Lady Star Read Online Free PDF Page B

those hazel eyes
at me! You look like a tiger about to pounce.”
    “Do I? Perhaps I shall,” Edward returned on a
low note.
    “Now, don’t get your back up Edward,” Jules’s
hands went up. “The thing is, put it behind you, as I have
done.” Jules’ tone took on a slightly superior note.
    Sir Edward eyed him. He wasn’t about to
quarrel with his friend, but he felt his rising temper heat his
blood. He calmed himself and managed to say sardonically, “As you have done, Jules?”
    “Aye, that’s it.” Jules answered brightly and
looked encouraged. “That’s why I want us to ride over to the Grange
this morning.”
    “You seem more than a little animated about a
ride to some grange?” Sir Edward stared hard at his friend’s
face.
    “Am I? Animated you say?” Jules returned
vaguely.
    “It would appear the brandy has clouded my
understanding,” Edward returned as he swung his legs over the side
of the bed. “What has riding to this place to do with anything you
have said to me this morning?”
    “Nearly afternoon,” Jules returned. “I’ll
explain on the way there. I have had a bath drawn for you down the
hall. Wash up and perhaps I will even feed you before we
leave.”
    Sir Edward groaned and held his head.
    Jules grinned, “Write out some instructions
for your people and I will have someone take them over to Brighton
and collect your things.”
    On this note, Jules left his friend to do the
tasks he had been assigned. Edward stared at the closed door. Had
he somehow fallen deeper into hell?

Chapter
Four
     
    HE WAS A Dapple Gray. He stood sixteen hands
and his black mane and tail were thick and luxurious. At that
moment his head and his tail were held high with stallion pride. He
snorted and pranced. Star laughed out loud as she watched him in
the stud paddock. His name was Berkley’s Choice. He had won seven
out of eight starts at Ascot.
    He danced toward her and she cooed to him.
She fed him the last carrot she had brought with her and he nuzzled
her for more. She lost her balance on the post fence and nearly
fell off the rail she had been perched upon. “Oh Choice, fie! ” she laughed an objection.
    He nuzzled her some more and she wagged a
finger before petting his fine face. “Now stop that, sir.”
    He was their prize and had already brought in
quite a stud fee for his services that season. It was enough to
cover the expenses of keeping their prime bloods at Berkley
Grange.
    A sound in the distance caught his attention
and his ears went forward alertly as he scanned the long drive. She
turned to have a look.
    “Now, just what do you see?” What she
saw at that moment was discouraging. Ill kept lawns, trees and
evergreens in need of shaping and pruning, weeds in the flower beds
and their long drive to the house was badly rutted. How could she
help but sigh and remember another time when Berkley looked so
different, so very fine.
    The stallion nodded his head and his nostrils
flared. Star reached up to stroke his nose again, but he wouldn’t
look at her as he stared down the long drive. She shook her head
and asked, “What is it, young man? What has you so bothered?” She
sighed, “The season is over for you, as we don’t have any other
mares listed to be bred.” It was then, that she heard the clip-clop
of horseshoes hitting stones and her own attention returned to the
driveway. “Faith! Who can that be?”
    Star saw the outline of two male riders
coming toward her and frowned as she tried to read their features.
All at once she realized…one was Jules and the other was his
friend, the man who had stopped her last evening when she had been
in disguise.
    Oh no! Dash it all. What now? Would he
recognize her? No, no, how could he? She had to calm herself. She
simply had to.
    She stayed right where she was and put on a
welcoming smile. She would just have to brave it through.
    * * *
    “Wait till you clap eyes on her, Edward,”
Jules said with some liveliness. “Her hair is the