Forever My Love (Berkeley-Faulkner #2)(26)



“They didn’t mean any harm. Besides, I found their information extremely helpful.”

“Did they happen to talk about the fact that I am visiting a sick man and his wife, and that any visitors would be an unwelcome nuisance?”

“No… only that it was a pity you had planned to walk such a long distance unaccompanied.”

“I like to walk! I could have taken a horse or carriage if I had wanted to! It is not a long distance at all. In fact, we are almost at the outskirts of the village now.”

“I can take you the rest of the way.” Alec extended a brown hand to her, which she resolutely ignored. “Well, as long as you enjoy walking…”

The white horse’s hooves kept pace perfectly with her stride.

“Don’t you have a hunt to attend?” Mira asked pointedly.

“I begged off for today, due to my injuries from yesterday.”

“Injuries!” she scoffed, sneezing vigorously as fine dust was kicked up and wafted into her nostrils. “Your injuries would be apparent only to someone with an extraordinary imagination.”

“I was in terrible pain.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“It’s true. After you left me last night, I ached for hours.”

Mira went crimson, no longer feeling the chill of the wind as every inch of her skin glowed with an unwanted flush.

“Only your pride was injured yesterday,” she gritted, and lifted a hand to her mouth as she sneezed once more.”Severely. I’ve never had a woman so anxious to leave my bed before. God bless you—is the dust bothering you?”

“Yes!” she said, covering her face with her hands and sneezing yet again. “Your horse is kicking it up.”

“I don’t think it will get any better—”

“It would if you would turn around and go back!”

“—unless you ride up here with me.”

“I wouldn’t even if you were the last…” She lifted a hand to her nose and mouth, warding away the dust. “Oh, please stop it! All right. I surrender. You have your way again, but don’t be smug about it.”

A slight smile betrayed Alec’s satisfaction as he leaned over and held his hand down to her. They grasped each other’s wrists in an unbreakable clasp, and then Mira gasped as Alec pulled her up easily, his muscles bunching underneath his clothes. Her bu**ocks landed on the saddle in front of him, her feet dangling against the horse’s side. In a reflex action Mira grasped at his coat lapels to steady herself, and Alec’s arm went around her protectively. Immediately aware of the vital strength of his body, Mira turned away from him to face forward, releasing his coat to find something else to hold on to. Accidentally her hand brushed against his taut, well-muscled thigh, and she jumped in confusion, nearly falling off the horse.

“Here, stop wiggling around.” Alec’s voice was close to her ear, low and shaded with amusement. “I’ve got you.” One of his large arms was braced firmly around her waist, doing little to ease her flustered condition. Mira thought briefly of telling him that she had changed her mind and wanted to get down. But then he curved his other arm around her, and as the huge white horse started forward she was provided with the excuse to lean her back against the solid wall of Alec’s chest. Suddenly this seemed like the most delightful place in the world to be, here in the hard shelter of his body with the breeze blowing through her hair.”Where… where is your other horse?” she managed to ask breathlessly. It was hardly an inspired topic of conversation, but it would have to do.

“Sovereign? He’s having a peaceful day in the stables. This is Requiem.”

“Requiem? What a dreadful name.”

She felt Falkner shrug lightly.

“An appropriate one. He’s fond of mauling anyone he doesn’t like, sometimes a little too roughly.”

“And you invited me to ride on him with you?” Mira asked indignantly, her eyes widening.

“Relax,” Alec replied, his warm breath caressing her temple. “He’s perfectly safe now. Do you think I’d take chances with your pretty neck?” She shivered slightly at the pleasant touch of his breath on her skin, and his arms drew around her more securely. “Cold?” he asked.

“A little,” she lied gamely. “The breeze is very cool for September…” it’s a perfect day for the hunt. You shouldn’t have missed it.”

“The fox can do without my pursuit for one day.”

“So could I,” she said meaningfully, causing him to chuckle.

“At least admit that you’re glad you don’t have to walk.”

“I admit it,” she said ruefully, allowing herself to relax against him. He was so casually tender, his voice so caressing, his arms so warm and irresistible, that Mira felt like a blunt-winged moth that had flown so close to a flame its wings had been irreparably singed. There was no flying away now… and worse, she was too enraptured with the attraction she felt to be sorry for the mistake she had made.

“It’s the first cottage we’ll come to,” she said eventually. “Mrs. Daniel is our housekeeper… her son has been taken ill with fever and cold.”

“Have you always had this interest in tending sickness and learning about—?““Yes, especially in France. Wherever we… I went, there was something to learn about remedies and cures. Every place has its own traditions and recipes.”

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