Foley, Gaelen 2 Lord of Ice

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into a circle, winding in tighter with each revolution until the horse s fright was spent.
The animal stood on shaking legs, its coat darkened with sweat. Damien slowed to a walk as he
approached, to avoid startling the mare again. When Miranda glanced over at him, her face was white.
Her riding hat had fallen off, and the girth had loosened, the saddle hanging a bit skewed on the horse s
back.
Easy, easy, girl, Damien murmured, meaning it for both woman and mare as he quickly grasped the
fallen rein and laid hold of the bridle.
The groom was but a few steps behind him and took the horse s bridle, freeing him to move swiftly to
Miranda. She slid down from the saddle into his embrace, her whole body shaking. He set her down so
that her feet touched solid ground; then he held her hard. He could feel her heart pounding in time with his
own.
He pulled back abruptly and cupped her face between his trembling hands, staring fiercely into her eyes.
Are you all right?
She nodded, ashen.
What happened? he demanded almost harshly.
I don t know. S-something spooked her.
Still holding Miranda protectively in his arms, he turned to the groom with a glower. Get that animal out
of my sight. Either take it back to the farm it came from or destroy it.
Miranda looked up at him in fear. He put his arm around her, tight-lipped with fury and belated fright.
He walked her back to the house, where he ordered Ollie Quinn to leave.
Later that evening, Miranda wrapped her pelisse around her and slipped out the back of Knight House,
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going in search of Damien. Her feelings were still a bit bruised from his rejection last night, but the
concern he had shown for her safety today after her debacle with the horse had renewed her hope of
reaching him. In any case, she could not stay away from him, even though he had half-begged,
half-ordered her to the previous night. Her breath clouding on the cold air, she stole across the graveled
yard, hurrying past the carriage house to the stable, where lantern light spilled out onto the snow through
the crack in the barn door.
When she stepped into the stable, her heart racing with anticipation, the only sound was the rhythmic
munching of the horses at their grain. The sweetly pungent smell of oats mingled in her nostrils with the
earthy, pleasant odors of horse and leather and hay. A striped barn cat came trotting out of the shadows
and rubbed its nimble body against Miranda s legs, but the grooms had all gone to take their evening
meal in the servants dining hall. She stooped to scratch the cat s head for a moment, then straightened
up again and walked slowly down the clean-swept aisle to Fancy s stall.
Damien was there, just where she had expected to find him. He turned and met her gaze soberly, his
angular face gilded by the glow of the lantern overhead. His gray eyes were troubled. He gave her a slight
nod in greeting, but said nothing, bending to run his leather-gloved hands down the mare s foreleg.
With a low murmur, he commanded Fancy to lift her hoof, which he braced firmly against his thigh. He
inspected the hoof carefully, then released it and straightened up again. The mare snuffled and moved
away from him, taking a mouthful of hay.
Is she all right?
Damien nodded, patted the horse soundly on the shoulder, and lowered his head, drawing off his thick
leather gloves. Are you?
I m fine now. I had a nice, hot bath that soothed away the jolt to my shoulder and neck. I m rather
proud of myself, actually, she said, trying to coax a smile from him. I didn t fall, and I managed to stop
her, didn t I?
He sent her a rueful half smile, the lantern casting the feathery shadow of his lashes over his high
cheekbones.
Are you still going to send Fancy back where she came from? she asked wistfully. She didn t mean
any harm. I m sure it was my fault. Miranda did not know what she had done to give the mare such a
fright. They had been getting on capitally together, trotting tamely around in a circle, when all of a sudden
the quiet, lovely mare had gone lunatic.
He glanced at the horse. I suppose one instance of bad behavior may be forgiven her that is, if you
still find her acceptable.
I do. I love her. Here, girl, she called softly. The mare came over to her and searched for sugar cubes,
lipping at the hand Miranda stretched through the metal bars. She says she s sorry. She promises not to
do it again. It s just that she s not entirely used to her new life yet.
You re not afraid to ride her again? he asked in approval.
Of course not. I managed, didn t I? Admit it, I was splendid. She flashed him a grin, and he smiled
wanly. I know you re blaming yourself about this because you bought her for me, but it wasn t your
fault, Damien, she said in a shy, tender tone, avoiding his gaze as she stroked the horse s forehead. No
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harm done.
He drifted over to the stall door, but instead of opening it, he grasped the metal bars and leaned his
forehead against them. He stared at her through the bars like a prisoner looking out from his cell.
Miranda waited, searching his eyes. They were so guarded, so full of longing.
What is it?
He sighed. Oliver Quinn wants to marry you. Any interest?
She looked at him in alarm. No.
A cynical smile quirked his mouth. Don t panic. I told him as much. But there will be more. Many more,
I should think.
She stiffened, tearing her gaze away from his beautiful face. You know where my affections lie, my
lord.
Miranda, he said in an anguished tone.
I don t understand. She turned to him. I know you re not indifferent to me. Why do you keep pushing
me away?
He looked into her eyes. Why do you think I do? he asked, and waited for her answer.
I think it has to do with this problem of yours . . . your confusion last night, your nightmares. The same [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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