“If you have no care for yourself, Duchess, then at least care for your mount!”
Eva spun so quickly in the saddle, she tumbled straight off Posy and landed on her bottom. She heard curses as she struggled to draw in the breath that had been knocked from her body.#p#分页标题#e#
“Give me your hand.”
Bracing them behind her, Eva ignored the duke and scrambled to her feet. Mortified that she was dressed in breeches and had fallen in front of him, she reached for the saddle, preparing to remount.
“Are you unhurt, Duchess?”
Shaking her head, Eva busied herself with collecting the reins
“Then perhaps you can address my earlier concerns.”
Realizing that ignoring him would incite his anger, Eva reluctantly turned to face her husband. He, too, had dismounted, although she doubted it had been in such a spectacular fashion.
“I have been riding these paths for over two months now, your Grace. Posy was quite safe.”
Dark brows lowered as he scowled down at her. Unlike her, he was once again impeccably dressed in grey breeches, black jacket with polished boots and a neatly tied neckcloth. The only thing not in order was the hair that stood off his head.
“You rode through those trees too fast, madam. There could have been more fallen branches in your path.”
“I would never put Posy in danger, your Grace, and I apologize if you thought otherwise.”
For weeks Eva had lived without the constant knot of anxiety in her stomach that had plagued her most of her life. The fear that at any moment someone would take her to task had been absent and she had reveled in that freedom…until now.
“It was folly for a woman to ride in such a manner.”
She didn’t want to be intimidated by the duke. He would not hurt her. Hadn’t she believed that after the night he visited her room? The words they had spoken then had been open and honest.
“You think a woman is not as competent as a man in the saddle, your Grace?” Be quiet Eva. Don’t antagonize him.
“A woman is not as strong as a man, Duchess, even if she is riding astride.” His eyes ran over her legs as he spoke and her discomfit increased. What must he think of the way she was dressed?
“Strength does not necessarily determine skill, Duke.”
“Are you suggesting you are a more skilled rider than me, Duchess?”
“I would be foolish to suggest such a thing.” Eva reached for her saddle, eager to finish the conversation and head back to Stratton.
“Foolish because I am a man and you know I am more skilled or foolish because I am a man whom you feel threatened by?”
Eva gripped the leather so tightly, her knuckles went white. He was trying to provoke a response from her but she did not want to answer such a loaded question. Putting her foot in the stirrups, she was about to pull herself up when two large hands grabbed her and tossed her onto Posy’s back.
“Accepting defeat, Duchess?”
His taunt hit its mark. “I have no need to brag over my accomplishments, your Grace, nor do I willingly seek to incite your anger. However I will say that my skill in the saddle has never been tested, as I have never felt the need to do so.” Turning Posy before he stopped her, she headed quickly back down the hill. Eva had all but called him an arrogant braggart and had no wish to wait about for his reply.
Tibbs waited for them as they entered the stables. Stopping before him, she then kicked her feet from the stirrups and prepared to dismount, but again, the duke was there and reached for her. Her heart thumped painfully as he lifted her off Posy and placed her gently on the ground before him.
“We will address the matter of your recklessness another time, Duchess.”
That made her chin lift. “I was not reckless. Now please excuse me, your Grace.”
He didn’t release her immediately, but pulled her closer.#p#分页标题#e#
“Wh-what are you doing?”
He kissed her, just a soft brushing of his lips over hers, and then he pulled back, leaving her breathless.
“We will also address who is the better rider when time allows us to do so, Duchess, and I will add, once again, that you are under no threat from me and that I would never use force against you.”
“I…I must go.”
He released her and Eva tried to walk calmly from the stables when inside, her heart fluttered and her skin felt warm and all she wanted to do was run away from the large, disturbing male behind her.
She tried to push the memory of the kiss aside as she entered the house.
Why had he kissed her?
“Good morning, your Grace.”
“Good morning, Molly,” Eva greeted her maid as she walked into her room.
“Your bath is ready.”