Read My Enchanting Hoyden (A Once Upon A Rogue Novel, #3) for Free Online

she’d worked as a barmaid in her father’s pub. She didn’t hold with the notion that women of the ton had to obey so many rules of etiquette.
    “How did I know you’d say that?” Sophia’s husband groaned.
    “Because, darling, you know me so well.”
    “Then it’s set,” Jemma exclaimed as she strode to Sophia’s newest horse. “I’ll ride Fairfax.”
    “Fairfax doesn’t take to strangers,” Lord Harthorne supplied in a cheerful tone.
    Jemma frowned. Did the man think she didn’t know how to handle a horse? “When I want your advice, I’ll ask for it,” Jemma replied and held out a cautious hand to Fairfax.
    Sophia had warned Jemma of Fairfax’s nature, but Jemma wasn’t worried. Animals loved her. “Hello, boy.” She moved to touch his side, and he whinnied and nipped at her hand. She jerked her hand back amid Scarsdale’s deep chuckling and Lord Harthorne’s notable silence. Heat flamed her cheeks but she refused to forego her plan. She would make the beast like her. “Come now, boy.”
    The horse whinnied louder, and Scarsdale’s chuckle grew louder, as well. Sophia hushed her husband and he immediately complied, but the snickers from the onlookers behind him continued. That was perfectly all right. The horse’s defiance would make her victory even sweeter and more gossip-worthy.
    The thud of boots hitting the ground made her jump, and as she glanced behind her, Lord Harthorne was suddenly there, blocking her from the rest of the party. He leaned toward her, and she thought he was going to touch her, so she tensed. Instead, he reached around her and placed a gentling hand on the horse, who immediately quit moving.
    “Fairfax is a filly,” he said in low undertones. “I think she’s taking exception to you calling her a boy.”
    Was he serious? She opened her mouth to ask him, but he spoke first. “Trust me.”
    Will had said those exact same words. Jemma cringed. “I’m far too intelligent to do that,” she snapped.
    He flinched, which made her feel terrible about saying such harsh words. It wasn’t his fault she didn’t trust men. Though, just because it wasn’t his fault that didn’t mean she trusted him . She pressed her fingertips to her aching temples. “Er, thank you, for the tip on Fairfax.”
    “Certainly,” he said, but his voice was much cooler than it had been.
    She turned from him, unsure what else to say, and carefully placed her hand on Fairfax’s side. “You’re a good girl,” she cooed, feeling silly, but she’d be as silly as need be if it accomplished her goal. Fairfax snorted her approval, and Jemma grinned. “It’s working,” she exclaimed.
    “Yes,” Lord Harthorne replied, in a deep satisfied tone. “I did tell you it would.”
    She rubbed Fairfax gently as she forced an apology to the surface. “I’m sorry,” she said stiffly. Apologizing to any man truly went against the grain.
    He sketched a mock bow. “Quite all right. I can see how my trying to help you would make you doubt my character.”
    Of course, he couldn’t see, and he’d effectively told her so with his words, so full of silent retribution. She scowled inwardly. She didn’t have to explain herself to him. “I’ve already apologized.”
    “Yes. Quite so. And such a heartfelt apology, at that.”
    Of course, it wasn’t, and they both knew it. For one brief second, she longed to be that girl who could trust men again. But that girl was gone. She bit her lip and faced the horse. “Time to race, I suppose.” She could feel him behind her, unmoving, his heat almost invading.
    “Do you need help mounting?”
    Normally, she would have said no, but she’d rather have him steadying the skittish Fairfax until she was securely in the saddle. She nodded and was about to direct him to hold the horse when his hands suddenly came to her waist and he lifted her effortlessly up before she could protest. She scrambled to gain her hold and her footing, and with a huff of breath, she was