Old Sins Long Shadows by B.D. Hawkey Read Free Book Online

sir,’ the girl replied, dropping her gaze then lifting it again to meet his. ‘A man has the power to if he chooses to do so … just as he has the choice not to.’  Daniel decided to move the horse to the side at that precise moment. His aim was to break the conversation between them and, as planned, the horse’s rump nudged James to the left. It worked. James laughed and for the first time included Daniel in the conversation.
    ‘ I think our gender has been firmly put in our place, Daniel.’  He looked back at Janey with renewed admiration. ‘This is Janey Carhart, my mother’s new maid.’ 
    Daniel stiffly nodded and Janey acknowledge his greeting with a slight nod of her own . So now he knew her name, but it was not how he envisaged learning it. In his mind he would have introduced himself and asked her, and she would have gladly told him herself. Instead he had learnt her name from James Brockenshaw’s lips - a man who she was obviously besotted with and Daniel could not hope to match. Particularly today where he was dressed in his work clothes and James dressed for riding. Today, where James had the ease of conversation and banter, Daniel felt, if called upon, he would have difficulty stringing a coherent sentence together.
    ‘ Daniel here thinks my horse has been lame for more than a year and I have not noticed.’ So he had been listening, thought Daniel irritably. ‘I fear Daniel must think I do not look after my horse well.’
    Daniel did not like to be talked about as if he was not present and his irritation showed in the words he ground out.
    ‘I did not say that. Horses are prey animals, they put up with a lot of pain before they show it. Showing vulnerability in nature is the fastest way of being singled out and hunted.’
    ‘ Here speaks a man who has no vulnerability to show,’ laughed James, oblivious to the discomfort he was causing. Janey tried unsuccessfully to hide her embarrassment for Daniel which irritated Daniel all the more. It was time he was going.
    ‘ Your horse has chronic pain, from arthritis or injury, the cause does not matter. Her riding days are over.’  He picked up his jacket that he had taken off on his arrival, in preparation of taking his leave. James was shocked out of his teasing.
    ‘ Are you suggesting I have her shot?’
    ‘ You have the gift of putting words into people’s mouths. I recommend she retires to become a pasture buddy for the younger horses on your estate. They can learn from her and she will provide them with a constant security within the herd. She could also be put into foal. Her condition will withstand the weight of a foal inside her and her bloodline will then continue. However, she must never be ridden again. It would be cruel and painful for her and dangerous for you.’ Daniel hesitated, then, in a veiled invitation to place James in danger, added, ‘But you do as you wish. It is your horse.’
    James and Janey watched Daniel stride away, ‘I fear Daniel lacks a sense of humour Miss Carhart,’ said James. He smiled down at her while she watched pensively Daniel’s receding figure, ‘May I escort you back to the servant’s hall before your roses wilt in this heat. Your face is too pretty to wear such a frown.’ He beckoned the stable boy over, ‘Stable Lady in a thick bed of straw, I will visit her later.’ The boy touched his cap and led the horse away. Later, he thought, he would give instructions for her to be shot.
     
    Miss Petherbridge watched them from a second floor window. She pursed her lips in annoyance at the closeness Mr Brockenshaw displayed with the upstart Carhart servant. That girl was heading for a fall and Miss Petherbridge would make sure she was near at hand to give her a push when the time came. She checked the fall of the curtain and, once satisfied, continued her walk along the length of the corridor, her keys jingling at her belt, and the swish of her dress echoing about her.
     
    James. James. James