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Jerry Swit repulsed her in every imaginable way. She tried to do the polite thing and hide this fact for the sake of etiquette. She directed her question back to his lordship instead, “What is settled?”
“Jacob has a mare, ye see. She is quite a beauty, probably not worthy of the ability Jacob fancies ye have as a horsewoman. We thought, as the mare needs both exercise and manners, ye might enjoy er…testing, yerself on her back.” his lordship answered her quietly, his blue eyes never wavering from her face.
“What are you talking about? I don’t need to test myself. I think I have ridden long enough to know what I can and cannot do.” Exerilla said and then her eyes narrowed, “What is this? Another prank? No doubt you have taken wagers on how fast the mare can throw me!”
“Americans are direct, aren’t they?” Swit chortled.
His lordship grinned and shook his head. Jacob turned beet red and bowed his head to say, “Exerilla, would I ever consider such a thing? The mare is sweet; honestly she is and she will produce winning foals. First, she needs a bit of handling.”
She eyed him and said, “I don’t think it of you, but those two?”
“Direct and unflattering,” said his lordship with a half smile and inclination of his head.
“Perhaps, my experience has made me wary. You see, I know just who I am dealing with and what you two are capable of.” she answered, one brow raised. “And I don’t mean to be the butt of a joke.”
“Och, lass, ye canna think I would do such a thing to ye. That is not how I want to catch a woman’s attention,” his lordship looked truly disturbed at that moment.
Si
r Jacob shook his head, “Exerilla, I hope you know you can trust me, always,” he said warmly, “Princess Tat is really a very fine mare. What she needs is a little time, and gentle training, and I just don’t have the time to spare.”
Exerilla eyed them, one at a time, and asked, “There are three of you; surely you could even take turns exercising her.”
“Ah, but we are already committed to Jacob’s other prime geldings, of which there are quite a number.” Swit returned on a laugh.
“That is true,” added Hunter, pausing to turn to Sir Jacob. “Jacob here has a stable full of prime blood. Lovely hunters, but they have been allowed to get fat and lazy.”
“Right, so I get the mare… I see.” Exerilla shook her head, and then sighed regretfully. “As much as I might enjoy getting out for a ride, it probably isn’t feasible.”
“Why not?” Sir Jacob frowned. “Would the squire object to you having a mount?”
“Yes, he is not going to pay to house and feed another horse, I can assure you of that,” she said with conviction.
“Then you shall ride out to us and work Princess Tat at the Towers,” Sir Jacob announced brightly.
“I’m not sure he will like that either,” she sighed.
“And do you always do what you are told?” Jerry Swit asked with a smirk. “I would guess that you have a mind of your own.”
“As a matter of fact no, I don’t always do as I am told, but I am a guest in the squire’s home and would not like to displease him, if I can help it.” X said though she did not smile at Swit.
“I will fix it with the squire, see if I don’t,” Sir Jacob said, with more conviction that Exerilla felt he actually felt.
“Hallo,” Mary Horwich said from the doorway and all the gentlemen jumped to their feet.
Sir Jacob went forward at once and explained, “Mrs. Horwich, I think we met a few years ago at a soiree my father held up at the Towers?” He inclined his head, “I am Jacob…Sir Jacob now. This is Lord Hunter MacTorry of Scotland and our friend, Mr. Jerry Swit.”
Mary smiled warmly at Jacob, “Yes, indeed, I enjoyed myself immensely that evening, my husband often tells me how much he misses your father. I think they had many friends in common. I am so pleased you have decided to return to Cressly Towers. I suppose you have quite an undertaking after being away so long.”
“Indeed,” Sir Jacob said and jumped right in. “It is why I have been trying to persuade Miss Radley to visit at the Towers and exercise one of my horses. They have all gone to fat in my absence; while my friends and I are taking turns with most of them, we can’t get to all of them as they need.”
“Exercise your horse? Miss Radley?” Mary Horwich said doubtfully.
“Yes, up at the Towers stables. We have an exercise ring, so she will be perfectly safe.”
“Don’t you have grooms and such to help you with that?” Mary frowned as she cast Exerilla a glance.
“We did, my estate manager is in the process of hiring back the two able grooms I was stupid enough to lose after my father passed. I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue breeding horses you see, but when I came home…” he shook himself and a slow smile crept over his face. “I suppose it came to me…all of it, what my father and grandfather before him saw and felt when they produced a racing champion.” He smiled warmly at her, “The fitter the mare the better. I think Miss Radley will enjoy getting back into the saddle.”
