Free An Unexpected Love by Barbara Cartland Page A

stable block.
    She had asked for Sweetie, her mare, to be saddled, but as she turned into the cobbled yard she was surprised to see a familiar figure.
    His coat discarded, his fine lawn shirt rolled up above his elbows, Sir Richard was on his knees, massaging oil into his grey stallion’s leg.
    His hair was dishevelled, there was a smear of mud down one cheek and Ravina felt her heart give a little skip as he looked up and smiled at her.
    â€œWhy, Sir Richard, I thought you would have been long since gone,” Ravina said, trying to hide her confusion.
    He stood up, wiping his hands on an old piece of sacking.
    â€œYes, I must apologise most sincerely for still imposing on your hospitality, Lady Ravina, but I discovered that my horse did indeed need more attention. He can be a temperamental animal, as stallions often are, and I would not have wanted one of your men to be injured in dealing with him.”
    â€œIs it a bad injury?” Ravina asked, gazing with admiration at the animal’s steely grey head and dark eyes looking down at her.
    â€œNo, not at all. But one that needs tender care. I shall leave him to rest in your stables for another day, with your permission, and accept your kind offer of one of your father’s mounts.”
    He pulled on his dark blue coat as he spoke and the boyish-looking gentleman immediately became the well dressed aristocrat.
    Ravina was just about to tell him that he still had a streak of mud down one tanned cheek, when one of the grooms appeared, leading a big bay horse in one hand and Sweetie in the other.
    â€œOh, that is Galahad,” she cried. “He is a strong and fast hunter. I am sure he will suit you perfectly.”
    Sir Richard swung himself into the saddle and watched gravely as she nimbly mounted and turned the mare’s head towards the track that ran away across the fields.
    â€œMy route lies close to yours, I believe,” he announced suddenly. “Perhaps it would be acceptable to you if we rode together?”
    Ravina paused.
    She had meant to gallop but knew his mount would soon outstrip hers. But he was a guest of the house and she knew her parents would expect her to treat him with all due courtesy.
    â€œThat would be pleasant,” she said and together they trotted towards the woods that lay between Curbishley Hall and the Priory.
    The narrow path made riding abreast difficult and Ravina pushed ahead along the mossy track.
    The woods were beautiful, dark and mysterious. Occasionally she heard the sudden crack of a branch breaking and a flock of small birds burst through the undergrowth, and guessed that some deer were making their way through the dappled shade to drink at one of the lakes.
    She glanced back several times and realised that Sir Richard too was obviously very intrigued by his surroundings.
    His reins were quite lax in his hands and he was letting Galahad pick his own way down the track.
    Sir Richard’s gaze swept the woods from side to side, almost as if he was searching for something.
    â€œYou are obviously enjoying our woods, Sir Richard,” Ravina called over her shoulder.
    â€œIndeed. They are extremely fine. Good, old timber. Very dense, I see. You could hide an army in these woods and never see it. Do you always ride this way when visiting the Priory?”
    â€œI do like to visit the woods whenever I can. I love them so much. I have seen deer, badgers, foxes – oh, and every type of bird. But, I have never actually visited the Priory before. It was in a state of disrepair for so many years when I was a child. I suppose it would be far easier to go through the village by road, but Sweetie needs the exercise.”
    â€œI see that the trees are thinning out ahead. Shall we race to the top of the hill, Lady Ravina?”
    Ravina was surprised. She would never have thought that Sir Richard was the type of man to indulge in such frivolity.
    But she was aching to gallop and with a chuckle she