Taffeta & Hotspur

She inclined her head, but her eyes were lively when she brought her gaze up to his, “A flush hit, my lord.”

“Then I must make it up to you by letting you decide our destination … a sedate ride through the park or somewhere else?” He pulled up his pair of dapple greys as he eyed her, looking for a response and once again found himself caught up by her bright gaze.

“The Peerless Pool!” she announced, looking like a schoolgirl.

“No … absolutely not, funny little brat. Who the deuce has been telling you about the Peerless Pool?”

“Well Seth and Nigel went there and enjoyed it excessively, but when I asked them to take me there, they became very stuffy and said ‘twas impossible.’”

She tickled him in ways he had thought would never happen to him again. She looked so demure and innocent, and then she batted her lashes purposely, and he burst out laughing once again.

“Will you not, my lord?”

“Certainly not!” he answered jovially. “Taking you to the Peerless Pool would forever ruin your reputation. It would have been bad enough for you to be seen there with your brother and uncle, but with me?” He shook his head. “Disaster. Pick another place, sunbeam.”

She pouted at him, and he wanted to take her in his arms. She interrupted his thoughts by touching his thigh and igniting his already charged bolt of desire into a blaze he had to quiet.

“I don’t know of anything else…” she said, still pouting. “And I don’t pout.”

“Don’t you? Ah, then it is merely a very good imitation of one.” He chuckled, and then an idea came to him. “I know just what you would like—I rather like the place myself.”

Her eyes opened wide, and he almost lost concentration, but she grabbed his upper arm, and even through the thick wool of his greatcoat sleeve, once again, he felt a titillating wave of excitement.

“Where?” she asked with a bit of a bounce.

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He thought with some amusement that she was so young, so spirited, and full of life, and he wanted her more than he would soon be able to control. He cleared his throat and answered, “The Royal Exchange.”

“Sounds dashed flat to me,” said the lady with a slight frown.

“You won’t think so when we get there. It is where they house the wild beasts…”

He had definitely hit upon the place in all the world she would enjoy, and she told him so enthusiastically, “Oh, oh… I do forgive you all your sins … yes, yes, the Royal Exchange!” She was quiet for a moment. “I have always wanted a monkey…”

He looked shocked, “Well, I am not getting you one. You may look … you may even touch where they allow, but we are not foisting any wild beasts on your poor aunt.”

Taffeta laughed, “No, you are quite right, I have already turned her kitchens into a kennel with Valiant.”

As he tooled his team around the corner, Taffeta exclaimed, “Tarrant … look, at that man! What a beautiful man—who is he?”

“Sir Francis, and it is not the thing to be pointing at men simply because their looks are pleasing. He noticed you…”

“Oh pooh,” she answered. “Men are forever pointing out women to one another.”

“It is not the same thing, Taffy. You simply can’t go about ogling handsome bucks.”

“Why not?” Taffy shrugged. “All the town bucks spend a great deal of time ogling the chits!”

He laughed in spite of himself, “Incorrigible minx!”

“Besides, he had such fine shoulders…” She teased him in answer.

“Bah, wadding,” retorted Tarrant a bit irritated.

“Yes, but he was dressed to the nines…” she pronounced.

“Dandy.”