The Heart of a Duke(12)

Emily’s question echoed her own during her restless night. She frowned at Daniel, who stood with his head bowed listening to Robbie, who gestured to the closed doors of the stables behind them.

Why did you come back?

His exodus had been as abrupt as his return. He had disappeared but a month after his father’s funeral, and a fortnight after Lakeview Manor had burned to the ground. Edmund claimed that in his haste to depart, he had left behind most of his belongings.

She was five years younger than the twins, who had been eighteen at the time. She recalled her parents’ surprise at his leaving Edmund to step into his title and shoulder the responsibility for the estates alone. Rumors circulated that Daniel’s grief over the combined loss of his father and Lakeview Manor had propelled his flight.

Grief might explain his departure, but it did not explain the ensuing silence. It had been as if Daniel was swallowed up by the night, his disappearance complete when Edmund forbade even the mention of his name.

And why, after a decade’s absence, had he returned?

It couldn’t be just to torment her. As if he had heard the accusation, Daniel’s head lifted and his gaze locked on her. His eyes traveled from the blue velvet ribbons topping her bonnet, down the buttons lining her bodice, to the bottom of her blue skirts and back up. Goose bumps rose on her arms, her high-waisted spencer jacket and layered petticoats poor protection against his slow scrutiny.

When his eyes fastened on her mouth, a slow, intimate smile curved those familiar lips. The heated perusal combined with the memory of his mouth, warm and insistent on hers, caused her to catch her breath and retreat a step.

His smile broadened and he tipped his head in an imperceptible greeting before he returned his attention to Robbie. She exhaled.

“I do believe he remembers you.” Emily arched a delicate brow at Julia, amused.

Avoiding Emily’s eyes, she shrugged. “Perhaps.”

“I wonder if he’s staying with his brother.”

Unsettled, she spoke without thinking. “I wouldn’t know. He did not say.”

“Pardon?” Emily stared at her. “You have spoken to him? When? Why did you not mention it?”

Cursing her slip, she waved her hand airily, unable to meet her sister’s eyes. “We happened to cross paths yesterday. It was very brief. We did not get a chance to catch up.” He had been too busy posing as Edmund and kissing her senseless.

“Why didn’t you tell me? Is that what had you so flustered yesterday—?”

“Look.” She interrupted Emily, desperate to redirect her attention. She needed time for her cheeks to cool and to form a plausible denial. She moved closer to the fence, aware that her sister’s speculative look followed her.

Robbie slid one of the stable doors open, his imposing size blocking the entrance, leaving a gap wide enough for Daniel to slip through. The sounds of the crowd had dropped to expectant rumbles, all eyes riveted to Robbie’s broad back. He peered over his shoulder and beamed a smile at the crowd, his brown eyes brimming with anticipation. A bit of a showman, Robbie savored exhibitions of his horses, and having a long lost lord participate could only double his delight.

Bracing his shoulder against the door, he swung it fully open, then dove quickly to the side to avoid over nine hundred stone of pulsating, wild black stallion plowing into him as the animal half leapt, half galloped outside.

The crowd responded in a collective gasp as Black Devil gathered speed and cantered around the paddock with Daniel astride, riding bareback on the beast. His back straight, the reins grasped loosely as he circled the paddock. There was none of the stallion’s usual antics, the frenzied bucking or wild rearing to dislodge his rider. Absent was the feral gleam igniting his coal black eyes, the savage snarl that bared his teeth, or the hooves pawing the air and reaching for the nearest head to decapitate.

“Glory be! Will ye look at that!”

“That be Black Devil? Robbie’s Black Devil?”

“More like a little lamb.”

“What did the toff do to him?”

“Bollocks! I needed me a new trowel.”

Julia stared as the horse reared back, the thick cords in his neck bulging as he tossed his mane, his snow-white forelegs pawing the air.

An incredible specimen of horse, all quivering muscle and sinew, the sun burnished his coat to a fine, black sheen. She curled her fingers over the fence rail in a white-knuckled grip. Blood drained from her head as she feared witnessing Daniel cracking his skull open, but one look at his expression had her catching her breath.

The idiot was laughing! His handsome features were alight, his white teeth flashing, and his dark hair wind-combed and wild. The grip of his muscular thighs pressing into the stallion’s sides braced him on the horse. Her heart gave a traitorous leap at the pure, masculine beauty of man and beast in full accord as the animal settled back on all fours. At a gentle urging from Daniel, Black Devil circled the paddock for an encore performance while the crowd roared its approval, hats tossed in the air.