Flame and Ember by M. A. Nichols

Author:M. A. Nichols [Nichols, M. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M.A. Nichols
Published: 2018-03-26T18:00:00+00:00

***

Simon tried to remember a better day. All in all, it was unremarkable. Inspecting the estate was a common enough occurrence, but in the last few weeks, Simon could not deny that things in his life had shifted in a most peculiar and unexpected way. Watching Mina canter beside him as they rode from the east fields, Simon found so many of the mundane aspects of his life far more enjoyable than they’d been previously.

Marriage was a better plan than Simon had anticipated. Having a helpmate was well and good, but having someone at his side who loved the work and appreciated the end result made it far more gratifying.

He glanced at Mina and she smiled back at him before leaning over Beau’s neck and putting on a burst of speed. Whooping, Simon nudged Spartan to follow, and he sped after her. Neck and neck, they galloped over the hills. Mina turned towards him and shouted something, but the wind caught the words. Then Mina’s eyes widened, and she reared back, jerking Beau to a halt. Simon’s heart stopped when Mina looked as though she were going to tumble from the saddle, but she kept her seat while sputtering and wiping at her face.

“Mina?” Simon called to her, jumping from his horse and running to her side. “Are you all right?”

She paused and looked down at him, her cheeks the color of cherries. “I swallowed a bug.”

“A bug?” Simon blinked at her.

“It flew right into my mouth,” she said with a shiver, and Simon burst out laughing.

“I thought you were having a fit or something,” he said when he could manage a breath. He handed her his handkerchief. “Here I thought I was coming to rescue the damsel like a proper gentleman, and I find my heroic efforts unnecessary.”

Mina took the proffered handkerchief. “Do not underestimate your efforts, my handsome knight. Unfortunately, you are saddled with a rather unladylike damsel.”

Simon rubbed Beau’s neck absentmindedly as he stared up into Mina’s eyes that shined with unrestrained pleasure. Seeing her thus, with her lust for life and strength of spirit, it was hard to think of her as anything other than the epitome of what a lady should be.

“And you should not underestimate your ladylike ways, Mina.”

The brightness in her eyes softened, and something in Simon’s heart tugged at him. The feeling was foreign to him, but in no way unpleasant. Quite the opposite, in fact. Exceptionally pleasant.

“Mr. Kingsley!” A voice called from behind him, snapping the connection. Turning, Simon found Mrs. Thompson waving at them from a curricle with Mr. Thompson looking put out about halting their journey.

Simon got back on his horse and escorted his wife over to the road.

“Are you quite all right?” asked Mrs. Thompson, fluttering a frilly handkerchief in the air at them. “I saw you two stopped there and just had to check.”

From the corner of his eye, Simon saw Mina color, though she remained otherwise composed.

“We are fine, Mrs. Thompson. How kind of you to inquire,” said Simon.

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