Julia Justiss - The Rake to Reveal Her

‘I can appreciate that. After months of being cooped up, mostly bedridden, I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed this drive in the fresh air.’

‘Then you must drive about often—as long as you don’t tire yourself. You’re not fully healed yet, remember.’

‘Don’t worry. My arm and shoulder will remind me, should I be tempted to forget.’

From the stable lane, a groom paced up, leading her mare. ‘Here’s Firefly,’ she said, turning back to him, ‘so I will take my leave.’

After giving the mare a quick inspection, Mr Ransleigh nodded his approval. ‘Good, deep heart, nice level croup, and well muscled—she must be a fine goer.’ Reaching out to stroke the horse’s neck, he crooned, ‘What a lovely lady you are! Such a graceful neck, pretty eyes and small, perfect ears!’

As the mare nickered and leaned into Ransleigh’s massaging fingers, Theo chuckled. ‘I believe she’s preening for you. Which is quite a compliment! Firefly doesn’t take to just anyone. You must have a way with horses.’

‘I’ve always loved them. Spent most of the last fifteen years when not in the army breeding and training them. Hunters and steeplechasers who—’ Abruptly he went silent, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Even if I just had my limitations forcefully demonstrated, his cryptic comment came back to her as she recalled the fractious stallion who’d almost trampled her. But oh, he can fly like the wind and jump anything in his path.

‘You trained that black beast from yesterday,’ she said, putting it all together.

‘And many more like him,’ Ransleigh said tightly. ‘For all the good it does me now.’

All horses he could no longer ride. Theo felt an ache in her chest. One more loss, one more joy stolen from him. How terribly cruel life could be!

‘It must have taken remarkable skill, just to get him to accept a rider,’ she said, wanting to ease the tension in that clenched jaw. ‘He looked like he would have enjoyed running us down.’

He rewarded her with a slight smile. ‘He would have, the evil-tempered devil.’

The urge to linger and question him further teased at her. Clenching her teeth against it, she told herself she should bid him farewell before this intriguing man charmed her any further.

‘Well, I must be off. You’re welcome to call any time at Thornfield Place and meet the children. Or not, as you choose,’ she added, unhappily aware he was unlikely to take her up on that offer.

Before the groom could assist her, Ransleigh offered his hand. ‘You were right,’ he said as he lifted her into the saddle. ‘I can do it, if I want to.’

Our last contact, she thought with a little sigh as he released her boot. ‘I am sure you will soon be able to do whatever you wish, Mr Ransleigh. Thank you again for giving my orphans a chance.’

With a wave of her riding crop and a foolish sense of regret, she turned Firefly and set off towards Thornfield.

She felt the warmth of his gaze on her back, all the way to the turn in the drive.

* * *

By the time she’d ridden most of the way home, Theo had convinced herself she’d not really responded as strongly to Mr Ransleigh as she’d first imagined. After all, it was only natural that she would feel comfortable around a man who’d spent nearly as many years with Wellington’s army as she had, especially after more than a month of dealing with civilians.

Nor did she deny he attracted her. The scarred face and eye patch did nothing to detract from his commanding profile, nor the missing arm from the vitality that emanated from him, despite the fact that he was not fully recovered from his injuries. Indeed, in her eyes, the marks of the suffering he’d endured in defending his country enhanced his already arresting physical attributes.

But that attraction, like the welcome relief of finding herself once again in a soldier’s company, had doubtless been heightened by not having experienced the feeling in so long.

She could only imagine how much more potent his appeal would be when he was fully healed. A heated flutter stirred in her stomach.

Fortunately, she was too old and wise now to be caught again in passion’s snare. Or she certainly should be—she need only remember the agony she’d suffered over Marshall.

Still, she was a woman, and vain though it might be, she was glad she’d worn the most attractive of her gowns for the call. She’d couldn’t help being pleased that, if her instincts were correct, that compelling man had found her attractive as well.

A flush of embarrassment heated her face as she suddenly recalled she’d actually told this wealthy, well-connected bachelor how handsome she thought him.

Drat candour! Hopefully, he would only think the comment shameless—and not suppose her to have marital designs upon him. The very idea that he might interpret her comment in that manner made her a little sick.

Nothing she could do now to correct that impression, if he had so interpreted her remark. With any luck, there’d be no further need to contact him, so any awkwardness on that score could be avoided.

Then perspective returned, and she had to laugh at herself. How foolish of her to think this commanding man, whose wealth and pedigree doubtless focused upon him the attention of every woman in the vicinity, would think twice about any supposed lures cast his way by a plain, outspoken spinster—with a crowd of orphans in tow!

The only lasting result of her visit today was her landlord’s agreement to lease her the property. Once she was immersed in overseeing its renovation, adding that task to those of getting Thornfield running properly and finding the necessary teachers, today’s interlude would fade to a pleasant but vague memory.

Ignoring the eddies in her stomach that warned otherwise, Theo fixed that conclusion firmly in mind and turned Firefly down the drive to Thornfield’s stables.

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