And Then She Fell (The Cynster Sisters Duo 1)

Of backing away, no matter the challenge.

They wanted this, both of them, this and all it could lead to.

Slumping back onto the pillows, as she crawled into his arms, their gazes met and held . . . and he read in her eyes the same resolution that resonated inside him.

Without words, without further thought, in that moment they made a binding commitment.

To each other, to themselves, to their future lives.

To this.

For this they would battle any foe.

Because this was worth any price.

It was that simple. That fundamental.

She lowered her head to his shoulder, let her body, her limbs, relax against his.

Eyes closing, he cradled her close.

As all tension fell away, he inwardly smiled, and sent a prayer winging heavenward—to his grandaunt Emily.

He was entirely reconciled to her manipulation.

Chapter Twelve

Atop Marie, Henrietta trotted into the park early the next morning. Two grooms rode at her back, both alert and watchful, there to ensure no one attempted to accost or otherwise threaten her.

The morning was cool and damp, light wisps of fog clinging to the trees and wreathing the bushes deeper in the park. No sun had yet struck through the pale gray clouds, and the birdcalls were muted.

“At least there’s no wind,” Henrietta murmured. For her and Marie, this was a regular outing, one of their customary biweekly morning rides; while she’d readily agreed to the extra guards, she hadn’t felt inclined to allow her villainous would-be murderer to dictate how she lived her life.

Yet in deference to the threat, James had insisted on joining her, and with that she was perfectly content; they’d arranged to meet by the start of the tan track along Rotten Row. Conscious of the warming spark of anticipation the prospect of seeing James provoked, she clung to it and rode at a quick clip down toward the track.

Beneath her outward calm, she felt restless, discomfited. She felt almost itchy, her nerves abraded by the constant scrutiny that had surprisingly quickly escalated once the rest of the family had been informed of the threat against her life.

She hadn’t expected to feel quite so “under observation,” to the extent that the three hours she’d spent at a ball last night had ended feeling like time to be endured, rather than enjoyed. Even having James constantly by her side hadn’t alleviated the oppressive feeling.

“But until this damned villain is caught and hung by the heels,” she muttered, “it appears I’m going to have to put up with it.”

She reached the start of the tan track and wasn’t all that surprised to find no James waiting. Drawing rein, she leaned forward and patted Marie’s glossy neck. “We’re a trifle early, I fear.”

She and James had agreed to ride extra early, but, restless, she’d left home as soon as she’d been ready, and as yet there were few others abroad. She could see only two groups of riders, one threesome of rakish gentlemen, and two older gentlemen out for their morning constitutional. Both groups were already using the track; their members noted her escort and gave her a wide berth.

She shifted in her saddle; Marie pranced as the three rakish gentlemen set their mounts facing down the tan track, then swept past and on in a thunder of hooves. The mare loved to run and didn’t at all appreciate Henrietta holding her back.

“James will be here soon.” Henrietta gentled the mare, settling her. Along with Marie, she looked longingly down the track. “We’ll be able to run when he comes.”

Then again, she had two guards, and the track wasn’t that long . . . and other than the five riders, all of whom she recognized, there was no one else around.

The mare danced, jiggling her.

“Oh, all right.” Easing the reins, she swung Marie toward the start of the track and called over her shoulder, “I’m going down for one pass.”

Her guards quickly brought their horses up; when she sent Marie at an easy gallop down the tan, the grooms kept station just behind her.

They were galloping fluidly by the time they reached the end of the track. Laughing—feeling considerably better, freer, lighter of heart—Henrietta reined in and turned, bringing M