Dangerous to Kiss by Elizabeth Thornton

Author:Elizabeth Thornton [Thornton, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-307-41971-2
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 1995-07-09T07:00:00+00:00

Though it was good weather for riding, it was quite cold, and when they came to the park, Lord Denning suggested that they repair to the nearest inn for hot toddy or tea to take the chill out of them. This Meg refused to do. They had come to Richmond Park for the riding, and she was not ready to give up yet. There was a good-natured debate, and finally they decided to stay with the original plan. While the ladies waited in the comfort of the coach with hot bricks and fur wraps to keep them warm, the gentlemen would put their mounts through their paces, after which they would all ride together. Then they would have their picnic.

Nick was first away. He touched spurs to flanks and his horse shot forward. There was a shout, and Banks and Lord Denning went bounding after him. The ladies watched them until they disappeared over a rise of ground, then they sat back, exchanging smiles.

“A regular cavalry charge,” said Rosamund Banks. She had a pleasant face fringed with fairish red hair. She also had dimples, and Deborah always felt sorry for anyone who had been cursed with dimples.

It was Rosamund and Deborah who kept the conversation going, while Meg stared out the window at passing riders and carriages. Deborah was happy to have found someone who shared her love of Paris, and did not notice Meg’s preoccupation.

The two girls were exchanging reminiscences when Meg rudely interrupted. “I shall die of boredom sitting here doing nothing. Don’t worry about me, Deb. I shall take one of the grooms with me.”

“What?”

Deborah and Rosamund were caught off guard. Before they could prevent it, Meg was out of the carriage and untethering her horse. She summoned one of the grooms, and the next thing they knew, she was sprinting to the far side of the turf with the groom galloping at her heels. They watched dumbfounded as a rider on a huge black stallion came forward to meet her.

“Oh dear,” said Rosamund. “David will be so disappointed.” She shook her head. “If Nick were here, he would put a stop to it. It really is too bad of Meg.”

Deborah’s stint as a teacher at Miss Hare’s school had taught her a thing or two about adolescent girls. She knew exactly what was going on. Meg, quite deliberately, had arranged to meet with one of her beaux when she knew the gentlemen in her own party would not be there to prevent it.

She peered out the window but could not make out the gentleman’s identity. “Who is he, do you know?”

Rosamund shook her head. “All I know is he isn’t someone her brothers would want her to meet, otherwise he would have approached her quite openly.”

“Millicent Dench,” said Deborah, remembering the bane of her existence at Miss Hare’s, and she ground her teeth together. “I should have expected something like this. At least Meg had the good sense to take a groom with her.” Which was more than Millicent had done.

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