An Honorable Wish (A Lady's Wish 2) (12 page)

She was so delicately made. And she was his. How did he get so very lucky to have captured her heart?

Tony rose and pulled the quilt over Juliet. Her naughty book fell to the floor. He picked it up and flipped through the pages until he stumbled upon a particular picture. He tilted the book to look at it better. It would take more flexibility than he had, but it would make her smile.

Tony went to her desk and pulled out paper and pen. He quickly penned a note, suggesting they try it after her first riding lesson. He tucked the note in the book, marking the page.

He crept over to where Juliet was curled into her pillow, fast asleep. How the hell was he going to tell her the truth?

How was he going to survive the heartbreak when she jilted him?

Tony bent and kissed her, then tucked the book next to her, where she’d find it when she woke.

He slipped into the hallway and made his way back to his room.

J
uliet had stalled as long as she could. Every morning this week Tony had asked about the riding lesson and she had escaped with some excuse. There was the assembly Anne was planning as their engagement ball. There were calls to make, shopping for her trousseau, calls to receive.

But Juliet had run out of excuses. If she was going to spend any time with Tony, she was going to have to learn to ride. All her recent activities had kept her from him. There had been no more nightly visits, either. Each night he walked her to the stairs, squeezed her hand, and kissed her mouth sweetly.

Drastic measures must be taken.

Juliet dressed quickly and resigned herself to touching a horse. The thought of even being near one terrified her. She hated horses. They were big. They smelled. They didn’t listen to her commands. They bit. They ran away with her, and they threw her off.

They were a necessary evil, given that horses pulled the carts and carriages she used to get around the village and Town, but that didn’t mean she had to
touch
them. Someone else drove the carts, and held the horses still so she could enter and exit them.

Juliet pulled out the book Tony had left behind after his nighttime visit and opened to the page he had marked. She smiled, just as she did every time she looked at it.

That night had been wonderful. Every day since, Tony had been attentive and affectionate. It wouldn’t take much more before she succumbed. She was already well on her way to falling completely in love with him.

Hence, Juliet would attempt to learn to ride. Tony was the only man on the face of the earth who could get her near a horse.

She pulled in a deep breath and fixed her hair, then made her way down the back stairs and through the kitchen.

She stopped long enough to grab two buns from a platter on the table and wrap them in a napkin. If Tony was going to expect her to deal with her terror, she was going to eat first.

She made her way to the stables and found him leaning against the outer wall. Waiting for her. Juliet handed him a bun. “You are really going to insist that I do this?”

“Good morning to you too,” Tony said before taking a bite from his bun. “Thank you for breakfast.”

“Cook just removed them from the oven.”

Tony pushed away from the wall. “Are you ready to lose your fear of horses?”

Juliet’s stomach twisted. “I don’t know if I’m able.”

“You’ve nothing to fear. We aren’t going to ride today. We’re just going to go into the stable and give the horses a few treats. I want you to see that you can touch the horse, pet it, reward it. I have the perfect horse for you. She’s a sweet mare.”

“I don’t know, Tony.”

“Trust me.”

She allowed Tony to take her hand and lead her into the gloom of the stable. He paused at the entrance. “Do exactly what I tell you and how I tell you to do it.”

“You’re frightening me.”

“Horses are large animals. If you treat them well and approach them correctly, you have no reason to be afraid of them.”

Juliet fought the urge to run back to the house. Her hands trembled and were sweaty beneath her gloves. She swallowed.

“Don’t show fear,” he said softly. “Keep your voice down. Talk softly and approach so that the horse will see and smell you, as well as hear you.”

She gulped. “You’ll go first?”

“Of course.” He took her hand and led her into the gloom of the stable.

The grooms were mucking out the stalls, adding fresh hay. The air smelled of horses, dirty straw, and feed. Juliet wrinkled her nose.

Tony stopped and she almost ran into him. “Talk softly. Her name is Lucy. She’ll need to hear your voice and see you as you approach.”

Juliet squeezed her hands into fists to still the trembling. “Can she tell that I’m . . .”

“Scared spitless?” Tony laughed. “Yes, you are, but don’t worry—Lucy is a sweet old lady. She’s dying to make your acquaintance.”

Juliet stood in the shadows of the stable and watched as Tony crooned nonsense to the horse. Lucy stuck her head out of the stall and sniffed him, looking for something. Tony held out his hand with a piece of apple in his palm. Lucy gobbled it up. Tony stroked her nose and patted her. The horse nudged him in an affectionate manner.

“Your turn,” Tony said. “Talk softly as you approach.”

Juliet took a deep breath. “What do you want me to say?” She kept her voice low. “Does it matter?”

“No. It’s all in how you approach. Relax your face. Smile.”

“Smile?” Juliet didn’t think she was capable of smiling just then.

“If you look terrified, she’ll get nervous,” Tony said, still stroking the horse. “Lucy is a sweet girl. She’ll be fine.”

Juliet forced herself to relax. She could do this. The horse was in her stall. Tony was there to keep her safe. She walked forward slowly, crooning nonsense.

Lucy was watching her closely, her ears pointing forward. Juliet stopped. “Her ears moved. What does that mean?”

“It means she’s watching you, listening to your voice. You can walk a bit faster.”

Juliet frowned at the humor in his voice. “You told me to go slow.”

“You can walk a bit faster, just not quite your normal pace.”

Tony was having way too much fun at her expense. She advanced until she was just outside the stall. The horse dipped her head down toward her and Juliet jumped back out of the way.

“Careful. Lucy just wants to say hello.” Tony pulled Juliet close, tucking her under his arm. “Stroke Lucy’s nose with your hand. No quick movements.”

“I have to touch her?”

“Horses like to be stroked, petted. They want affection.” Tony’s voice dropped low. His hand moved to stroke the horse’s muzzle again. Juliet couldn’t control the shiver of awareness. “Go on; then we’ll give her a treat.”

Juliet looked up at him in shock.

“You can do this, Juliet. Lucy just wants a bit of attention.”

Juliet pulled in a fortifying breath, pushing away the nightmares of what her brother had done to her when she was a child. She’d been young, too young to be on such a large horse, but her brother had put her on the horse to stop her from crying about being left behind. Her screams of fear must have spooked the horse. She remembered clinging to the horse’s mane before the long fall to the ground. She reached out with her hand and gently touched the white spot on Lucy’s muzzle.

When she moved her hands, Lucy’s head followed her. Juliet jumped back toward Tony, who caught her by the shoulders. “Careful. She’s just learning your scent. Ready to give Lucy a treat?”

There was no chance of Juliet feeding anything to this animal. Big teeth, big mouth, and her small hand? Juliet was not going to risk the horse nipping her fingers. “Do you usually bribe horses when you ride?”

“Horses respond well to bribes. Lucy is like a pet. She’s been worked with and trained to accept our attentions. She’s rewarded with treats.”

Juliet took a carrot and presented it to Lucy who took it from her hand. “She does like it.” She brushed her gloved hand down Lucy’s nose.

Tony leaned close and whispered, “I think she likes you.”

“Is that important?”

“There should be some trust between you and the horse.” His voice was serious. “There might be a day when you need that trust. You’ll depend upon it.”

“Has that happened to you?” Juliet asked as she stroked Lucy slowly.

“There have been several times when I was thankful to have my horse, Thunder, with me.” He patted Lucy. “This old girl could be your friend.”

Juliet couldn’t imagine it.

“Want to feed her a piece of apple?”

“Not really.”

Tony laughed. “Just remember, talk softly. Horses don’t like loud, abrupt noises. Make sure she sees you approach.”

Juliet nodded. “If the lesson is over, I’ll just go to the Williamses’.”

“Oh, no, the lesson’s just beginning. Let’s take a ride.”

Juliet blanched. “You mean get on the horse?”

Tony laughed again. “You can do this. I’ll be right here.”

“No. No I can’t.”

Tony asked a groom to saddle Lucy. She was older, but she should be able to handle the weight of both of them. He’d never seen anyone as afraid of horses as Juliet. Even now she was growing more agitated and pale. He hoped she didn’t faint.

“I can’t do this. Please don’t make me.” Her voice was breathy and high.

He pulled her close. “Sweetheart, it will be all right. I shall be with you.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

She shook her head erratically. “She will just run off with me and I won’t be able to stop.”

Juliet’s fear was making Lucy nervous. “You trust me, don’t you? Relax. Miss Lucy here is an old lady; she’s not going to want to go anywhere unless she has to. Come, we’ll wait outside for Lucy to be saddled.” He guided her out of the stable.

She crossed her arms. “I’m not doing it.”

Juliet was so damnably cute when she was angry, but he couldn’t let her give in to her fear. “You and I are going to take a ride around the yard.”

“I’m not getting on the horse by myself.”

She was starting to try his patience. Fears needed to be faced, overcome. There might come a day when she’d need to ride. “Juliet, the groom will hold the horse and I’ll get on behind you.”

“I can’t.”

“What if you just try?” Tony said, wincing at the tone of irritation in his voice. Bloody hell, what had they done to her as a child? He’d never seen anyone who was this afraid of an animal. Except for him and snakes, but that was different. Snakes were not something one encountered every day.

The groom brought out Lucy, saddled and ready to go. “Here you go, sir.”

Juliet looked at the horse and went a bit pale. “It’s a really large horse.”

Tony studied her wide eyes and pale skin. There was no talking her into this. He’d have to take the decision out of her hands. “Her name is Lucy, Juliet. Address her as such.”

He grabbed Juliet’s waist and heaved her astride the horse. Juliet squealed and Lucy moved beneath her nervously. “Lower your voice. You’re frightening her.” He barked out the command. The last thing he needed was for the horse to rear up and dump Juliet off. He’d never get her on another damn horse.

Juliet snapped her mouth shut and gripped the pommel with white knuckles. Lucy moved beneath her and Juliet whimpered.

“Careful; I’m mounting Lucy right behind you. Lucy might not like it with both our weights on her,” Tony said carefully.

“What do you mean, she won’t like it?”

He glanced at the groom, who was struggling to keep from laughing. He shot the man a quelling glare.

Tony mounted the horse behind Juliet. She immediately leaned against him. He could feel himself responding. Only this woman could make him hard while she struggled with her fear of horses.

He took the reins from the groom. “I’m going to start the horse moving. Feel the way she moves back and forth. Move with her, not against her.”

Juliet nodded, her hair tickling his nose. Lucy lurched beneath them and Juliet squeaked.

Tony held the reins still. “Steady, girl.”

“Me or the horse?” Juliet said in a tight voice.

“Both.” He chuckled. “You’re doing fine, Juliet. Let’s take a few turns around the yard.”

Juliet gripped the pommel harder as the horse moved. She was stiff, fighting the rhythmic movement of the horse.

Tony gripped the reins in one hand. He took the other arm and wrapped it around Juliet, just under her breasts. He pressed her back flush with his body so that she could rest her head back on his shoulder. “Close your eyes, Jules, and relax against me,” he whispered in her ear. He started the horse moving slowly again. “Feel how my body moves. Move with me.”

Every breath she took pressed her breasts against his arm. He could feel her relax as her body settled against him. She had to feel his erection against her bottom, but she said nothing.

“Shall we take a short ride?” He kept his voice low and intimate.

“Where to?” Juliet said, her own voice much less tense than it had been before.

“I was thinking of the pond. It’s a hot day.” He’d love to swim today, especially with Jules. “The pond is nicely shaded. It will be cooler.”

“If you think we should.”

“You can dip your toes in if you want.” Tony guided the horse onto the lane and forced her into a light trot.

Juliet tensed up again as the horse picked up speed. “Do we have to go so fast?”

“If we want to get there and back before tea, yes.” Tony tightened his grip around her. “Don’t fight the movement of the horse.”

Juliet settled against him again and they rode for a while in silence. Tony guided the horse into the woods near the pond, then stopped. The shade was cool, but the pond shimmered in the sun.