Unlacing the Innocent Miss by Margaret McPhee Read Free Book Online

women of her station could ride. Their parents bought them ponies as children, whereas in the streets of York, where Wolf had grown up, the children were lucky to have parents or food, never mind ponies.
    He thought he saw something akin to terror flicker in her eyes. He frowned as the possibility struck him. ‘You can ride, can you not?’
    She gave no answer, just continued to stand stock-still and stare at the horses. It seemed to Wolf that she was holding her breath.
    ‘Miss Meadowfield,’ he prompted in a harsh voice.
    Campbell and Kempster looked on in silence.
    ‘I…I…’ She did not drag her eyes from the horses to look at him.
    ‘If you cannot ride, I shall take you up with me.’
    She gave a slight shake of her head. Her cheeks were so white that he thought she might faint. ‘I can ride,’ she said so quietly that he had to strain to hear the words.
    ‘Are you unwell, Miss Meadowfield?’ he asked.
    There was a pause before she answered in a calm voice that belied the rigid stance of her body. ‘I am quite well, thank you, Mr Wolversley.’
    Just a bloody ploy to delay us, he thought but he saw the way she leaned her weight back against the tree trunk behind her. In truth, Wolf conceded, the woman looked as if she were about to faint.
    ‘Then what seems to be the problem?’
    She hesitated again, before taking a deep breath and moving her gaze to meet his. ‘There is no problem. I felt a little faint, that is all. The feeling has passed. I am better now.’
    ‘There is some bread left from last night. Eat that. It will help,’ said Wolf.
    She shook her head. ‘No thank you. As I said, I am feeling well enough now.’
    ‘Then you will delay us no further.’ Wolf turned away and swung himself up on to his horse.
    Campbell and Kempster followed suit.
    Wolf watched as the woman slowly pushed herself away from the tree and began to walk. There was a grim determination about her as she crossed the forest clearing. She stopped just short of the small bay mare that stood patiently waiting.
    Wolf knew that she would be used to some servantrushing to help her climb upon the horse’s back. Even the sight of the sidesaddle irritated him. It was yet another sign of her status and all that she was. Common women rode astride the same as any man. She stood there, close by the horse’s side, neither at tempting to clamber up, nor asking for assistance.
    ‘We’ll be here all day at this rate,’ muttered Kempster.
    Wolf said nothing, knowing that Evedon’s man only spoke what he himself was thinking. Yet he wanted her to know what it was like to survive without servants rushing to dance upon her every whim. He’d be damned if he’d climb down there and act like her lackey, so Wolf sat stubborn and silent, and waited, allowing the woman’s discomfort to stretch.
    It was Campbell who slipped down from his mount and moved to help her.
    The big Scotsman stroked a hand against the mare’s neck. ‘She’s a docile wee thing,’ he said, and then bent and offered Miss Meadowfield his linked hands to use for her footing.
    ‘Thank you,’ she said quietly, and with a foot in Campbell’s hands and a hand against his shoulder she mounted the small horse.
    They moved off slowly.
    Miss Meadowfield sat on her horse tensely, and although she looked ill at ease in the saddle, it was clear that she could indeed ride.
    A delaying tactic, indeed, surmised Wolf sourly, and met Campbell’s eye. They walked slowly and in silence through the trees and out on to the country road that lay beyond.
     
    Wolf rode out in front, Campbell and Kempster at the rear. In between was Rosalind. She was managing quiteadmirably with the mare’s gentle walk until they came out on to the narrow country road and Wolf kicked his horse first to a trot and then a canter.
    Rosalind’s horse came to a halt as her fingers tightened around the reins and she felt the panicked thudding of her heart. Her palms beneath the fine leather gloves were