Page 14 of Masquerading with the Duke
Jared hadn’t expected such a generous offer and acquiesced immediately. ‘That’s most civil of you, if you can spare the time.’
‘I always have time to spare for horses. Let’s go this way,’ Lord Amos said, stepping through the French doors onto the terrace.
‘Do call on me if you require my help,’ the duke said, shaking Jared’s hand. ‘I’ll be happy to do anything I can to ease your path.’
‘Thank you.’ Jared inclined his head, glad to have earned the duke’s approval. He wondered if particulars of this first encounter would find their way to Romsey’s ears. ‘Good day to you, Adler.’
‘Good day, sir,’ Adler replied.
Jared and Lord Amos strode across arid lawns that under normal circumstances would probably have been lush and green. Everything seemed tranquil here, as though even the birds couldn’t find the energy to chirp. Only Thor’s panting as he trotted along beside them and the harsh whistling tremolo of a lone curlew calling to its mate disturbed the absolute stillness of the summer morning.
‘Quite a set-up you have here,’ Jared remarked, impressed when they approached the orderly stud with young horses turned out in a paddock, their tails swishing. A man leaning heavily on a cane watched with a critical eye as a youngster was put through his paces.
‘Damn it, Rob, don’t let him get the better of you,’ the man shouted. ‘He needs a firm hand or you’ll finish up in the dirt.’
Lord Amos and Jared paused to watch as the handsome stallion with spotted quarters put in an almighty buck that almost confirmed the lame man’s predictions.
‘Rein him in,’ the man said, with an impatient sigh. ‘Let me at him.’
‘Can he…’
Lord Amos raised a hand. ‘Just watch.’
Rob dismounted. The lame man handed him his cane and accepted a leg up into the saddle. The horse swerved beneath him before he could settle his lame leg and tried to rear up. The man was having none of it. He looked unconcerned and sat perfectly still, as though physically adhered to the saddle. He pushed the horse forward from a walk straight into a canter in a controlled circle, ignoring his attempts to misbehave. Thor became animated, probably thinking it was a game and that he would be required to chase after the horse, but at a hand signal from Jared he obediently flopped down onto his belly.
‘Remarkable,’ Jared said. ‘Most able-bodied men wouldn’t be able to control such a spirited horse that well.’
‘That’s Cal Harrison, a close personal friend who took over the management of the stud a couple of years ago. He’s been a godsend.’
Aware that Lord Amos’s wife had died under tragic circumstances and that he had taken himself off somewhere for a year to grieve, Jared nodded his understanding. Lord Amos would at least have had the satisfaction of knowing that he’d left the stud in capable hands. ‘What happened to his leg?’
‘A war wound at Waterloo. His horse fell on it. Cal can’t walk far so he makes horses dance for him instead.’
‘So I see.’ Jared continued to watch the stallion slowly recall his manners under Harrison’s firm tutelage. He would defy any man not to be impressed. ‘I thought you only dealt with Nonius stallions here. That firebrand doing his best to unseat Harrison is not a Nonius.’
‘Well spotted. We did start out just having our stallions covering Nonius mares, mainly to replace all the brave Noniuses we lost on the battlefield.’ Jared nodded, well aware of the number of equine casualties in the theatre of war. ‘But our success grew and we decided to diversity. Equinox there,’ he added, indicating the handsome white spotted stallion, ‘is out of an American quarter horse, hence the spots. His sire is a Nonius. As you can see, it makes for a lively and sturdy mixture. He’s still young, only just broken, but I thought of him the moment Max mentioned your need for a horse.’
Jared salivated at the prospect. ‘You trying to get my neck broken?’ he asked, smiling.
‘I haven’t seen you in the saddle, I just assumed—’
‘You got that right. I enjoy a challenge and Equinox would certainly keep me on my toes in that regard.’ Jared nodded, thinking it was maybe time he did something a little irresponsible. Diplomats taking chances with their own safety was actively discouraged but, Jared reminded himself, he was no longer in the service and therefore free to kick up his heels. ‘I’ll certainly try him the next time I call.’
Harrison had finished schooling the horse. He winced as he dismounted, repossessed of his cane and limped over to join them. A dog of indeterminate pedigree emerged from the shadows and fell into step beside him as Lord Amos made the introductions.
‘Welcome to the area,’ Harrison said affably. ‘Nice dog. He and Muddle seem to like one another.’
The men watched the two dogs circling one another, sniffing and wagging tails.
‘Muddle?’
Harrison shrugged. ‘It seemed appropriate.’
‘Thor’s a bit of a street dog, too, despite his good looks. I found him half dead in Paris and…well, here we are.’
‘He’s a handsome beast.’
Jared smiled. ‘He seems to think so. Anyway, Lord Amos is trying to convince me that I could handle Equinox.’
