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"Why can’t ladies ride like men?" Beth coave a little shriek as she went off the other side--to be caught in Ian’s aroldflecked eyes ide, and he touched his fingers to his mouth like a shocked, elderly maiden "What kind of woman did you ht the skirt of her new riding habit and flailed for the stirrup Ian’s strong hand supported her back like a rock Carabbed Beth’s ankle and pressed her foot into the stirrup "There Ready?"

"Oh, of course Let’s be off to the Derby" She reached for the reins, but Cameron wouldn’t hand them to her "No reins today I’ll lead"

Beth looked at hi, but she sat at a heart-stopping height above him

"I’ll fall off without the reins," she protested "Won’t I?" "You can’t hold on by dragging at the horse’s face," Ian explained "You balance"

"Soood at it now," Cameron said Without further ado, Cameron led the horse off at a very sloalk Beth iht her and pushed her back up into the saddle He was s at his poor wife

The stable hands and ravitated out to watch They either pretended to pass by the patch of park on their way so on the fence that separated park fro the new lady of the house words of advice or applauding when she ed to stay on when the mare broke into a trot

By the end of the lesson, Beth had at least learned how to balance on the saddle and use her legs for support The staff gave her a cheer when Ian lifted her down Their ware table that evening Hart sat in frigid silence The footmen who’d shouted for Beth with Scots enthusiass hurt, the muscles unused to such exercise When she plopped into the dining rooain with a little cry

Ian’s strong hands closed around her "Are you all right?" "Perfectly fine" She bit her lip "I believe Carinned, then burst out laughing His laughter arm and velvety, so fine she paused to drink it in Beth s down "Youat me, Ian Mackenzie It was only my first lesson"

He leaned toward her "You already have a very good seat,to how I sit on a horse?" Ian kissed her cheek andHe wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and sat down "Beth likes to joke," he said without looking at the others

Beth felt the frost of Hart’s rigid stare Daniel’s mouth was open in surprise, and Ca had happened, and Beth wasn’t certain what

The rest of the h Ian didn’t notice

He ate calmly, oblivious Occasionally he’d look up at Beth, his s, he curled his tongue at her Beth turned beet red and stared down at her plate

When the footmen finally cleared the last course, Hart rose and tossed down his napkin

"Ian, I need you," he said, and stalked from the room