Free Forsters 04 - Romancing the Runaway by Wendy Soliman

subject. “How lovely it must be to have such a large family.” She sighed with apparent regret. “It’s only ever been Papa and me, but now it’s just me.”
    Gabe felt for her, even though he didn’t think she’d made the statement to invoke his sympathy. She would be a grave disappointment to her friend Miss Marshall for not exploiting her current situation to her advantage. But then, if she did that, he probably wouldn’t feel compelled to keep her here. Miss Cantrell had lost her father when she was at an impressionable age and clearly felt unloved when, vulnerable and in mourning, she removed to the Peacock’s household. He was glad, suddenly, for Miss Frobisher’s regime. At least Miss Cantrell had had some sort of stability there.
    “You yearn for a family but are determined not to marry and have one of your own?”
    “Quite determined,” she said, jutting her chin. “My desire for siblings was a momentary weakness but I’m quite recovered from it now. Besides, what you’ve never had you don’t miss.”
    They reached a sheltered piece of ground free from frost.
    “Shall we give them their heads?” Gabe suggested.
    “By all means.”
    They raced one another at a flat-out gallop for several miles. Gabe assumed he would need to hold Murphy back, just to make the contest fair. In the end it proved to be unnecessary since Miss Cantrell was more than a match for him. Murphy had a longer stride but the cob she rode was strong and fresh so the horses kept pace with one another. She leaned forward, oblivious to the chunks of hard earth thrown up by the thundering hooves, a broad smile on her face as she encouraged her mount forward. Both horses responded with enthusiasm. Her cob put in an energetic buck but Miss Cantrell merely laughed aloud and kept her seat.
    When they eventually drew rein at a stand of trees, they were neck and neck.
    “An honourable draw,” Gabe said.
    “You held back!” she cried indignantly.
    “Not at all.”
    Miss Cantrell, breathing heavily, laughed at the same time as she patted her horse’s sweaty neck. “Even so, I’ll beat you the next time,” she warned him.
    Gabe was unable to reply since his entire attention was taken up with admiring the rise and fall of her breasts as she struggled to regain her breath. Tempting was the word that sprang to mind. Yes, it suited her perfectly but Gabe now wondered if, in his desire to act honourably, he might have taken on more than he could manage in the shape of Miss Cantrell. Far from encouraging her to stay, he needed to get her away from the Hall and out of his life at the earliest opportunity, all without endangering her.
    Fortunately he enjoyed a challenge.
    “Right, this way,” he said, collecting himself.
    “This estate is vast,” she said as they continued with their tour. “A person could get lost in it for days.”
    “Which is why you won’t be discovered here. You didn’t pass through the village to get here and so no one’s seen you.”
    “How do you get to the village from here? It’s five miles by road. Is there a shorter way?”
    “Why the interest in that route?” He bestowed a suspicious glance upon his companion. “You’ve mentioned it several times.”
    “Oh, no reason.” But she appeared rather flustered. “It’s just idle curiosity, nothing more. I feel more in control if I know the geography of the place where I happen to be.” She offered him a disarming smile. “It’s been that way ever since I lost Papa and have had to fend for myself. Besides, I did warn you that I have an enquiring mind.”
    “Yes, you’re certainly inquisitive.” He pointed to a path leading to the west. “That cart track reduces the trip into the village by a good two miles. The servants use it all the time.”
    “I see.” She turned her head and regarded him with a serious expression. “No one knows I’m here, Lord Gabriel, and indeed I’ll soon be gone. Even so, we ought to talk about—”
    “Later.