Winning the Gentleman (Hearts on the Heath #2) - Kristi Ann Hunter Page 0,29

to the ground. More than once she’d jumped down from a sidesaddle on her own, but from the back of this grey beast, the ground looked very far away indeed. Self-sufficiency was a good quality, but turning an ankle wouldn’t help her cause.

If she turned fully sideways before making the drop, she’d be able to land evenly on both feet, thereby preventing injury. She unhooked her right leg from the pommel and gathered the reins loosely in her hand.

“Are you intending to jump from the back of that horse?”

Her head jerked up, and she nearly tumbled from her new precarious position in the saddle. His face was incredulous as she scrambled to adjust her weight. “I was considering it, yes.”

“No.”

She froze, still twisted to cling to the pommel. “I beg your pardon?”

Instead of answering, he stepped up to the horse and lifted his arms to snag her about the waist. Her attempts not to squeal left her squeaking like a mouse as he lowered her to the ground. His grip remained firm as she found her footing; then he stepped back as if nothing had happened.

Her heart pounded as if she were right back in that race across the Heath. It was a ridiculous reaction. Men had been lifting women down from horses for ages. Jonas performed the task nearly every day. Perhaps that was the problem. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been assisted from a horse by anyone other than her brother. Having an enigmatic gentleman do the honors would undoubtedly elicit a different response.

He gave the stable boys instructions on caring for Poseidon and returning him to Hawksworth. Shadow was walked over to the side of the stable and given a bucket of water.

Horses taken care of, Mr. Whitworth turned to Sophia. “Meadowland Park is perhaps three miles west of here. Are your legs sufficiently rested, or have you need of another horse?”

She grinned and gave a short burst of laughter. “If you think riding a galloping horse sidesaddle will rest your legs, you’ve clearly never experienced it.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Clearly.”

Did the man pay to rent words from one of the Cambridge professors?

“Yes. Well.” She cleared her throat. “This would be an excellent opportunity to tell me I did well on my first run. In case you were wondering.”

“You lost.”

She frowned. “Not by much. Admit it. There’s not as much to teach me as you thought there would be.”

“You didn’t fall off. That’s good.”

Was he joking? She truly hoped that was meant as a teasing remark and not an indication that her ability to hold on to a horse was the only redeeming thing about that ride.

“Do you require a horse to go to Meadowland Park?”

Her legs ached—her entire body ached, if she was being honest—but she wasn’t about to ask for a concession or appear less than capable for a single moment. “I, er, no.”

He gave a sharp nod and walked to his horse. She followed, because what else was she going to do? He unhooked her bag from the saddle and handed it over before taking the reins from the stable boy. “Geoffrey here will show you the way.”

Geoffrey was trying—and failing—to follow Mr. Whitworth’s emotionless example. The slack jaw as he stared at the place where her trousers were visible beneath her wrinkled and twisted skirt revealed the moment was too much for his restraint.

Leather creaked and buckles jangled as Mr. Whitworth took the reins of his horse and led him farther down the path. Past the stable, the lane became rutted, narrow, and overgrown. What was down that way? He called over his shoulder, “Pay attention to the way. I expect you in the training yard at nine tomorrow morning.”

It was the sort of statement one would say to an employee, so why did it feel so rude? And why did his departure leave her suddenly feeling alone and abandoned?

Nine

Geoffrey shifted his weight, feet sliding about in tiny circles in the dirt. He coughed and nodded at the lane that she’d come in on. “If you’re ready, er, miss?”

No, she wasn’t ready, but when was the last time anything in her life had cared whether she was prepared?

“Yes. Of course.”

He gave her a nod of acknowledgment before silently leading the way around the edge of town to another estate.

If she’d thought the earlier house grand, it was nothing compared to this one. Her mouth dried as it came into view, the wings stretching far enough that one would wish for a