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"Dandelions," Rafe said "Lots of thistle I should have had it lect decisions of that nature again

"Look at all those daisies They’re cornflower blue We haven’t any daisies like that in Scotland"

"They aren’t daisies That’s chicory; some people eat it"

"We must stop and looka bouquet to Josie"

"In that case, we’d better ent plant It closes at "

"How on earth do you know these things?" I sideways at him

"I love the country," he said sio to London for the season"

"Who taught you that chicory closes at midday?"

"An old man named Henry lives in the hut down next to the s," he said, pointing "We’ve spent ether"

"An unusual acquaintance for a duke," Ien observed

"Not for a pickled duke, as you used to say of ether?"

Just the faintest shade of reserve in her voice made him tumble into a defense of Henry "Not that But I’d be too restless to stay indoors… thinking of the drink, you see" He grimaced at her ruefully "I’m afraid that one does tend to think of it most of the day"

"And now?" she asked curiously

"I still do But it feels corip on en stared at Rafe He had the sa of black stubble that he always had by noon, but the skin of his cheeks was pink and healthy, and his eyes didn’t have that half-awake, hooded look that he used to have He shook back a fall of chestnut brown hair, s up at the blue sky

No wonder Gillian wanted him He was a beautiful man, even with those little lines around his eyes

He looked over his shoulder and s quickly, though why she couldn’t explain

"Would you like to race?" he asked "I’ll give you a lead"

As hts--almost sinful it felt, to think of Rafe that way--she didn’t even answer, just pressed her knees against Posy’s sides She leaped forith such a great spring that Ien’s clever little hat fleay before Posy’s front hooves even touched the ground

She bent low and shouted encourage the hip her hair into a frenzy They were going so fast that Rafe couldn’t catch up, but he was, he was… Ied Posy on, and then Posy showed that great heart for racing that she always had She switched into that other pace she had, the one where she alround; or that’s how it felt

Then I "Oh you beauty, you beauty," she crooned to Posy, and signaled her to the right, into the great driveway leading to Maitland House Posy pulled a beautiful turn, gravel spraying out froen saw the great curved gates of the house appearing and she began easing up

She’d won; she’d won fair and square

If Rafe was only a whisker behind her, it was still the kind of whisker that costs a iven out by a royal duke

A second later Rafe raced past with a laugh, and they ended up tuen with no bonnet, and Rafe whooping like one of those wild en leaned over Posy’s neck, gasping Rafe had already leaped off his horse To her considerable annoyance, he wasn’t even out of breath In fact, she couldn’t help noticing the way his old shirt pulled free of his trousers as he leaped What happened to that gut that used to hang over his trousers? Could it have disappeared in a mere feeeks? Because now that body looked as lean and hard as his brother’s… evenWhereas scholars, one would have to think, sat at a table…