AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Dustin looked like he was biting back laughter. “I have a few people I’d like you to meet.”
At that instant, a stout woman scurried up to Dagger’s stall. In her arms was clasped the most precious tot Nicole had ever seen, a tot that was battling for his freedom.
“This is Ariana Kingsley, the duchess of Broddington,” Dustin was saying. “My brother’s wife,” he added. “And the wild man in Mrs. Hopkins’s arms is my nephew Alexander.” He turned to Ariana. “Meet Alden Stoddard, the incomparable jockey who’s going to ride Dagger to fame.”
“A pleasure, Your Grace,” Nicole replied, her relief so acute it nearly brought her to her knees.
“Mr. Stoddard. I’ve heard a great deal about you.” Ariana’s smile emanated genuine warmth, and Nicole could understand why Dustin was so fond of her. “I hope you don’t mind our dropping by. I promise we won’t get underfoot. We’ll only—”
As if to refute his mother’s words, Alexander chose that moment to jerk free of his governess’s arms, shimmy down her skirts, and crawl furiously off.
Dustin snatched him up before he’d gone ten feet. “You are incorrigible,” he proclaimed over his nephew’s howling protest. “Would you like to meet Dagger?” Dustin pointed toward the horse. “He’s new here. You have to be very gentle with him. You remember—I showed you with the others.” In an exaggerated motion, Dustin demonstrated by smoothing his palm down the column of Dagger’s neck. “Like this.”
Alexander’s squirming halted at once, his cobalt gaze fixed on Dagger.
“Would you like to try?” Dustin inquired, urging the child’s arm forward.
Eagerly, Alexander reached out.
Nicole smiled, watching as what two minutes ago was a thrashing lion cub and was now a docile lamb petted Dagger’s neck and back, his tiny fingers light as feathers, his expression awed.
“He’s got an affinity for horses already,” she murmured aloud. “I was like that at his age.”
“The stables are the only place he’s content,” Ariana responded with a sigh. “Other than when he’s sitting triumphantly amid his scenes of destruction.”
“I was also like that,” Nicole admitted with a grin. She turned to Alexander. “Would you like to watch me ride him?”
The child stared at her, as if attempting to discern the identity of this unknown stranger.
“I was about to take Dagger over the course,” Nicole explained to Dustin. “Raggert”—she nearly choked on the name—“is waiting to time me. If things go well, we’ll be making trial runs at Epsom in several days, letting Dagger grow accustomed to the course. In any case, your family is welcome to watch this morning’s practice. I’m sure your nephew would enjoy it.”
Her eyes met Dustin’s for the first time since last night, and everything inside Nicole went liquid with longing. Not only was he magnificent, but he looked so poignantly natural with a child in his arms, and for a fleeting instant, she found herself wishing Alexander were theirs. Recoiling from the realization of how dangerous such thoughts could be—not only to her heart, but to her identity—she averted her gaze, wondering how much longer she could endure this masquerade when she was so in love with Dustin it made her weak.
“That would be wonderful.” Ariana beamed.
“Yes, it would,” Dustin concurred quietly. He ruffled Alexander’s dark hair, then placed him in his mother’s arms. “Ariana, you know where the course begins. Why don’t you and Mrs. Hopkins take Alexander there, and we’ll lead Dagger out in a minute or two.”
“Splendid.” Ariana gave Stoddard a grateful smile. “Thank you for your patience.”
Nicole nodded, watching them make their way out of the stables. “The duchess is lovely,” she said quietly. “All you described and more.”
“I didn’t close an eye last night.” Dustin’s voice brushed her ear. “Are you all right?”
Swallowing past the lump in her throat, Nicole nodded. “Fine.”
“You didn’t speak a word the entire way home.”
“I had a lot to think about.”
“Dammit.” Dustin’s breath expelled in a hiss, his gaze darting about their section of the stables, now momentarily deserted. “We need to talk. Alone. Tell me when.”
“I don’t know. My father is not in a particularly generous mood today.”
“He wanted to shoot me dead.”
“That was my fault. I’m not sophisticated enough to conceal … certain things.”
Dustin’s swallow was audible. “I should have insisted on speaking with him.”
