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Feeling the tension running through the yard, Dae quietly to one of the ponies Wilhel for someone to help her mount Her cheeks were prettily flushed fro, but she kept glancing nervously in his direction and refused to acknowledge hiht," heup

After helping Wilhelive Jaenelle a hand, but she was already on her pony, grinning at hi," Andrew said nervously

As Daelanced around the yard All the stable lads stood absolutely still, watching hiht as he mounted Dark Dancer She was their precious secret

Guinness came out of his office and headed toward the into a heavy wind When he reached them, he sucked his cheek for a minute, cleared his throat a couple of ti at any of theain "Now, you ladies haven’t been out for a while, so I want you to take a nice easy hack No rough riding, none of the faster than a canter And De--Dark Dancer there hasn’t been out uiltily at Daemon--"so I don’t want you to let him have his head and hurt himself Understand?"

"We understand, Guinness," Jaenelle said quietly Her voice was serious, but her lips twitched and her eyes sparkled

"Lady Benedict and Prince Alexander are still out riding, so you watch for them, you hear?" Guinness sucked on his cheek He waved a hand at theirls took the lead, walking their ponies sedately through the yard and down the path while Daemon and Andrew followed

"I don’t re this horse by naed his shoulders and s him Demon She says it makes him unhappy"

"You know, Andrew," Daemon said in a quiet, silky voice, "if this horse breaks her neck, I’ to break yours"

Andrew chuckled Daemon raised one eyebrow at the response

"Wait until you see theet to the tree, you can have the mare I don’t think the pony can carry you"

"Very considerate of you," Daemon said dryly

They kept to a walk all the way to the tree When Andrew and Dae Dae look in her eyes, and then felt squeezed by a taloned hand when he realized she wasn’t looking at him

The stallion nickered softly and thrust his head forward "Hello, Dancer," Jaenelle said in a voice that was a sweet, sensuous caress

Sweet Darkness, he would give his soul if her voice sounded like that when she talked to hiht as he dis up?"

Andrew’s head whipped around as if the suggestion was totally inappropriate Perhaps it was Dae she didn’t need the help, but what he wouldn’t have ad was that he wanted--he needed--to be able to touch her in some innocent way, even if it was just to feel her small booted foot in his cupped hands

Jaenelle’s eyes met his and held them He fell into those sapphire pools, and he knew she sahat he didn’t want to admit

"Thank youDaemon" Her voice was a feathery caress down his spine that set hiiddy, Daemon cupped his hands and bent over For the briefest moment, she pressed her foot into his hands Then she lifted it just slightly and propelled herself into the saddle

Daehtened up The eyes looking at hi to a child

"Shall we go?" Jaenelle said quietly

As Daemon mounted theher hair float behind her in a golden wave They set out for the field, Jaenelle riding ahead of the back on the breeze

Relieved that Philip and Leland weren’t in the field, it took Dae far ahead of theallop

"They’re heading for the ditch!" Just as Daee the mare forward to cut across the field and head the stallion off, Andrew grabbed his arritted his teeth and held the mare still

Dark Dancer caolden hair strealory As they approached the ditch, he checked his speed and made a wide, easy turn back toward the center of the field where the small jumps were placed He took the little wooden juh and showy, and as he cantered toward theh of delight

She turned the stallion to circle the field again Daeed the mare forward and they circled at an easy pace, side by side, with Wilhel

As they reached the beginning of the circle, Jaenelle slowed Dancer to a walk "Isn’t he wonderful?" She stroked his sweaty neck