Page 57 of Lord Ashley's Beautiful Alibi
Aah! She gave her mount a command, and the mare trotted ahead.
“Don’t rush. Stay with me,” Kane told her when he had spurred his horse and caught up with her.
She was back to controlling her views of him as he took in the sun and trees and spring air like a man who lived for the freedom of the ride. But it was true, man and animal flowed as one. Amazing, since the beast, who went by the name of Charlemagne, was a brute.
Their groom had done the very best job of finding an animal capable of holding his master. The horse, a noble ebony Percheron with a long mane and neat, braided tail, had to stand fifteen hands high. More than that, he was an affectionate joker who nibbled the shoulder of Kane’s coat when he stood talking overly long to the villageboulanger. The animal wanted the big carrots Kane had bought from the greengrocer, and the horse did not fancy waiting.
Her own mount was an older, gentle mare by the name of Alyse who responded to Gus’s commands with an ease that made Gus smile.
She had to confess that their day out along the country roads, amid the fresh air and bounteous late May sunshine, raised her spirits.
“I apologize for this morning,” she told him as they walked their horses home along the road that afternoon. Whipping off her broad-brimmed chip hat, she threw back her head to enjoy the wind through her hair. “I wish to call a truce.”
He pointed toward a public winevendeuron the far corner. “I say we buy a good wine to celebrate that.”
“Let’s.” The best wine, young or old, came from barrels closest to the vineyards. “You’ve come this way to enter town and stroll past St. Antoine’s townhome, haven’t you?”
He nodded. “I’m reviewing our security.”
She discreetly eyed their surroundings. Everyone in the street appeared to be about their own business. “And what do you think of it?”
“Normal.”
They turned at the corner house to walk toward the public stables and return their horses.
“Shall I challenge you to a game of chess?” he asked her as he opened the door to the wine shop.
*
That was thebeginning of an evening filled with a hearty dinner of roast lamb, creamed potatoes and fresh spring asparagus, fierce competition, and speaking of the little things that forged a finer understanding of each other. Through it all her desire to enjoy him burned through her, and she had no resolve to deny it.
Gus held out her wine glass so that Kane could refill it. “You think we are not followed, is that right? So we will go tomorrow to the St. Antoines house?”
“I think we are safe to do so, yes. Am I right that you are well acquainted with the St. Antoines’majordom?” he asked her.
“I am.” They sat on the carpeted floor before the fire, warm and pleasantly sated. She was grateful the tension had lessened between them. “He is a lovely little man who adores Amber. And she him.”
“I too know Monsieur Bonnet.”
She liked Kane, his ease and poise to move in any situation among many different strata of people. He was not a prig or a poseur, but genuinely himself. Kind and considerate…even tohorses. “I am not surprised. One day, I hope you will tell me why and how you conveniently know ever so many people in this country.”
“One day soon, yes. Will you return the favor?”
“I will,” she said at length. “But here you are the enemy.”
“I am not yours,” he declared with compassion in his eyes.
She met his frankness with her own. “No. I see that. Your proof, I mean. I am grateful.”
They drank in silence.
She considered the popping flames of the fire. “Do you think Bonnet will be inclined to tell anyone who inquires that we have been here?”
He gazed at her with sorrow and resignation. “Do you?”
“No. But torture has a way of denying anyone of their ethics.”
He winced and took a huge swallow of his wine.
