Just one more example of his irresistible charm, she thought, shaking her head in helpless amusement.
The afternoon grew warmer, however, and depressed her mood once more. Whereas the night had been chilly, the sun was now beating down upon them remorselessly, so Maura was glad when they had to stop to water the horses again.
She gathered that Beaufort was feeling the heat also, for he removed his coat and waistcoat and cravat. Seeing him clad in an open-necked shirt and tight-fitting buckskin breeches, Maura couldn’t help admiring his vital maleness. His shadowed jaw made him look slightly disreputable, so that he looked more like a brigand than a nobleman enjoying a ride in the country.
He must have noted her appearance as well.
“You look uncomfortable again, vixen.”
“I will survive. But Emperor has begun to sweat, so the sheen is returning to his coat. Will you hold his reins while I apply more mud?”
Beaufort did as she asked, positioning the horse on the swampy bank of the stream.
When she scooped up a handful of wet earth and began working it between her fingers to make a paste, he spoke directly to the stallion. “I trust you appreciate the sacrifices your mistress is making for your sake, big fellow.”
Emperor gave no indication that he understood the admonition, and at the first brush of mud on his skin, he tossed his head and sidled away from Maura’s touch.
“Easy, Emp,” she said soothingly. “I am sorry, but you look too much like a champion racehorse.”
The stallion instantly calmed at the sound of her voice and stood docilely while she covered him in mud.
Beaufort watched her quietly. “You have a magical touch with horses.”
“I suppose I was born with it. I love horses.” She cast him a provocative glance. “Honestly, I like horses better than most people. Certainly better than most members of your class, my lord.”
“You are most assuredly an uncommon young lady.”
Maura smiled and wrinkled her nose good-naturedly. “I have been out for five Seasons, and I am hardly young—nor much of a lady, for that matter. I own a breeding stable, so I am no longer considered respectable. You wondered earlier why I am still unmarried; that largely explains it. I am not the kind of wife gentlemen generally seek to wed.”
“Your occupation has nothing to do with whether or not you are a lady. I find you refreshing—a woman ahead of your time. Indeed, your very uniqueness gives you more freedom to take a lover.”
A heartbeat passed before Maura fully registered his comment. Then she almost laughed at his persistence. “How plainly must I say it, my lord? I am not interested in taking you for my lover.”
“A pity. You don’t know the immense pleasure you are missing.”
She did laugh then. “Your vanity knows no bounds, does it?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you accusing me of vanity?”
Maura didn’t reply, but she couldn’t quell her smile as she finished muddying Emperor’s coat and turned away to wash her hands in the stream.
Realizing how lighthearted she felt just then, she shook her head in bemusement. It astonished her, not only how comfortable she was sharing her most intimate confidences with Beaufort, but that the desperation and helplessness she’d endured for weeks had somehow abated.
A dangerous development to let down her guard so completely around him, Maura reminded herself, and yet she just couldn’t bring herself to care.
Maura’s light mood lasted for several more hours—until her luck seemed to turn for the worse. Thus far they had met few people along their journey, but they made the mistake of riding across a field. When they emerged at the rear of a farmhouse, they were instantly greeted by a pack of barking dogs.
Surrounded by teeth-baring animals yipping at their horses’ hooves, Maura felt her throat go dry. Next, a rough-looking fellow stormed out from behind the nearby chicken coop, aiming a musket directly at them, and her heart gave a painful leap.
Bea
ufort swung his mount in front of her to shield her, but thankfully, his protection proved unnecessary. The farmer lowered his weapon and called off the dogs, before tipping his hat in sincere apology.
“Begging yer pardon, guv’nor. We’ve ’ad a spot of trouble with foxes getting into the coop, so I let the dogs run free in the yard.”
Maura swallowed her alarm, yet once again she was grateful to have Beaufort at her side.
She was still musing on her abrupt change of heart when they came to the small village of Fawley. As they passed a modest inn, Beaufort proposed stopping there for the night, but Maura shook her head, preferring to ride another few miles before dark.