Douglas by Grace Burrowes

Author:Grace Burrowes [Burrowes, Grace]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9781402278693
Amazon: 1402278691
Goodreads: 17620225
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Published: 2014-01-07T06:00:00+00:00

Ten

“Ladies.” Douglas interrupted a fierce debate over plow designs, the most recent of many fierce and exuberant debates between Guinevere and Loris Tanner. “I am tiring more rapidly than I had predicted. I don’t want to leave you without escort, though. Shall I send a groom out to join you?”

“I apologize, Douglas,” Guinevere said, turning her horse to walk along beside his. “I had not realized the time we’ve passed in the saddle. Why don’t we ride by Dove Cottage and then continue to Linden? We’ve seen plenty for one day, and the afternoon grows chilly.”

“Miss Tanner?” Douglas inquired politely, though judging by his aching fundament, chilly was a vast euphemism.

“I am a bit cold.”

“Then we shall ride in.” He urged Regis into a rocking canter, the ladies fell in behind him, and they soon reached Dove Cottage.

Douglas assisted Miss Tanner to dismount, but when she turned to lead her gelding to her stable, he stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“I think you should know, Miss Tanner, I wrote to Lord Greymoor today.”

She said nothing, her expression indicating she expected press gangs and constables to swarm her property at any moment. Douglas knew that expression, for it closely resembled Guinevere’s view of the world not so long ago.

“I suggested to Greymoor he might want to retain you in the capacity of steward,” Douglas said. “Andrew Alexander is one of few titled gentlemen—perhaps the only titled gentleman in the realm—who could be persuaded to accept a female in that capacity, thanks to Miss Hollister’s excellent efforts at Enfield and your peculiar circumstances here at Linden. Should he offer the position, and should you decline it, he will forward to you a sum commensurate with the salary you have earned since you assumed the post informally.”

“Thank you,” she said, looking away. “Lord Amery, thank you.”

Her grip on the reins looked perilously tight, though her sturdy gelding was in no danger of bolting off when his supper waited in the nearby barn.

“You are welcome, though you have Miss Hollister to thank for putting this option to Lord Greymoor.”

“Miss Hollister.” Miss Tanner turned and curtsied deeply.

“It is getting chillier, isn’t it?” Douglas observed, gaze going to the gray clouds overhead. He bowed crisply to Miss Tanner and swung up on Regis before one or the other female became overwhelmed by sentiment. “Miss Hollister, shall we be off?”

Upon reaching the Linden stables, Guinevere handed her horse to a groom and shot a quizzical look at Douglas as he led Regis into the barn.

“What did you say to her?” she asked, lowering herself to a bench while Douglas removed Regis’s bridle and saddle.

“I told her I took your advice.” He stepped back so Regis could shake his big dark head from side to side, and that turned into a whole body shake such as a sound, sturdy mount could best enjoy when free of saddle and girth.

“And that had her in tears?” Guinevere inquired, watching the horse.

Regis, completely unconfined, stood his ground while Douglas retrieved a coarse towel from the saddle room and laid it over his own shoulder.

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