THAT NIGHT Emily wore the most seductive gown Cole had ever had the misfortune to see on her person. In a flash, he was on his feet. Not because society would demand it. But because he found himself staring at her in awe and astonishment as she accepted a chair from the footman, sat down and placed her napkin on her lap. Barely sparing him any glance. It was all for the best, Cole thought as he let his eyes roam off her face. Giving them access to roam freely on her body, resting on the smooth curve of her neck and then the rounded top of her breast. Gad! Cole thought. Wasn't that a little too exposed? Following their hot argument, they had maintained their separate distance; they had barely seen each other until now. Cole hoped she had forgiven him. Because he felt bad as it is. And that kiss at his study, he was yet to figure out what it meant.Glancing down at his food, Cole wondered if he should be eating her or his

Cole landed awkwardly, falling face flat on the horse's back. His face hurt at the collision, and he could feel the stallion moving beneath him, too fast for him to control. The wind hurled at his hair, raising it to its highest point.On top of the horse, in that fearsome speed, he slowly raised his head up but was soon forced to close his eyes as the harsh wind burned his eyes. However, on second thought the boy quickly snapped his eyes open again as he realized there was no rider on the horse. And his father who had been riding the stallion was nowhere in sight.The young lad's heart beat at what that meant, and he wanted to look back to confirm if his father was behind him or if something else had happened to him, but at the speed, they were galloping he knew he could risk falling off the horse as he wasn't in a comfortable position—yet. So he grabbed hold of the horse's mane and struggled forward.With hi

MOONLIGHT poured from the sky, illuminating the cobbled stone path and the green grass ahead. It was nothing but a moon speckled darkness. As they cantered ahead on their various horses. They had been riding for over twenty minutes in silence now, and Cole hadn't said a thing to Emily. She was beginning to wonder if she should have declined his offer. He rather looked liked someone who wanted to be on his own, Emily observed from her horse.His side features heightened under the moon were focused. And so were his hands on the reins, relaxed. He looked so in lost in thought, an utter calmness around him. He might as well be riding on his own. His demeanour spoke it all. Emily thought, confused. But then he spoke, and she was glad to discover he hadn't entirely forgotten her.“What says you we increase our pace?”  He said still looking forward.Sparing him a glance in the dark night, Emily mumbled, “Fine.”

THE NEXT MORNING Emily woke up at first light and berates herself for falling asleep last night. What a thing she had missed. She sighed disappointedly. If someone had told her she would have fallen asleep at such a critical time, why, she would never have believed them. “Oh, dash it all.” Why did she have to fall asleep at such a crucial time? Emily groaned and hit her head on the pillow. From there, she stared at her husband's naked chest. A promise of what could have been.After that night in the inn where Cole had slept with only his breeches, he had taken great pains to always cover himself with his nightshirt. But not today, because he was wearing only his breeches, Emily noticed. She took it as a good sign. He must be letting his guards down around her, she thought.Leaning closer to him, she stared down at him. On impulse, she kissed his dark brows and let her lips linger there. Feeling his skin. Just when she was about to pull away, her eye

Two hours later they pulled up on a small hill which gave a dramatic view of the village and the cottages below. The cluster of houses with chimneys and gable roofs where were the tenants lived. Surrounded by a wide mass of lands, meadows and fields. A picturesque sight well within the boundaries of the estate.The tenants were surprised to see them and had come out their homes the moment they arrived perched high on their horses. Emily was the most ecstatic and couldn't wait to meet them. She dismounted from her horse before anyone could help her and did the introduction herself. While Cole hung back surprised at the number of tenants, he had there. A few of the children were playing in front of the houses chasing a chicken but had stopped to stare curiously at them at their arrival.One by one the older men came to meet Cole, murmuring their greetings as they approached him. It didn't take time for Cole to find the head tenant and went straight to