Duchess of My Heart (The Vault Collection) by Maya Banks

Author:Maya Banks [Banks, Maya]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Maya Banks
Published: 2019-05-19T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Why had she ever thought she wanted to learn to ride? Surely horses were the most miserable beasts in existence. The morning had started calmly enough. Jillian had donned the breeches and loose-fitting shirt Ben loaned her, but she felt ridiculous wearing a lacy camisole beneath men’s garb, so she settled for binding her breasts again. She wasn’t as conscientious in binding them this time since she wasn’t trying to disguise the fact that she was a woman. That, and the ability to breathe was important to her.

She met Justin in the stables, anxious to begin her lesson. He had already saddled the mare for her, and he began instructing her on the proper way to mount and sit in the sidesaddle. It looked simple enough.

Confident in her ability to master such an easy feat, she eased herself up and settled down with an indelicate plop. She flashed Justin a triumphant smile just as she fell over backwards off the horse. She hit the ground with a resounding thud that knocked the breath from her. The horse looked at Jillian with a bored expression and tossed its head.

Jillian clamored up before Justin reached her, sputtering in indignation. “That, that horse is laughing at me!”

Justin’s lips twitched suspiciously. “Try again,” he said in a subdued tone. He looked to be trying valiantly to keep his amusement at bay, but the sparkle in his eyes betrayed him.

She gave him a frosty stare as she rounded the horse and stepped into the stirrup again. True, most ladies mounted from a step, but Jillian was determined to learn the correct way of doing things. At least she didn’t have a mass of annoying skirts to contend with.

Gritting her teeth, Jillian heaved herself up once more. She gingerly perched on the edge of the saddle, careful not to place her weight on the other side this time. A slow smile spread across her face, and she relaxed her stance. She gathered the reins from the pommel and promptly dropped them. Cursing under her breath, she leaned forward, her chest against the horse’s mane. She stretched her fingers as far as she could, reaching for the dangling reins, but they remained just a fingertip out of reach. This time her expletives weren’t muttered under her breath.

Justin lost his battle and laughed aloud. Jillian sighed and slid from the saddle. She stepped forward and bent over to collect the reigns that were trailing in the dust. She curled her fingers around them when the horse nipped her on the behind, sending her sprawling to the ground. Justin lost all control and howled with laughter.

“That miscreant beast bit me!” Jillian exclaimed. She rolled to her back and shuffled backwards away from the horse who was eyeing her balefully. “Justin, she bit my bottom!”

Justin sat down on a nearby stool looking like he was trying desperately to compose himself. He gasped for breath, his eyes watering profusely. Jillian stood in front of him, her hands on her hips, glaring down at him.

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