Free The Rebellious Twin by Shirley Kennedy

thoroughbreds. “I can’t have Sham this morning,” she called wistfully. “Lord Stormont has taken a liking to him.”
    “Who wouldn’t?” Clarinda said as she slid from her horse. “Wait ‘til you hear what happened…”
    She related every detail of her early morning encounter with Lord Stormont, from the attack of his dog to that extra long moment when Stormont had boldly gripped her ankle while helping her back onto her horse.
    You’re not hurt?” Sara Sophia asked after Clarinda had finished her tale.
    “Only my pride. What do you think of him?”
    “He seems quite civil.”
    “You wouldn’t think badly of anyone,” Clarinda said thoughtfully. “You know as well as I, he practically stole Hollyridge. The man’s a villain.”
    “But a very handsome villain.”
    “True, he’s not bad looking by half,” Clarinda grudgingly admitted.
    “By half? The man is devilishly handsome. He must spend much of his time out of doors in order to have acquired that tanned skin.”
    Clarinda wrinkled up her nose. “It’s not the least fashionable.”
    Sara Sophia laughed. “That sounds like something Rissa would say. Admit it. The man is most attractive.”
    Especially when he smiles that rakish smile, thought Clarinda, and shows those straight, strikingly white teeth contrasted against his dark skin. “It was extremely brazen of him to grab my leg as he did. He held it extra long, and was not a gentleman. Papa would throw a fit if he found out.”
    “There’s a conundrum!” Sara Sophia exclaimed. “You might wish to tell your father, but if you do, he’ll doubtless discover you were riding without a saddle.”
    A new thought struck Clarinda. “Do you suppose Stormont was aware of that?”
    “Probably. I find him exceedingly bright, and quite perceptive.” Sara Sophia’s eyes twinkled. “And I suspect he has a bit of the devil in him, too.”
    “Now that I think of it, of course he knew. No doubt he felt quite safe in allowing his hands to linger that extra moment on my leg.” Strange, how she did not feel the least bit indignant. She supposed she should express her disapproval, though. “That rogue!” How limp that sounded. No doubt Sara Sophia would see right through her pitiful attempt at indignation.
    “I can see your anger knows no bounds,” commented her wise friend with a slight raise of her eyebrow.
    I was right. “Well, I can’t fool you, can I? I suppose I found him somewhat attractive. In fact” — she hesitated to make such an intimate confession, but Sara Sophia was never shocked by much of anything — “if you must know, I can still feel the warm spot where he clasped me. And I remember, too, there was a fleeting moment when I was lying there on the ground, and he was bending over me, only inches away, and…” Where were the words to explain such a sensual experience?
    “Do go on,” Sara Sophia said gently. “What good is a friend if you can’t confide in her?”
    “I was suddenly aware of him as a man. He was holding me in his arms. For a moment, all I could think was — now don’t be shocked — I wanted him to kiss me.”
    Sara Sophia’s expression grew tender. “I’m not shocked in the least. I think it’s wonderful, and I wish that someday I might feel that way.”
    Clarinda continued, “Yesterday at Mama’s tea that silly Agatha was describing him. She said, ‘He positively radiates his masculinity … if you know what I mean’. Well, Agatha knew whereof she spoke. Now I know exactly what she meant.”
    “Then you like him.”
    “I do, and then I don’t. When all is said and done, he is a dreadful man.”
    Sara Sophia looked puzzled. “Why so harsh? I have found him to be most courteous and kind, although” — she heaved a sigh — “I would have wished he hadn’t ridden off on Sham today.”
    “Don’t you see that’s part of it?” Clarinda’s expression clouded with anger. “What incredible greed, to take advantage of a defenseless old man