That thought had an odd effect on her, or was it the whiskey? That foul-tasting liquid did seem to be rushing straight through her, turning her muscles to mush, leaving her limbs too relaxed.
“The good news is, you haven’t broken any bones.”
She felt so relieved she almost giggled, until her eyes again landed on that swollen part of her leg. “Then what is that?” She pointed an accusing finger at her calf.
“My guess would be, just a muscle spasm. I’ve seen muscle spasms lay a horse low. No actual damage, but it hurts like hell. And it can be massaged away.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“If the muscle was torn, my ears would be suffering by now, because you would have been screaming all this time. So lean back, grit your teeth if you have to, and let me work out this knot, and the pain will go away with it.”
She couldn’t follow his directions completely, she was too tense over what was about to happen. She merely leaned back on her elbows and prepared to watch him and stop him if she couldn’t bear the pain. He put his hands under her calf first and slowly worked his fingers toward the inflammation. The pain was minimal. She barely felt it at first, then felt too much! But the worst of it was brief and she continued to follow his instruction and grit her teeth, continuing to hope he was right, that it would soon be gone completely.
The pain lessened, and she grew more and more relaxed as it dissipated. Before long all she felt was Devin’s fingers gently massaging her leg, and she was amazed by how nice that felt. No man had ever touched her like that before. She knew he was only doing it to help her, yet it felt so sensual she gasped more than once. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. His touch got gentler and was more of a caress now, and suddenly their eyes locked. His seemed to be aflame, they were so bright. She sucked in her breath, her belly all aflutter. What on earth had that whiskey done to her?
“Better?” he said in a deep tone.
She didn’t think she could find her voice at that moment, it was almost as if she were transfixed. Then she felt an urge to giggle! No wonder women weren’t allowed to drink hard spirits!
Trying to shake off whatever effects had just taken control of her, she sat up again and lightly teased, “You’re not a carpenter, but a horse breeder, a matchmaker, a riding instructor, and a superb doctor. Anything else you could teach me that I might benefit from?”
“How are you at kissing?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then we should find out.”
The moment it registered, that he was offering to show her how to go about kissing, something indescribable happened to her. Before clarity of thought might intrude, he leaned toward her and put his mouth gently to hers. This was actually her very first kiss because she’d never encouraged a man enough for him to try stealing kisses from her. Yet she’d waited in curiosity a long time to find out about it, so she wasn’t about to stop him, not yet. . . .
His hand slipped behind her neck as he leaned even closer and laid her back gently on the cot. Suddenly his chest was pressed to hers. But she didn’t want to stop him.
His lips parted, slanted across hers, urging her to open hers as well. Nothing about his kiss was tepid, and she was quickly overwhelmed by what it made her feel. A fluttering sensation was deep inside her, swirling about in an exciting way. Her breath was suspended. Then his tongue actually slipped into her mouth! She started to draw back at such an unusual sensation, but his hold tightened just enough to let her know he wasn’t done with her.
He was so close, so handsome, so exciting! She could feel so much of him—his mouth capturing hers, his strong hands caressing her, his chest pressed against her breasts. This was her introduction to passion. Amanda couldn’t think beyond that, she could only feel, absorbing everything, marveling at so many new sensations that she didn’t even know she was capable of experiencing.
His hand moved along her cheek and neck, causing shivers to shoot down her back. The stubble on his chin seemed to be abrading her, but she didn’t care. She heard him groan, the sound seeming to reverberate through her—or was it just so thrilling to her ears that she ended up trembling all over? She couldn’t tell! So many sensations, all new, all thrilling. Even her breasts tingled, pressed so tightly to his chest.
But the wonderful moment ended abruptly, too abruptly, when Devin shot to his feet. Panting, wishing the kiss had lasted longer, she looked up at him reprovingly. If she’d been thinking at all, she wouldn’t have let her curiosity get out of hand. But then she would never have provoked him to kiss her to begin with, either. Good Lord, what had she done?!
“Stop it,” he said, seeing her blush. “That was a very strong drink I gave you to help you deal with the pain. The side effect is that it impairs your judgment, clouds your thoughts, and makes you do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do. Now how’s that leg?”
As soon as her head stopped spinning from all that he’d said, Amanda sat up and put her feet on the floor. More gallantry on his part? Passing the blame for what had just happened between them to the drink? Well, if he didn’t want to discuss that any further, she would be grateful for that as well.
“It’s fine, as you well know. Thank you. Now I really should be going.”
She stood up, perhaps a little too fast. Her legs were so wobbly she was surprised they didn’t crumble under her. Her hair felt as if it was in disarray. She could see a single, long lock dangling below her breast. Her cheeks and her chin felt as if they’d been abraded, and her lips felt a little swollen. Now he was standing so close that he was towering over her again, making her think of that kiss when she knew she had to put it out of her mind.
But he helped with that. Suddenly the brute was front and center again, saying in an adamant tone, “Don’t think your lessons are over. You’re getting back on a horse today, not to ride, but to take command of your fears. And we’ll do it the right way this time.”
She sat back on the cot abruptly. “There’s only one way and it didn’t work.”
“The first round was a blunder, but it was my blunder. I’m not going to be responsible for your not getting your heart’s desire. You will get back on a horse today, Mandy, like it or not.”
“What blunder?”
“I never should have started you off on a damned sidesaddle. So let me show you what I’m talking about.”
He grabbed her hand and led her out of the office and down the aisle to his working horse, which one of the workers had tethered to a post. Without warning, he simply tossed her up into the saddle. She tried to hook her leg over the horn, but it was a man’s saddle and Devin gently pushed her right leg over the saddle so that it dangled on the other side.
Amanda gasped, trying to shove her skirt back down over her exposed legs. But she couldn’t do it with a horse between her legs! “Get me down! I can’t sit on a horse like this!”
“Of course you can. You already are.”
“But this is indecent!”
“I’ve already seen your leg,” he said, his eyes locked on hers.
“That’s beside the—”
“Sit up straight,” he cut in sharply. “Use your legs, girl. Grip the animal’s sides. That’s your courage. That’s your control. That’s how you’ll stay in the bloody seat. If you’d pause a moment in your ranting to take notice, you’ll see how natural that feels.”
Did he have to be right? She grumbled, “I still can’t ride like this.”
“Of course you won’t, not without proper clothes. This was just a demonstration for you. But if you still want to become a horsewoman after today, you’re going to master riding astride first, before you attempt to master a sidesaddle again. So borrow a pair of your brother’s breeches or get a skirt made for riding.”
“I’m already wearing a skirt made just for riding,” she huffed.
“No, I’m talking about a pair of breeches that looks like a skirt. I’ve only seen a couple of women wearing this type of garment, but off the horse, it looked like a
skirt. Yet when the woman was sitting astride a horse, it fully covered her legs. All very proper. Talk to your seamstress. I’m sure she can figure out something like that for you.”
That sounded interesting. She could even envision what he was talking about. And she didn’t feel afraid sitting on the horse like this, not with her legs giving her such firm purchase. Though that could just be because of that horrid drink he’d given her, but it was still worth a try.
“Very well. But do get me down before someone walks in and—”
She didn’t have to finish, he was already holding up his arms to her. She leaned to the side, reaching for his shoulders, but didn’t quite get that far before he pulled her off the horse much too fast. She slammed right into his chest! He quickly put his arms around her to steady her, though she was steady—until she caught the look in his eyes. Oh, my! His amber eyes were looking right into hers, and they had that glow of passion in them again. She shivered deliciously. But he let go. Gasping, flustered yet again, she stepped back to make sure her skirt had settled into place properly.
“Bring a chaperone with you next time,” she heard him say in a distinctly annoyed tone.
Her eyes flew up to him. “I have one, she’s—”
“I mean a man. Preferably a relative of yours who might have some input about your riding—and will prevent you from taking on more lessons than you can handle in one day.”
She stiffened. So that drink had affected his judgment as well, and now he regretted giving her that lesson in kissing? He obviously wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again, by insisting she bring a relative with her next time. No wonder he sounded so sharp. How embarrassing.
He grasped her elbow and escorted her out of the stable, adding, “But don’t bring your brother, or you may end up ruining Lady Ophelia’s surprise for him.”
He took her straight out to the hired coach and helped her into it. She would have said a proper good-bye, might even have thanked him for his efforts today on her behalf, but his parting words just before he shut the door and gave the driver the signal to head out left her speechless.
“By the way, you’ve got nice legs.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
AMANDA COULDN’T BELIEVE HE did that! For the second time, Devin had said something in front of one of her chaperones that was going to get her reprimanded.
It would have been nice if Alice had nodded off while waiting for her because then she wouldn’t have heard Devin’s scandalous remark, but no such luck. The maid was staring at her now with eyes as wide as saucers.
Amanda tried to escape this lecture by saying, “He was just joking.”
“Joking? When there’s evidence on your chin and lips that says otherwise? You better hope that abrasion fades from your face before we get home, or I won’t be the only one telling you that you stepped so far over the line it’s a wonder you ain’t still tumbling down the hill!”
Amanda winced. She didn’t want to discuss that kiss when merely thinking about it stirred her pulse again. So she explained about the fall, assured Alice she didn’t break anything, but then lied, “His face must have scraped against mine when he carried me back to the stable.”
Amanda wasn’t worried about the evidence of the kissing lesson Devin had given her until Alice mentioned it, but since they weren’t going directly home and still had to stop back on Bond Street to collect the St. John coach, she decided to go to the seamstress shop again and order a couple of those special riding skirts Devin had told her about so she could ride astride. By the time she and Alice were riding home in the St. John coach, enough time had passed for that slight redness from Devin’s rough face rubbing against hers to fade. And a good thing. Her father was there at Julie’s house waiting for her.
Julie, Preston, and Rebecca were in the dining room for luncheon. Amanda called out her greetings as she joined them, then hugged her father’s neck from behind before she took the seat next to him.
“I understand you’re leaving us today,” Julie said right off. “I’ll have your trunks sent over to Rafe’s house this afternoon.”
Amanda grinned. “So Father told you that he’s going to be in town for the duration?”
“Yes, that news nearly knocked me on my arse,” Julie said in exaggeration.
Preston chuckled at his sister. “I don’t know why you think I’m a bloody recluse. Just because I love Norford Hall and prefer my comforts there doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy the festivities in London for a Season—for a good cause. And my daughter is an exceptionally good cause.”
“’Course she is.”
But he turned to Amanda to say, “But as it happens, Phelia wants to drag us all back home for Rafe’s birthday.”
“But we always celebrate birthdays there,” Amanda reminded him.
He nodded. “I know, but she’s making plans for a grand party, an actual weeklong affair that warrants a long guest list, apparently, so she’d like your help with that.”
Amanda squealed with delight. “She’s throwing a country party? You actually agreed?”
“Yes, because it’s for a dual purpose. She’s going to be inviting all the young eligibles and I’m adding several names to the guest list m’self, young men that come highly recommended, so you might want to pay a little attention to them.”
She raised a brow. “Recommended by whom?”
“A friend of a friend” was all he said.
Before she could wonder about that cryptic response, Julie asked her, “Did you get that mishap straightened out with the seamstress?”
“Yes, but I had a wonderful idea while I was there, and she was intrigued enough to try it for me. A skirt with legs.” Julie just raised a brow, making Amanda giggle and jump back up to stretch her legs as far apart as her current skirt allowed. “Really, imagine it, Aunt Julie, it will look like a skirt unless I stand like this. Only then would you be able to tell it’s actually very baggy pants.”
“Pants?” Rebecca chuckled.
“No pants,” Preston said adamantly, and continued to eat his lunch.
“I assume you mean for riding?” Julie said.
“Of course for riding, I wouldn’t need them for anything else.”
Preston turned to face her, his sudden concern obvious. “When did you start riding?”
“I haven’t yet, but I want to try it again,” she admitted hesitantly.
“I’d rather you didn’t” was all her father said, but that said so much.
Amanda knew he was remembering how much pain she’d suffered from her fall, and the horrible worry he’d had that she might never walk right again because of it. Of course he preferred that she never get on a horse again. She’d even agreed with him, until now.
She put her hand over her father’s. “This is something I really want to tackle. If I end up hating it, then that will be the end of it. But it’s a skill I’ve always regretted not developing. So I at least want to give it one last try. I did recently, you know.”
There, she’d done it. There was no going back. Now that her family knew she was attempting to ride again, she had to succeed.
“Yes, Herbert told me you’d changed your mind,” Preston replied.
“I couldn’t even bring myself to get on the horse he brought out for me.”
“Then why are we even discussing this?”
“Because I hadn’t been challenged yet to succeed. And I hadn’t been told yet how easy it could be under the right circumstances. And because I’ve met a man I’m quite interested in,” she ended with a slight blush.
“Who?” they all said at once.
“Kendall Goswick, the Earl of Manford. He’s not even in town for the Season. I met him when I went with Phelia to a horse farm to pick out Rafe’s birthday present. He was so handsome and charming, he quite stole my breath away! He’s the first man I actually want to see more of.”
“That’s wonderful, Mandy,” Rebecca said, beaming at her.
“When do we get to meet him?” P
reston queried.
“Soon, I hope.”
“And what’s he got to do with your suddenly wanting to take up horse riding?” Preston asked.
Amanda grinned. “Because I’m thinking ahead, all the way to marriage. Lord Kendall is an avid horseman. In fact, he loves horses so much he’s chasing down another one in France right now to add to his stable. If we do get married, how will it work if I hate something my husband loves so much? I’d feel terrible about it! He’d be miserable about it. He might not even want to marry me if he finds out I don’t ride.”
“Nonsense.”
“Absurd.”
“Never heard of anything so silly.”
Amanda bit her lip. They sounded so certain. No, they scoffed because they loved her. She would rather not put it to the test with Kendall. Besides, learning to ride was still something she wanted to accomplish, Kendall or no. And spending time with Devin was exciting! Even though he was impossible and not quite of her social circle, she couldn’t deny, at least to herself, that she found him intriguing. He was so unlike any other man she’d ever met. She couldn’t tell when he was teasing her and when he was serious. And she could learn a lot more from him than just riding. . . .
She nearly gasped at the thought that he wouldn’t hesitate to answer her questions about men, unlike her brother. She could take advantage of Devin’s bluntness in that regard. She might well learn things from him that would assure her success with her husband hunt. But she couldn’t tell her family any of that!
But she was feeling much better about getting the hang of riding, now that Devin had pointed out one of the difficulties she’d faced, how to feel comfortable and in control while sitting on a saddle.
She explained that to her father. “It’s not just Lord Kendall and how riding might make for a happy marriage with him—if we progress that far. It’s something I’ve always missed out on, anything to do with horses, and I’ve regretted that. I let fear persuade me that I didn’t need to ride, but some of that fear was because I never felt secure on a horse. But I’m convinced now that that was the fault of the saddle. That’s one thing I do remember about my first lessons, that I was so nervous each time because it felt so awkward. It’s like sitting only halfway on a horse!”
Let Love Find You Page 16