Page 66 of A Duke for Hire

“That sounds like my brother,” she replied, handing the ensemble to Seraphina. “Come, get dressed. We shall take a ride and I shall tell you some things. It is best we talk when we are sure there are no other ears to listen.”

Both intrigued and ready for a ride, Seraphina quickly got dressed and the two of them headed for the stables. This timethere was no lie about the horses, and within minutes the stableboy were bringing their saddles.

“Apologies, but that will not work,” Seraphina stated, pointing to the standard English saddle.

“Why not?” Leah asked, raising a brow. “It is perfectly adequate, I assure you.”

Seraphina smiled uncomfortably.

“I am sure it is but I only know how to ride side saddle. My mother swore to me that any other manner was scandalous.”

Leah gave her a mischievous look as she stroked her steed’s neck.

“She was right! But your mother is not here, Seraphina. Nor is anyone else from the Londonton.Try the traditional English saddle. I assure you it is a much better ride. Here, try this too.”

Leah stepped forward and pulled the hairpin from Seraphina’s long wavy brown locks, allowing them to cascade down her back.

“What will that do?” Seraphina asked, reaching up to touch her freed hair.

“You’ll see,” Leah answered, her smile growing. “Now come on, let us go for a ride.”

As she climbed into the saddle, Seraphina was taken aback by how much more comfortable it was. She braced the horse’s back with her thighs with much better balance and immediately felt as if she had more control. Once Leah was saddled, she clicked her tongue to her horse, and the beast took off at a gallop into the nearby meadow.

Smiling, Seraphina followed her sister-in-law’s actions. A sense of euphoria filled her as the horse’s quick gait caught her up to Leah the speed of causing her hair to flow wildly down her back and over her shoulders. For the first time in days, she laughed, and sank into freedom of it all.

“What did I tell you?” Leah asked as they eventually came to a stop. “Better, right?”

“Very,” Seraphina replied, her voice breathy and smile wide.

“You can experience such things out here, away from wondering eyes and gullible tongues,” Leah explained. “It is one of the reasons my brother is always reluctant to leave this place.”

“And you?” Seraphina asked, “Do you leave often?”

Leah pressed her lips together and glanced around at her homeland.

“I live in the country with our Aunt Rita,” she explained, “Where my freedoms are just as equal. “I do not visit Merrivale often. There are…bad memories for me here.”

Seraphina nodded, taking in the grandiose view of the estate from their high ground and letting Leah take a moment to find her words.

“The servants, like most people, are afraid of my brother,” Leah said after a while. “Even Mrs. Purdy, though she pretends not to be. If they are resistant to you, they are taking their tone from Hugo. They don’t want to make him angry.”

Seraphina thought back to her first day and the way the servants had stiffened when she’d accidentally called them by their wrong names. Suddenly she realized why it mattered so much. If she did not know them well enough and then she complained about the wrong name, an innocent person could be punished.

“What are they afraid of?” Seraphina asked, looking over at Leah.

She sighed, and shook her head.

“Many things, I suppose,” she murmured, looking on at the estate. “His appearance. His demeanor. His reputation. The way he closes himself off to others.”

“Yes,” Seraphina said quickly, “I have heard many rumors of his reputation but I cannot bring myself to fully believe them.”

Leah let out a wry laugh.

“Smart woman,” she praised.

“But Hugo will not discuss it,” Seraphina went on. “Perhaps you could tell me the truth? I truly do not believe he hunts men for sport.”

Leah’s head dipped down as her hands closed on her reins.

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