He shall not see me as just another woman he can charm.
Bridget pulled on the right rein and steered her horse a little to the right, pushing into the Duke’s horse. She did the same again to try and knock him off course. She did not expect him to respond with the same move, jostling her, but she enjoyed it.
He is riding to win. He sees me as his equal.
Bridget kept her eyes ahead, blatantly staring at the small wooden arched bridge across the stream ahead. She flicked the reins, knowing that her horse could not go any faster, and it spurred the Duke into action, just as she had hoped.
Nicholas flicked his reins and pushed his horse faster, meaning to cross the bridge first. They both headed toward it with only space for one to cross at a time, and Bridget had no option but to slow her hose and fall in line behind the Duke. He would not know which way to go when he crossed, but he would have a precious lead.
Bridget slowed her horse further, and when she had fallen far enough behind and the Duke was almost at the bridge, she pulled on the reins and steered her horse to the left, partly doubling back.
There was no way to the estuary on the other side of the stream, and the Duke had just crossed the bridge. He would know something was amiss at some point, but by that time, she would have already beaten him.
Bridget laughed as she rode down the bank of the stream, keeping close to avoid having to zig-zag through the trees. The trees opened up a little, and she steered her horse to the right some more. She smelled the sea air once again and basked in her brilliance.
And it was done—she was there.
“You!” she screamed, finding the Duke already at the estuary.
He was so out of breath that he could not get his words out.
“How?” Bridget gasped. “You must have cheated!”
“I did nothing of the sort,” Nicholas assured her. “I knew something was up when you let me cross the bridge first, and it took me a second to realize you had gone the other way. I knew it would be too late to follow you back, so I rode in the direction I hoped you had gone, and we leaped across the stream together. We almost didn’t make it.” He patted his horse on the neck.
“I don’t believe this,” Bridget muttered.
“You had better believe it,” the Duke said, chuckling. “Now, a deal is a deal.”
Bridget stared at him, her horse pacing back and forth before him. She was trying to work out how she could get out of the bargain.
“It is a fine place here,” the Duke noted. “I am glad I followed you. Come, I shall tether your horse to one of these trees.”
Bridget was mad, but he had won fair and square. She could not begrudge him that.
“I do admire your tactics,” the Duke said as he dismounted and led his horse. “I knew you would have to resort to something other than speed, but I still did not see it coming.”
“And it was still not enough,” Bridget moaned.
“It would have been if the stream had been a little wider,” the Duke replied. “Don’t blame me—blame nature.”
Bridget gave him a sardonic smile as she dismounted and let him take her horse’s reins.
“Fifteen minutes,” she reminded him. “And the time has already started.”
“I should hope so because we are already having a wonderful time together,” the Duke said.
Bridget smiled genuinely for the first time that morning. The estuary was her happy and hidden spot, and now the Duke knew all about it. The morning was cold, but there was warmth still in her core from the ride and the horse.
“Come and sit with me,” the Duke said, falling down onto his rear on the grassy bank.
“I will stand, thank you very much, Your Grace,” Bridget replied.
She did not want to succumb to any of his tricks. She had remained firm and vigilant, but she knew his reputation, and she needed to be aware at all times. It was bad enough that he had somehow tricked her into being alone with him miles from the estate. She was glad it was only for fifteen minutes.
She knew he was a handsome man, and she could appreciate that, but there would be no more than appreciation. He would not use her and then toss her aside—she had no desire to become another of his conquests.
“I have never seen a couple more intent on being married than my brother and your sister,” the Duke noted, looking out toward the horizon. “And here the two of us are. We shall never marry, and neither do we wish to.”
