Twisted Kings (Red, White, and Royal Book 1) by KT Strange

Author:KT Strange [Strange, KT]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Heartcandies Publishing
Published: 2023-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

22

Eva

I didn’t know I could hate mornings more, but having a party of assholes in the house makes them even less fun. Maddie’s up with the sun, and there’s a plan to ride through the vineyards today, which means I need to be prepared with sunscreen, sunscreen, and more sunscreen.

They’re all gathered in the courtyard of the stables after breakfast, mounts being brought out by the stablehands and footmen. I don’t know much about horses, but even these animals look a cut above what I’ve seen in my past life, beautifully groomed with glossy coats and tack that gleams in the sunlight.

The duke even makes an appearance as I wait for Maddie to come out of the stable with the new equitation instructor. I haven’t met her yet, but Mrs. Harris told me her name is Joan Framer, and she’s supposed to be an improvement on Jethro.

“Good morning,” the duke says to me as he walks by, the first of them to acknowledge my presence. Benedict’s avoiding looking at me, and I wonder if he’s annoyed I told him off last night.

“Will you be joining us, Angeles?” Brighton asks, shamelessly cheerful given what he knows about Benedict’s plot to overthrow the duke. I try not to look sharply at the duke, wondering if he’ll go with them. If he does, he’s putting his life in danger. I have no doubt of it. There’s so many things that can go wrong on a trail ride with horses. It wouldn’t take much.

“I’ll be on the ATV,” the duke says, and I try to discreetly breathe a sigh of relief.

“Boys ride ATVs, men ride horses,” Benedict says, and I can see the duke’s eyes flashing in annoyance. I think of that moment the duke came to find me, riding his ATV, his shirt rumpled and pulled by the day’s breeze. There was nothing boyish about him then. “Anyone can master a machine. But how many can say they hold the same over flesh and blood?”

“You’re showing off for your friends,” I mutter under my breath, even though he can’t hear me, as Madeline comes out on her pony, Joan at her side, walking. She’s a tall woman, with dark skin that glows in the sunlight, her coiling black hair pulled into a tight bun that sits low under her riding helmet. Joan smiles at me and nods her head as they approach, Madeline grinning from atop her pony.

“I’ve got my mount tacked up and ready to go, if you don’t mind standing with Maddie for a moment,” Joan says, dressed to ride, and sticking out her hand in greeting. “I’m Joan, you must be Miss Bell.”

“Eva’s fine,” I say quietly, shaking it back. Firm, but not arrogant or challenging. Joan is an absolute improvement on Jethro, and I hope I’m not the only one who thinks so. I wonder where he is and what he’s doing? Joan would probably know. There’s no time to ask though, as one of the footmen breezes past me from inside the stable kitchen, a tray in his hands with small espresso cups on it.

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