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After an hour, the faster group looped back around, returning to Parker, Tillie, and Lady Juliet.
Their smiles spoke volumes. They’d been enjoying themselves. He tried not to wince in regret. He was meant to play the attentive companion to Tillie. It shouldn’t be a hardship.
“Lord Rangeley,” Lord Farthington called as he approached. “I do believe it’s your turn.”
He tried to hide his excitement as he snapped the reins of his gelding, sending the animal lurching forward. Apparently, his horse was eager to quicken the pace as well. The animal picked up speed as he raced toward the other two riders.
Millie laughed, the sparkling sound floating through the air despite the clouds that had begun to roll in.
“The air is growing thicker.” Lord Smith looked up at the sky. “Let’s go before we get too wet.”
“I’ll start back with you, Tillie?” Lord Farthington said as he grabbed the reins of her horse.
But Rangeley didn’t hear the rest as Millie spun her mount, trotting forward. “You’ll have the advantage on us, Lord Rangeley, your horse is fresher.”
“Are we racing then?” he called back, a grin spreading across his face. His blood began to pump in his veins at the idea.
“No fair,” Lord Smith called with a laugh. “I’m larger than Millie and my horse is already tired. You’ll both thrash me for certain.”
But neither Parker nor Millie answered as they both picked up speed. Soon they were racing down a forest path with Millie just ahead of him.
He’d never ridden with a woman like this before, and as he watched her easily jump a felled log, he knew he never would again.
Millicent Crosby was special.
* * *
The wind rushedover Millie as she leaned out far over her mare’s neck. She loved to ride.
On a horse was one of the rare times she let go of the rest of life and just allowed instinct to take over.
Behind her, Lord Rangeley’s mount thundered, his horse breathing on her mare’s flanks.
He’d overtake her any moment now. Not that she cared. It wasn’t competition that drove her, just a deep love of riding.
Besides, his mount was fresh and her brother had been correct: his skill was excellent.
She looked back, laughing as she did so, their eyes connecting for a moment before she turned forward again.
He’d not been grinning. In fact, his gaze had held something else entirely. Something mysteriously intriguing. A feeling that started a pitch of sensation deep down in her stomach.
She slowed her horse a touch, bringing it to a canter as one of her hands came to her stomach.
Rangeley drew up next to her. “Are you all right?”
“Fine,” she called back, slowing even more. “I just…” She shook her head.
But Rangeley was slowing too. “Need me to check your horse?”
There was nothing wrong with Daisy. Millie was the problem. She looked back again, her eyes squinting. “Where is Lord Smith?”
“He couldn’t keep up,” Rangeley answered. “Should we turn back?”
She nodded, slowing her horse to a stop. It wasn’t that she didn’t relish the idea of being alone with Rangeley. In fact, a skitter of excitement tingled through her. But it wasn’t proper and he was far too tempting. “I think so.”
They found a place where the trail widened to turn around and then started back the way they’d come at a good trot.
But they hadn’t made it more than a quarter mile when a fat drop of rain fell onto the lace of Millie’s bonnet.
