The Wounded Nobleman (The Regimental Heroes) by Jennifer Conner Page A

pressed against him, kissing her sweet… oh so sweet mouth.
    Ellis looked out over the pastures where his other horses grazed. Nothing had changed about the land in a little over a year’s time, but everything was different. Garrison should be long to his brother, Clarke . He was the eldest. But his brother fell in love, married, and basically turned over all of Garrison to him. He hadn’t put up a fight. What else would he do? After his leg was badly wounded in the war, the thought of returning to the land and horses he loved was the only thing that brought him through recovery.
    He knew Clarke hadn’t forfeited the estate to him out of pity. He’d never understood, but Clarke truly disliked horses. He would be saddled, he smiled at his pun, for the rest of his life breeding and raising Garrison’s prized carriage horses. Their Friesians were some of the best beasts in England. Had been for generations. He should be honored to accept the post of his brother.
    As he watched Callie walk Liber around and around the pen, Ellis tried to pinpoint what was different about her. It came to him. Her eyes. They didn’t sparkle with life and that devil-may-care look they once held. Her eyes were sad. Troubled. Haunted. Like his and so many of the men who returned from the war.
    But she hadn’t fought. What was her life’s story? Had she been jilted by a lover like she’d jilted him? He hadn’t seen her in over a year and had no claims.
    He moved behind her. She spun with a startled squeal.
    She brushed a hand over the front of her dress. “The poor creature’s been abused.”
    Ellis raised an eyebrow. “And how would you know this?”
    She pulled back his lip. “He’s ground his teeth down and he’s panting.” She moved to his flank . “He’s been beaten with… something. Look, there are scars. He was terrified when the stable hand hit him with a stick.”
    “ Good God ,” he heard himself mutter. Callie was right. Ellis placed his hand on Liber’s flank and it flexed. He trusted an agent to do the purchase. He knew he should have checked the horses upon their return to the stable. He would never hire that man again. “Why did you step between them? You could have been killed!”
    “I couldn’t let this innocent animal be helplessly abused again.” There was a sudden darkness in Callie’s eyes. Ellis thought she would cry. Instead, she tipped her chin high and handed him the lead rop. “I am sorry for talking to you so abruptly. You were right, it is your horse. I had no right to interfere.”
    “But you did.” He ran his hand along the rope but didn’t take it. “Why are you here?”
    She looked at the ground. “I love your horses. I come here and watch them as often as I can. Your horses are the grandest.”
    “I know.”
    “Yes.” A weak smile tipped her lips. “I’ve done my best to avoid you… up until today.” She met his gaze. Her eyes were so blue they were almost transparent. “I’m sorry I hurt you back when we were… younger.”
    “It was only a little over a year ago.”
    “It seems like a lifetime. I can guess we have both changed. Will you forgive me?”
    “For what.” He knew bloody well what she meant, but wanted to see her squirm and feel dreadful for what she’d done to him.
    She sighed and shook her head, but said nothing.
    He let the rope slip and took it from her. When his fingers brushed hers, she jerked her hand back. Ellis watched her strange reaction.
    She turned to leave and he suddenly realized he didn’t want her go.
    “Come back tomorrow. There is obviously no stable hand in my employment who can handle Liber as well as you.”
    “Me?” she asked. Her eyes widened in surprise.
    He motioned his hand. “I don’t see anyone else standing here. If you promise you will not throw yourself between a man with a gun and a horse, you can come back tomorrow and work with Liber. You can help him adjust.”
    Strangely enough it wasn’t the horse that needed to learn