Free Echoes of Pemberley by Cynthia Ingram Hensley

straps. “You’re late, Miss Catie,” he stated in his deep heavy brogue without turning around.
    To his back she scowled but answered pleasantly enough, “Yes, sorry. I’ll hurry and fetch my riding hat.” Two weeks, she reminded herself, two short weeks and her commitment to Ben was satisfied. And in the meantime, she also reminded herself, she had resolved to be only as civil as necessary, and under no bloody circumstance was she going to stare at him like a moon-eyed, immature, fourth former again. God, being sixteen must be purgatory.
    On her return she found him standing beside Chloe, holding her saddle and smiling his big, stupid smile. “Percival is happy to saddle my horse for you, Mr. Kelly,” she told him as she finished working her fingers into her gloves.
    “Oh, I’m not saddling your horse, Miss Catie.” He held the saddle out. “You are.”
    Catie felt a quick swell of indignation but stamped it down like a minor brush fire. “And why would I do that when Percival can do it for me?” she asked nicely.
    His stupid smile grew larger. “Because I told you to. What good is it to improve your riding skills if you can’t even saddle a horse?”
    “Ah, then let me assure you: I can saddle a horse.”
    “Kelly!” Clancy called out brusquely, bringing their debate to a halt. He came quickly towards them with a determined gait that told of his former occupation. “I’ll not have the miss saddlin’ ’er own horse. If it’s not done properly, and she was to get hurt, it’ll be me answering to Mr. Darcy.”
    Still holding Catie’s saddle, Sean gave Clancy a shrug. “Watch her then, mate, and inspect the job when she’s finished.”
    Sean’s suggestion played quickly over Clancy’s features as he gave a single nod of approval and said, “All right then.” Both men turned to Catie, who stood before them with her arms folded.
    Determined to keep the upper hand, she marched forward and snatched the saddle from Sean Kelly’s hands. Eyeing each of them daringly, she stepped over to Chloe and started to work. “Oh, yes, Clancy, please supervise me, for that will surely heighten my consequence for Mr. Kelly.” Catie gave the young instructor a fierce glare over her shoulder, sure that his true purpose was to humiliate or punish her for being rude to Clancy yesterday.
    “Miss?” Clancy looked as confused as he sounded.
    Catie finished fastening the girth and spun around. “To make it simple, Clancy, Mr. Kelly has abandoned his post of riding instructor and has started a new career.” She paused and boldly cast her eyes over to meet Sean’s. “He’s now teaching lessons in etiquette.”
    Although he was no longer smiling, Sean Kelly’s eyes seemed to light up in the face of confrontation. “I say, Clancy.” He tried to sound serious, but Catie noted a tinge of amusement in his voice. “Have you ever heard a girl blether on as much as this one? I’d wager the instructors at that fine boarding school of hers must have to paste her lips together in order for her to learn anything.”
    He was very proud of his last comment. Catie knew it because he stood looking down at her like a gloating peacock. Irish farm lad or not, Sean Kelly did have a rather noble appearance with his aristocratic nose. But it was his gypsy black hair, which lent him a slight air of wickedness, that truly stirred the blood. Clearly he was challenging her, but Catie wasn’t taking the bait. Ignoring him, she finished her task and then stood back for inspection.
    When both men were satisfied, Clancy left them without a word, and Sean had no choice but to state the obvious.
    “I’m impressed. Where did you learn to saddle a horse?”
    “Oh.” She smiled and batted her eyes innocently as she spoke with a distinct and well-bred shire accent. “At my fine boarding school. I believe the course fell between How to marry a rich husband and Hosting a grand dinner party .”
    He smiled at her quick wit and gestured to her