have run towards the fence. ‘Any loud noise or sudden movement could set the horse off and he’ll kick out, or run the boy down. Don’t come any closer, and for heaven’s sake, keep the rest of the children away!’
But as he set off at a measured pace for the pasture, Maria gave a guttural cry and leapt forward. Before she could take a second step, Ransleigh grabbed her, murmuring soothingly to the child as he turned slowly, calmly towards Theo, who stepped forward to take the girl in her arms.
‘Keep her safe,’ he said softly, and set out again towards the pasture.
Much as it chafed Theo to stand still and do nothing more useful than murmur reassurances to the trembling Maria, she knew Ransleigh, from his long association with the horse, would be more likely to safely rescue Jemmie.
As she watched anxiously, Ransleigh approached the fence. Meanwhile, rather than retreating from the agitated stallion, Jemmie—whose neck she was going to wring once Ransleigh extracted him from the pasture—had moved slowly closer. As she held her breath, he leaned towards the huge beast, his lips moving, doubtless talking in the soothing tones he used with the army horses.
The stallion stopped pawing the ground and watched the boy. Cautiously he extended his head, his nostrils quivering. A moment later, his body and muzzle relaxing, he let Jemmie stroke his neck.
Slowly and silently Ransleigh scaled the fence, his gaze never leaving the boy and horse. As the stallion’s aggressive posture changed to curiosity and then acceptance, he walked slowly over to the pair and put a hand on Jemmie’s shoulder.
‘That’s enough of a visit for now,’ he said, giving Jemmie’s shoulder a tug.
‘Is he yours?’ the boy asked, awe in his tones. ‘What a prime goer he must be!’
‘He is, but with a disposition to match his name— Diablo,’ Ransleigh said, a touch of acid in his tone. ‘Let’s leave while he’s still feeling amiable.’ Keeping his body between the horse and the boy, he walked Jemmie back and over the fence.
Theo rushed over to greet them. ‘Jemmie, what were you thinking? You shouldn’t just go right up to a horse you don’t know!’
Jemmie looked at her, puzzled. ‘But I done that all the time, Miss Theo. The cavalry boys always wanted me to tend their horses.’
‘Yes, but we’re not with the army now, and Diablo isn’t a cavalry mount, he’s much less steady! Besides, one shouldn’t approach a horse in a private pasture without getting the owner’s permission first.’
‘Which would not have been granted, not for that horse!’ Ransleigh said. ‘You might have been bitten, at the least, kicked in the head at worst. I’ve seen Diablo scatter a stall full of grooms on a whim.’
‘He’d never hurt me, sir,’ Jemmie said. ‘I could see he were a bit riled up at first, but once I started talkin’ to him, he calmed down right quick. They generally do, once they know you understand them and don’t mean them no harm.’
Ransleigh shook his head and looked at Theo.
‘He does have a way with horses,’ she explained.
‘That may be. But, young man, you are not to approach Diablo again. He was moved to be amenable today, but he can change in an instant. Promise me you won’t go near him.’
‘You don’t need to worry he’d be harmin’ me,’ Jemmie repeated confidently. ‘But it’s your horse, so I guess I have to promise. Will you let me visit him again?’
‘We’ll see about that later,’ Theo said. ‘Now, please help Constancia load the children back into the wagon.’
‘Yes, Miss Theo. Thank you again, sir, for lettin’ me talk to your horse.’
‘As if I’d given him permission,’ Ransleigh muttered to Theo as Jemmie ushered the children away. ‘He does have the touch, though. I’ve seen grooms with years of experience afraid to go near that horse.’
‘Perhaps Diablo allowed it because he sensed that Jemmie was not afraid. I, however, was terrified! Thank you so much for seeing him safely out!’
Ransleigh made a gesture of dismissal. ‘It seems he would have been fine on his own. But I couldn’t risk that.’
Theo felt a swell of gratitude, which only redoubled her admiration for him. ‘I do think Jemmie would make a fine trainer—which would be a better use of his skills than sending him to the army.’
Ransleigh nodded agreement. ‘A skilled trainer can forge a fine career working for a large stable, like the Duke of Rutland’s racing stud. If he can quiet Diablo, Jemmie should be able to work wonders with more even-tempered beasts.’
‘From what you’ve told me of your work with horses, you should know.’ A sudden thought occurred, and Theo’s eyes lit. ‘Might you work with Jemmie? If you were able to train Diablo, there must be so much you could teach him!’
As soon as the words left her lips, she caught herself. ‘No, don’t answer that,’ she said before he could speak. ‘Forgive me again! I get so caught up envisioning their futures, I blunder on as if everyone takes a similar interest. But I would ask one other, more acceptable favour.’
He shook his head at her. ‘Poor Lady Coghlane. I sincerely doubt she’s going to be able to tempt you away to London. Now, what would that favour be?’
‘In your years of working with horses, you must have met any number of trainers. I do think it would be a perfect occupation for Jemmie. If you can think of a good one who might consider working at the school, I would very much appreciate the recommendation. I’d like to see Jemmie—all of them—become useful members of the society their fathers gave so much to protect.’
‘You may have trouble convincing the Lady Wentworths of the neighbourhood, but I wholeheartedly agree.’ He shook his head. ‘Despite the fright Jemmie gave me over Diablo, I’ll even see if I can think of a trainer you might use.’
Nothing could incite her gratitude more than his engaging himself to help her orphans. ‘Thank you for understanding,’ she said fervently. ‘And for your compassion.’
Impulsively she grasped his hand, intending to shake it. But the moment she touched him, a palpable current flashed between them, so strong she nearly gasped at its force.
He must have felt it, too, for his pulse leapt under her fingers. But rather than pulling his hand away, he tightened his grip.
Her breathing stopped, her vision narrowed until only he filled it—the handsome face with the slash of the scar running down from the eye patch, his vivid blue gaze watching her so intently. Her hand throbbed beneath his touch, the vibrations radiating from her fingers up her arm to the whole of her body.
He murmured something, her name maybe, and bent his head. Her eyes fluttered shut, her lips tingling in anticipation of his touch.
A sharp tug at her gown snapped her eyes back open. Dazed, she looked down to find Charles beside her. Her face flaming, she yanked her fingers from Ransleigh’s.
‘Can we go back now, Miss Theo! I’m awfully hungry.’
Shaken by what had passed between her and Ransleigh, she seized the boy and lifted him into her arms, hugging him against her, a reassuring reminder of where she belonged.
Heavens, Theo, pull yourself together!
‘I’m ready to get in the wagon now,’ Charles said, squirming in her grasp.
She set the boy down and gave Ransleigh a curtsy, her breathing still unsteady. ‘Thank you again for lending us your barn, Mr Ransleigh,’ she said, relieved that the words emerged in a natural tone, rather than a gasp. ‘Perhaps you will honour us with another visit after the school has begun, if your engagements permit.’
‘I expect they might. Good day to you, Miss Branwell,’ he said with a bow.
She felt his gaze on her as she walked away, her body still humming and fizzing like a Congreve rocket about to erupt. Which she might have done, had Charles not interrupted them. Or would Ransleigh have come to his senses first?
She’d need to regather her wits in order to drive the children home without running them into a tree, she thought as she hoisted Charles into the wagon and took her seat. And leave until later, when her brain was functioning again, the problem of figuring out how to halt the madness that seemed to overcome her every time she came near Dominic Ransleigh.
Chapter Eight
After watching Miss Branwell drive off with her orphans, Dom reclaimed his vehicle and set the tilbury in motion. What was it about the lady that affected him so strongly? Though she looked no more like a siren than a sparrow resembles a peacock, something about her seemed to light him off faster than a fuse touched to powder.
