Tessa's Touch by Brenda Hiatt

Author:Brenda Hiatt [Hiatt, Brenda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Historical, to-read, regency romance, Historical Romance
ISBN: 2940015058734
Google: 3odlrgEACAAJ
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 18338937
Publisher: Brenda Hiatt
Published: 2004-08-31T16:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER 12

"If you'll excuse me, my lady?" Anthony couldn't help being amused at Lady Killerby's wicked assessments of each sportsman as he arrived at the meet, but the moment he saw Tessa he felt an intense need to be at her side.

Lady Killerby followed his gaze. "Ah, that's where the wind sets, does it? I suspected as much last night. Run along then, lad—but be cautious. Your father would scarcely approve, you know." She waved him away from the side of her pink and green phaeton with her orange parasol.

Anthony merely tipped his hat to her, determined not to give her any more ammunition for gossip or advice. In vain did he remind himself that she was right. His father wouldn't approve. But the more time he spent with Tessa —and the more time he spent away from her—the more he felt that he would never be happy without her.

"I began to fear you wouldn't make it today, Miss Seaton," he said, riding up to her and executing a bow from the saddle, sweeping his tophat before him with a flourish.

"We were a bit late starting," she replied with a glance at her uncle, on the same brown gelding he'd ridden before.

Mercer Emery nodded. "No chance we'd miss today —not after missing the Cottesmore meet on Saturday. Feel free to tell your friends that this mare will be up for sale tonight."

Mention of the Cottesmore brought the reason for Tessa's missing it vividly to Anthony's mind —and his body. That Tessa avoided his eye made him hope that her memory was similarly —and as pleasantly —engaged. She did not look precisely happy, however. He made a guess at the reason.

"I know you're not as eager to sell, Miss Seaton, but I trust you won't let that hamper your riding today." He leaned down as he spoke, trying to get a better glimpse of her face.

"She won't," her uncle said curtly. "Business is business. She knows that as well as I."

Tessa nodded, though Anthony thought he detected a small sigh before she spoke. "Yes, I know it well. We'll have a fine last run, won't we, Cinnamon?" She stroked the mare's neck with a small, gloved hand. The motion did something profound to Anthony's nether regions and he found himself quite envying the horse.

The signal was given to start for the covert, so with a nod—and another unsuccessful attempt to catch Tessa's eye— Anthony turned Cinder and headed over to where the Odd Sock was assembled.

"Something wrong?" Rush asked as he reached them.

"What? No, not at all." He quickly schooled his expression to one of anticipation for the hunt. "Mr. Emery bade me spread the word that Miss Seaton's mare will be sold tonight. I'm half minded to buy her myself."

"The mare, you mean?" Stormy teased him.

Anthony, however, was not amused. "Don't let Lady Killerby hear you implying such things," he admonished his friend. "Nor anyone else, for that matter."

"A joke, Anthony, just a joke," Stormy protested with a chuckle, putting up a hand as if to ward off a blow.

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