Page 27 of To Win a Viscount's Heart
“No, but I have met her beautiful stallion, Azure. I just brushed him down and gave him some oats. He’ll be very happy to see her,” Joshua said.
“Would you take me? That’s why I’m here,” Selena said.
“I’m getting ready to brush Aphrodite and Athena. He’s on my way, Miss. I’d be glad to take you,” Joshua said.
“Thank you, Joshua,” Anna said. “I best be getting back to the house to help Mrs. Evans.”
“I’ll be all right,” Selena said, playfully shooing her maid out of the stable.
“Miss Selena, your horse is just a few stalls down on the right. I’ll take you there,” Joshua said.
“You’ve got your arms full. I don’t want to hold you up. You go and I’ll follow.”
“If you wish,” the young boy said before going on his way.
Selena stood there for a few moments, admiring the renovated stable. Large lanterns hung on the walls, lighting a corridor full of oaken-stained wooden stalls. She noticed one next to her looked larger than the rest and wondered if that was for a foaling mare or a sick horse. The floors were cobbled and had shallow drainage channels that ran alongside the stalls. Above her, thick beams supported a high-pitched roof. She thought it was a large, beautiful stable, even if she could remember nothing to compare it to. Selena hoped to ask Gerald to introduce her to his racehorses. As she started to make her way down the aisle, she heard a large kick, followed by neighing and whinnying. It sounded like an agitated horse was nearby. Her curiosity got the better of her and she followed the noise to a stall housing a large black stallion who threw another kick at the side of the stall and began pawing the straw in front of him.
As she approached, he snorted and shook his head. Hanging onto a metal bar, she climbed up on the gate and leaned over. The horse moved toward her, his nostrils flaring,
“Hello, my beauty,” she said softly. The horse blew through his nostrils and lay his head on Selena’s shoulder. She held onto the metal bar with one hand and reached out to gentlytouch the side of his neck, her hand making gentle circles. “You look so sad. What’s wrong sweet baby?” she whispered.
“Climb down and move away, Selena. You could be hurt,” Gerald’s voice said behind her.
Selena glanced over her shoulder and before she could blink, Gerald lifted her down and drew her into his arms. “The horse might have lashed out at you,” he whispered.
Selena, moved by Gerald’s action, blinked back sudden tears. “Thank you for being so protective of me, but I was in no danger from this lovely creature. She couldn’t help but love the feel of his strong arms around her. His masculine scent of sandalwood and citrus made her feel like swooning but for good reasons not bad.
Gerald released her and stepped back. “I’m sorry I was worried when I saw you petting Apollo. He’s been volatile lately.
“I understand,” she said. “But as you can see, he is very gentle.” She reached up and rubbed the horse above his nose. “You’ll be right as rain, won’t you, my beauty,” she whispered gently. The stallion nickered softly in reply.
“My God, I haven’t seen that in years,” Connery said, walking up to them.
“What do you mean?” Gerald asked.
“Apollo has been acting out for the past two weeks. And this lass here whispered a few words, petting his nose and he’s as docile as a lamb.” Connery turned to Selena with a grin. “Ye have a special gift, Miss Bowles. The last time I saw anything similar was when I was a young man in Scotland. The villagers called the woman a witch,” Connery said.
Selena felt the heat of a blush suffuse her cheeks. “I don’t think I have a gift. I do love animals though. I don’t know how I know that, but I just do.”
“Can you sense what’s wrong with the stallion?” Connery asked.
Selena turned back to the thoroughbred and gently rubbed his face. In response, he blew softly from his nostrils. “Has this horse been taken recently from itsmaman?” Selena asked, over her shoulder.
Gerald and Connery exchanged a quick glance.
“Yes, as a matter of fact,” Gerald said. “We purchased him a couple of weeks ago. His mother is still at the breeder’s estate. Why do you ask?”
“Because I think he’s missing his mother. If you bring her here, for a visit, I think he will calm down. Horses, like people, have a close bond with their mothers.”
“That’s remarkable,” Gerald said. “You’re remarkable…”
“Th-thank you, my lord.” Her eyes met Gerald’s and she felt faint, but not from fever, from the intensity of his gaze.
“As I said, tis a rare gift ye have there Miss Bowles,” Connery said with a chuckle.
A dog gave a loud bark and trotted up to them. “Hello, friend.” She smiled and crouching down, she petted the dog’s shaggy white head. “You look familiar. Have we met before?” She giggled as the dog licked her nose.
“That’s Dutch. He’s a shameless flirt,” Gerald said dryly. “When you arrived during the storm, he was spooked by the lightning and thought you and Azure were a threat, he ran up to you barking and startled Azure who reared up and that led to your fall.”
