Page 41 of An Arranged Marriage with a Cruel Earl
He grinned. “She’d be furious if I made you late. She has taken a liking to you as she has to nobody else that I know.”
“I like her,” Emmeline said instantly. The dowager countess was a dear woman, gentle and kind. In some strange way, she reminded her of her own mother.
“Well, then, we’d best ride back,” Andrew said softly.
“Yes, we should,” she agreed.
Neither of them said anything for a moment and it was after a few seconds of staring into her eyes, making her body fizz with feeling, that he turned and walked towards his horse. She followed and unhooked the reins. She walked her horse to the nearby gate, as he had, and mounted up from the fence. He raised a brow.
“Splendidly done,” he complimented her as she rode up next to him.
“Incredible what one can do if one has a real mounting block,” she answered playfully.
He laughed. “You!” he exclaimed, his chuckle warm and genuine. “You’ll be the death of me.”
She laughed too, her laughter mingling with his as they rode at a walking pace up to the path. The horses had spent some time eating good fresh grass and drinking at the lake, but they were still tired, and the sun had come out in earnest, making it hot as they rode. They slowed their horses, not wanting to exhaust them in the heat. They arrived back at Rilendale Manor just as the bell chimed for midday.
“That’s just as we needed it,” Andrew said warmly.
Emmeline chuckled. She rode her horse into the stable yard behind his and dismounted at the fence as he had done. He reached up to steady her.
“Easy, dear,” he said gently. “You could fall.”
Emmeline’s body flooded with chills, her heart thudding in her chest as she stared into his blue eyes. It was the first time he had used a term of endearment, and it made her soul soar with joy.
“Thank you,” she said softly. She wanted to use a term of endearment herself, but she was desperately shy and though it was on the very tip of her tongue, she could not make herself use one.
He gazed into her eyes, and she gazed back. She was standing on the hard-packed earth of the stable yard and wearing her outdoor boots, and she had to tip back her head to gaze up into his eyes. He was a head taller than her. His eyes were pale blue and when she looked closely, she could see little greyish marks in them. Her heart raced. His gaze held hers, unwavering and heat washed through her, making her toes tingle and her cheeks warm.
He leaned close, and his right hand gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear again. The touch made her heart race.
“We should go and sit down for luncheon,” he said lightly. “Mr Pearson must be frantically searching for us,” he added with a laugh.
“Yes. We should go indoors,” she agreed, turning to where their horses stood patiently, drinking at the trough by the stable wall.
She led Snowflake into his stall and Andrew stabled his own horse. He called for the groom.
“Bring them both bran mash and rub them down well once you have unsaddled them,” he instructed the youth, who Emmeline guessed to be about seventeen, and who had a cheeky grin on his face.
“Yes, my lord,” he agreed at once. “And I’ll get the farrier in tomorrow, as you instructed.”
“Yes, Hal. Please,” Andrew agreed.
Emmeline walked with Andrew towards the house. As they reached it, she saw the front door open, and Mr Pearson walked briskly down the steps. She had thought he was searching the house for them and smiled at Andrew, but Andrew looked serious.
“What is it?”
“It’s Lady Rilendale. She has fallen down the stairs.”
