Lady Eve's Indiscretion by Grace Burrowes Page A

favor of bread and water and switching my backside until I couldn’t sit a horse anymore.”
    â€œI gather you were sad when the punishment ended?”
    He was a perceptive man, and he’d also known her before.
    And there it was again, the great divide in Eve’s life: Before the Accident versus After the Accident. She forced herself not to drop the thread of the conversation, because that divide was private, known only to her.
    She hoped.
    â€œI learned a very great deal in that month from watching the horses, listening to the lads, and seeing them working the horses in the schooling ring. I learned how to care for my tack, how to properly groom a beast and not just fuss about with the brushes, how to tack up and untack, when a horse was cool enough to put away, what to do with an abscess or a hot tendon.”
    She fell silent. In some ways that had been the happiest month of her childhood.
    Of her life.
    Beside her, Deene went abruptly alert. Eve followed his gaze to where a little girl was playing fetch with a spaniel. The governess or nanny was on a bench nearby, reading a book.
    â€œTake the reins, Evie.”
    Before Eve could protest that she couldn’t take the reins, she did not want to take the reins, and she would not take the reins, Deene had thrust them into her hands.
    He hopped out of the still-moving vehicle and approached the child.
    â€œUncle Lucas!” The girl squealed her greeting and pelted toward Deene, arms outstretched. The horses shifted a bit at the commotion, making Eve’s insides shift more than a bit.
    â€œSteady, gentlemen.” Thankfully, she still had the equestrian skill of sounding more relaxed than she felt. While Deene swept the child up in a hug, Eve also made her hands and arms relax, then her middle, lest the horses pick up on her tension and decide to leave the park at a dead gallop.
    She exerted the same discipline over her thoughts as she had her body.
    â€œAnd, ho.” Obediently, both geldings shuffled to a halt. “Stand, gentlemen.” She gave a little slack in the reins, and thank God, and perhaps Deene’s ability to train a team, the horses stood like statutes.
    â€œShall I hold ’em, miss?”
    The tiger—whose existence Eve had completely forgotten—scrambled off the coach and stood blinking up at her.
    â€œThat won’t be necessary. I don’t think his lordship will be long.”
    The nanny was speaking to Deene in low tones, her hand plucking at her collar. Deene kept the girl perched on his hip but reached out with one hand and snatched the ball from the woman’s hands. He pitched it quite hard, then set the girl down while the dog ran off after the ball.
    While Eve watched, Deene took the girl’s hand and led her over to the curricle.
    â€œLady Eve, there’s somebody I’d like to introduce you to. This is my niece, Miss Georgina Dolan. Georgie, Lady Eve is my friend, so please make your curtsy.”
    The girl dipped a perfect curtsy. “Pleased to meet you, my lady.”
    She came up grinning, as if she knew she’d done it exactly as instructed.
    Eve smiled down at a pair of dancing blue eyes framed by fat, golden sausage curls.
    â€œMiss Georgina.” Eve inclined her head on a smile. “A pleasure. Is that your dog?”
    â€œCharles. He’s the best. My papa got him for me when I turned seven. Are these your horses?”
    â€œThey belong to your uncle.” Who remained at the child’s side, holding her hand. “Their names are Duke and Marquis. I’m sure your uncle would let you pet them.”
    â€œUncle?” She turned a wheedling smile on Deene. “I don’t want to pet them, I want to ride them.”
    â€œWhich would get horsehair all over your pretty dress, my dear, and render your nanny apoplectic.”
    The governess, a prim blond, was looking nervous enough, standing just a few feet off, the ball at her feet, the dog