Until You by Jennifer McNare

Author:Jennifer McNare [McNare, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2013-01-18T05:00:00+00:00

Ashleigh ran past the Sethe’s startled butler, out the front door and down the steps, unwittingly heading in the direction of the stables. When she realized where she was headed, she slowed her pace and then walked the remaining distance to the stable, moving as if she were in a daze. Entering the large stone building, she made her way toward Raider’s stall, unconsciously seeking comfort from her beloved four-legged companion. Despite her near trance-like state, she managed a polite “thank you” to the young groom who smiled at her and held out her missing glove as she passed by.

Entering Raider's stall, she pressed her cheek against the stallion's thick neck and finally allowed the tears to fall, weeping into his silky mane. “I am such a fool,” she choked brokenly. How could she have been so stupid, so hopelessly naive as to think that their night together in the library might have changed anything? It had obviously meant nothing to Nicholas, and had only served to strengthen his erroneous assumptions about her. His apology, the tenderness he had shown her, the absolute beauty of their physical union; clearly his actions had been due only to the over-abundance of alcohol that he had consumed that night and nothing more. The realization was devastating. As she leaned against Raider, the powerful horse stood perfectly still, even as violent sobs wracked her slender body.

Gradually, the smell of freshly cut hay mingled with the sounds and restless movements of the nearby horses brought her back to her senses. She glanced around to see if anyone had been watching her, but thankfully all of the grooms and stablehands seemed to be busy elsewhere or were intentionally granting her the privacy she needed.

As the last of her tears slid down her cheeks, she furiously brushed them away. Nicholas Leighton had made her cry for the last time, she vowed silently. His words had been beyond cruel, and so unjust. She wasn’t sure what had made him say those horrible things to Brendon, but there was no mistaking that he had said them. One thing she did know, however, was that she was never going to allow Nicholas to hurt her again. In her heart, she knew that their night together had been special. It had been an act of love, at least on her part, and despite his hateful words she would never let him succeed in making her feel guilty or ashamed about it. But clearly it was time to move on, time to let go of her foolish fantasy; she realized that now. Giving Raider a final hug, she left the stable and returned to the house.

She deliberately went in through the servant’s entrance and took the back stairs to prevent the possibility of running into Nicholas. When she reached the sanctuary of her room, she found Annie there, hanging some freshly laundered clothes in the wardrobe. She politely requested a steaming hot bath and then asked Annie to press one of her most elegant gowns for dinner.

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