Page 20 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
The horse sidled a bit, showing the whites of its eyes, but the Duke soon brought it under control, firmly but gently. No jabbing at the bit or sawing at the reins.
All in all, an impressive sight.
Yes, the Duke would be a challenge. But an enjoyable one.
‘Before we give the horses their heads,’ he said, riding close, ‘let me show you a little bit of the estate. It has been in my family for many centuries.’
To her surprise, as they left the stable, a mounted groom emerged from the stables and followed them.
‘Observing all the proprieties, are we?’ she asked. The gossips were right, this duke truly was a stuffed shirt. Dour-bridge. An apt nickname.
According to another, he was as toplofty as the King himself. He certainly seemed that way.
He needed taking down a peg or two.
Perhaps Barbara was the one to help in that quarter.
The Duke gave her a dark look in answer to her question. Oh, yes, as arrogant as they came. Well, she had suffered under arrogant men in the past, but not this one.
Her horse seemed eager to be off at a gallop, but Barbara held her in check. She did not know the lie of the land hereabouts and would not put the horse in danger.
They rode around to the front of the house. It was a small manor house in a rather plain style, little more than a farmhouse really.
‘This house has been in my family for seven hundred years,’ the Duke said.
She forced herself not to roll her eyes. ‘How interesting. It doesn’t seem grand enough for a ducal seat.’
‘No, it is not the Derbridge seat. It is only one ofmany properties.’
Barbara’s father didn’t even own a property. As the younger son of a younger son, he had spent all his life climbing the ladder of the diplomatic corps. Always seeking a title, even if it meant climbing over the corpses of his rivals.
‘I suppose its closeness to Parliament is the source of its attraction.’ She could not imagine why else the Duke would keep it for his own rather than rent it out.
‘Partly.’
Having a conversation with this duke was little better than talking to a rock.
She glanced over at him, to discover he was watching her intently. As if seeking her reaction to…something.
She stared back. Waiting for him to say more.
He turned away with a wave of his arm. ‘The estate is bounded by Hampton Court lands on that side.’
‘How nice. Are we hacking out or did you bring me all the way here for a geography lesson?’
If possible, his expression seemed grimmer than ever. ‘This way.’
To her disappointment, they turned not in the direction of open country where they could likely find open fields, but towards a small copse down the hill from the house. It seems they were going to take their horses for a walk after all.
The Duke led her down a narrow, rutted path and the groom followed behind. It was so dull.
Dull as ditch water.
Dull as—
‘Oh, my,’ she gasped as they emerged from the trees.
She came up alongside the Duke and gazed at the sight of a race track. The mare she was riding pricked its ears forward and back and skittered around. Barbara brought it under control.
