A Desperate Wager by Em Taylor

Author:Em Taylor [Taylor, Em]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2014-08-25T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kirkbourne nudged the horse on with his knee. The sooner this damned ride was over the better.

And now he could hear tiny sobs from Sarah as she tried to hide the fact she was crying from him. He moved the reins into the hand he had clasped around her middle and dug into his pocket for a handkerchief. He presented it to her and she accepted it with a whispered thanks.

How had today turned out so badly? A bloody carriage wheel which someone had broken intentionally. He wanted to hit something or someone. But with only Sarah and the horse in arms reach, he had to gather his anger into himself and pray for patience. And now he had upset her with his inability to keep his emotions under control. Of course he was not angry with her. He was furious at the situation. At the fact that she had nearly been killed.

Common sense be damned. It was trying to tell him he could not have foreseen this—that this was nothing like Crosby’s death. But a little voice inside him reminded him everything he touched seemed to turn to horse manure, rather than gold.

“You must hate me for my father’s actions,” she said eventually. He sighed again, wishing to be anywhere but here. He hated discussions of feelings and such.

“I do not hate you. I care for you.”

“You ended up with a crippled, red-haired, snivelling, ill-tempered wife when you could have had any of the pretty ladies that have waltzed with at ton entertainments.”

“I waltzed with you, as I remember.”

She laughed without mirth. “It was hardly a waltz, Your Grace. Not something worthy of a poem by Wordsworth.”

“I did not mean to call into question your abilities as a duchess, Sarah.”

“I know. I overreacted. I think I may be in shock from the accident.”

“We can have a dinner party if you like.”

“Will you stay sober at it?”

“Sober?”

“Yes. You drink too much.”

Nate tensed, and again the horse whinnied and pranced.

“Perhaps I have a reason to drink.”

****

Sarah could have kicked herself… or at least she would have if her legs worked. She had not meant to bring up his drinking—not now. And, as a result, his barbed comment had left her reeling.

She was furiously trying to think of a sharp retort, when the sound of hoof beats and carriage wheels made her start. Nate urged the horse onto the grass verge and brought her to a stop, extending a hand to the mare’s neck and soothing it. A smart coach and six came into view and Nathaniel continued to soothe their mount.

A feminine screech caused the coachman to pull the horses up sharply. Sarah scowled at the treatment of the beasts then at the occupants of the carriage. Lady Trotter and her daughter Miss Amelia.

The older woman looked rather nonplussed and not entirely happy to see the local duke and his wife. Amelia however, took in the scene and smiled as if she was about to crow with glee.

Sarah wanted the ground to open and swallow her.

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