Free Borderland Beauty by Samantha Holt Page B

source of some amusement. A swell of indignation bubbled inside of her. Slapping shut her book, she stood quickly. Well, she would prove him wrong.
    “Aye,” she said firmly. “Aye, I think I shall.”
    “Not unaccompanied,” her father mumbled through the side of his mouth.
    Her mother patted his arm. “Lord and Lady Beaumont will be there, dear, as will the other girls.”
    “Not unaccompanied, Eleanor.”
    “Oh, very well. I will come.” Lucy’s mother smoothed down her skirts as she stood.
    Dominic motioned for her to sit. “Lady Eleanor, ‘tis not necessary. Winnie can accompany Lucy. Pray stay and enjoy the warmth and the wine.”
    Lucy rolled her eyes and watched as they discussed her. Lord, they were all behaving as if she were some young maid. Even Dominic was tiptoeing around her as if she were some fragile flower. Likely awaiting his moment to strike, she thought snidely.
    “Aye, as you will, Lord Dominic.” Her mother sat again. “Lucy, be sure to put on your thickest mantle.”
    “Aye, Mother,” she said through her teeth.
    Winnie scurried to her side and helped her with her mantle as the rest of the party readied themselves for the outing. Winnie gave her a bright smile and Lucy chuckled. Ack, some chaperone Winnie would be. The woman worshipped the ground on which her lord walked. He could do nothing wrong in her eyes. It was a good thing that Lucy had little intention of allowing Dominic any liberties.
    Even if his kisses tasted as though crafted from the heavens.
    Shaking her head, she pulled up her hood, the fur lining tickling her over-sensitive skin. Why? Why did he have this effect on her? It was not fair.
    They traipsed out into the snowy courtyard, followed by several servants. Dominic’s footsteps crunched behind her and she picked up her pace. He caught up with her in several strides but she kept her gaze focused on the servants leading the way, stealing only the quickest of peeks through the fur of her hood.
    “You will like skating, I think. Your mother tells me you are an active lass.”
    Lucy groaned to herself. My thanks, Mother . “Really? And what else does my mother tell you? Pray tell, is she sharing all my secrets?”
    “Nay, unfortunately not. Though I would very much like to discover them for myself.”
    She stared at him for a moment, waiting for the flicker of amusement or the teasing glint, but his expression remained shuttered. The barest glimmer of something flashed in his eyes and it made her chest constrict.
    Drawing in a breath, she offered him a cool smile. “Well, I fear you shall be disappointed, my lord. I hold no secrets.”
    “Everyone has secrets, Luce.”
    “Even you?”
    “Aye, even me.”
    “Aye, likely about the latest French noble woman you bed. Or was it a lady of royal birth? I forget.”
    Dominic chuckled. “Alas, I hold no secrets of those sorts, but you…you definitely have secrets.” His voice lowered and heat pooled low in her belly. Sweet Mary, was the man a mystic?
    Her cheeks flamed and she pulled her cloak further over her face. “I know not of what you speak.”
    They climbed carefully down the mound and Dominic used the opportunity to grab her hand. She went to pull away but the snow was slick and her feet would have gone from underneath her had it not been for his strong grip.
    When they reached the base of the mound, the party followed it round, making toward a thatch of bare trees that led along the hill and into a minor valley. Dominic kept hold of her hand but for the life of her, she didn’t have the strength to tear it away.
    Lucy scowled at Dominic as she discerned that Lord and Lady Beaumont were a fair way ahead of them as they trudged through the ankle deep snow. Was he deliberately walking slowly? Winnie puffed along behind them but even she was a way back as she stumbled inelegantly through the snow.
    Pausing, Dominic snatched her hand closer, forcing her to turn into him.
    “Lord D—”
    “Aye, I know your