“Saddle Daisy and Zeus. I shall return Daisy to her.”
“Yes, Your Grace.” Mr. Sellers whistled for the stableboys. Two came running as Colin walked back into the yard.
A few moments later, one of the boys raced to the house. He spoke to Mr. Roberts and then ran back to the stables. Colin wondered briefly what that was all about? With a shrug, he decided it might be best if he didn’t know.
With the horses saddled, he headed out toward Hart’s lands and the wise women. He’d promised the horse for Selina’s use.
By the time he arrived at Mrs. Featherstone’s cottage, he felt exhilarated by the fresh air and lack of female chatter. He jumped off Zeus and tied the horses to a post. The door opened before he even walked toward it.
“Good afternoon, Your Grace,” Miss Featherstone said. Her cornflower dress blew out around her ankles.
“Good afternoon, Miss Featherstone. Is Miss White at home?”
She bit down on her lip and glanced toward his lands. “No, Your Grace. I . . . I believe she is visiting some of the tenants.”
“I see.” Was she visiting Hart’s tenants or disobeying Colin’s orders and calling on his tenants?
“Would you like to leave a message for her?”
“No. I believe I shall wait for her.”
He glanced over at Miss Featherstone’s worried face. “It might be a few hours, Your Grace. You can always write her a note. I will make certain she receives it.”
“How kind,” he remarked. “But as I said, I shall wait.”
Miss Featherstone’s gaze continued to scan the lands, mostly his lands. “Would you like to come in for some tea? My mother is home and would enjoy the company.”
“No, thank you. I will wait out here. The air is refreshing.”
Her gaze darted between the fields and the line of trees. “Of course, Your Grace. I believe I shall try to find her for you.”
“Oh, Miss Featherstone, there is no need for that.” Colin had no doubts that she was trying to protect her friend. But he wanted to see from which direction Selina arrived.
He sat on a small stump and waited for over an hour before he saw her coming from the direction of the tenants’ cottages. Hart’s tenants. He stood as she walked closer to him. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds and burned him with their fury.
“To what do I owe this honor,” she sneered.
“I came to return your horse,” Colin said. He suddenly wished for their animosity to be over. Remembering the walk they took to Mrs. Wells’s home, he wished they could return to that level of almost friendship.
“Daisy is your horse and should be kept at your stables, not Lord Hartsfield’s. That is why I sent her back. But do not worry, Your Grace, I didn’t take a step on your lands. I asked one of the earl’s stableboys to return her.”
She attempted to storm past him but he caught her wrist. He stared down at her delicate fingers.
“I told you Daisy was for your use. I have plenty of horses in my stables.”
She tried to pull out of his grip to no avail. “No, thank you, Your Grace.”
He knew there was only one way to appease her. “I must apologize for my behavior the other night. I’d had too much brandy and when I saw the book in your hand . . .”
“Once I noticed the inscription, I knew I had to return the book to you,” she whispered.
“Again, I apologize.” He slowly released her wrist but immediately missed the warmth of her skin.
“May I call on y
our tenants again?”
He closed his eyes and nodded. Why was this woman getting under his skin when no other had in eight years? He couldn’t stand to see disappointment in her eyes. Or know he’d hurt her feelings.