Masquerade Secrets(17)

"True. I enjoy riding everyday. I hadn't realized that I had picked up  the habit until we arrived here. It will be something that I will miss  once we return to London again. The sedate pace that is required in Hyde  Park just doesn't give me the same thrill."

He nodded in agreement. "Care for a ride?"

The invitation cut off her lighthearted laughter. "Now? Together?"

"Yes. As you said yourself, there isn't anything scheduled until this  afternoon." He lowered his voice to a whisper. "I enjoyed our ride the  other morning."

"I did too."

"Shall we then?" She could see that he was eager to spend time with her,  and that knowledge surprised her. She felt him willing her to accept.

"We will need a chaperone."

Sighing, almost as if he were relieved that she had accepted his offer,  he smiled as he stood. "I will arrange to have a servant accompany us."

She stood as well, tilting her head back a little to meet his eyes.  Memories from the night before surged through her. His eyes gazed into  hers, not with recognition, but with fondness. He truly wanted to spend  time with her.

Could it be possible? Could she have a chance with him as Lady Aubrey  and not the masquerade woman? The possibility flittered in her stomach.  "I will change into my riding habit and meet you in half an hour. Is  that agreeable?"         

     



 

"Yes. I'll meet you by the stables."

"All right," she said and turned to leave, but she couldn't help herself  from glancing back at him as she left, flushing when she caught him  staring at her waist and hips.

His eyes trailed back to hers filled with such heat that it singed her  skin. She had never thought her curved body was attractive, but he  couldn't seem to stop staring at her with desire whether she was the  masquerade woman or simply Lady Aubrey. Pleasure surged through her  heart at the thought.

She couldn't wait to spend more time with him.





CHAPTER 7

When he had approached Lady Aubrey, it hadn't been his intention to ask  her to join him for a ride. In fact, as he stood in the stable yard  holding the reigns for their horses, he couldn't believe he had.

The lack of strength and discipline that he had displayed since meeting the masquerade woman was astonishing.

He had spent an hour speaking with the guests in the room, weeding out  women on his list of possibilities. His mind had been focused,  completely in tune with his mysterious woman.

He had cataloged, weighed odds, gained more vivid memories of the  encounters he had had with the woman, and then he had seen Lady Aubrey  and all thoughts of the masked lady had flown out of his head.

Looking up at the sky, the bright rays of sun warming his face, he remembered the way she had looked in the corner chair.

Fresh, alluring, and observant. He couldn't help but be drawn to her. He  had just needed to be by her. Needed to speak with her. He couldn't  fathom the effect she had on him, but he knew he craved it. Both body  and mind. He needed to be by her.

Disloyal idiot.

What was the matter with him? He wanted to pull his own hair out. The  moment Lady Aubrey had left the room he had regretted the invitation.  Nothing good could come of it. Nothing.

And the way she had looked walking away, all luscious curves and innocence, he had to fight back the urge to grab her.

He really wasn't worth either woman's attentions.

The ride would have to be a quick one. He couldn't afford to spend much  time in her company, risking a stronger attachment to her.

His time was better spent searching for the woman he had promised himself to. Not courting someone else.

But he wanted to. He wanted to know Lady Aubrey more than he had ever wanted to know anyone else.

Good Lord, what was wrong with him?

Seeing her walk down the path from the house, he choked back the curse that hovered on his lips, groaning instead.

Her midnight blue riding habit showcasing her many curves. A hat tilted  on her head saucily, but was balanced by one honey-blond curl falling  over her shoulder.

Clenching his fists, he fought back the urge to move the silken hair and kiss the tender part of her neck.

"Were you able to find a groom to ride with us?" Aubrey asked as she approached.

"Yes, the stable master is readying his horse now."

"Excellent." She looked at the white mare and smiled. "I was hoping to ride her again. I quite enjoyed it last time."

"I thought you might. I asked for her especially for you." The pleasure that lit her face had his blood pumping hotter.

"That was kind of you. Thank you."

"It was nothing," he said, hoping she didn't hear how hoarse his voice  was becoming. Why did one small sign of pleasure from her have him  wanting to give her more? Much, much more.

A quick image filled his mind, showing him a different kind of pleasure  he would like to give her, but he quickly stamped it out. He may be  attracted to Lady Aubrey, but he had already given his promise to  another.

As the groom's horse was led out of the stable, Bradford called out to  the waiting man that hovered a discreet distance away. "Follow behind us  so we are in sight, but no further."

"Yes, my lord."

"May I?" he asked, offering his assistance with her mount. She nodded, flowing easily into his grasp.

Trying to ignore the sharp curve of her waist, he quickly deposited her  on the back of her horse before rounding to his own. "I'll follow."

"Excellent." She gave him a grin that told him she was pleased with the courtesy.

After a moment of watching her body curve, moving as one with her mount,  he quickly regretted his decision to follow her. She sat a horse  beautifully, her back straight to almost the point of an arch. She  tossed a teasing look behind her, almost daring him to catch her, and he  had to stop himself from doing just that.

Quickening her pace to a trot, her body posting with the horse had him  moaning at the sight. Seeing her slide up and down, moving so in tune  with the animal, had all sorts of images of her moving that way above  him.         

     



 

With a curse, he moved his horse into a canter to close the distance between them, preferring to ride at her side.

While it kept her out of his line of vision, the damage had already been  done. He was aware of her like he had only ever been one other time,  with another woman. His mystery woman.

Why was this happening to him? Why with two different women?

If he had been this aware of Lady Aubrey before the masquerade, he would  have gladly courted her, happily married her so he could have her in  his bed. But he wouldn't have realized how much he could enjoy her out  of bed as well. He could see himself with her, sitting at the breakfast  table, conversing about the little things that married couples tended to  discuss.

The breath was knocked out of him as he brought his horse to a dead stop.

Marriage to Lady Aubrey. When had such a thought entered his mind? When  had he let his attraction for her spiral so out of control that he would  even consider such a thing when he had promised his future to another?

Noticing that her partner had stopped, Lady Aubrey brought her horse  around. "Is everything all right? Is your horse injured?" Concern was  evident in her voice.

It took a minute to get his breath back. "No. He is fine. I just needed a moment to rest."

She eyed him skeptically, clearly seeing through his lie. Glancing at  the groom far behind them she offered, "Shall we walk for a bit?"

He nodded his agreement and was grateful to have his feet planted firmly on the ground, both physically and metaphorically.

Silence enclosed them as they walked, but he didn't feel unnerved by it.  In fact, as the minutes passed, his unease began to recede.

"This might be impertinent of me, but I am a good listener. I would be  happy to hear about something that is bothering you if you feel like  sharing."

The offer surprised him. The prospect of telling her about the  masquerade woman, something he hadn't told anyone else yet, was hard to  resist.

He didn't know why, but he trusted her. Trusted her completely with  something that was so important to him. And somehow, deep down, he felt  like if he told her that he was trying to find another woman, her appeal  would lessen.

He was ready to try anything at that moment to get the attraction he was feeling for her out of his system.

"That is very kind of you," he said before pausing. How much should he  tell? Should he start from the beginning and lay it all out?

Then an idea hit him. Perhaps she could help him. She might even know the woman.

Why hadn't he thought of that possibility before? He could have told  someone, anyone, and they may have known of his lady. He was desperate  enough to try anything at this point.

"There is something, in fact, that has been on my mind of late."

She remained silent, as the best listeners do.

"I recall you mentioning that you attended Lady Templeton's masquerade."  He paused for her nod of confirmation. "Sometime after I arrived, a  woman entered the room. I didn't recognize her, had no clue who she was.  We danced together, and I was …  intrigued by her."