Taming the Duke (15 page)

Alicia almost laughed. “You believe that she’ll agree?”

“She must. She’ll say that she was mistaken about the evening you were found in Justin’s chamber. She’ll say that she had sent you to fetch her shawl, but by mistake, sent you to the wrong room. When she realized her error, she went immediately to Sykes’s bedroom. She’ll vouch that no time had elapsed for any impropriety to occur.”

“You would blackmail your own mother!”

“I prefer to say that she’s been caught at her own game.”

“The ton won’t believe her. They’ll think she’s trying to save face because you’re marrying me.”

“They may think it, but they won’t say it. Great-Aunt Mary has accepted you. As sister to my late father, she and my mother will be too powerful to challenge. By the end of the season, the incident will be forgotten.”

“I thought my disgrace didn’t matter to you—”

“It doesn’t matter to me, Alicia.” His fingertips drifted across her cheek. “You were unjustly accused. I know how much you value your good name. I did this for you.”

She pulled her face away. “I might be innocent, but I’m not stupid, Dalton. You want the ton to accept me, for then your mother will be all the more infuriated at our marriage.”

“That’s not why I did it, Alicia. I don’t give a damn about what those mutton-heads think. It’s you I care about.”

“Please, don’t do me any more favors if it means hurting people.”

Dalton grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. “Alicia, Justin Sykes has always been a good friend of mine. What about his feelings? Maybe he had his own reason to get back at my mother?”

Surprised, Alicia bit her lip. She had never considered Sykes’s feelings before. Certainly what Dalton said was true; Justin Sykes had been set up by the dowager, just as she had.

She glanced at Dalton and wondered if he was using her concern for others—even the likes of Justin Sykes—to manipulate her. But all she saw in his intense blue gaze was the hope to be forgiven. She felt the pressure of his grip lessen. “I’m sorry you’re upset with me, Alicia. What can I do to make it up to you?”

She took several deep breaths. “You could at least apologize to Elizabeth.”

Dalton raked his fingers through his black hair. “Very well. I’ll do it if it will erase that disappointed look from your face.”

Alicia watched in fascination as his eyes darkened with the same smouldering passion she had seen just before he kissed her last night. Her breath caught in her throat.

He was so close. She could smell the warm fragrance of sandlewood mixed with the faint smell of wood smoke. His breath felt warm on her face. She didn’t know what to think when he looked at her like that.

Her gaze moved down to his mouth—his beautifully formed mouth. She knew she should leave, but her body betrayed her. She tilted her face to his, moistened her lips and waited for his kiss.

She felt a warm hand cup her breast as Dalton’s mouth took hers. She barely held back a gasp of surprise as she returned the kiss with an eagerness that amazed her. Her arms circled his neck, drawing them deeper into the kiss.

“Don’t you know I’d do anything to protect you?” he said into her hair.

Alicia pulled back to look at him. “Yes, but I hope you will never hurt or use people to avenge me.” She stepped to the partially opened door and took a deep breath of the crisp morning air. He silently watched her; his expression appeared crestfallen, as though she didn’t appreciate his motives.

“I must be getting back,” she said without looking at him. She needed time to think. Although he tried, Dalton would never come to understand her. He appeared to believe that women were either bedded or protected by any means available. But neither view included love.

Chapter Nine

F
or the next few days, Alicia buried her anxiety about the impending wedding by spending long hours training Bashshar. The regal stallion shared many similar traits with his master, she thought with amusement. Both could be stubborn, prideful and utterly charming when they wanted to be.

When she came near Bashshar, he tossed his head and pranced around the newly built round pen that Dalton had designed. The structure was ideal for the high-strung Thoroughbred. Secluded away from noise and people, the pen had become one of Alicia’s most favorite places at Havencrest. She felt protected, and cared for. Bashshar felt the same way here, too.

She gave a command and the horse stopped. Walking toward him with assurance, she mounted the animal, then brought him into a trot around the ring.

After an hour, she noticed the stable lad, Penn, perched on the top of the fence. Alicia wheeled Bashshar around and rode toward the boy. “Get
down from there, Penn, before you fall and hurt yourself.”

The young man’s eyes rounded with surprise. “Saints protect you, m’lady. Better jump off the master’s beast before the devil knows you’re ridin’ `im.”

Alicia feigned a scowl. “Penn, you know you’re not allowed to watch while I’m working.” She couldn’t keep from smiling.

“I—I knew you’d win `im over,” Penn said, before he dropped out of sight behind the board fence.

Alicia laughed, her mood uplifted by the flawless session that Bashshar had performed. He obeyed her commands with ease and grace. “Good baby,” Alicia whispered to the stallion as she brought the horse to a halt in front of the gate. She dismounted with a fluid ease, then patted the animal along the neck.

Bashshar blew softly and shook his majestic head as though proud of himself. Alicia laughed. “Yes, you should be proud, you beauty.” She ran her hand along the midnight sheen of Bashshar’s back, his coat gleaming with red glints in the morning sunlight.

When she opened the gate, Penn’s face was pressed against the boards, peering through the slats.

“Young man, what did I tell you?” she said, her hands balled at her hips in feigned irritation. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep from laughing. “Yes, your eyes don’t deceive you.” she said softly. “Bashshar finally allowed me to ride him.”

Penn stared at her as though she had two heads. “Me dad says that the Master is going to marry you. Is it because you cured his horse?”

The thought of her coming marriage to Dalton brought a clench to her stomach. “No, Penn. First, Bashshar isn’t cured yet. The stallion has only allowed me to get close to him. Now I can begin his actual treatment. And as far as my upcoming marriage to your master is concerned, well…I’m marrying your master because…” She studied the serious look on the young man’s face. Penn was almost ten and five. She wasn’t sure if he understood how complicated marriage could be. “Our marriage is a business arrangement.”

Penn’s smile lit up his freckled face. “Then I was right. You’ll be stayin’. Me brother owes me a quid, he does.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Your brother? I don’t remember Ulger saying that he has another son working in the stable.”

“Neville is me older brother. He helps the gamekeeper tend the fences. He don’t like horses like I do.”

“You must bring Neville around some time. I’d like to meet him.”

“Don’t think he’ll come around. He and me pa don’t get on well.”

“Oh? I can’t imagine anyone not getting along with your parents.” She realized that she had become quite fond of Penn and the stable master and his wife. Dalton employed decent, loyal, hardworking people.

Penn scuffed his foot in the dirt. “I told me brother that you’d stay here with us and Bashshar after you got married. Neville said you’d move away once Bashshar was healed.” Penn glanced up, his face bright with hope. “I was right, wasn’t I?”

The question had tormented her, as well. Would Dalton tire of her once their honeymoon was over? If he chose, he could send her away for months on end. “I’m afraid I don’t know, Penn. I have another stallion at Marston Heath that needs my attention. I left his training to be with Bashshar.”

Penn’s mouth curled into a frown.

Alicia watched him, then she thought of an idea. “You know, Penn, I could use a smart lad who has a keen knack with horses.”

Penn straightened and drew himself up to his full height. He was almost as tall as she was. “Oh, m’lady. Ye’ll never regret it. I’ll work extra hard.”

She eyed him readily. “Yes, but I can’t have a young man who can’t read.”

Penn’s face dropped. “I—I can read some, m’lady.”

“And do sums, and write with a fine script.”

His foot kicked at a stone. “Me pa said I don’t have time to practice sums.”

She met his gaze. “You’re not blaming your lack of schooling on your father, are you, Penn?”

He said nothing as he scratched his red hair.

“I’ll tell you what,” Alicia continued. “I’ll show you how to help with Bashshar’s treatments. If you prove yourself, then we can speak to your father about you becoming a handler.”

Penn’s face brightened into a wide smile. “Truly, m’lady?”

“Yes, providing you work on your sums and your penmanship. I want you to read books, too.”

“Books? I ain’t never seen one of them.”

She sighed. “I’ll start you out with some of the books my grandfather used to teach me about horses.”

“Oh, thank you, m’lady. When can I start helping you with the horse?”

“We’ll start this evening, after your supper. You can write the alphabet for me and we’ll begin there.”

“The alpha—?” He scratched his head. “What’s that?”

She finally realized that Penn had no idea how much he’d taken on in order to work with horses—something he had always wanted to do. For an instant, she was reminded of her own bargain with Dalton. They would be married within a few days. Did she know everything that would be entailed in her decision to become his wife? She didn’t think so, and she might not know until it was too late.

In the distance, an oriole warbled its sweet melody; the happy tune made her determined not to ruin the otherwise good mood with thoughts of her shaky future. She brushed back a strand of hair from Penn’s cheek and smiled at him. “I’ll explain the alphabet this evening when you come for your first lesson.”

He returned her smile, then dashed off to do his chores.

She returned to the pen at the sound of bootsteps. The long shadow of Dalton Warfield crossed in front of her.

“I saw you talking to Penn, and I wondered if you would spare me a few words?” Dalton stood with his back to the morning sun. She tented her hand above her eyes and gazed up at him. He was wearing a loose-fitting shirt, similar to hers, except his top button was unfastened. Black whorls of hair curled from the white fabric. The sight gave her a tingly feeling.

His leather breeches clung to his muscular legs, his black boots gloved his calves in satiny leather. A faint smile quirked about his lips as he watched her staring at him. “How is Bashshar faring today?”

“Maybe you’d like to see for yourself?”

Dalton’s blue eyes brightened like a child’s on Christmas morn. “You’ll let me watch?” He was referring to her last edict that forbade him to observe her work.

“I think we’ve made enough progress. Besides, I’d wager that Bashshar would enjoy showing off for you.” She winked at him as she opened the gate and went inside.

At the sight of Dalton, Bashshar snorted, then whinnied a loud greeting and trotted eagerly toward him.

“If I knew I’d be seeing Bashshar, I’d have brought him carrots,” Dalton said, rubbing the animal’s powerful neck.

“It’s a good thing you didn’t, because I wouldn’t have allowed it.” She enjoyed his jolt of surprise.

“And why not?”

“Because feeding Bashshar with your fingers encourages him to bite, especially the other handler’s fingers,” she said, stroking Bashshar’s flank. “While I’m responsible for Bashshar, he will only have carrots and special treats dropped into his feeding bucket.” She watched Dalton out of the corner of her eye, enjoying the rare expression of censure on his handsome face.

“As you wish.” The amused gleam in Dalton’s eyes told her that he was enjoying this. “Have a seat, your grace.” She began to walk away when he grabbed her by the waist.

“Don’t you think it’s time you called me Dalton?” His voice held an intimacy that made her insides flutter.

“If you say so…Dalton.” The word felt like a brick in her throat. She preferred the safety of formality, because she didn’t want him to know how vulnerable she felt in his presence.

“And I have your permission to call you Alicia?”

She lifted a brow. “I believe you have already taken that liberty…Dalton.”

He smiled lazily. “Now that we’re officially engaged, I think I have earned other liberties as well, don’t you agree?”

She knew he was teasing, yet she also knew what he said was true. She felt reasonably sure that he wouldn’t drag her off beneath the bushes and have his way with her. Yet she recognized his heavy-lidded gaze as the same as the last time he kissed
her. Things were changing between them, or was the change only in her imagination?

From the far corner, Bashshar pawed the ground and whinnied, reminding her of a spoiled child who wanted attention.

“I thought you would enjoy seeing Bashshar’s progress, Dalton.” She smiled and his eyes glinted with pleasure.

“Very well, I shall take whatever liberties you’re willing to avail to me.” His white teeth flashed as he smiled.

She strode to the center of the ring and faced Bashshar, who eyed her with spirited challenge. “I’m going to give the horse silent commands to come forward, pace three steps to the side, and then,” she glanced at Dalton over her shoulder, “Bashshar will perform a special trick that he has prepared, just for you.”

Dalton tipped over the empty feed bucket, raised one foot on it, leaning as he watched them.

Alicia faced Bashshar, and with a series of hand gestures, silently guided the horse through his paces. The elegant animal stepped toward her with precision, then turned and pranced three steps to the side. Pausing a moment, he tossed his head, paced within five feet of Dalton and stopped. With a side glance toward Alicia, Bashshar hesitated, then bent his front foot, and executed a bow, fit for a king.

Dalton’s face broke into a dazzling smile. “Bravo!” He clapped with enthusiasm as he moved to where the horse and Alicia stood. Dalton put
his arm around Bashshar’s neck, then instinctively hugged Alicia.