Pride Of Honor: Men of the Squadron Series, Book 1 by Stein Andrea K

Author:Stein, Andrea K.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Muirgen™ Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-02-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

Sophie sucked in a breath and prayed her companion did not notice her overset nerves. She clutched the seat on both sides, hoping to hide the slight shaking of her hands. Could the ground really be that far away?

Sir Thomas, next to her on the high seat of his curricle, murmured low to his spirited team dancing in their traces. They seemed overly high strung to her, unaccustomed as she was to sensitive thoroughbreds. Her experience had been limited to the steady teams that drew the Howick and Wolford carriages of her childhood.

Sir Thomas laid a gentle gloved hand over her clenched one gripping the seat. “I would never allow any harm to come to you, Miss Brancelli. You must believe me. And besides, your ever-present guardian chevalier follows us a few places back in the Howick carriage. You are certainly the most protected young woman in Mayfair today.” He pointed to another curricle moving around St. James Square. “See that young couple? They are perfectly safe and enjoying the day. Neither one of them appears to have fallen into the street. Their horses have not run away with them.” He chuckled low. “In fact, you are probably much safer than they.”

“And why is that?” Sophie asked the question while staring straight ahead, fearing to turn and lean toward him.

He placed his hand beneath her jaw and tilted her face his way. “I am the best driver in all of England.”

“How, how do you know?”

“No one has ever disputed the fact, so we will suppose it is true.” With that, he burst into hearty laughter and nodded to his groom to free his precious horses. As soon as the boy climbed onto the rear step, Sir Thomas gave a light flick to the reins and the curricle sprinted off at a fast trot. They flew around the square, the water basin at the center a sparkling blur in the sun.

Sophie let out the breath she’d been holding, relaxed a little, and smiled. Sir Thomas was a man who enjoyed life and made the most of every moment. She admired his confidence and appreciated the many kindnesses he’d shown her since the Howick ball the week before. Once she got over her fear of the height of the seat, she began to enjoy the way he handled his horses with an even, light touch, threading his way easily through the traffic-clogged streets on the way to Hanover Square to visit Arnaud’s mother.

When Sir Thomas had called the day before, she’d confided in him how much she missed the little dog she’d saved in Hyde Park. He’d insisted he would escort her to call on Mrs. Bellingham, who it turned out, was one of his good friends. He was a supporter of her benefit concerts for the orphans of merchant sailors lost at sea as well as naval casualties of the Napoleonic Wars.

She smiled at the thought of Arnaud with Lieutenant Bourne in a carriage behind them, following along to his own mother’s house.

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