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“Twenty.”
“That old, are you?” he taunted lightly, rubbing a blade of straw between his fingers. “Well, let’s see what you can do, especially on that impossible stallion Tyreham insists on entering.”
“You’re familiar with Dagger?”
“Yup. I was with Lord Lanston when he bought him. Never saw much hope of reforming him. He was too far gone. I was relieved as hell when Lanston sold him. Personally, I think Tyreham’s crazy for investing so much time and energy in a wild, reckless lunatic like that stallion. But—” A shrug. “That’s the marquis’s decision, not mine. In any case, let’s get a stableboy to tack him up.”
“He’s already tacked up,” Nicole replied, controlling her temper with the greatest of efforts. “I was about to take a trial run over the course when you arrived.”
“Good. I’ll oversee your practice.”
“There’s no need,” Nicole heard herself say, despite the fact that Dustin had specifically mentioned to her that Raggert would be doing just that. “Brackley ha
s arranged to time me.”
A glint of annoyance. “I’ll time you. Brackley can tend to the other horses.”
“Very well.” Nicole turned. “I’ll lead Dagger out and meet you at the course’s starting point. Are you familiar with the grounds?”
She could actually feel Raggert tense. “Don’t be insolent, boy. I’m familiar with everything to do with my job. I make it a point to be. Brackley showed me around the grounds, including the entire course, before I came to find you.”
“Fine. I won’t be more than a few minutes.”
Nicole stalked off, fury welling up inside her as she made her way into Dagger’s stall. Deliberately instigating Raggert had been a stupid thing to do, but at that particular moment, she didn’t give a damn. Who did the man think he was? Worse, what false veneer had he assumed to convince not only Dustin but Lord Lanston to hire him? Because, competent or not, no trainer could successfully relate to horses with an attitude like Raggert’s. He lacked humility and compassion, supplanted instead by an overabundant—and undeserved—feeling of self-worth.
Stroking Dagger’s velvet muzzle, she tried to bring herself under control and almost succeeded, until she glanced at the beautiful thoroughbred who was now nuzzling her palm. Raggert’s ugly, inaccurate condemnation of Dagger sprang to mind, enraging Nicole anew. Trainer? The fool was no judge of horses. She had half a mind to march into Tyreham and …
And what?
She drew herself up short. In the name of heaven, she was merely a jockey, and an inexperienced one at that. Without using the leverage of their personal relationship, how could she run to Dustin and inform him he’d made a huge mistake in hiring Raggert? What grounds did she have—that he’d spoken harshly to her? She was, after all, a mere novice, and he, a seasoned trainer.
No. Alden Stoddard was here on merit and on merit would remain. Until and unless Raggert did something truly wrong, Stoddard’s feelings would stay private.
Besides, bickering with the new trainer was the last hindrance Nicole needed right now. Her riding, most particularly her sessions with Dagger, were the only aspect of her existence that were stable, controlled. Her identity, her home, her world—and now her heart—had all been upended. In fact, her personal life was a tangle of complications, all centered around a man who dominated her thoughts like a fine, intoxicating wine.
Especially after last night.
She paused, her hand on Dagger’s bridle, a tiny shiver of memory rippling through her. Last night. She’d been so consumed with her own vulnerability that she’d scarcely taken time to consider Dustin’s.
He’d shared his dreams with her, opened his heart, and welcomed her in. Never had she imagined such tenderness, such sensitivity from a man of Dustin’s ilk—or perhaps she had. Her heart had always viewed him as a man rather than as a marquis. Maybe it was time she heeded her heart’s dictates.
Her thoughts shifted to those magical moments of sensual discovery.
Enfolded in Dustin’s arms, she’d savored her first taste of passion, cast misgivings to the wind, and let emotion guide her. And, brief though their encounter had been, it had changed everything. After last night, nothing could ever be the same—she could never be the same.
Nor could Dustin.
She wasn’t certain how, she just knew that to be true. Perhaps it was the wonder in his eyes, the helpless trembling of his body against hers. Or perhaps it was insight—the same insight that had drawn them together from the start and the same insight that was propelling her into the future—an unknown future with undetermined boundaries.
Dustin had sworn to conquer each and every obstacle that thwarted their way, make all her wishes reality. And, God help her, she was starting to believe he just might.
“Good morning, Stoddard.”
That deep, unbearably seductive voice that had dominated her dreams resounded behind her.
Slowly, she pivoted—only to find that Dustin was not alone. Beside him was a beautiful, auburn-haired woman with turquoise eyes as clear as a cloudless sky. She was delicate and feminine, and Nicole felt a surge of jealousy so profound it shocked her.
“Good morning, Lord Tyreham,” she replied, automatically lapsing into Stoddard’s voice, keeping her face carefully devoid of emotion.
