To Dodge a Duke (Entangled Nobility Book 2) by Naomi Boom

Author:Naomi Boom [Boom, Naomi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, historical, regency
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press, Inc
Published: 2017-08-01T18:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Departing her room after a fitful night, Eleanor was not in the mood to deal with people. She held a letter for her cousin in one hand and her riding crop in the other. As much as she detested horses, they had their uses.

She entered the stables and waited for the groom to saddle her mare. Even the stables appeared devoid of servants, with only the one groom in sight. As she waited, she toyed with her riding crop but stopped when she saw the duke. He looked handsome, dressed in fashionable riding attire, and Eleanor hoped he would not wish to accompany her.

“Your Grace.” She forced a smile to her face. “It appears there is but one groom.”

“Of course there is.” He chuckled as his gaze roamed over her body. Eleanor felt a chill sweep over her. Just why did he have to be the one to join her in the stables? “I suppose I will have to act as my own groom if I wish to ride with you. No point forcing you to wait.”

She could not tell a duke she did not long for his illustrious companionship, so she agreed and waited for the groom to finish saddling her docile-looking mare. For a stable this size, it lacked in horses, but that was likely due to the duke’s extended absence on the continent. His Grace emerged from a stall with his own stallion in tow, just after her groom finished with her mare.

They entered the courtyard, and the duke accepted the reins from the groom. He thanked the servant and waved him away. Now, Eleanor would have to ride with him. She had no other choice.

The sound of horse hooves broke through the quiet morning air. She looked up, and relief washed over her when she saw Logan returning from his morning ride.

“Good morning, my lady,” Logan greeted Eleanor with a warm smile before coldly asking the duke, “Shouldn’t you be resting, Your Grace? You cannot ride after such an extended illness.”

The duke inclined his head and grinned. “I am sure my constitution has been restored enough to allow me a ride.”

The tension was palpable between the two men, although Eleanor could not quite ascertain the cause of the tension in the first place. The best thing she could do was just separate the two. Logan was her first choice, but the duke was much closer to hand, so she turned to him and asked, “Your Grace, would you be so kind as to assist me in mounting my mare?”

He stepped to her side, helped her on to her steed, and then spoke in a loud enough volume for Logan to hear. “I would be more than happy to assist you in mounting anything you desire.”

Eleanor had almost reprimanded him for his impertinence when she was silenced by the duke as he said, “I am a very virile male who can easily give you an enjoyable ride. That is, if you would agree to accompany me.”

Her mouth fell open at his words.

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