Dominic by Hazel Statham Read Free Book Online Page A

raised brows.
    “ I have never had a season , ” she smiled, and then added ruefully, “and now I t h ink it highly unlikely. My aunt has not the m eans to bring m e out, she has her own f a m ily to consider and I h a ve no fortune of m y own.”
    “Then that is a pity,” he countered, his eye appreciating her face a n d fo r m . “It is societ y ’s loss t h at it is de n ied your acquaintance.”
    “ There is no need to flatter me , sir , ” she chuckled softly, coloring at the co m p li m ent. “I know well enough my li m itations. My e n trée into s o ciety wo u ld cause no comment.”
    “That, Miss Thornton, is where you are quite w rong,” he began and would have said m ore but his sentence was cut short by the caustic tones behind h i m as Mr s. Lewis once again approached.
    “Fie on you, sir, and still you do not join the dancing,” she reproved, standing with hands folded pri m ly before her. “ You will excite too much comment sitting alone with Miss T hornton. Indeed, heads turn already.”
    “Mada m , I have m ade known my intention of not dancing,” s n apped Vale, standing to face her.
    “Then at l e ast co m e into the ball r oom and watch the dancers,” she suggested forcibly.
    “There is nothing m ore tedious than watching other people da nc e,” he stated flatly. He turned to f ace M iss Thornton and took her fingers to his lips in a brief salute. “I hope you will e x cuse m e if I take m y leave,” he said with a c u rt n ess he tried to suppress. Returning hi s gaze to Mrs. Lewis, he favored her with a terse nod, his countenance as stone, and inwardly seething, m ade his leisurely departure from the hall. His leaving causing a s much comment as had his arrival.
    “ W ell!” expostulated Mrs. Lewis full of righteous indignation. “ So m u ch for his lordship and his insufferable m anners! Co m e m y, dear, we will find you a more a m iable co m panion.”
    “Thank you, but no,” replied Miss Thornton with quiet dignity. “I have suffered enough this evening. I wish no more than to be left alone.”
    “As you wish,” re pl ied M rs. Lewis ha u ghtily, shrugging her shoulders. “I am sure that I am not the one to push m yself forward. I saw the need for assistance and atte m pted to offer it. Howev e r, trouble not, I leave you to your own devices, make what best you can of the evening,” and with this, she m arched away leaving Miss Thornton to her own reflections.
    It would have surprised her greatly to have seen the s m all s m ile that played over Sophie’s lips and the gleam that ca m e to her eye.
     
    *****
     
    Rising just befo re noon the following day, the e arl attacked a h earty breakfast before finally m aking his way toward the stables . Here he stood in shirtsleeves, leaning over the loosebox door, ad m i r i ng Sonnet who stood in t he shadows of the interior. She was a b ight bay thoroughbred, her breeding show i ng in every line. She had a sweet enough nature, yet a f i re lay beneath the surface and she pro m ised much. Over the previous week s Vale had broken her to head collar and lunge rein and two days earlier had introduced her to bridle and bit . Today he would add the saddle. But no rider yet, he thought to hi m self. He would not break her s p irit by atte m pting too much too soon; he had hopes for her future.
    Ordering the groom to fit her head collar and to lead her into the yard, he attached the lunge rein to the noseband. Coiling it ar o und his ar m , he took up the lunge whip and led her toward the south paddock. Speaking over his shoulder, he sent the groom in s earch of a lightweight saddle.
    If anything was designed to revive his flagging spirits, it was his horses for which he held an unrivalled passion and he jealously guarded his r i ght to their schooling. As a young boy he had watched his father bringing on the youngsters and he had learned m uch. The d uke was well known for his eq u ine s kills, he too holding a passion in that