The Sergeant Major's Daughter by Sheila Walsh Read Free Book Online Page B

renewed determination. She had good, light hands and experience enough to resist the novice’s trap of tightening the reins. She leaned forward, one hand grasping the mare firmly in the middle neck, petting and soothing her with soft, crooning words until, recognizing her voice, the nervous creature began to respond.
    It was at this precise moment that a highly strung stable lad, against a clamor of protest, ducked in to grab at the staf fl e ... and the mare, thoroughly frightened, reared again with renewed ferocity.
    Felicity cried out in exasperation: “For God’s sake, get that idiot out from under !”
    The boy was dragged away, catching a sharp blow on the head from one flailing hoof for his pains.
    In the confusion, Felicity saw both Stayne and Benson move. In desperation she brought Starlight down sharply, turned her in a tight circle, and while she was still confused, drove her forward; together they streaked past the astonished company, under the archway of the stable yard, and headed out toward open country.
    Once clear, Felicity gave Starlight her head, reveling in the sheer exhilaration of being on horseback once more. Presently she began to look about her. They were on a bridle path where the flying hooves raised a cloud of dust from the dry earth. It was new territory for her and a sharp bend in the path brought new problems. A tree had been recently felled and lay barring the way.
    She selected a place where the larger branches had been lopped and with familiar tightening of stomach muscles, she gathered the horse together. They sailed over in joyous unison, and she laughed aloud.
    The unexpected sound drifted back to Stayne as he thundered in pursuit. He rounded the bend in time to see horse and rider clear the obstacle in such perfect accord that he felt a swift stab of admiration.
    He drew abreast and she turned a glowing face to him. By common assent they slowed to a steady trot.
    “My compliments, Miss Vale. A masterly display by any standards.”
    Felicity’s grin could have been termed impudent.
    “Thank you, my lord. You are very kind—and generous, considering that I must have proved a sad disappointment.”
    “Now, why pray, should you think that?”
    She looked demurely ahead, but a dimple quivered near her mouth. “Because you anticipated I would take a toss.”
    She saw the Earl’s gloved hand tighten on the rein and turned to meet his sharp glance with a very straight one of her own.
    “Oh, you may deny it if you will, sir—but I shall continue to suspect that the whole business was contrived in order to give me a set-down.”
    “What an extraordinarily devious mind you have, Miss Vale.” Stayne’s expression had grown sanguine. “I should be foolish in the extreme to attempt any such stratagem with a young lady so intrepid that she has ridden with fearless courage over perilous mountain passes, through treacherous ravines; who has crossed the Douro on planks, bivouacked in the High Sierras in raging blizzards—and has fought her way gallantly through the parched heat of the Spanish plain...”
    “ Enough, sir, I beg you!” cried Felicity, in laughing, blushing confusion. “You must know Jamie has been fabricating stories!”
    “ Why—how is this, madam?” The eyebrow rose a little. “Am I to understand that you did none of these things?”
    “No ... that is ... yes, of course I did,” she stammered. “I daresay I may have embellished certain incidents in the telling ... for Jamie’s benefit...”
    The eyebrow rose a little higher and she concluded with spirit, “But never, I swear, to the Gothic proportions you have just catalogued!”
    To her amazement, the Earl uttered a distinct chuckle. “At all events, Miss Vale, you would appear to have led a most extraordinary life. I wonder you can put up with our humdrum ways. Did you never miss the more conventional advantages of a settled home?”
    “I don’t believe I ever considered my life unusual, sir. But I know I