Page 26 of The Rogue’s Offer

With a quick goodbye to Lizzie, Mathias ushered Ophelia out of the house and down the steps to where a young groom was holding the reins of two horses. One was a large, dark chestnut with an air of majestic power and strength. The animal tossed his head in a definite test of the groom’s strength. Although the young man was of a slender build, he controlled the horse with only a small amount of difficulty. The other animal was dark black with white stockings and a star on its face. Mathias gestured toward the horse.

“This is Storm. She’s gentle natured, but is able to keep pace with Titan here. Since you mentioned riding at Melton Park, I assumed you were skilled enough to manage her easily.”

Ophelia smiled with pleasure as she stepped forward to stroke the mare’s neck. The horse turned its head slightly and blew out a soft breath of greeting.

“She’s lovely,” she said as she glanced over her shoulder at Mathias. Obviously pleased by her compliment, he smiled with satisfaction.

“Rufus, help her ladyship to mount, please.” The command startled her slightly as she’d half expected Mathias to assist her. As he leaned around her to take the reins of his horse, his breath warmed her cheek as he whispered in her ear. “I’m afraid if I helped you mount, it would be difficult to resist caressing a shapely leg, or imagining another type of mount you should ride.”

The words echoed with wicked amusement, and Ophelia sucked in a sharp breath of shocked surprise. She jerked her gaze toward him. The smile curving his sensual mouth was enough to make any woman’s heart flutter. But it was the sinful invitation in his gaze that took her breath away. Unsettled by her reaction to his flirtation, she quickly turned away and mounted Storm using the groom’s cupped hands as a makeshift step.

In seconds, she was seated in the mare’s saddle, one leg nestled securely between the top and lower pommels while Rufus helped slide her foot into the stirrup. Excitement slid through her as they trotted toward Hyde Park. Carriage Drive was sparsely populated with early morning riders and they increased their pace to a canter. Rotten Row was almost completely devoid of riders, and Mathias pulled Titan to a halt. Amusement glittered in his eyes as he arched an eyebrow at her.

“Shall we race?”

“Although you said Storm was capable of keeping up, I think a race might be somewhat of a challenge when it comes to winning.”

“So you’re not up to the possibility of losing.” The wicked smile curving his mouth blatantly sought to provoke her.

“You enjoy taunting me entirely too much,” she said with a laugh and shake of her head. “Very well, a race. To the end of the run?”

“Agreed. Shall I give you a head start?”

“Absolutely not,” she exclaimed. “If I am to win I shall do so on my own merit.”

“Then I shall afford you the courtesy of starting the race.”

“All right. Go.”

Applying a sudden pressure of her leg to Storm’s side, she made the horse leap forward in a gallop. She was more than a length in front of Mathias in two seconds. She glanced over her shoulder and laughed at the look of surprise on his face. His startled expression became one of determination as he urged Titan forward. Ophelia returned her focus to the track in front of her. She heard the sound of hoof beats pounding the ground close behind her, but she didn’t take her eyes off the track. Instead she nudged the mare again in an effort to increase the animal’s speed. The two horses were soon neck-and-neck and remained that way almost to the end of the riding track when Titan surged ahead to win the race by almost a half a length. As the two horses slowed to a halt, Mathias turned around and rode up alongside her.

“For someone who didn’t want a head start, you managed to gain the upper hand in the beginning.”

“I can hardly be faulted for your lack of readiness,” she murmured with a smile. Surprise flashed across his face once more before he laughed heartily. A wicked gleam in his green eyes, he leaned forward until his face was close to hers

“You are a minx, Lady Havenstock. I wonder what punishment would be suitable for your irreverent behavior.”

“If you’re asking me to suggest something, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. I’m learning that irreverence is a necessity where you’re concerned.” She laughed at the dumfounded look on his features.

Almost instantly he recovered from his amazement, and reached out to capture her hand in his. Slowly raising it to his mouth, he pressed his lips firmly against her riding gloves while his thumb slid between the soft kid leather and the sleeve of her habit. In a gentle movement he stroked the underside of her wrist. The touch sent an electric shock up her arm that made her pulse skitter out of control. She drew in a sharp breath as an unfamiliar sensation swept through her.

Mathias’ eyes met hers as his mouth lingered on fingers. The caress burned its way through the glove spreading heat across her skin. His eyes narrowed as he gradually released her hand. The thunder of her heartbeat echoed in her ears while the sensation of hundreds of butterflies frantically fluttering in her stomach made breathing ragged.

“I think your lessons are proceeding faster than I anticipated, Lady Havenstock. I think you’ve been lying to yourself that you’re incapable of a flirtation.”

There was a rough edge to his words as his gaze darkened with an emotion she found difficult to name. She barely had time to consider what she saw in his gaze before she suddenly grasped the fact she’d been flirting with Mathias. It was an unexpected revelation, and the air left her lungs for a brief moment as she stared at him in mute astonishment. Mathias dropped her hand abruptly and straightened in his saddle with a jerk.

“You are an excellent teacher,” she said quietly. He bobbed his head sharply at her words.

“Come, we should walk the horses to cool them off.”

A dark expression clouded Mathias’ features, and Ophelia wondered what she’d done to displease him. She deliberately ignored the thought that she wanted to please him at all. With gentle tug of the reins, she turned Storm around to catch up with him as he’d already urged Titan forward at a slow pace.

“You’re angry,” she said quietly. “Why?”

He didn’t answer her for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the dirt track stretching out in front of them. When he finally looked at her, a wry grin twisted his sensual mouth.

“I’m not angry.”

“You look as though you are.”

“Trust me, Ophelia. I’m not angry. Disappointed perhaps, but not angry.”

“I’ve disappointed you?” she said with a hint of dismay.

“Hardly.” The wry twist of his lips gave way to a smile that could almost be labeled as tender. “It’s simply that I remembered a ten o’clock appointment I’d scheduled, which means we’ll need to end our ride sooner than I‘d like.”

“Oh. I see.”

The fact that their ride was to be cut short made her feel as though someone had just dashed her hopes of receiving a present. She immediately cast the sensation aside, reminding herself that their agreement was for Mathias to change her from an ugly duckling into a swan so she could experience passion. Something she still questioned she was capable of, but she’d agreed to let him at least attempt to do so. Nonetheless, disappointment spiraled through her despite all her efforts to dismiss it.

“At least I can see you’re equally disappointed at the idea of cutting our ride short.” The roguish smile on his lips made her laugh.

“You are a rogue to suggest such a thing, Mathias Gilchrist.”

He grinned at her reply, but didn’t respond, and she found his silence slightly nerve racking. Whatever the man was thinking she knew it was most likely to be a new lesson. An unexpected shiver of anticipation sailed through her. It was dangerous to be on tenterhooks where Mathias was concerned, but at this point she would allow herself the small pleasure. All too soon they’d part ways forever, and despite her better judgment, she’d decided to enjoy his company for as long as possible.