offered his hand for Aline’s foot. She pointedly ignored it, instead gathering her skirts in one hand and reaching her foot into the stirrup. She swung her leg over the horse with ease and settled herself into the saddle. With one hand she patted the animal’s neck to calm him.
‘You may lead on,’ she instructed.
The Captain let out a bark of a laugh. ‘This fellow is far too good to waste on a walk. We ride together.’
Before Aline could protest the man swung up behind her, reaching around her waist to take the reins. He wheeled the horse around and set off at a trot across the marsh.
Aline sat stiffly, holding on to the front of the saddle. She was acutely aware of where the Captain’s arms brushed against her body, and the way his breath touched like feathers on the back of her neck. Trying to avoid more than the minimum contact with him, she found herself unable to catch the rhythm of the animal and once or twice slipped sideways in the saddle. The third time it happened the Captain caught her with one hand round her waist before she fell.
‘Relax—he’ll pick up on your fear,’ he instructed her.
Aline bristled at the implication. ‘I’m not scared of the horse,’ she snapped, glancing over her shoulder. ‘I could ride him perfectly if I was in command of him and not sharing a saddle with you.’
‘So what are you scared of?’ the Captain asked, smiling.
Aline twisted around in the saddle to face him. Could he really not know?
‘I was drugged and nearly violated by someone I thought I could trust. You pinned me bodily to the ground and drew a dagger on me. You left me bound and gagged for hours, then chained me to a cartwheel like an animal.’ Her voice began to crack and all her frustration, fear and anger threatened to overwhelm her. ‘I am here against my will. I have no idea what awaits me at the end of the journey and you feign puzzlement that I am uneasy with such...such...closeness!’ she said angrily.
The Captain pulled the horse to a stop and dropped the reins. Slowly and with care he drew his arms away from Aline and let them fall to his sides. He looked at her, his eyes narrowing as though he suspected trickery.
‘What that brute tried to do to you was deplorable. I meant what I told you before. You are under no threat from me, or my men.’
Aline raised her eyebrows.
He tilted his face down and then he shook his head. ‘Lady Aline, any man would freely admit you are a very attractive woman, but I’m no defiler. You have my word that all we are doing now is riding.’
Aline looked up into the Captain’s eyes. Her throat tightened as she stared into the icy blue depths. A fluttering in the pit of her stomach whispered that it was not fear that sent her stomach tumbling at his touch, but rather some new sensation she was reluctant to name.
‘Thank you,’ she said hesitantly.
The horse tossed its mane, impatient at the delay, and the riders both looked away. The moment had ended almost as soon as it had begun, but something had taken place that Aline did not quite understand.
The Captain reached round Aline once more to take the reins. He was careful to avoid touching her more than he needed to, and Aline smiled to herself at the small gesture. She buried her hands in the horse’s mane to hold on and adjusted her seat. She had been on horseback since an early age, and riding was one of her greatest pleasures. She soon found herself rising and falling to the rhythm, responding to the movements of the man and the creature.
As they reached open ground the Captain gave a jab with his heels. The horse surged forwards and broke into a gallop. Aline held tighter, and in her admiration for the animal almost forgot where she was and with whom she was riding.
Once they had bypassed the village Aline supposed that the Captain would head back to the road as quickly as possible. However, he seemed in no rush as he headed further away, spurring the horse on even faster than before. Twice they jumped a stream, and Aline laughed unconsciously with exhilaration. She was genuinely sorry when they finally joined up with the road. They slowed to a trot and continued until they reached a small clearing. The Captain brought the horse to a standstill and dismounted. He held out a hand to Aline. She hesitated momentarily then took it and climbed down.
‘We’ll camp here tonight. Jack and Duncan should be along soon with supplies,’ he told her.
Aline found a flat rock and sat down, her legs outstretched. The Captain reclined on his elbows, his long legs crossed at the ankles, watching Aline as she rewound her dishevelled hair. He opened his mouth to speak, then looked away. Aline felt no compulsion to speak, though her earlier anger had subsided. If he wanted to make idle conversation then let him be the one to start it.
Finally he spoke. ‘His name is Bayliss. The horse, I mean. In case you were wondering.’
‘Oh,’ Aline replied, nodding. Impulsively she added, ‘Thank you for telling me. Next time you take me for an unwished-for expedition I’ll know what to call him.’
‘Oh, now, Lady Aline!’ the Captain exclaimed, sitting up. ‘Don’t try to deny you enjoyed this afternoon! You might dislike my company, but I’m a good enough judge of horsemanship to see that you were having a wonderful time!’
He caught sight of the smile playing on her lips and his eyes lit up as he realised she was teasing. Aline saw she had been right: when humour took him he was handsome.
They were both lost in their own thoughts, but peaceful in each other’s company, when the cart drew near and stopped. The Captain walked round to the back and began to investigate the contents of the boxes and bags it contained. Once he had gone, Jack pulled a bundle of cloth from the bench underneath the driver’s seat.
‘My lady, we saw this and I thought you might like it,’ he said as he offered it to Aline, his cheeks flushing.
Aline unfolded the cloth to reveal a deep blue dress with wide sleeves and a belt of brown leather. Red embroidered flowers decorated the neck and sleeves. Aline ran her fingers lovingly over the stitching.
‘I’m sorry, it isn’t as fine as you’re used to,’ he stammered, blushing even redder.
‘Jack,’ she said, standing up and taking his hand, ‘thank you. It’s beautiful.’
At that point the Captain came from the back of the cart. He pulled up short at the scene in front of him, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Aline dropped Jack’s hand guiltily.
The Captain’s glance fell on the dress, lying over Aline’s arm. He pulled it from her and held it up. Then he turned to the youth, an expression of disbelief on his face.
‘Jack? Do I understand clearly what you have done? We are in the process of abducting the heir to Leavingham, trying to be discreet, and you go buying her a dress?’
‘I thought... I didn’t... She needs...’ the boy spluttered, his voice beginning to crack.
‘No! You didn’t think,’ the Captain bellowed, bundling the garment and throwing it to one side.
Furious at his behaviour, Aline stepped in front of Jack protectively. ‘He didn’t mean any harm,’ she declared, in as firm a voice as she could muster.
‘Stay
