Page 45 of A Winter with the Rakish Duke

Simon found her amusement endearing. Her button nose was all scrunched up, her eyes glowing from excitement, and her gestures swift and inquisitive.

“Well, actually, they’re bred up at the farms, but…”

Ellie pouted in disappointment. Her full body hunched a little, and Simon found it suddenly so distracting. She was enchanting, even when upset, so much so he had to forcefully pry his eyes off her and back to the conversation at hand.

“Why, have you never seen one?” he eventually continued.

“I have, of course. They’re all over England. I’ve just never…never been allowed to get close to one, or allowed to touch one. I find them majestic,” she continued, dreamily, “When I was a child, I’d dream of sleeping against their mane, and during the day, I would dream of riding them—and not side straddled.”

“Oh, you defiant woman,” he teased, wrapping an arm around her waist to pull her in closer. “Well. Horses aren’t that interesting to me. I’ve been around them most my life.”

“Then why would you own a horse business? A dying one, mind you,” she asked.

Simon contemplated her words for a moment. It would indeed be wiser if he started a business in something he actually enjoyed, such as managing his properties or his art collections, yet it was hard to explain.

“I think it’s because…well, it’s the only thing that’s mine.”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Everything else—my estates and riches have been paved for me ever since I was a babe, so they were never truly my own, you see,” he continued, resting his head against her shoulder, “but the horse-breeding business was the first time I started something from scratch. So in a way, it’s dear to me. I was young and uneducated in the world of business.”

She smiled warmly. “You should be proud.”

“I am.”

He pondered for a second, his mind traveling to the time he was first learning his responsibilities. He was young and foolish, yet he managed to get far without having to rely on anyone but himself. It was that independence that separated himself from his family, and now, no one could downplay his successes.

“I have an idea,” he started. “Hand me over your shawl.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

She unwrapped it from around her neck, gently giving it to him as he helped her to her feet. And with gentle movements, he wrapped it around her eyes, shielding her vision.

“Why ever—”

“I have a little surprise,” he interrupted.

With the shawl tightly wrapped around her eyes, some of it dangling down her sides, he guided her to the door. Holding his hands over her shoulders, he drove her forward for what felt like minutes.

And finally, once they reached the back gate of the Castle, he held her close to shield her from the cold. The storm had subsided a little today and was replaced by specks of snow that continued to sprinkle over the garden, from the large oak trees to the hefty stone walls. The path was difficult to navigate, as their steps dug deep in the snow, burying them up to their tights, but they managed.

“Why are we outside?” Ellie finally asked.

“You’ll see,” was all he said.

They finally reached the stables, a wooden structure on the back right side of the Castle, larger than any other, almost comparable to a small Citadel. He had seen it many times in his life, but never this beautiful and white. A wall of snow covered the top of it and accompanied by the near darkness, the black clouds, and the disappearing moonlight, it truly was enthralling—like that of a mirage.

His hands wrapped around the stables gate, forcing it open and guiding the both of them inside its comforting warmth. A pungent scent reached his nostrils, and as strong as it was, it was also just as soothing.

And then, as delicately as he could, he unraveled the shawl from over Ellie’s eyes, allowing her to see where they were. She didn’t speak. Her body flinched, and she made a sound similar to a squeal. For a moment, he felt a surge of nervous anticipation, and he was confused as to why.

“Is this…” she paused, her head moving to all directions of the stables. “Those are your stallions?”

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