The Belligerent Miss Boynton AND The Lurid Lady Lockport (Two Companion Full-Length Regency Novels) by Kasey Michaels
Authors: Kasey Michaels
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staring at Jared. "All of you, come inside and I'll dish it out."
Jared held out his hand to Tom, who took it warily, and they trailed after the old man toward a room at the back of the once fine but now empty stables—following an appetizing aroma that wafted from that general area.
Amanda did not follow. Instead, she ran over to the fence and gave a low whistle. Out in the meadow a proud head lifted and gave an answering whinny. The spring sun glinted on the chestnut coat of the huge stallion as he raced to the fence, his long, quite unique tawny mane and tail flying in the breeze.
Amanda climbed to the top of the fence and pressed her face close to the horse's neck, hugging him, while the stallion nuzzled her shoulder. "Oh, Tempest, my dearest, dearest love, how I've missed you."
Jared, thoroughly bemused, watched from the shadows of the stable as the small girl motioned to the huge red horse. The stallion moved alongside the fence so that his mistress could slide her leg over onto his back. Grasping his mane in her hand, she eased the rest of her body sideways until she was mounted astride. And then, in a flash, the two were off, pelting across the meadow as one perfect unit—freedom of line and spirit apparent in their fluid movement, Amanda's full skirts and unbound hair trailing in the wind.
Jared stood transfixed until they were out of sight, watching the magnificent stallion and the beautiful young girl.
"I knew she couldna ate 'til she rode on Tempest," Harrow said, chuckling. He had come up beside Jared quietly, and the sudden voice startled him from his uncomfortable thoughts—thoughts that had a lot to do with seeing himself as a heartless despoiler of innocents. "Don't fret, my lord. My girl knows what she's about. That horse wouldna harm her none."
"I never saw anything like that in my life, Harrow. She was astride him bareback. That slip of a girl!" Jared shook his head in amazement.
The cackle came again. "Miss Mandy's been riding since afore she could walk. Her Da taught her, you know." Suddenly he was serious. "I fed the boy and he'll be eating yours and Miss Mandy's if I let him alone in there. But, before you be goin' in, can I ask you a question, my lord? What's my Missy doing here? She was apposed to be havin' a fine do-up in London."
Jared turned to the man and explained softly, "Denton threatened to sell the horse if your Miss Mandy refused to marry the man of his choice, so she ran away." He looked to the empty field once more. "I can see now her great attachment to the beast. Anyway, she plans to ride off on Tempest, to go live with her old nurse."
"But she can't be doin' that! Mr. Denton will find her sure, and then there'll be the devil to pay." Harrow was silent for a moment and then asked, "What affair be this of yours, if I may be so bold, my lord?"
Jared decided that discretion, besides being the better part of valor, might, in this instance, save him from a pitchfork to the backside. "I met Miss Amanda at Almacks and she told me of her plans," he said smoothly. I knew her father, and so, of course, couldn't let her do such a hare-brained thing. Therefore, not being able to talk her out of her mad scheme, I came with her."
"No one talks Miss Mandy out of somethin' she's made her mind up to do, my lord, so don't let that worry you none. But you say you knew his lordship. I guess I didn't quite catch your name, sir."
"Jared Delaney, Harrow. Or, by my title, Lord Storm. I have several of the Fox Chase bloodline in my stables, though the strain is diluted now. Best horseflesh I've ever owned."
Recognition dawned in Harrow's eyes. "Ah, aye, now I place you, my lord. It's been some years, though. I thank you for bringin' my girl home to me. But what are we to do now?"
Jared cast his eyes toward the meadow but there still was no sign of Amanda. Good. He placed a companionable arm around the old groom's shoulders, turned him back toward the stables, and began, "Now, Harrow, that's
Jared held out his hand to Tom, who took it warily, and they trailed after the old man toward a room at the back of the once fine but now empty stables—following an appetizing aroma that wafted from that general area.
Amanda did not follow. Instead, she ran over to the fence and gave a low whistle. Out in the meadow a proud head lifted and gave an answering whinny. The spring sun glinted on the chestnut coat of the huge stallion as he raced to the fence, his long, quite unique tawny mane and tail flying in the breeze.
Amanda climbed to the top of the fence and pressed her face close to the horse's neck, hugging him, while the stallion nuzzled her shoulder. "Oh, Tempest, my dearest, dearest love, how I've missed you."
Jared, thoroughly bemused, watched from the shadows of the stable as the small girl motioned to the huge red horse. The stallion moved alongside the fence so that his mistress could slide her leg over onto his back. Grasping his mane in her hand, she eased the rest of her body sideways until she was mounted astride. And then, in a flash, the two were off, pelting across the meadow as one perfect unit—freedom of line and spirit apparent in their fluid movement, Amanda's full skirts and unbound hair trailing in the wind.
Jared stood transfixed until they were out of sight, watching the magnificent stallion and the beautiful young girl.
"I knew she couldna ate 'til she rode on Tempest," Harrow said, chuckling. He had come up beside Jared quietly, and the sudden voice startled him from his uncomfortable thoughts—thoughts that had a lot to do with seeing himself as a heartless despoiler of innocents. "Don't fret, my lord. My girl knows what she's about. That horse wouldna harm her none."
"I never saw anything like that in my life, Harrow. She was astride him bareback. That slip of a girl!" Jared shook his head in amazement.
The cackle came again. "Miss Mandy's been riding since afore she could walk. Her Da taught her, you know." Suddenly he was serious. "I fed the boy and he'll be eating yours and Miss Mandy's if I let him alone in there. But, before you be goin' in, can I ask you a question, my lord? What's my Missy doing here? She was apposed to be havin' a fine do-up in London."
Jared turned to the man and explained softly, "Denton threatened to sell the horse if your Miss Mandy refused to marry the man of his choice, so she ran away." He looked to the empty field once more. "I can see now her great attachment to the beast. Anyway, she plans to ride off on Tempest, to go live with her old nurse."
"But she can't be doin' that! Mr. Denton will find her sure, and then there'll be the devil to pay." Harrow was silent for a moment and then asked, "What affair be this of yours, if I may be so bold, my lord?"
Jared decided that discretion, besides being the better part of valor, might, in this instance, save him from a pitchfork to the backside. "I met Miss Amanda at Almacks and she told me of her plans," he said smoothly. I knew her father, and so, of course, couldn't let her do such a hare-brained thing. Therefore, not being able to talk her out of her mad scheme, I came with her."
"No one talks Miss Mandy out of somethin' she's made her mind up to do, my lord, so don't let that worry you none. But you say you knew his lordship. I guess I didn't quite catch your name, sir."
"Jared Delaney, Harrow. Or, by my title, Lord Storm. I have several of the Fox Chase bloodline in my stables, though the strain is diluted now. Best horseflesh I've ever owned."
Recognition dawned in Harrow's eyes. "Ah, aye, now I place you, my lord. It's been some years, though. I thank you for bringin' my girl home to me. But what are we to do now?"
Jared cast his eyes toward the meadow but there still was no sign of Amanda. Good. He placed a companionable arm around the old groom's shoulders, turned him back toward the stables, and began, "Now, Harrow, that's
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