Read To Win the Lady for Free Online

tell you the lane is private property...’
    ‘I would not
have wasted my time on such a fruitless exercise, ma’am,’ he retorted stiffly,
‘had I not needed to come on business.’
    ‘Oh.’ She
handed Warrior’s reins to Dawson who had been listening to the exchange with
something like glee. ‘Have him rubbed down and when he’s cooled you can give
him a good dinner; he’s earned it.’ She cast a cursory glance at Richard’s
hired hack before turning to face him, aware that he was much taller than she
was and she was tilting her head up towards him - a most unusual occurrence. ‘I
am sorry, sir, we seem to have begun on the wrong foot. I’m Georgiana Paget.
What can I do for you?’
    He grasped the
hand, though he was unsure whether to shake it or convey it to his lips. ‘Miss
Paget, your obedient servant. Am I to understand that you are the new owner of
Rowan Park?’
    ‘Yes,’ she
said, unable to avert her gaze from his dark eyes which seemed to be looking
into hers as if they could perceive the uncertainty there.
    ‘I need a good
hunter,’ he said, releasing her hand and breaking a spell which had lasted only
seconds but which, to Georgie, had seemed like minutes. ‘The one on which you
nearly rode me down would be just the thing.’
    She was about
to protest that she had come nowhere near riding him down, but stopped herself
with a laugh which sounded empty to her own ears. ‘Mayhap it would, but Warrior
is not for sale, and certainly he would not do for you.’
    ‘How do you
know that?’
    ‘Simply by
looking at the animal you are riding. I never saw such an apology for a horse
in my life; it is definitely dishing. And you are far too heavy for it.’
    He turned to
look at it and grinned ruefully; she was right but he would not give her the satisfaction
of telling her so. ‘That is no excuse for terrifying him and me along with him.
And you must allow me to be the judge of what will do for me, madam. Pray ask
whoever is in charge of this establishment to show me what there is on offer.’
    ‘I am persuaded
it would take more than that to terrify you, sir,’ she said, watching his face
for his reaction, ready to fly into the boughs the minute he exhibited any
reluctance to deal with her. ‘I will show you what we have if you tell me what
you have in mind.’
    ‘Another like
Victor,’ he said, deciding to humour her. When she found herself out of her
depth, she would have to call her guardian or manager or whoever now looked
after her affairs. He admired her spirit, though what she hoped to gain by this
delaying tactic he did not know.
    ‘Victor? You
mean Bucephalus’s colt out of Winning Streak? I collect he was bought by a
cavalry officer. Viscount Dullingham’s son, I believe.’
    He grinned and
gave a mock-bow. ‘Major Richard Baverstock at your service, ma’am. You have a
good memory.’
    ‘I know the
lineage of all our horses, Major, and where they went. What happened to
Victor?’
    ‘He has been
acquired by Lord Cedric Barbour and I need a replacement.’
    Georgiana felt
unaccountably angry with the young man for parting with Warrior’s half-brother
but glad that the brave horse had not died in battle as so many others had
done. Perhaps, as a returning soldier, his pockets were to let and he had been
forced to part with him but, in that case, he could hardly afford to replace
the stallion with anything like the same quality.
    ‘Come with me,’
she told him, and led him past the main stable-block to the paddock, where
several horses grazed. ‘Take your pick,’ she said. ‘They are all prime
animals.’
    ‘I said a
replacement for Victor, not a mount for a gentle hack in the country,’ he said,
hardly sparing them a glance. ‘It is obvious you do not know the difference and
I would do better to take my custom to someone who can appreciate my
requirements.’
    ‘That, sir, is
your prerogative,’ she said, then, remembering that pride did not put money
into the household