Harlequin Historical August 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: Sequins and Spurs\Rake Most Likely to Thrill\The Captain's Frozen Dream by Cheryl St.John

Author:Cheryl St.John
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Harlequin Historical
Publisher: Harlequin

Chapter Fourteen

The future was an uncertain thing indeed. If anyone had told him four months ago his uncle would hand him his dream on a platter, he would have been thrilled beyond words. Yet now, the dream seemed tarnished, not exactly the shining opportunity he’d once thought it was.

It was one of the many thoughts that occupied Archer’s mind as he sat at the long table inside the villa with his uncle who had come out to see the horses one last time before the tratta. Needless to say, it was not one of the thoughts he should have had his mind on. None of the thoughts were. He should not be thinking of the forbidden Elisabeta or what he could do to dissuade her from her stubborn refusal.

‘Life at the villa suits you.’ His uncle poured them a glass of wine, cheerfully oblivious to his distraction.

‘It does,’ Archer answered truthfully. His time here had been all he’d hoped, further proof that he’d chosen well in coming to Siena. He was his own man here, as he hoped he would be, and he was connecting for the first time with a family he’d always known existed, but had never known in person.

‘The two chestnuts are coming along.’ His uncle picked up a cluster of grapes from the platter between them, settling in for a discussion of the horses and which ones Archer would bring back with him for the tratta.

Archer nodded in agreement. ‘Their legs are strong. They are cornering well.’ Archer had studied the maps of the Palio course, the circular track of the race. ‘Either of them will be able to navigate San Martino’s curve.’ It was the most dangerous turn of the Palio course and the bane of many horses. Of course, the horse’s skill wasn’t the only factor, just the only factor that could be trained for. Successful cornering also depended on whether or not another rider was out to cause a wreck and that depended on what partiti had been struck between you and other contradas.

‘Which other horses do you think we should bring to the tratta?’ The tratta was the official selection of the horses, held three days before the Palio itself. The question was asked casually, but Archer did not miss the honour the question did him. Once more, his uncle had asked for his opinion, a sign that he was willing to be guided by Archer’s choice.

‘I think there will be two more plus the chestnuts ready to go.’ Archer named them, watching his uncle nod.

‘What about the grey?’ his uncle asked when he finished.

Archer shook his head without hesitation. ‘He’s too green. The horse is fast, but he is skittish. I don’t think he will respond well to the noise and activity on the day of the Palio. I’ve run some simulations out here with gunfire and they haven’t gone well. But he is young. Next year, perhaps.’

His uncle’s face broke into a grin, and he slapped his knee with a hearty chuckle.

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