Page 28 of Scars of a Passionate Revenge
She gestured towards the larger one, a huge beast, perhaps an Arabian? Benedict did not want to look too closely to speculate on the breed. He forced himself to take a step forward. He knew that a gentleman like him should be able to mount from the ground, in one smooth movement, and take control of the creature. But he could not force himself any closer. His fear was too strong to overcome.
“Shall we walk with them a little way first?” he suggested tentatively. He had no idea whether she would go along with the idea, but he was desperately clutching at straws, trying to avoid humiliation and exposure.
She seemed a little confused, looking between him and the horse, but after a while she nodded. “Yes, of course. A walk with the horses would be nice. Then when we get to the open fields, we can mount them and have a gallop.”
His heart dropped at the idea of galloping astride this enormous creature, who seemed to be looking at him in a rather superior and dismissive manner, although he was sure he was imagining it—horses were not capable of such emotions, surely—but he nodded and smiled. There was not much else he could do, in that moment.
The groom who was waiting in the stables came forward and clipped lead reins to the horses’ bridles. “Would you like me to accompany you, Madam?” he asked. “I have a horse tacked up and ready, if you would like an escort.”
Benedict held his breath. The proper thing, of course, would be for the groom to come with them, both for safety and propriety’s sake. But it was the last thing in the world that he wanted. The only reason he was facing up to his terror was in the hope of having time alone with Alice.
To his immense relief, she shook her head. “There will be no need, but thank you for the offer. The horses will be grateful for some warm bran when we return, I am sure. You can busy yourself preparing that while we are gone.”
Benedict smiled at her gentle confidence. Clearly she knew about horses and what they needed, and he could not help but admire her for it.
She took the lead rein of her horse and clicked her tongue at it softly, encouraging it to walk, and instantly it obeyed her and began to plod along steadily next to her. He took a deep breath, grasped the rein of his own horse, and copied her actions, hoping against hope that his horse would be equally obedient.
Much to his amazement, the horse co-operated, and soon they were walking along the path next to each other, their horses walking steadily along with them, stopping occasionally to munch on some grass alongside the path or a particularly enticing section of hedgerow.
“We should not allow them to graze too much,” Alice said, when they had been standing waiting for the horses to move on for a few moments. “It is bad for them to eat too much greenery.” She tilted her head to one side. “But I am sure you know that already!”
Benedict said nothing; he simply watched as she managed to persuade her horse to stop its feasting on the lush green hedge next to the path, and encouraged it on again on their walk. His horse followed suit, without him having to take any action, and Benedict was grateful that horses were pack animals, inclined to follow one another regardless of anything else. He knew that much about them, at least.
They walked on quietly together, and after a while, they reached a small clearing. Alice stopped walking and turned to look at him.
“There is a path that leads in that direction,” she said, pointing to the opposite side of the clearing. “It opens out nicely. Shall we mount the horses, then we can open up into a gallop once the path widens out?”
She said it as if it was the simplest thing in the world, but Benedict felt paralyzed with fear. How could he possibly go through with this? His mouth went dry and his hands were shaking as he gripped the horse’s rein. Even the thought of getting up onto the awful beast’s back was too much for him.
She let go of her horse’s rein, allowing it to drop its head and begin to graze on the lush grass at its feed. She moved a little closer to him. “Benedict, are you quite well?”
He knew that he would not be able to disguise his fear from her. She was perceptive, and sensitive; of course she was going to realize that there was something wrong. But how could he explain himself? He did not even fully understand the situation himself.
“I—I am well, Miss Dunberry,” he said, fighting to make his voice sound normal but knowing full well that it did not. What must she think of him? It was not exactly manly to be scared of a horse.
“You are not, Mr. Fletcher,” she replied, stepping even closer, so that she was standing right next to him. “Benedict,” she said.
He shivered at the sound of her saying his name. She was so close to him now, but he did not know what to say, what to do. He dropped the rein of his horse and turned to face her.
She lifted her hand and reached up to touch his face. Her fingers were cool and her skin was soft. Her touch was like a calm breeze on his skin, and he felt something inside him give way as she gazed at him.
“Is it because of the fire?” she asked. “Is that why you are so afraid?”
***
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Alice realized what she had done. It was too late to take the words back; she could not unsay them. But she saw the look of shock on Benedict’s face.
“The fire?” he said softly. “What do you mean?” He looked at her intently, confusion etched upon his face, and she could barely stand to look at him.
“I—I did not mean anything,” she said. “Forget I said anything. Please, Benedict, it is nothing.”
He shook his head. “No, it is not nothing,” he insisted. “Tell me how you know about the fire? Please, you must tell me.”
She felt her cheeks burn. It was too late. She had given herself away. Would she have to tell him the truth now? She couldn’t tell him everything, though. Then he would know that all along, since they had first met, she had been hiding the truth.
“I don’t know what I was thinking, Benedict,” she said. “Please, forget that I said anything.”
“No, I cannot, Alice. Please, you must tell me how you know about the fire.”
