Forever Mine (31 page)

“I need you to do me a favor. Bring me a shirt, coat, breeches, and a pair of boots from Edmund’s room,” Victoria said firmly. “No questions or arguments.”

With a compliant nod, the maid hurried out of the room. Victoria paced the floor with growing excitement. When Molly returned, Victoria quickly accepted the clothing and proceeded to dress. As she pulled on Edmund’s black boots, the maid hurried forward to help.

“It’s all right, Molly.” Victoria said with a smile. “I’ve worn boots like these before.”

The heels of her footwear rang out loudly on the wood floor, as she hurried to the dressing table and retrieved a dark ribbon out of one of the small drawers. Eager to be on her way, Victoria quickly tied her hair back into a loose ponytail at the nape of her neck. When she whipped around, she met the younger girl’s look of concerned dismay. As she passed Molly on her way out the door, she squeezed the girl’s shoulder.

“If anyone asks, I went for a ride,” she said with a smile.

A
sense of freedom filled Victoria as she ran down the back stairs and out of the manor. Even in the short time span she’d been here, she had missed her freedom do as she pleased. Longing to escape, if even for just a half hour or so, Victoria headed toward the stables. When she walked through the open doors of the long building, several stable hands did a double take at her strange appearance. She didn’t think it was the fact that the countess had never shown up in the stables before. In all probability, it was the way she was dressed. An older man approached her with a wary expression on his features.

“May I help ye, my lady?”

“Please saddle Zeus for me, I wish to go for a ride,” she said firmly.

“Zeus? Does ‘is Lordship know about this, my lady?” the old veteran asked in surprise. Victoria was certain Nicholas wouldn’t approve, but he’d only said she couldn’t ride Mischief. She ignored the man’s question.

“If you’re short-handed, I can saddle him myself,” she said with a smile, determined to charm her way onto Zeus’ back. “I’ve been cooped up for so long, and a ride will be refreshing. I’m sure you know what that’s like.”

“Aye, that I do, my lady,” the older man replied with a grin. He looked over her shoulder. “Mickey saddle Zeus for her ladyship.”

“Zeus, my lady?” Apprehension turned Mickey’s mouth downward.

“Yes,” she said with a wink. “His lordship said I couldn’t ride Mischief. He said nothing about Zeus.”

With a conspiratorial grin, the young stable hand ran off to saddle the stallion. Beside her the old man ordered another of the grooms to saddle a horse to go with her. She immediately shook her head.

“There’s no need for someone to go with me. I’ll only be gone for a short time.”

“But, my lady, his lordship—”

“His lordship worries unnecessarily. I’ll be perfectly fine. If I’m not back in an hour, send out a search party. But I don’t want an escort. Besides, Zeus will leave them behind anyway.”

Moments later, Mickey led the black stallion out to her. Without fear, she stepped forward and stroked the animal’s corded neck. Checking the cinch on the saddle, she placed her foot in the stirrup and hoisted her body up into the leather seat. Without another word, she trotted the animal out of the building toward the open pasture. It only took a slight squeeze of her knees to make the stallion spring forward into a smooth canter and then a gallop.

She gave Zeus his head, and the horse ate up the ground with his surefooted stride. With no sense of purpose or direction, she just rode. She simply allowed herself to let her mind rest and think of nothing but the joy of riding. She wasn’t sure how far she’d gone before Zeus slowed on his own to a walk.

White foam frothed Zeus’s coat from the workout. Judging by the animal’s appearance, Victoria knew she’d ridden four or five miles. She turned in her saddle to look back at the stables. The building was almost a miniature of itself. Victoria drank in a deep breath and suddenly realized her cheeks were wet with tears. God, what on earth was she crying for? She never cried. With her coat sleeve, she wiped the tears from her eyes and brought the stallion to a halt. She dismounted and stroked the horse’s cheek.

“All right big fellow, we’ll just walk for a little while, so you can cool off,” she murmured.

As if understanding, the horse tossed his head. Shifting the reins over his head, she turned around and started back toward the stables with Zeus following her. The ride had helped to clear her thoughts, and put things into perspective. She’d been wrong to try and force her way back to her time. That day would come soon enough. She was certain of that. She needed to make the most of her time here, and if that meant humbling herself by allowing Nicholas’ forgiveness for her past then that’s what she’d do. She was in his world, and she had to make accommodations for that. She loved him, and she refused to spend another precious hour here locked in combat with him. When she eventually returned to the future, she wanted to take only happy memories with her. They would keep her warm on those cold, lonely nights when she would lay awake longing for Nicholas.

Time seemed endless and it was only when she stumbled over an unseen stone that she realized the sun had sunk almost completely beneath the horizon. She’d been out a lot longer than she’d said she’d be. That meant Nicholas had probably been told she was out on Zeus. There would be hell to pay for that infraction alone. The sooner she got back the less angry he’d be.

Behind her, Zeus snorted softly, and she glanced over her shoulder to see the animal’s ears were pricked forward as if he’d heard something. Suddenly, in the distance she heard another horse answer Zeus’s soft cry. She heard the whicker again. It came from behind her, which meant it wasn’t someone from Brentwood Park stables. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as Anna’s warning popped into her head.

Without thinking Victoria quickly mounted the horse and urged him into a fast trot back towards the stables. As she rode back, her heart sank at the way the purple and orange streaks in the sky were slowly fading into twilight. The sensation of someone watching her made the hair on the back of her neck rise, and she shivered. Unsettled by the feeling, she reined the stallion to a halt. Victoria twisted in her saddle to study the landscape behind her. Nothing seemed out of place, but another shiver slid down her spine. She was letting Anna’s warnings get to her.

Still, it was better to be safe than sorry. She pressed her knee into Zeus and continued trotting back to the stables. Less than a mile later, a razor-edged frisson skimmed over her skin. Without stopping, she glanced over her shoulder. A chill ran through her as she saw two riders heading in her direction at a fast pace. Instinctively, she dug her knees into Zeus’s sides. Startled, the horse leaped forward into a gallop.

In the distance, she saw the roof of the stables against the darkening sky. Her heart sank. It was still almost two miles away. Victoria glanced over her shoulder. The riders chasing her were quickly gaining on her. Although Zeus’ stride was still strong, she knew the animal was tired. There was the very real possibility he might not be able to out run her pursuers.

With the sun now below the horizon, the temperature had dropped, and Victoria’s hands were stiff with cold. She was an idiot. She should have worn gloves. No, she shouldn’t have stayed out so long. Behind her, the sound of hoof beats echoed louder in her ears, and she pressed her knees into Zeus’ side to make him charge up a hill. As she crested the slope, Victoria saw a small party of riders with lanterns headed her way.

Seconds later, Victoria was surrounded by Nicholas and several of his men. Relief washed over her as she wheeled Zeus around to stare up at the top of the hill. It was impossible to see anyone in the darkness at the top of the slope, but she knew they were there. She could feel them.

If Nicholas and the others had not come when they had, Zeus would not have been able to out distance whoever had been chasing her. The animal had a huge heart, but he was exhausted. Rough hands jerked her out of the stallion’s saddle, and she cried out as Nicholas set her on the ground in front of him.

“What the hell were you thinking to ride past dark and then down a hill like that?” he growled fiercely.

“I’m sorry…”

Reaction setting in, Victoria choked back tears and shivered violently. She looked over her shoulder again. Were they still there? Watching her? She couldn’t feel them anymore. Nicholas’ anger was still evident as he grasped her chin in his fingers. But something else flickered in his gaze as he tilted her face toward the lantern light then abruptly released her.

Leaving her side, he issued several soft commands to one of his men. Unable to hear his low words, Victoria watched as the man called out two names and mounted his horse. The three men rode up the hill, the light from their lanterns disappearing over the top of the hill. Nicholas returned to her side, and lifted her back into the saddle.

“We’re going home.” His voice was devoid of emotion, but she knew he was still angry.

Victoria didn’t argue. Tired, cold, and shaken, all she wanted at the moment was a hot bath to wash away the dirt and soothe the ache settling into her muscles. The ride to the stable was short, and as Zeus walked into the stable yard, Mickey ran out to meet her.

“I’ll take him for you, my lady,” he said with a relieved smile on his cheerful features.

“Thank you, Mickey. He ran hard, so take good care of him.”

“That I will, my lady.” He took the reins from her as she dismounted. “And I’m glad yer home safe, ma’am.”

Wearily, she acknowledged his statement with a nod before she headed toward the manor. Behind her, she heard Nicholas issuing instructions to Mickey. Hoping to avoid the confrontation she knew was coming, she hurried toward the house. In spite of her quick stride, Nicholas caught up with her as she reached the back door of the manor. The instant he caught her arm, she knew not to try and break free. His grip unyielding, he guided her into the house then up the back stairs to her bedroom. Nicholas threw open the door to her bedroom then slammed it shut behind them.

“Tell me what you saw out there,” he bit out.

“Two riders. They chased me for about three miles, I think.” She shivered as she remembered the sinister nature of the riders. She shivered once more. Anna had been right after all. Someone believed her to be a threat, and tonight she understood just how serious a risk they believed her to be.

“You are not to ride alone again. Is that understood?” His voice was a thunder clap in the room, and she jumped then nodded her agreement.

“Yes,” she said quietly. Nicholas narrowed his gaze at her.

“Just like that. Just a simple yes.” The savage note in his voice made her flinch.

Beneath his fierce glare she dropped her gaze. She knew she’d been an idiot. A chilly frisson skated over her skin. If the people chasing her had caught up with her, she could have wound up like the countess. Dead. Victoria’s stomach started to churn at the thought. Tears formed in the back of her throat. Anna had warned her, and she’d ignored her friend’s warning.

“Dammit, Victoria. I am—”

“Would you settle for some humble pie, and my promise I won’t go riding alone again,” she whispered hoarsely as she bowed her head.

Eyes watering, Victoria blinked rapidly to push the tears back. Richard Lockwood had been right. She did have a heavy weight on her shoulders. At the moment, it felt like a load of bricks. Trembling, she swallowed hard in her effort not to cry. It was impossible. Her vision was blurred when Nicholas’ boots showed up almost toe-to-toe with hers. Firm fingers brushed against her jaw and forced her to raise her head. The anger on his face disappeared as he uttered a quiet sound. With a quick movement, he tugged her into his arms. Every emotion she’d been holding back since Nicholas had found her in the dark pushed its way up out of her. A shudder ripped through her as she burst into tears and burrowed herself into his chest.

Slowly, her sobs became soft sniffles, and a mint-scented handkerchief brushed her cheek. Victoria gratefully accepted the square linen. When she’d regained control of her emotions, she pulled free of his embrace.

“Better?” There was a trace of a smile in his voice, and she looked up at him.

“Yes, thank you,” she said, wiping tears off her cheeks.

“Good.” His thumb removed a stray tear as he shook his head with exasperation. “I ought to give you a good paddling for being so foolish. But I think the scare you’ve had is punishment enough.”

Victoria met his stern gaze, and her only acknowledgment was a nod of agreement. Nicholas arched an eyebrow in mock amazement as he folded his arms across his chest.

“I think this is the least argumentative you’ve been since your return.”

“I own up to my mistakes,” she said stiffly, while humiliation made her cheeks burn.

“As do I,” he said softly. “You are nothing like Vickie. It was wrong of me to suggest it.”

“Thank you for that,” she said with a quiet dignity. Victoria wanted more from him, but for the moment she was willing to accept his apology. Silence drifted between them, and Victoria shifted uneasily. Nicholas’ gaze strayed from her face to roam up and down her body.