Making the Marquess Mine by Karla Kratovil

Author:Karla Kratovil
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Historical, Romance
ISBN: 9781959988205
Publisher: Tule Publishing Group, LLC
Published: 2023-01-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-One

He was still smiling as he walked down the lane that led past where Maddox had set up his circus for the fair. The exercise had invigorated him, and the clue he had discovered to Marlow’s whereabouts had been quite the piece of luck. He whistled as he walked toward the noise of the circus. Dogs barking and the neighing of horses along with Maddox’s booming voice all assailed his ears as he approached. Nothing could have prepared him for what was happening in the ring.

Susanna rode her horse around the ring at a gallop. Well, not exactly rode. She hung off one side of the horse with one foot in the stirrup and one hand on the pommel. Her other arm and leg were outstretched in an arabesque, her hair flowing behind her in a stream of copper fire. He stood rooted to the ground in fear. She was going to fall and be trampled.

She spotted him as she rode past, and her smile bloomed wide as she waved at him. Then as she made another turn around the ring, she swung her leg back over the saddle and rode one more circuit astride before coming to the middle of the circle. She tapped sharply on her horse’s flank with her feet and the horse reared onto its hind legs. Susanna leaned backward over its rump, the waterfall of her hair practically brushing the ground. She gracefully extended an arm above her head as her horse pawed the air.

Miles’s heart seized in his chest.

*

Applause erupted from all the performers who watched. The horse righted and Susanna was once again upright, her hand still in the air. Excitement buzzed through her, it was thrilling to perform for an audience, even a small one of just her friends. She leaned over to pat Desire’s neck. “You were fabulous, darling.” The horse had as much flair for the dramatic as she did. They trotted over to the entrance to the ring and Susanna dismounted. She handed the reins to Colonel Hadley. “That was exhilarating. Thank you for allowing me to show off.”

Mrs. Maddox approached them. “You were beautiful out there, my dear. I’d put you in the show anytime.”

Susanna felt her cheeks heat. A high compliment from a lady whose discerning eye for talent was well known. “Thank you. I’m flattered but I couldn’t possibly.” She glanced over to where Hawksridge stood on the other side of the ring; his glower could be felt from this distance. “Excuse me.”

She strode around the circle. Why did he look so angry? He needn’t be so disapproving there was no one out here but the circus performers. No one was going to be scandalized by her riding. Wasn’t he impressed? She had worked for months to perfect those tricks. Annoyance bubbled in her chest as she approached him. Why was he such a killjoy? They were on holiday, damn it. By the time she reached him she could practically feel the steam coming out of her ears.

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