She Ruined the Marquess: A Historical Romance (Unexpected Love Book 1)

by Anna Macy

  “A new one for Nicholas? I’d love to see him.” Juliet was eager. Walking past the sputtering man, she patted the man kindly on the shoulder.

  Another groom, a slender youth who worked for Edmund, led a leggy, dark dappled grey mount from his stall. Juliet’s mouth formed an “oh,” as she stared at the beautiful creature as it stood posing in the stable aisle, blowing softly out of its quivering nostrils.

  “My lady, wait, please,” Edmund shouted, flapping his hands at the youth holding the horse, ushering him away. “This one is no good for you. I’ll get you out a different one. A better one,” he promised, now wringing his hands in front of his prominent belly, a deep blush continuing to tint his cheeks.

  “What’s wrong with this one, sir,” Juliet replied, purposefully using the word to soothe the worked up stable manager.

  Edmund froze for a moment, not expecting her question. Juliet stepped quickly around him, approaching the grey, she removed her gloves and held her bare fingers out to the horse's muzzle. With incredible softness, the horse snuffled into her, his warm breath making a colossal grin break out on her face.

  Looking over her shoulder at Edmund, she beamed. “He seems like a perfect option, Edmund. I appreciate you selecting him for me.” Seeing that Edmund was still battling his decision-making skills, and the gentle affection the lady was showing him.

  Juliet looked at the red-haired boy holding the horse's lead. “What is his name?”

  Not meeting her eyes, the groom quietly answered her, “He is called Sterling, my Lady.”

  “Sterling,” Juliet repeated, stroking the muscular shoulder of the horse. One large, intelligent brown eye observed her curiously, the bit jangling as the stallion mouthed the metal. Smiling to herself, she turned to face the saddle. “Could you give me a leg up?”

  The young man holding the horse was blushing red from his hairline to his neck, but he nodded at the usual, casual behavior of an Earl’s daughter.

  Bending down, he knitted his fingers beneath her boots to give her a soft boost into the saddle. She was seated fully astride today, versus the sidesaddle which she rode in often, Juliet settled into the worn leather, as comfortable there as anywhere else in this world. Looking down, the young groom held the bridle for her until she had slipped her gloves back on.

  Edmund was still huffing about the aisle, looking unsure at the idea of putting a favorite guest of his master on the large stallion.

  But to his credit, he didn’t stop her. As she nodded to the young groom and Sterling stepped forward, Edmund grabbed for her stirrup. She halted, gazing down into the worried face below her, “Be careful, my lady, this is quite a lot of horse.”

  Juliet nodded solemnly and squeezed her legs around the grey’s belly, getting a feel for his energetic movement. She didn’t look back. If she had, she would’ve seen Edmund go grumbling after his young staff member, cursing his job, his wife, and generally his world for having to deal with a stubborn noblewoman who rode around like men.

  The stallion was not a casual rider’s mount, that is for sure, and Juliet could tell why Edmund may have been concerned that the horse would be too much for her to handle. But luckily, Sterling rode very similarly to Winsome, her favorite horse at Greystone.

  Quickly Juliet sorted out the stallion, and they set off across some of the beautiful terrains that surrounded Lakeview. Juliet knew that a short ride to the north was Devonshire's expansive property where Marian and Robert had grown up under the careful eye of their mother, Lady Catherine, and doting father, Lord Robert, the elder.

  The opposite way, perhaps a day's ride south of London’s city limits, would be Mansfield Park, William’s prominent family estate. Marian had told her that there hadn’t been anybody in residence since the old Marquess' death.

  William had kept the family townhouse in London, and he, Robert, and Nicholas commonly ventured off on their own adventures, procuring apartments or houses as they needed. Marian had confided that she believed William avoided the mansion because his childhood there had been so tumultuous. Juliet nodded to herself at the beat of Sterling’s hoofbeats.

  If her stepfather agreed to the change in groom, would she be the new lady of Mansfield Park in only a few short weeks? A marchioness? The thought was both terrifying and electrifying. Mostly because of the intriguing man who would become her partner.

  William was nothing if not a temptation and a puzzle. But Juliet was convinced that she wouldn’t spend her entire morning ride dwelling on the tall, dark, and handsome man who she had dragged into her life.

  Leaning forward, she let her gloved hands run down Sterling’s sleek neck. The muscles under her hands bunched eagerly, and she laughed out loud, her voice echoing across the empty fields.

  “I know, love, let’s stretch those legs,” Juliet said to the powerful animal as he bunched his legs under them. With a squeeze of her calves and a softening of the reins, they were off, the grey stallion’s robust and steady stride carrying them quickly through the shimmering dew topped gold grasses.

  Ducking under a far-reaching branch, Juliet was thankful she had left her hat in her room. Today was a day for wild gallops and free hair, she thought to herself, feeling the ends of her hair dance across her face in the breeze.

  Juliet leaned back as they galloped into the darkened riding path; it was lined with sweet, scented conifer boughs, guiding the pair of them further and further from Lakeview manor.

  This bridle path was Juliet’s favorite; she had ridden so far. Lakeview had been in Nicholas’ family for generations, and Juliet savored the feeling of ancient tranquility. A comfortable silence enfolded them as the trees embraced her.

  Giddy laughter peeled from her as she mentally shoved William from her mind, letting the cool, damp air fill her body with a sense of peace and happiness. By the time she pulled up Sterling, both were out of breath but vibrating with the sheer joy of the moment.

  Juliet murmured sweet words to the horse as the two of them made the turn to begin their path back to the stable. Finally, William, and his wickedly distracting body, was the furthest thing from her mind, and she made a mental note to leave some apples in Sterling’s stall as a thank you.

  “If you keep talking so sweet to him, he won’t want to go to work anymore,” came a deep voice from her left.

  Sterling and his rider both spooked hard, the big horse swinging around to face the source of the sound. Juliet was sputtering mad as she scrambled to stay astride, and by the time she gathered up her reins, she opened her mouth to give her critic a scathing retort.

  Except there, sitting aside a deep brown mare, was William himself. Sterling whinnied softly at the mare, but the mare pinned her small, well-formed ears against her skull and looked at Sterling with white-rimmed eyes. Sterling immediately backed off, dejectedly dropping his head to chomp on his bit as Juliet stared open-mouthed at the other rider.

  William smiled at her, the picture of comfort in his loose, open-necked white shirt, blown wide by the wind. While he had to be cold in the morning air, Juliet couldn’t help but admire both the strikingly handsome picture he made with all that dark hair and olive skin, as well as the gentle, confident way he sat on his horse.

  “He won’t want to work anymore?” Juliet finally said, her throat tight as she dragged her eyes away from the attractive man. “In my experience, most men need extensive sweet talk to produce anything close to work.” She was goading him but couldn't help it.

  Alone here in the light mist, Juliet felt that same overwhelming need to be close to him, to know him.

  To her surprise and pleasure, he threw back his head and laughed, the rich sound seeming to bounce off the trees and fields around them. There was real humor shining in his face; his eyes crinkled in laughter as he looked at her.

  “You make a valid point, Juliet. And Sterling looks quite content to serve his lady,” William said, kneeing his mare forward towards them.

  “You know him?” Juliet said curiously, butting Sterlin
g forward with her heels. He quickly matched steps with the brown mare, his tail swishing contentedly as the pair marched along.

  “My Uncle up North bred him and sent him down to Nicholas since he knew I’d be here. He has some very desirable bloodlines I’d like to have at Mansfield.” William looked over at Juliet. She could feel his eyes approving of her relaxed pose and gentle grip on the reins. “Although maybe he missed his calling as a Lady’s horse.”

  Juliet smiled and patted the horse’s neck. “He’s a lovely creature, but not just any lady's horse.” William scanned her position in the saddle, his face pensive.

  “At least not yet. I’ve been riding since before I could walk; it’s a little different,” She said quickly, blushing as she realized how arrogant she must’ve sounded. William was silent for a minute, but there was a smile on his face.

  “Just when I think I’ve got you figured out, Juliet, you go and confuse me again,” he murmured, but the tone was joking. Juliet smiled sadly.

  “I promise there’s a lot more to me than a desperate girl throwing herself in your bed. Or onto your lap,” she said, her eyes trying to find his as a bright blush brightened her face. When they did, she continued. “I hope to prove that to you someday.”

  William grinned, his white teeth flashing against the dusting of dark stubble on his cheeks. “We shall see,” he said, suddenly leaning over to smack Sterling’s rump and launching his keen mare into a fast gallop.

  Sterling was immediately offended, and with only a little encouragement from Juliet, the horse went sprinting after the first pair. Juliet couldn’t help but laugh. The feel of the galloping horse and the smiling, joyful expression on William’s face did nothing but brighten her spirits.

  Bent low over Sterling’s thrusting neck, the two pairs came galloping into one of Lakeview’s fields, Sterling just behind William and his mare. Pulling up her mount, Juliet mumbled soothing nonsense to the big horse as he calmed to a jaunty walk.

  William’s mare wasn’t as pleased to be pulled up, and she popped up repeatedly on her back end, her front hooves pawing at the air as she protested the end to their race. Juliet watched, appreciating as William moved effortlessly with her, speaking to the excited animal in low, soothing tones.

  Finally, on all four legs, he maneuvered her over to join Juliet for the final stretch to the stable yard.

  They strode along in silence, an air of pure contentment swallowing both of them. The sun was slowly crawling into the sky, and Juliet turned her face to the sky to watch as the last of the mist seemed to disappear around them. Breathing deeply, she tried to soak in as much of this moment as she could. With the ball tomorrow, there was going to be no more time for relaxing.

  Turning to William, Juliet meant to thank him for the race and tease him for cheating. However, as soon as she opened her mouth, she heard a strange voice come across the fields. At first, Juliet looked around for birds, as if there was a cawing flock flying overhead. Then suddenly, she saw Amelia, hurrying towards them, calling her name over and over.

  Stomach clenching tight, she knew that the appearance of her horse scared maid would only mean one thing. Slowly Juliet turned to William as they stopped in front of the stables. Amelia stopped a short distance away, her face pale, her fear keeping her from coming any further.

  “My Lady, they are-,” Amelia gasped, halting as she noticed William’s curious gaze. She didn’t need to finish her announcement. Juliet looked glumly at the new carriage parked alongside the Devonshire rig behind the stables. Swallowing hard, Juliet pushed off, landing on the ground beside Sterling’s flank.

  No sooner had her boots hit the pebbled path before she heard the voice she had been dreading. Amelia grew silent, and her flushed face pulled tight. She sent a bobbing curtsy William’s way before quickly retreating to the manor, peeking over her shoulder several times as she made her way up the smooth hill.

  “I should’ve known you’d be here among the animals.” Marshall Pinecrest, the Earl of Greystone, emerged from the stable aisle. His slitted brown eyes crawled over her as his lips wrinkled in distaste. Juliet briefly saw stable manager Edmund appear behind him, the smaller man appearing apologetic, as his eyes darted from Juliet to her stepfather and back again.

  Juliet registered William swinging off his mare behind her in the back of her mind, but she was consumed with the man walking across the driveway. He was dressed for riding, but she knew it was a farce.

  His beautiful new boots, polished to a mirror shine, had never seen a day in the saddle, nor had his pristine buff breeches. He looked pompous in her opinion, but it was evident that he found himself appealing, and her mother readily agreed.

  Squaring her feet, Juliet prepared for the moment she had been fearing since Lady Catherine had left the note in her chambers saying she had invited Juliet’s parents last minute to join them for the ball, where they could approve of her new fiancé in person.

  Since then, she had been praying that they wouldn’t come. But here he was. Juliet was sure that her mother was hidden away inside the manor somewhere, far from conflict.

  Painting her face with as much dislike as she could, Juliet faced down the man who had ruined her father’s legacy. “Hello, Marshall,” Juliet said quietly, hoping that whatever conflict that was about to happen would be minor compared to their past spats. She didn’t want William to witness the ugliest part of her so soon after they had shared such a lovely moment.

  “That’s all you have to say, Juliet?” Marshall said to her, his whining voice cutting across the open air. He was only feet from her now when he stopped, his face pinched. Juliet glanced over at him, taking on his dust-free clothing, understanding that they must’ve arrived sometime in the night for him to be up and dressed in fresh clothing.

  “We should talk inside” Juliet felt Sterling’s velvet muzzle butt lightly against her shoulder.

  “Don’t you dare tell me what to do. Not after everything you’ve done.” Marshall’s word dripped in loathing. Juliet felt her temper rise.

  “Everything I have done? You came all this way to put me on trial?”

  “You have made a mockery of Greystone,” Marshall growled at her. “You made a mockery of your mother and me.” Juliet focused hard on the familiar ridges of leather still gripped in her hand. Her breath was even and quiet, her reactions practiced to perfection. She never wanted him to know how much his words hurt her. Choosing her own carefully, she looked up, meeting his muddy brown eyes head-on.

  “I’m sorry I hurt Mama,” Juliet said softly, trying to keep this already embarrassing conversation between the two of them. “Perhaps we can go inside and talk to her.”

  Juliet could easily see the stable staff and some of the gardeners seeming to linger nearby in an effort to overhear what was being said. However, she whispered words that only sparked more outrage.

  “Well, apparently, we need to hurry along that conversation. First one man, then the other? Your mother and I have no idea whose bed we will find you in tomorrow.” Marshall’s judgemental eyes were crawling over her form.

  Juliet squeezed the reins she still held, the leather biting into her gloved hands, trying to keep her emotions in check. She didn’t trust herself to open her mouth right now, too afraid to cry in front of this monster her mother had brought into her life.

  “I think you have been misinformed, sir,” came the deep voice behind her. Fluttering her eyes up, Juliet realized that William was now standing beside her; the look on his face was murderous.

  Even in his flowy shirt, power radiated from every pore of his being. Juliet took great pleasure at the moment that Marshall stepped backward, his face blanching as he took in the dominating man now standing beside his stepdaughter.

  “Lady Juliet and I were just returning from a ride together, and I can assure you, the only bed she’s been sleeping in is her own,” William said, his eyes cutting into Marshall like silver daggers. “I would know, as it is my offer of marriage that lies on the table
.”

  There was stunned silence, but this time, it buzzed with the ferociously that flowed between the two men. Acting as if it were the most normal thing in the world, William reached over and gently took Sterling’s reins from her hands.

  “Edmund, Red, would you mind?” handing over their horses to the grooms who quickly walked the horses inside, their eyes cast downwards.

  Her chest warmed instantly as the dark-haired man stepped closer to her and somehow seemed to tower over Marshall. Not only in proper height, but in the way that he held himself. Marshall watched with a keen eye, taking in the proximity of the Marquess to Juliet, as well as the beginnings of breakfast chatter behind him at the manor. It would be swarming with the guests soon, and there would be no way to explain publicly berating his stepdaughter.

  William extended a hand, “I’m William Huntington, Marquess of Mansfield Park. I take it you are Marshall Pinecrest.”

  Juliet noted that a sheen of sweat had appeared on her stepfather's blonde brow. Giving a slight, jerky bow, and like a dog afraid to turn his back, Marshall never dropped his gaze from William.