Fleur heaved a deep sigh. “I am glad to hear it.”
“I’ll keep watch over her while you’re on your walk.”
“Thank you, my dear,” Fleur said giving Anna’s hand a gentle squeeze.
The young maid curtsied and left.
“Shall we go, milady?” Connery asked.
“Yes, please. I thought this would be a good opportunity to spend time with Azure and thank him for keeping my daughter safe,” Fleur said.
Connery chuckled. “I don’t doubt he would understand you.” He accepted the basket of apples from Mrs. McDonald as he and Fleur left the house together through the kitchen door. “What a fine specimen of horseflesh that one is. Where did you find him?”
“It’s a remarkable story, really,” Fleur said.
“I’ve admired that horse since he arrived and would love to hear it.”
“Very well,” she said, smiling at him. “My husband, Phillip was returning home from London, this was a few years before his passing.”
Fleur realized that life without Phillip had been harder than she realized. Despite the health complications he suffered in later life, he had been a very good husband and father. She missed him. “Phillip heard a loud gunshot and then, someone shouting for help. He described seeing an out-of-control rig with an older gentleman trying desperately to regain control of the horses and stop the rig. But the man was having little luck and Phillip urged his own mount forward. He overtook the rig and—somehow—managed to move from his horse to the rig and stop the horses.”
“Phillip stood tall and proud, much like you,” she said, feeling the heat creeping up her neck.” She dared a peek at Connery and saw his lips twitch. “Eager to shift the focus away from her own embarrassment, she continued speaking as they strolled along. “He was a man who had always prided himself on his horsemanship, despite his slowly declining health. He managed to grab hold of the reins of the horses, saving the stranger from grievous injury. After introducing themselves andexchanging a few friendly words about the spirit of horses, Phillip bid him a courteous farewell.”
A year passed and a man appeared at Rose Point looking for my husband. He said the older man had died and he had left specific instructions to gift a special horse to Phillip. The man was adamant that this horse was for Phillip to do with as he wanted to. The horse was a year old at the time and had the most remarkable eyes…almost the same color as Selena. Our daughter has always loved horses and shared her father’s equine talents. Phillip gifted the horse to our daughter…and I will say it was love at first sight between that girl and the horse. I do not doubt that Azure would have given his life to protect her. That’s how close they are.” She blinked back tears as she remembered that first touching meeting when Phillip had gifted Selena with the horse that she would name Azure.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Connery looking at her, and the expression in his eyes made her breath catch. If she wasn’t careful, she could easily lose her heart to this man… But oh, how she missed being looked at that way by a man. Not since those early years with Phillip before life and his health began to take precedence.
“That’s a remarkable story. And from what I recall, I think you are right,” Connery said.
“Yes. When we were home, there wasn’t a day that Selena didn’t visit that horse, and she rode him every chance she got. The man’s note to my husband had specified the thoroughbred lineage, but I don’t recall the specifics. They may be in my husband’s papers at Rose Point.”
“We knew he was thoroughbred, and a valuable one at that. “Your daughter arrived in the middle of a rainstorm. I’m certain you’ve heard the story from Gerald—Lord Lawrence.”
“Yes, he did. I know that Azure would never have reacted that way had he not been spooked and under such extreme circumstances.”
“Selena visited him after she came through her fever, and it was that visit that triggered her memory to come back. I can see they have a unique relationship. Your daughter is a very special young lady with a truly remarkable gift in being able to communicate with horses.”
“She’s always had that gift. From when she was a little girl,” Fleur said.
“I can see where she gets her beauty and her strength from,” he said softly.
“I thank you, Mr. Connery,” Fleur said, feeling that heat of a blush yet again.
“I would be honored if you would call me Angus,” he said.
“Thank you, Angus. Please call me Fleur.”
“Fleur,” he said in a voice that was both gruff and sensual. “Flower. A lovely name for a lovely woman.”
Feeling another blush heating her cheeks, she thanked him again and they continued on their walk to the stable.
Angus led her through the stable, pointing out the horses. As they approached Azure’s stall, a stableboy was hanging up the horse’s brush.
“Look how this horse gleams, Mr. Connery. His coat starts gray, but after you brush him, he looks more silver. And those eyes…I’ve never seen the like,” the stable boy declared.
“Aye, you did a fine job brushing him, Joshua,” Angus said patting the boy on the shoulders. The lad beamed up Angus.
Fleur extracted an apple from her skirt and held it towards Azure. The horse whinnied and nodded his head.
