“Or what?” Henry sneered.
Even if he wanted to, even if he’d been trained by the best to conform to society’s expectations, he wouldn’t have been able to stop himself. A darkness swirled in the pit of his gut. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around his cousin’s collar, tightening his hold until the man’s eyes widened and Henry released their grandfather. How he wanted to slam his fist into his cousin’s face.
“Leo,” Ella whispered. “I don’t believe he can breathe very well.”
He wanted to ignore her remark, to tighten his hold until the man stopped struggling. Instead, he released his cousin. At least he had the pleasure of watching Henry stumble back, his eyes wide with fear.
“See,” Henry gasped. “I told you he was a madman.”
His grandfather shook his head and closed his eyes, leaning heavily on his cane.
“Well, it doesn’t really much matter, does it? Either way, the estate is mine.” Leo couldn’t help but taunt the man before he turned and left the gaping audience.
Chapter 4
Ella settled onto a stone bench that overlooked the rose garden and tore open the note.
My Dearest Ella,
I settled into the cottage and I have to say, it is quite lovely! When that fancy carriage arrived, I thought I was dreaming. Lady Buckley was furious, but didn’t say a word, not bothering to wish me luck.
The woman hired to help me said you are only a short walk from the cottage! I just knew you’d find a way to make our dreams come true. From my bedroom window, I can hear the birds cry and the roar of the ocean. The air smells exactly as you described it!
Yours affectionately,
Fran
Ella bit her lower lip and swiped at the tears trembling on her lashes. She slipped the letter into her pocket. With their dream half accomplished, she felt a lightness, as if she’d lost the weight of her petticoats. She started down the drive and pulled the necklace out from under her bodice, needing the comfort of the cool metal. The pendant was as familiar to her as her own face. She knew every speck of the necklace, having studied it for hours as a child.
Yesterday when she’d clambered up the rocks to Leo’s side, she could have sworn the metal had grown warm. The feeling left her confused and nervous, but it hadn’t happened since. Perhaps she had imagined the heat. With a sigh, she tucked the pendant underneath her bodice and followed the gravel trail around the house.
The sun’s rays broke through the clouds, lighting the garden in a rainbow of colors. From the yew trees, birds chirped merrily and the sweet scent of roses mixed with the fresh scent of dew. It was beautiful and serene, so why did she still have an unsettling feeling? She plucked a fallen foxglove from the ground.
A fat bee landed on the flower and pulled her from her reverie. The insect crawled up her thumb, tasting her skin. At Lady Buckley’s insistence, she tried not to use her powers, but it came so easily with insects…she almost couldn’t control the sensations. Not once had she been stung by a bee, and she supposed that was one positive to her ability. His curiosity satisfied, the bee flew away to his next bloom.
She dropped the flower and continued down the path. The stables came into view and her heart did a strange little jump that she couldn’t quite explain. She hadn’t seen Leo since yesterday afternoon when he’d attacked his cousin. Well deserved, without question. But still…the power that radiated from the man’s body, the intensity, the darkness were frightful indeed.
After seeing the look on Henry’s face, she knew without a doubt Leo had a much better chance of harming himself than anyone else. Surely Henry and his friends had already spread word of the unfortunate incident. Could no one else see what would happen? Perhaps she should speak with Lord Roberts, perhaps even speak with Leo. He must realize his cousin was trying to make him look the madman.
Ella took her lower lip between her teeth and pushed open the stable door. She stepped hesitantly inside, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the dim light. Through the haze of sunbeams and dust, Leo stood in the middle of the wide aisle brushing a black horse. The cuffs of his sleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing the sinewy muscle of his forearms. Beautiful, strong arms.
The sweet scent of hay and horses met her nostrils. She sneezed. Leo didn’t bother to look her way, as if deaf to her presence. His disregard hurt more than she wanted.
She sniffled and closed the door behind her. “Did you forget we had lessons this morn?” She offered him an excuse.
“No.”
Apparently, he didn’t feel he needed one.
“Your cousin and his friends left last night. You needn’t worry about seeing them.”
“That is unfortunate. I would have dearly loved to smash my fist into his face.”
She held onto her gasp of shock, refusing to indulge him. He took the reins of his horse and started past her.
“Where are you going?”
“Riding.”
“Leo, wait!” Her fingers curled in annoyance. If Fran wasn’t settled in the cottage, she’d leave the man here and now!
He didn’t respond. A stable boy pushed open the doors and Leo disappeared outside, his huge black horse following like a docile pup.
Ella waved at the boy. “Excuse me, you there. Can you saddle a horse?”
He swiped his nose with the back of his hand and nodded. “Yes, miss.”
“And make sure it’s a very nice, gentle horse.”
He went to a brown mare that looked more dead than alive with her drooping head and sagging brown eyes. She was perfect. Ella prayed Leo had been delayed. Clasping her hands in front of her, she paced back and forth, mentally urging the boy to hurry. Leo, blast him, was proving to be much more difficult than she’d expected, and the more she pushed herself on him, the better. She’d wear him down yet. If she could tame Lady Buckley’s spawn, she could tame Leo. Finally, the lad was finished with her mount. She followed him outside. Leo was gone.
“Where’d he go?” she asked frantically.
An old man leaned against the handle of his shovel and tilted his cap back. “The young lord?”
Ella nodded and jumped onto the box the boy provided. Before her, the horse loomed large and intimidating. She’d always feared horses, for they were the most difficult of the animals for her to control. That combined with the fact that she’d had little experience with the beasts as she tried to avoid them at any cost.
But surely she could ride. It looked easy enough. Closing her eyes, she tested the animal’s emotions. The mare was worried, but thrilled to be out of her small box.
Praying for safety, Ella pushed herself onto the beast. She resisted the urge to shift as the saddle dug into her bottom.
“It’s a sidesaddle,” the boy said. “You got to ’ave both legs on this side.”
Ella blushed. “Oh, of course.” It seemed preposterous to her, but she did what he said.
“The young lord went thataway,” the old man said, pointing down a trail.
“Oh, wonderful, thank you.” Ella had just wrapped her leg around the pommel, setting both legs on the side of the horse when the boy slapped the rump of her mount. She squeaked as she felt the beast’s fear mingle with the innate desire to run.
The horse burst down the trail. Clinging to the pommel, Ella tried to calm her racing heart, but with the landscape a brilliant blur, that remained impossible. The trees broke away, and a field splashed