Fenella J Miller Read Free Page B

to see if they
followed she wrenched Phoenix’s head around and kicked him into a gallop,
thanking God the grassy path widened enough for her to turn her mount towards
the hedge. She had cleared larger obstacles before, but never in such
circumstances. The horse gathered himself and she crouched forward grasping a
handful of mane.
    As she soared into the air she
had no time to worry about safe landings. If Phoenix failed to clear the hedge
she would certainly crash to her death.

 
    Ned greeted his cousin with a
friendly slap on the back. ‘James, you’re not dressed for riding. I thought you
were coming with me to meet Miss Coombs.’
    ‘I have promised Mama that I’ll
walk with her to the lake this morning. She insists it will be too hot by
midday.’ The young man shrugged his elegantly clad shoulders. ‘You know how she
is, Ned.’
    ‘Indeed I do; it’s easier to
agree than argue once Aunt Elizabeth has made up her mind. I shall see you at
dinner.’ He turned to run down the white marble steps, but paused to call back.
‘James, I’m expecting the aeronauts and their entourage to arrive this morning.
Could you make sure they’re accommodated in the barn behind the stables?’
    His cousin raised his hand in
acknowledgement. ‘Consider it done, old fellow. Consider it done. It will give
me an excuse to return to the house in good time.’
    Ned vaulted into the saddle of
his waiting bay stallion, ramming his boots into the stirrups.
    With a curt nod to the stable boy
he cantered down the drive. However spurious his reasons for inviting Miss
Coombs to visit, he was looking forward to renewing their acquaintance.
    When he had singled her out from
the dozens of eager young debutantes to escort to numerous soirees and balls
last season it had not been just for her beauty, but also for her ready wit and
intelligence. His investigations had obliged him to enter certain houses of the haut ton and the only way he could
accomplish this without arousing suspicion was to appear to be interested in
setting up his nursery.
    He frowned as he recalled her
trusting naiveté; she had expected him to offer for her at the end of the
season. Indeed, society in general held the same opinion. He had achieved his objective
and discovered the traitor masquerading as an émigré and he had been highly praised in Whitehall for his work.
However the whole episode had left a bad taste in his mouth. An innocent girl
had been hurt by his pretence and now he had been ordered to repeat the
process.
    He cursed as his inattention
allowed Bruno to grab the bit between his teeth and bolt. By the time he had
regained control of his mount he was mud-spattered and flushed. He was also two
miles from Headingly in the field that ran parallel to
the lane he was supposed be in. He stood in his stirrups and looked up and down
the massive hedge trying to remember if there was a gate he could use.
    *

 
    Phoenix stretched out his neck
and his front legs cleared the hedge by inches and his back arched;
instinctively she leant forward, encouraging her horse. The ground rushed
towards them and she closed her eyes and braced herself, expecting to be
catapulted to the ground.
    Her magnificent mount scarcely
checked. He pricked his ears and continued his headlong gallop away from the
narrow lane and possible ambush. Penny transferred her weight to the back of
the saddle and pulled steadily on the reins. Crooning softly to the animal,
gradually regaining control and was in time to turn and watch her grooms soar
over the hedge and land safely. The exhilaration of the jump had temporarily
pushed the reason for it from her mind. Billy reminded her.
    ‘They’re close behind and they’ve
got rifles, miss. There’s three of them and they don’t
look like any footpads I’ve ever seen.’
    ‘Rifles? Are you sure? Only soldiers carry rifles.’ Without waiting to hear his reply
she wrenched the big chestnut’s head around and kicked hard with her heel.
Phoenix