Serena Read Online Free PDF Page B

light-stepping flash prime-blood horse trotted around the bend in the road, ears flickering. The dark horse was alert to something ahead. His rider, Daniel Pendleton, soothed him with quiet authority but looked ahead as he slowed him to a walk.
    What the blazes? His nephew Freddy was on foot with his hand on a lady’s boot, and that said lady was frowning down at him.
    What, just what, do we have here?
    He had been seriously concerned about extricating his nephew from his involvement with the Moorely chit. He knew, after making inquiries, that she was the niece of Squire Moorely and that while the estate was modest when compared to Freddy’s, it was a respectable estate. It was obvious she must have a dowry and could make a very good match if she wanted. The question remained, had she set her sights on his nephew?
    Looking at the ravishing creature before him made him blink. He would, he realized at once, have his hands full.
    The two were in deep conversation, and he wondered what they could be talking about as the lady in question appeared harried and concerned. His nephew, on the other hand, looked like a puppy protecting its dinner.
    His lordship adjusted the beaver top hat on his head so that it sat both jauntily and just a bit angled over his eyes. He sat a bit straighter in his saddle as he continued to approach. The closer he got, the wider his eyes opened.
    She was completely ravishing though, he could see, a bit disheveled. Whatever had the two been doing?
    His imagination took flight, and he cursed softly under his breath. He had a tough road ahead, but, damn, he was up for the challenge.
    * * *
     
    Neither Serena nor Freddy heard the approach of horse and rider, although both their horses told them with body language that someone approached.
    Serena was so involved with keeping young Freddy at a distance, and he with making headway, that they missed the signs.
    Serena bent to put a hand on his shoulder and told him as sweetly as she could, “Freddy, I fear our friendship is perhaps—”
    “In the way, at the moment. Our friendship is in the way of what I really want from you, Serena …” came his strangled reply.
    She straightened and sighed. “Freddy … dear, dear friend … you know that …” The sound, an all too familiar sound of horses’ shoes scraping against stone, brought her head up, and with some surprise her eyes widened.
    The big roan, she thought, must stand at seventeen hands, but its rider? She was for a moment struck dumb by the vision of the rider. He sat tall and broad in the saddle. His black locks sparkled in the sunlight. His clothes hugged a massive, beautifully proportioned and masculine body, and his eyes … his blue eyes, had they not looked as though he wanted to give her a thrashing, would have been absolutely captivating. Something happened to her, and she wasn’t sure what. It was as though her brain stopped functioning and her heart began to pound for release from her chest. Its beat was so loud she nearly put her hands to her ears. She had never seen a man more captivating!
    Seeing her expression, Freddy looked around and cursed right out loud, “Fire and brimstone!” He then folded his arms across his chest and stared accusingly at the well-dressed, high-styled Corinthian bearing down upon them. “My uncle …” he said out loud to Serena.
    “Ah,” Serena remarked.
    “No doubt sent down by m’mother to haul me off and make certain I return to school,” he added, obviously attempting to show her the full horror of the situation he now faced. “Does no one understand I am a man and can make up my mind just what I want to do? The title is mine, the estate of Radburn is mine, and my decisions are mine to make.”
    Serena did not argue with this. He was of course embarrassed, and she had no wish to further humiliate him.
    His uncle approached and hailed him. “Well met, Freddy!”
    “Uncle, what are you doing here?” he demanded, making it sound like an