A Secret Passion Read Free Page B

muscular man turned to retrieve his hat. He returned with a glint in his eye, which Jane could not fathom. “Yes,” he said, “his lordship will be most displeased.”
    He didn’t speak or act like a servant, and yet his behavior and clothing were not gentlemanlike. He must be a gentleman in name only, reduced to earning a wage. His arrogant countenance showed he had refused to become accustomed to his low station in life.
    His eyes roamed her entire person from the tip of her boots to her eyes. It was a completely improper action, and Jane felt anew the awkwardness of the situation. She wondered for just an instant whether anyone would be able to hear her if she needed to cry for help. She pushed this thought away and began to back up her horse. “I will ride on to enlist the aid of another stable hand and a new mount for you.” She was pleased to note that despite her discomfort, her tones were cool.
    “Oh, no, miss. I was thinking you might be able to convey me to the area yourself, as you were the cause of this trouble.”
    “Me? How dare you presume to blame me!”
    “Well, you startled him just as I had got him almost under control.”
    “Nonsense. You had absolutely no control over him to start with.”
    “All the same, the least you could do is give a poor bloke a ride pillion back to the stables.”
    She stared at him in horror. Could he really mean to suggest she allow him up on her horse with her? It was too much. As he started to lead her animal to a felled tree to mount up, she pulled Pax up short. “Unhand my horse. I will ride on in search of help.” She moved her riding crop from her saddle to her hand.
    But he reached up and easily took it away from her. “You shall do no such thing. Stay still. It never pays to fight the inevitable.” And with that, he grabbed the pommel and cantle of the saddle and swung up behind her. His bronzed forearm grazed her hips as he settled behind her.
    “This is entirely improper,” she began before he cut her off by putting both hands around her waist.
    “Move on, old girl, before I use this whip.”
    Jane was appalled, unsure if his command was directed toward her or her steed. She dug her heels into the animal and urged her forward.
    The heat from his large hands was unsettling. They almost encircled her entire waist. flustered and angry that this arrogant groom had the impertinence to insist and force himself up onto her horse, she urged Pax into a fast trot, but to her dismay, this only made the man tighten his grip on her waist and move closer to her body. She could even smell the male essence of him. Jane immediately brought her horse back to a fast walk.
    She thought she heard him laugh, but his voice was bland as he inquired, “Is your horse winded already, Miss, ah… Perhaps I should know your name, considering our circumstances.” He removed one of his hands to rearrange the saddle pad as he wrapped his other entire forearm around her waist. The strength in his arm unnerved her, as did his warm breath on her neck.
    Jane hesitated. It was very improper of this man to insist on an introduction. It was the outside of enough. She decided to refuse an answer. It was difficult to cut someone when he was holding a part of one’s body, but she persevered.
    “So I am not to learn the trespasser’s name, then? I am not surprised,” the man continued.
    Jane responded with a sniff. When they were finally past the stream, he directed her through a small grove of apple trees. She stopped at the foot of a manicured drive and allowed her gaze to drift over the estate. The structure was immense. Pale limestone cut into rectangles formed a symmetrical castle boasting at least two hundred windows. Jane almost forgot her passenger for a few moments while she admired the classic lines of the edifice. Conical evergreens framed the tall archway of the entrance as well as the entire outside of the castle and pathways.
    “Do you like what you see?”
    Her unwanted