“Good morning, my laird.”
Memories of the previous two nights flared in her mind. Each night he'd come to give her a book to read, and each night he'd left her breathless and aching with a want she couldn't fully understand. She didn't know how to address this man and the feeling he awoke in her.
“I dinnae expect tae find ye here.”
He shrugged. “I dinnae expect tae be dragged out of bed tae prepare horses too. We all dinnae get what we except oftentimes.”
He nodded at her, then turned his attention back to the horse. He looked anxious to be done with the whole thing. Jane cast a quick glance around, her eyes focusing on the horses he was preparing. There were three of them, with glowing coats and soft manes.
He's riding with us?
Jane was not surprised. It was just like Darach to go on a ride with them, and she was grateful that Lorna would be along this time. She didn't want to think about what could happen if she were alone with him in the woods.
She kept glancing toward the doors, waiting for Lorna to come in any moment.
“Well, how good are ye in the saddle?”
She became aware that he was looking at her. She glanced nervously toward him, and her heart almost stopped. He was standing regally by a massive black stallion, looking as dashing as any man could. His dark and enticing eyes glowed at her, a vague promise flashing in them.
He rubbed the stallion behind the ears, and the animal responded eagerly, with his head pointed downward on an arched neck asking for more. The animal pranced with ears straight forward, nostrils flaring, and its tail swishing up. The beast fit the man. Both were huge and dark, with an air of invincibility around them.
“Can ye ride?”
She realized that she’d missed his question the first time. Even more embarrassing, she had no idea why he'd doubt she could in the first place.
“What if I couldnae?”
“I would teach ye. If ye promise tae obey me and cleave only untae me,” Darach drawled. His words stiffened her spine.
His dark eyes swept over her, assessing and then darkening even more as if he discovered something deeply intriguing about her.
Jane felt a tingle run through her. He’d all but dismissed her.
“Ye’ll gain my protection and the respect due a lady of yer station.”
She raised her chin and stared back at him with a smile. “‘Tis disappointing that I willnae need yer help, my laird. I’ll have yer respect and yer regard, though, because I can ride as well as anyone.”
His eyebrow rose. “Is that so?”
“Aye. I could ride since I was eight. A pony was my faither’s gift tae me.”
Darach chuckled, his eyes still flashing.
“I am looking forward tae seeing yer ride, my lady.” He grinned at her again. “Come, meet yer horse.”
Darach reached over, grabbed her hand, and drew her up next to him. Through the material of her dress, Jane could feel his thigh scorching into hers—hercheeks burningas thesensation rumbled through her body.
She swallowed hard as Darach held her lightly and gestured at the brown gelding.
“Sunfoot is as sure-footed as any horse in Scotland. It's been years since she'd been properly ridden. I think ye'll enjoy each other.”
Jane reached out a hand towards the horse and rubbed her on the nose. The gelding neighed softly.
“Who used to ride her?”
Darach's face darkened as he turned away from her and threw a harness on the other red mare. Jane wondered if her question had triggered something within him. But she couldn’t muster any thought as to what.
Darach's entire life had been a mystery, and it shouldn't have surprised her that his smile had vanished with a simple question. That was who he was.