hardly be called such. Streaks and spots of white marred the beast’s otherwise perfect coat of darkest brown. While the occasional odd marking might make a horse unique, these were too large to be overlooked and too misshapen to be anything but unsightly.
“Bow? For a gelding?” he asked with a touch of humor to his voice. Odd name that.
“Beau as in the French word for handsome,” said Mina with a smile, giving her horse another pat.
Finch let out a burst of laughter. “That is perfect.”
Shaking his head, he wondered at the wicked sense of humor some breeders had when it came to naming their horses. It was a second or two before he felt the shift in the air and glanced at his companions to see them both staring at him. Simon’s eyes were wide, his brows pinching together as he vehemently shook his head, but it was Mina’s blazing glare that held Finch’s attention.
Finch cleared his throat. “You must admit it is quite witty.”
Eyes narrowing, Mina’s expression hardened. “Beau is the finest horse I’ve ever owned and worth more than all your perfect mounts combined. Appearances are not everything, sir!”
And before Finch could give a word in defense, Beau took off at a gallop, leaving the gentlemen far behind.
Chapter 25
Simon turned his mount, rounding on Finch as he scowled. “What were you thinking? You two were getting along until you opened your foolish gob and mocked her horse.”
Finch pointed at the flurries of snow kicked up in Beau’s wake. “You must admit that the breeders were having a good laugh when they named that creature ‘Handsome.’ I wasn’t trying to be cruel. I was simply appreciating wit.”
Jaw clenched, Simon’s gaze darkened. “It was Mina who named him, and I assure you it was not in jest. Beau is among the finest horses I’ve ever ridden, yet he would’ve been bound for the butcher’s simply because of his markings.”
Above the searing reproach in Simon’s tone, Finch heard Miss Barrows’ voice echoing in his thoughts, chiding him for his blunt words and the harm they’d done to Mina’s tender heart.
“Well, get out of the way, Simon,” said Finch, waving an arm at his friend. But when the fellow didn’t budge, he added, “It appears I have some groveling to do.”
Simon remained where he was, watching Finch with a wary eye, as though debating whether or not to run him out of Bristow. But after a moment of reflection, Simon moved his horse out of the way with a silent challenge in his gaze, warning Finch of all the dire things that would happen if he didn’t make it right with Mina.
Holding in a sigh, Finch took off after her, hoping to catch her before she had too much time to brood about his inadvertent faux pas. However, Beau was proving to be as fine an animal as Mina and Simon claimed and outpaced him with ease, and Finch only caught up once the beast had stopped back at the stables.
By the time his mount came blustering up, Mina was already unsaddled and showering Beau with affection. Finch didn’t hear her words, but the kind tone and warm meaning behind them filled the air as Beau’s mistress brushed his coat.
“I don’t know many ladies who give their horses such personal care.” Finch had hoped a compliment might ease his arrival, but Mina stepped between him and the horse, as though shielding the creature.
“If you’ve come to spout more of your cruelty—”
Finch held up his hands. “I hadn’t meant to be cruel. I’ve come with an apology and truce.”
Mina huffed, turning her back to him to continue her ministrations. “You needn’t give me false assurances that Beau is handsome, sir. I am well aware of your disdain for ugly things. You made such opinions clear when you first pointed me out to Simon.”
Straightening, Finch blinked at the lady, his thoughts grinding to a halt as thoroughly as though a Luddite had taken a hammer to one of the dreaded machines. “Pardon?”
“I heard you, Mr. Finch, at the ball last year when you and Simon discussed his plan to marry for convenience. It was you who drew me to his attention.”
Finch nodded. He remembered that conversation, for it had been an infuriating moment: Simon had been especially bullheaded.
But Mina didn’t look at him as she continued, “What better wife for a marriage of convenience than a mousy spinster, who would do his bidding, give no fuss, and gratefully accept any marriage offer, no matter