Chapter 10 #2
“No, I’ll manage, Hans, thank you,” she murmured, taking the reins from his chapped hands. “Go and warm yourself.”
“Aye, miss.” He nodded and raced back to the small brazier in a far corner of the stable, where several other stableboys were huddled.
Kassandra walked the frisky mare into the stable yard, her only thought to be on her way as quickly as possible.
She wanted to find a place far out in the woods surrounding the estate to bury the telltale roll of clothing—the tattered gown, petticoat, and stockings, and the velvet money bag that still contained several clinking coins.
She was about to set her foot in the stirrup when, out of the corner of her eye, she spied Stefan striding toward her from the carriage house.
Dear God, what was she to do with the clothing?
She flipped the reins over a nearby post, tethering the mare, then hurried back into the stable, her eyes darting about the shadowy recesses.
Quickly she ran to the wall and buried the roll beneath a heaping pile of straw, then straightened and shook the dust from her skirt.
Obviously she would have to wait for another time to rid herself of the offensive garments…
He must be following her, the bastard! Kassandra raged, forcing herself to walk calmly back outside into the bright sunlit morning. How could she possibly act civilly to this man, when at the very least she wanted to scratch out his eyes?
Ignoring him as he called to her, she again set her foot in the stirrup and hoisted herself into the sidesaddle. She clucked to the mare, digging her heel gently into its side, and they set off at a canter through the stable yard, then out onto the road that led away from the estate.
It seemed only a moment had passed when she heard the pounding of hooves not far behind, then the fierce snorting of Stefan’s mighty black destrier as he reined in beside her. The mare tossed her head at the sudden intrusion, her hooves pawing the earth as she threatened to rear.
“A lovely morning to you, my lady,” Stefan offered gallantly, reaching for the mare’s bridle and steadying the frightened animal.
“Whoa now,” he murmured in soothing tones, until the mare had settled down.
He laughed, a deep, husky sound that rang out in the surrounding woods. “Would you mind if I rode along?”
Kassandra bit her tongue against a bitter retort. Play the part, she admonished herself. Remember, there is nothing more between you than your recent acquaintance.
“Not at all,” she replied, smiling brightly, her heart thumping against her breast as she was struck again by his dark good looks. He smiled back, his teeth a flash of white against his bronzed face.
“Good,” Stefan said, matching his destrier’s pace to that of the mare’s as they set off at a walk. “I was hoping for a chance to offer an apology for my behavior last night at the reception.”
Stunned by this statement, Kassandra felt her skin flush with warmth. She kept her eyes trained on the winding road before them, fearful that he might see her discomfort.
“An apology, my lord?”
“Yes, for what happened in the garden,” Stefan replied easily. “I was certain I had seen you somewhere before, but of course, that’s impossible. I’m only surprised you didn’t mention to Isabel that we had already met, so to speak, in the garden.”
Kassandra swallowed, her mouth suddenly gone dry.
What game was he playing? she wondered. “I saw no need,” she finally managed, glancing at him.
“It was an error easily made in the dark, and certainly not worthy of mention. But I do accept your apology, Stefan.” She turned away, flustered, and rubbed the coarse hairs along the mare’s neck.
Strange, that was the first time she had called him by his given name.
Stefan sat back in the saddle, studying her exquisite profile.
It seemed he was getting no further in unraveling the mystery.
First Zoltan had insisted that Kassandra had never been out of his sight during that day in the city, and now his apology had scarcely raised a slim eyebrow, let alone the indignant outburst he had expected. What could he possibly say…?
“I wonder what you must think of me,” he began, “after stumbling upon such a, well, such an indelicate situation in the garden—”
“Isabel told me you were something of a rogue, so I am not surprised you would choose such a place for a tryst,” Kassandra cut him off flippantly, doing her best to conceal her true feelings.
If he only knew what she really thought of him!
“And from what I have heard of Viennese gentlemen, it seems discretion is not a valued trait.” With that, she spurred her mare into a trot, then a fast gallop.
“I thought you wanted to ride, my lord!” she tossed over her shoulder.
Stefan’s eyes gleamed with amusement, following Kassandra’s lithe figure riding low on her mare as the animal raced across an open field.
“You have won this match,” he murmured to himself with admiration, undeterred that she had bested him once again. “But there will be others.” After all, he thought fleetingly, the chase was nearly as exciting as the quarry…
Stefan dug his heel into the stallion’s glistening flank and the mighty animal leaped forward, bolting from the road into the field.