by Speer, Flora
“I have never been on a horse in my life,” she said. “Why do you want to know?”
“You will have to learn to ride before we leave for Regensburg,” he responded. “I should have asked sooner. I made the mistake of assuming that you came here on horseback, though the men I sent out to search for evidence of your arrival found no sign of a horse.”
“I didn’t ride to Feldbruck. I’m afraid of horses.” She didn’t know if she was or wasn’t -she had never been close enough to a horse to find out – but Dominick had just provided her with the excuse she needed to keep her at Feldbruck and away from court. She didn’t think her inability to ride would seem strange to him; it would simply be added to the growing list of other ordinary female accomplishments in which she was lacking.
Of course, if Dominick went to Regensburg without her, and she stayed at Feldbruck and got into his bedroom and finally figured out how to reach the twentieth century, then she would never see him again.
“Don’t look so unhappy,” he said. “It’s a problem that’s easily solved. I’ll start you on a gentle mare. I have no pressing business today, so we will make a tour of Feldbruck lands.”
“No, please, I can’t.”
“Nonsense.” He smiled encouragement at her. “Anyone can learn to ride. Once you are used to being on a horse, you’ll see how unnecessary your fears are.”
“I don’t want to learn to ride.”
“I didn’t ask whether you wanted to learn,” he said, still smiling at her. “I told you that you are going to learn.”
She could see he had made up his mind. She took comfort in the hope that she would be a complete failure at handling a horse. Perhaps she could manage to fall off without hurting herself. Afterward, she’d make a huge fuss and insist that she couldn’t ride, and maybe he’d agree to leave her at Feldbruck. Then again, she thought, maybe he’d just tell her to get back on the horse and try once more.
Harulf was right about Dominick being a good teacher. As they walked to the stable, he explained a few basic facts about riding. The horse he selected for her was a passive creature that nudged Gina’s shoulder and let her rub its nose and feed it a carrot when Dominick told her to make friends with it. He was remarkably relaxed about her ability to stay on the horse.
“Cela won’t throw you,” he said. “There is nothing for you to worry about.”
“Easy for you to say,” Gina muttered under her breath.
Until Dominick boosted her into the saddle, she hadn’t realized just how high off the ground a horse’s back was. The saddle didn’t make her feel secure, either. It was smaller than those she’d seen in western movies, no more than a padded leather seat with a slight rise in front and back. There weren’t any stirrups, either. Her skirt was hiked up to her knees, and her bare legs hung loosely down on either side. At least Dominick wasn’t making her ride sidesaddle. She supposed she ought to be grateful for that.
Dominick leapt onto his horse as if no effort was involved, providing further proof of the physical agility Gina had already witnessed. The animal was much larger than Gina’s mount, and, unused to horses though she was, she could see that the creature had fire in its eyes. Guiding his horse with his knees and a light hand on the reins, Dominick headed for the palisade gate.
“Don’t leave me alone!” Gina yelled after him. “What do I do now?”
“Just follow me,” he said, turning his head to favor her with one of his incredible smiles.
Actually, Gina didn’t have to do much at all. Without any urging on her part, Cela began to follow Dominick’s horse. Within a few paces Gina discovered she was too frightened to fall off as she had planned to do. With her luck, and from this altitude, if she dared a tumble, she’d probably break her neck. As she rode through the gate behind Dominick, she decided to postpone any “accidents” in favor of allowing him to show her his property.
They proceeded slowly until Gina felt a little more secure in the saddle. After watching the way Dominick rode, she straightened her back and began to use her knee and thigh muscles to keep her seat.
Gina already knew that Dominick was proud of his estate, and it didn’t take long for her to see why. Feldbruck was an enormous holding, including vast tracts of untouched woodlands that sloped upward to the foothills of the Alps. The cultivated fields were on the level areas near the stream. Gina listened politely while Dominick explained how water from the stream was used for irrigation and pointed out fields of wheat, barley, and rye, then showed her row upon row of cabbage, peas, and root vegetables.
The tenants who worked the fields greeted Dominick with such familiar ease that Gina knew she’d been right to call him a good landlord. No mean or cruel master could elicit so many spontaneous smiles.
They rode for hours, until Gina’s thighs and knees and lower back were aching with the strain of staying on her horse. When Dominick suggested they stop to rest for a little while, she assented gladly. Almost at once she regretted having agreed, for he slid off his horse and came to her, reaching up to help her to the ground. She didn’t want to go into his embrace. Still, she didn’t have much choice, unless she wanted to take the fall she had decided to postpone.
She could barely swing her leg over the horse’s back, and she tumbled backward out of the saddle and into Dominick’s arms. Laughter rumbled in his chest, though when he turned her to face him, he looked solemn.
“You will be stiff,” he said, steadying her until she found her balance. “You made no complaint, so I forgot that you are new to riding.”
“Or were you testing me?” she snapped at him. “Did you think I really did know how to ride?”
“When I am dealing with you, I never know what to think,” he replied.
His arms were still around her, keeping her so close that Gina could feel the warmth of his body through his woolen clothes. His cheek brushed against hers. His arms tightened, and Gina’s face was pressed into his shoulder. A lock of his hair tickled her nose. His lips were on her forehead, then on her cheek and her chin. She held her breath, wanting his mouth on hers and knowing she shouldn’t want it. Her lips parted, waiting....
“Walk for a while,” he said, taking her by the shoulders and setting her apart from him. “You’ll find movement relieves your aching legs. I will see to the horses and lay out our meal.”
“What meal?” She couldn’t see his face. His back was toward her. What was he trying to do to her, holding her so close and almost kissing her, then shoving her away like that?
They were in a clearing near the stream, in a spot where moss grew right down to the water’s edge. It was a pretty place, with the sunlight shining gold and green through the shimmering tree leaves. The stream was wider than she’d thought, and it tumbled over half-submerged rocks, breaking into sparkling foam interspersed with dark whirlpools. Above the sound of rushing water Gina could hear birds singing.
Had Dominick brought her to this isolated woodland glade to seduce her? He wasn’t paying any attention to her at the moment. He led the horses to the stream, then looped both pairs of reins over a bush. Gina watched him guardedly, frowning when he removed saddlebags from his horse.
“What meal?” she repeated.
“The midday meal,” he said. “I brought it with me.”
“Why?” She was afraid of his effect on her emotions, but she wasn’t going to let him know it.
“We are too far from the manor to return for a meal, so I carried it for the sake of convenience,” Dominick said. “There’s cheese, bread freshly baked this morning, a small skin of wine, some nuts and apples. That should be enough.”
“You planned this.” She confronted him with her fists planted on the hips of her green woolen gown. Her hair was growing out, and the breeze caught at it and blew a curl across her forehead. She lifted one hand to push the hair aside, then put her fist on her hip again, watching him unpack the food and spread it on the moss.
“Of course I planned it,” Dominick said. “Only a fool wo
uld set out on a long ride with no provisions.”
“You arranged a long ride knowing I’ve never been on a horse before today? How thoughtful of you. What else have you arranged?”
“Join me,” he said, holding out a hand.
She just stared at him, knowing he was bigger and stronger than she, knowing he’d catch her easily if she tried to run away.
Dominick’s outstretched hand fell to his side. He watched her as if he didn’t know what to make of her.
“You are the most suspicious, untrusting person I have ever known,” he said. “Even at the royal court, even in these days of Queen Fastrada spinning endless webs of intrigue, still, women there speak more freely than you do.”
“I don’t have anything to say.”
“Liar.” His voice was soft, almost turning the word into a verbal caress. “Sweet liar. Beautiful Gina, how I wish you would tell me who you really are.”
She was rooted to the spot where she stood. In spite of all the warning bells going off in her mind, she couldn’t move to save herself, couldn’t flee when he approached her and laid a finger on her lips.
“Do not repeat your name again,” he ordered. “It may or may not be your true name. I want to know who lives behind the name, behind those lovely green eyes. You are a tantalizing mystery, Gina. For what purpose did you come to Feldbruck?”
“If you ask me that one more time, I will go mad!” she cried. “What’s the matter with you? Talk about me being suspicious! Do you imagine I’m some kind of spy?”
“Are you?”
“How can you talk like that when I don’t know anyone in this time and place except you and your buddies here at Feldbruck? What are you afraid of, Dominick?”
“What do you mean, ‘in this time and place’? “
“I’m a stranger here. That’s all I meant.” She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Will you please stop interrogating me? Let’s eat.” She wasn’t the least bit hungry, but she had to do something to divert him. She decided to rearrange the food he’d piled on the moss and try to act as if she was enjoying the picnic. She’d take care to keep her distance from him, too.
She wasn’t used to tramping around in woodlands, so the first thing she did while attempting to stay away from Dominick was catch her foot on a tree root. She went sprawling onto the ground.
“Gina!” Dominick gathered her into his arms. “Are you hurt?”
“Let me go!” She wasn’t hurt, but she was breathless, and the warmth she felt with his arms around her was enough to scare her silly. She pushed against his shoulders, then began to pound at him with both fists.
“Go where?” he asked, completely unaffected by her puny assault.
“I’ll walk back to the house on my own.” She continued to try to push him away.
“Have I mentioned the dangerous wild boars who live in the forest? Or the wolves?”
“There’s a bore imprisoning me right here,” she said, and she saw by the sudden laughter dancing in his eyes that he appreciated the play on words, though the terms were slightly different in his language. “You’re a wolf, too,” she added.
“Am I?” He was still chuckling.
“A mean predator.”
“Understand this,” he said, turning from humor to seriousness so quickly that she was shocked into wary silence. “If I were truly a predator, if I wanted to ravish you, I’d have done so when we first met in my bed. If I wanted to kill you, I could have whenever I pleased. No one at Feldbruck will question any decision I make, and since you claim to be alone in the world, I don’t even have to consider the possibility of revenge by your male relatives. I suggest you stop acting like a fool, Gina. It is insulting to be host to a lady who refuses to trust me. It is even more insulting when I am honestly trying to help you.”
“You’re right. I have been rude.” She was no longer trying to push her way out of his arms. She sat quietly, letting him hold her. “I learned early in life not to trust men. Females will say and do spiteful things behind your back. Sometimes they’ll slap you or pull your hair. A man will break your heart.” She couldn’t look at him. She just put her head down on his shoulder and wrapped her fingers around his strong upper arm.
“Who was he?” Dominick asked. “Your husband? Your betrothed?”
“I thought we were going to be married. He lied to me. There was another woman. He’s married to her now. It’s a proper marriage, blessed by a priest. There was nothing proper about our arrangement. I got home from shopping one Saturday afternoon to find he had taken most of the furniture from our apartment, all the cash in our joint bank account, and he’d gone to the limit on the credit card I let him use. It took me three years to pay off the debt.”
“He stole all your possessions,” Dominick said, translating her words into terms he could comprehend. “Worse, he destroyed your love, making you afraid to trust another man.”
“That’s a simplified version, but you have the basic facts right.” Gina rested in Dominick’s arms, letting relief wash over her, glad that he understood. Except, of course, that Dominick didn’t know where or when the misadventure that broke her heart had occurred. She no longer thought of it as a love affair; it was simply a mistake she wished she hadn’t made.
One of Dominick’s big hands began to stroke her hair, smoothing down the short, springy curls. Gina nestled closer, craving his gentle touch. When Dominick s fingers under her chin tipped her face upward, and his mouth came down on hers. She didn’t resist; she didn’t want to.
The next thing she knew she was lying on the moss, and Dominick’s hands were on her breasts, caressing her. She opened her mouth, letting his tongue surge into her, wanting the taste and smell and feel of him, wishing she was unclothed, wishing she could stay with him always.
His kisses were incredibly sweet. They warmed her innermost body, stirring her in places no one had ever reached before. Slowly, ever so slowly, his gentleness opened a narrow crack in the door to her tightly guarded heart. Sensing his firm self-control, she allowed herself to trust him – only a little, but still more than she had trusted any man for years. She made no protest until his hand skimmed the bare flesh of her inner thigh. She knew what he was going to do next.
“Stop, please.” She twisted, trying to get away from him. “I can’t do this.”
He let her go, and she crouched, gathering herself into a ball, trying to protect herself. It took only a quick glance at Dominick to see how aroused he was, and the sight increased her fear.
“I thought you wanted it, too,” he said, his voice surprisingly calm.
Gina looked at him doubtfully, unable to believe he wasn’t going to strike out at her in some way. He met her gaze squarely, observing her expression, and she saw understanding come to him.
“He did this to you, made you afraid of a man’s possession.” It was a flat statement. “That cowardly knave.”
“I don’t want your pity. Just keep your hands off me.”
“Never in my life have I forced a woman. If you will allow it, I would like to hold you and comfort you. I give you my word, I will do nothing more. I think you need comforting.”
“No.” She sat up straight. “Keep your distance.”
“Will you at least eat something? You must be hungry after riding all morning. I know I am.”
“Could I have some wine?” What she really wanted was a large shot of vodka to dull the pain of roiling emotions she couldn’t explain to him – or to herself. She had seen no evidence of distilled spirits at Feldbruck, so she’d settle for wine.
Dominick filled one of the wooden cups he’d brought along and handed it to Gina. While she drank he drew his knife and set about slicing bread and cheese. She took the food he offered her, and he was careful not to allow his fingers to brush hers any more than was necessary. He didn’t want to frighten her all over again.
In a way, the day was a complete failure. While showing Gina around Feldbruck, he had tried to draw her into talking about h
er own home, only to learn she knew nothing of farming or country life. Hedwiga had already informed him that Gina was ignorant of all aspects of housekeeping. Even if she lived in a city, she should have been familiar with cooking and cleaning, with laundry and sewing. Even if she’d been raised in a convent she’d have been taught those simple skills at an early age, for nuns and their pupils did not exist in prayerful idleness. Nor did Gina display any interest in prayer or other devotional acts.
When he embraced her, she responded with sweet passion, but only to a certain point. She was plainly terrified of anything more than kissing and holding and a few exploratory caresses. Either she was an exceptionally clever spy, as he had first suspected, or she was exactly what she appeared to be: a lost and untutored girl who had been badly hurt by a selfish, abusive man.
Despite all his attempts to probe both her past and her current purpose, Gina remained what she had been since he’d found her in his bed – an elusive, intriguing mystery. And Dominick, with his blood still aflame from their kisses, with the feel of her bare skin still tingling against his hands, wanted her as he had never before wanted any woman.
Chapter 6
Except for a few suggestions on horsemanship from Dominick, their return journey was silent. Gina was still too upset by her own emotions and too tired after her long first horseback ride to make conversation. All her remaining energy was concentrated on staying in the saddle. As they slowly made their way back to the manor, she promised herself that the first thing she’d do after she dismounted was hobble to the bathhouse, where she could sink into a tub of hot water and stay there until all the aches in her legs and hips were soaked away. Then she was going to skip the evening meal and sleep until morning.
Perhaps after a good night’s rest she’d be able to cope better with her feelings for Dominick. She knew what she needed to do for her own safety. She needed to convince herself that her reaction to him was purely a physical response to an attractive man. Then she needed to put her unwanted emotions away deep in her heart, lock the door, and keep it locked forever.
