Free The Secret of Stavewood (Stavewood Saga Book 4) by Nanette Kinslow Page A

in the rain. She smiled and reached down to Luc, pushing his hair from his forehead.
          “That was amazing!” she giggled. “Perfectly amazing! Thank you for that, Luc.” She touched his cheek and smiled at him fondly. “I don’t care if I catch my death of cold or if anyone tells me how irresponsible I am to be out riding in the rain. I’m having a wonderful time.”
          Louisa leaned from the saddle and Luc took her by the waist and lowered her gently. She was completely drenched but most of the mud had been rinsed away. Her dress clung to her, revealing every curve of her body and Luc Almquist caught his breath. She was as beautiful as a statue, perfectly carved and exquisitely flawless. As if on cue, the rain stopped, the sun peeked through the clouds and her wet skin glistened. Her exuberance was engaging and her enthusiasm was contagious. Until now he’d known two kinds of women in his life. There were the ones who could not stand to have their hair or clothing mussed in any way at all. And then there were the tomboys who wouldn’t be caught dead in a dress. Louisa Elgerson was something else entirely. She was completely feminine in the way she tiptoed about, rivulets of rain dripping along her smooth legs, uninhibited and spontaneous.
          “This is magnificent!” Louisa looked up and saw the sparkle in his eye. She caught her breath and tried to slow her frantic breathing.
          “Yes, magnificent,” he agreed, his voice low.
          Louisa looked down at herself and realized that her dress was barely decent. She looked up into his eyes and felt her pulse quicken.
          “Don’t think badly of me,” she said softly. “I don’t do this kind of thing often. Not ever in fact. I just felt so amazing and you’re so easy to be with…” her voice trailed off.
          “I’ve ridden in the rain before but always alone. Not like this,” he said.
          Louisa saw him swallow hard.
          “Thank you. It was perfect. Really,” she said softly.
          Luc looked at her standing in her clinging dress. “Let’s get you home.”
          He set his foot in the stirrup, flung a long leg over Avalanche’s back and offered his hand to pull her up behind him. The sun broke through the clouds and streamed through the trees around them.
          Louisa mounted the horse behind him and he turned and kicked him into a fast run. She held fast to Luc and called out.
          “I love fishing!” she announced to the woodlands.
          Luc’s face spread into a broad smile and Louisa could feel him laughing in her arms.

 
     
    Fifteen

          T albot Sunderland sped along the back roads of eastern Minnesota in a brand new, gleaming red roadster. The rain had stopped and he had the top down so the sunlight reflected brightly off the chrome dials and gauges embedded in the walnut dashboard. The touring car was long, fast and flashy with a powerful four cylinder Duesenberg engine. It was one of the first sports cars ever built and Talbot was enjoying every bit of the expensive ReVere.
          From what the man at the petrol station in Billington had explained, he figured that he’d reach Stavewood around noon. He’d risen that morning much earlier than usual but the fresh air rushing by was exhilarating and he could not wait to see Louisa. He had wonderful news to tell her about the publishing company and was certain she’d be thrilled. Talbot was anxious to see Stavewood as well.
          At thirty-one years old, Talbot Sunderland cut a dashing figure. He was slender and refined and stood just over six feet. His hair was always impeccably trimmed and he saw the finest barbers daily for the best of shaves. With his charming accent he was the perfect portrait of the English gentleman and his blue eyes rivaled the brightening sky of the North Country. Talbot never failed to turn heads but he only had eyes for Louisa