Page 10 of The One With the Rogue Duke

“Breathe out,” he chuckled.

“Very funny. I need your help.” Which were really quite painful words for her to admit, but given all the scenarios for which she was forced to say that to him, this ranked quite highly up there.

“Just slow down. Be patient. Close your eyes and feel what’s in your hand.”

“I think I got it,” she cried softly as she pulled the hoof downward.

No sooner had she backed away and the horse had foaled.

“Oh my God, she did it.” But just as she said that, Blackmare moved away from her baby. “Wait. What’s she doing?”

“I’ve never seen that before—”

“Considering you didn’t know she was pregnant, I don’t give that observation much credence.”

“I’ll see to the mare. You warm the foal.”

The man trodded carefully after Blackmare, leaving Verity with no choice but to act. She whipped off her frock and wrapped the foal in it, then pulled her to her body.

He was already leading the horse back around to them when he called out in a gentle tone, “Take the frock off the foal. Your scent won’t appeal to the mother.”

Verity scrambled to free the foal who then stood on her four legs.

“That’s it,” the man’s voice rang out, soft and steady. “Good girl.”

And she knew…she absolutely knew he was talking to the foal, but all the same, the words attached themselves like barnacles to her person.

“I’m going to bring the mother around to smell her baby. Just stay calm.”

Verity watched in rapt silence as he encouraged the mother to draw near to the foal. All the while, talking in gentle tones. He didn’t force anything, just urged the horses into close proximity.

Blackmare tensed and geared up for a kick at the foal, but the man stepped in front and placed his hand on her chest. Still using that soothing tone to calm her down. After a minute, he stepped to the side and watched.

The mare reached her head down, Verity sucked in a breath, and then the mare licked her foal.

At the nurturing contact, she wanted to cry out in celebration, instead she met the man’s eyes. Which, in hindsight, was a terrible mistake.

There was such tenderness yet determination emanating from him.

When he canted his head to the side, she didn’t register his meaning until he whispered. “Let them be.”

For the first time, besides the whole crisis situation, she fully agreed with him.

Chapter 6

Ash

“I can’t believe you stuck your hand up there?” he said, shaking his head as he led them to the river. He had thought her a spoiled brat. Stuck up. Arrogant. Entitled. All the words referring to a woman who thought herself a queen deserving of everyone’s attention and allegiance. But just now she had proved herself something more.

Someone of compassion. And of steely determination.

“She needed me.” And she said it so matter-of-factly. Like anyone else would have done the same thing if put in her position. But he knew that to be untrue. Most people would have shied away. And if not shied away, most people would have let him take over when he strongly offered to do so.

“Or me. I could have filled the need.”

“No. I don’t think so. She needed me. A fellow female to reassure her that everything was all right.”

“Let’s clean up before we head back.” He gestured toward the river.