Page 15 of The Secret Life of the Elusive Governess
Her words sounded acquiescent, but Moses had the niggling feeling that the problem had been made worse. In frustration, his jaw went stiff.
Why do I feel like this matter is not finished? What more is to come, and why do I feel that it will get worse?
Chapter 7
How Caroline managed to find herself walking near the stables was a mystery even to herself, seeing as she was terrified of horses. It was a calm day—the children were off to their midday meal and she had opted to take a walk, coincidentally, at the same time, the Duke had just finished exercising his horse.
Last night she had opened the sketchbook the Duke had given her and taken one of the onyx sticks out, but no matter how hard she tried, she could never lower her hand to sully the pristine page of the book. After five different attempts, she had given up.
It is too precious to smear,she had decided while closing the tin case.I will probably keep it blank for the rest of my life.
“Miss Robins…”
Caroline dragged herself out of her thoughts and startled when she realized that she had neared the fencing of the stables and the Duke was staring at her. He had alighted from his steed and was holding the reins in his hand. His hair was windswept and his complexion an invigorated flush.
“Good day, Your Grace,” she replied with a curtsey, “The children are on break and I felt for some fresh air.”
Her eyes tripped nervously over the black thoroughbred behind the man and anxiously flinched.
What on earth are they feeding this mammoth? He grows bigger every time I see him.
“…have you ever ridden a horse before?”
She had not realized that the Duke had been speaking to her, but mercifully, she had caught the tail end of his conversation and replied to that. “No, Your Grace, I have never sat or ridden a horse before.”
Her words were slow as she still felt that something, a comment, or an inquiry was coming, and she was right.
“Do you have a specific reason, Miss Robins?”
Caroline trained her gaze on the stables and the pastureland behind it. “To be honest, I am terrified of horses, Your Grace.” She laughed softly and by habit clasped her hands in front of her dark skirt, “I do watch you ride from time to time, and every time I do, I get fearful that your horse will throw you.”
“Pegasus is a gentle soul, Miss Robins,” the Duke inserted with an amused lilt to his smile, “Remember there is no castigation here, you may speak freely.”
“Freely doesn’t equalize too bold, and forgive me if this too daring, Your Grace.” Caroline said, “But his namesake tells a different story. Pegasus is the son ofPoseidon, a vicious and vindictive god, and theGorgon Medusa, a monster who turns men to stone with a look. I do not think the adjective gentle applies in this situation.”
“Be brave, Miss Robins,” the peer said while approaching her, “Come and touch him.”
Fear laced up Caroline’s spine, “I hardly think so, Your Grace.”
“Do not let me change my opinion of you, Miss Robins,” the Duke said easily, “As this far, I have held you as a fearless soul. I would hate to change that.”
Pressing her lips together tightly, Caroline eyed the black beast and shuddered, “I believe that I can see savagery in the depths of his eyes, Your Grace.”
“Your imaginations are very disturbing, Miss Robins. Come and touch him, time is wasting,” the Duke pressed, while holding the reins and tugging the horse forward.
Swallowing tightly, Caroline edged up the massive horse and stopped mid-step as the equine’s dark eyes pinned her to her place. The animal’s nose flared, and she swore the breath huffed from it was hotter than the fires of hell. Her hand felt frozen at her side as she engaged the animal in a staring match.
Beside her, she heard the Duke’s husky laugh, and then her hand was caught in a warm grip. “He will not speak to you, Miss Robins, no matter how much you dare him to.”
Her attention was immediately captured by the Duke’s solid hold and she fought the shivers that instantly erupted inside her stomach. Her naked palm was softly placed on the warm black hide of the horse and with the touch, she felt soft hairs and warm heat. As her hand was placed on his side, she also felt the animal’s deep breaths expanding and contracting his midsection. If she concentrated hard enough, she believed she could also feel his heartbeat.
She blinked. “This is…”
“Incredibly odd to you, perhaps,” the Duke proposed.
Not of the animal,Caroline corrected,but mentioning how warm your hands are would not be proper.
“Very much so,” Caroline added, as she savored the man’s touch in favor of the horse. A phrase from her favorite elegy came up and, smiling, she uttered it. “But in the mirror of his polish'd shield, reflected saw Medusa slumbers take,and not one serpent by good chance awake.Then backward an unerring blow he sped,and from her body lop'd at once her head.The gore prolifick prov'd with sudden force, sprung Pegasus, and wing'd his airy course.”
