Serena

“Settled right into his stall. I put him to pasture this morning to get some of the fidgets out of him, but I tell ye, Miss Serena … he is green, ye know that, don’t ye?”

“Yes, Mr. Buckley did make a point of telling me that. I promised to take him slowly through his paces. We’ll do, don’t worry. I am fully prepared.”

“I’ll go get him for ye then,” her groom said and vanished around the corner of the barn. A few moments later he returned, a beauty of a large black gelding in tow.

Serena smiled. “Oh, he is absolutely stunnin

g, isn’t he?”

“Aye, that he is, and easy enough to tack up, so that much he understands,” her groom told her.

“Wonderful. Grimsly, please hold his head for me while I mount.”

“Aye, and let yerself down in the saddle easy like …” her groom cautioned.

“Yes, indeed, I shall,” she answered as she did just that. A moment later, she eased the black into a walk, but he pranced instead. “Ho there, lovely Rogue, yes, I was told that is your name, and my goodness, it suits you. Full of spit and fire are you …”

In response to this, Rogue decided to display just how much spit and fire he was full of. He shook his head with vigor, snorted, and pawed at the ground. He wanted to run. She really shouldn’t allow it. She should make him walk.

Indeed, but perhaps, she told herself, he just needed to get a run out of his system. She smiled and put the black into a canter that she knew would turn into a gallop if she didn’t rein him in. Laughing, she let him have his head, and they flew over the line fence in absolutely perfect form.

“Why, you are a jumper, aren’t you? Wonderful … you took that fence so beautifully, Rogue,” she told him and noted that he was paying attention to her voice. That was good. This was good, and she smiled as they flew across the field.

“Right, I’ll let you run just a bit more, and then, my man, you will heed me and walk, deal?” She spoke softly to him, and because she felt him responsive between her legs she leaned onto his neck, took her weight off the saddle, and opened him wide!

* * *

Freddy had against his will acquired a guard of sorts. William Tenor had been sent over by Sir Jasper and Mr. Tuthill. Evidently Mr. Tenor was handy with his fives, was an excellent shot, and had some experience with such things as he had worked as an exciseman for many years.

Freddy grimaced at him and said, “I suppose you don’t like this any more than I do?”

“No,” Mr. Tenor said with a nod of his head. “I don’t, but I’m not worried, for I think ye are too smart to try and shake me.”

“And why is that? Are you too quick for me to lose?” Freddy asked, the challenge on his face and in his tone.

Evidently Mr. Tenor knew better. He shook his head. “Any fool can shake his guard if he means to try. But, as I don’t take ye for a fool, I’m not thinking ye will try.”

Freddy frowned before he relaxed and released a short chuckle, “Eh, I understand. Right then. We’ll keep a watch for anything too smoky, and between us maybe we’ll catch the villain, what say you?”

“I say, I could use the bonus I was promised to do just that.”

Freddy considered the man, for he was immediately struck by the fact that the man might be in financial straits, and he had ever a soft heart. “Do you have a family, Mr. Tenor?”

“I do, ’tis why I gave up being an exciseman. It was exciting for a time, and there was some money in it now and then … but Tuthill asked me to come to work for him last year, and the money is steady. I’m pleased enough, but it wouldn’t hurt to manage this business. The bonus would be a nice little nest egg for m’wife and son.”

Freddy nodded. “Zounds man, then by God we will get him, see if we don’t.” He mounted his horse and turned partially in the saddle to wave himself off, for his uncle had been quietly standing on the front steps. He loved his uncle and knew that he was concerned for him. He smiled broadly, reassuringly, and off he went.

* * *

His lordship had been observing his nephew and Mr. Tenor with a slow smile. He loved his nephew, and it warmed him to note that Freddy had a good heart.

Now, he had other matters to attend to, for he had quite made up his mind.

He walked down to the stables, got his big roan, mounted, and cut through the fields. He meant to visit Moorely and see Serena. He didn’t wish to alienate his nephew, but the time had come to openly charm Serena into believing he would offer for her and thus save Freddy and get him back to school.

Yes, it was wrong. Yes, he would feel like a cad. It was not something he had ever done. He wished there was another way.

Could he do it?