An Arabian Courtship by Lynne Graham

Author:Lynne Graham [Graham, Lynne]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780263785692
Google: mTc1NQAACAAJ
Amazon: 0373113137
Publisher: Mills & Boon
Published: 1989-01-02T05:00:00+00:00

He sauntered fully dressed to the foot of the bed. Polly's heartbeat tipped against her breastbone. 'What time is it?' she whispered.

'Almost half-past six.'

'Is that all?' Gratefully her eyelids dropped again. 'It's the coolest part of the day. Later it will be too hot for you. I always go riding in the morning. You can join me. That is not a pleasure you have to do without here. Have you inspected the stables yet?'

She didn't want to look at him. As memories touched wilfully and cruelly on her all she wanted to do was curl up and die, preferably without an audience. 'I'm not a very good rider.'

'That's not important.' But he couldn't keep the surprise from his voice.

'Apart from that, I'm not in the mood to go riding,' she muttered. 'Enjoy yourself.'

'You are not making this any easier for either of us,' he breathed. 'You are being childish.'

'It's funny how I'm always being childish when I disagree with you or obtrude as an individual,' Polly said bitterly from the depths of the bed.

Her tiredness put to flight; she tossed for a while before getting up. She was being foolish. She was driving a further wedge between them. Twenty minutes later she arrived breathlessly in the domed porch, just in time to see Raschid swinging himself up into the saddle of a magnificent black thoroughbred. The stallion's sleek lines were pure Arabian, beauty and stamina superbly matched. Feeling she was too late and fearful of a cool welcome, for in all likelihood the invitation had been spurred by politeness alone, Polly didn't advertise her presence.

'How very wifely!'

Startled, she spun. Asif grinned at her. 'Marzouk and Raschid are very impressive. Aren't you joining him?' She flushed. 'No.'

'He prefers to ride alone.' Then he groaned. 'But now that you are here, naturally that will change.'

'I'm not much of a rider. I don't think I'd hamper him with my company.' She forced a smile, glad she hadn't rushed outside to publish her change of heart. He swept a cavalier's bow with an imaginary hat. 'I wouldn't be hampered.' His brown eyes roamed appreciatively over her beautiful, laughing face and he sighed. 'You're right-I'm a hopeless flirt. I can't help it. You are much too distracting, Polly. But there are times when distractions are welcome.' He stared moodily out at Raschid cantering through the gates. 'He is a very tough act to follow.'

'Are you in competition?'

He didn't look at her. 'When Raschid was a boy, he trained his own falcon. For three months it went everywhere with him until it was tamed. He didn't mind getting clawed in the process. Our father was very proud of him. In his eyes that's the sort of behaviour that separates the men from the boys. I've still to make the grade, and the most hellish side of it is that you can't dislike Raschid for it.' He turned back to her with a rueful smile. 'For his family, even his unworthy brother, there is no sacrifice he would not make.

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