Scandals Bride (Cynster 3)

Richard studied her eyes, then nodded. "I'd assumed after reading Glean's letters to Seamus that all that was so much hot air." He took her hand and turned her toward the stairs.

"Sir Olwyn's always trying to create situations out of nothing."

"Hmmm." Placing her hand on his sleeve, Richard started up the stairs.

Catriona frowned. "Where are we going?"

"To our room." Richard waved ahead. "Henderson and Worboys have been doing a little reorganizing-I think we should see if you approve." He smiled at her, effortlessly charming. "And there's one or two other things I'd like you to consider."

Like the appetite he'd worked up dispensing with Sir Olwyn.

It was time for a midday snack.

Four days later, when Catriona again tried to slip from her husband's arms before dawn, he grunted, held her close for an instant, then let her go-and rolled out of bed as well.

"This is really not necessary," Catriona stated as, ten minutes later, she stood in the dimness of the stable and watched Richard saddle her mare. "I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself."

"Hmm."

Catriona glared. She knew it was useless, but it eased her temper, confused as it was. "You could have stayed nicely warm in bed."

Cinching the girths, he looked up and met her eyes. "There's no point in staying nicely warm in bed if you're not in it."

It was her turn to humph. Gathering the reins, she put her hands to the saddle, intending to scramble up. He was around beside her in a blink; lifting her, he dropped her onto her perch.

Glaring, she reminded herself, was wasted effort. She settled her feet in the stirrups. "I'll be back in less than two hours."

Tight-lipped, he nodded and led the way up the long main corridor of the stable to open the door for her.

Halfway along, he abruptly ducked-avoiding a huge horsy head that suddenly appeared over the top of one stall. The head bobbed and danced, huge eyes rolling at the mare, who promptly skittered and shied. Catriona cursed and drew the mare back.

Richard stared at the huge horse, its head considerably higher than his. "Where the devil did you come from?"

"That's Thunderer." Holding the mare still, Catriona looked at the troublemaker. "He's not usually in this section of the stables. Higgins is making repairs in the other building-perhaps that's why he's moved Thunderer here."

The big horse shifted, then snorted and kicked restlessly. Catriona sighed. "I wish he'd calm down. He half demolishes his stall every month."

"He probably just needs more exercise." Climbing up on the gate of the next stall, Richard looked down on the massive beast. The sleek, dappled grey coat had obviously given him his name-that, and the noise he made with his huge hooves, constantly stamping, shifting, kicking. Richard frowned. "Is he a stallion?"

"Yes-he's stallion to the vale's herd. In winter, all the mares are quartered around the other side."

With a snort, Richard dropped back to the ground. "Poor animal." He shot a glance at Catriona. "I know just how he feels." She sniffed; he looked back at the stallion. "You need to give orders for him to be ridden more-at least once a day. Or you'll be paying for it in timber and tending bitten grooms."

"Unfortunately, with Thunderer, we have to pay and tend. He's unridable."

Richard frowned at her, then back at the horse.

"He's a superb horse, a thoroughbred with excellent bloodlines. We needed a stallion like him to improve the herd, and he was a bargain because the gentleman who owned him couldn't ride him."

"Hmm. That doesn't necessarily mean he's unridable."

Catriona shrugged. "He's thrown every groom in the vale. So now, in winter, he just mooches around in a foul temper."

Richard shot her a sharp glance. "That, I can appreciate."

Sticking her nose in the air, Catriona waved at the door. "I have to reach the circle before dawn."

She couldn't hear what Richard grumbled, but he turned and strode on. Keeping to the far side of the corridor, she walked the mare past Thunderer, who whinnied pitifully. "Males!" she muttered under her breath.